In February, 1979, Bernie Parent played his last game as a Flyer, the U.S. House Of Representatives began televising their sessions, and the continental U.S. saw its last total solar eclipse of the century. While all that was going on, these were the top 10 rock albums on MGK’s Thursday Top 10 Countdown.

• 10. Stranger In Town - Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band

  Bob’s followup to his breakthrough Night Moves album was another excellent release, once again combining the talents of the Silver Bullet Band and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Stranger In Town was the #10 rock album on February 9, 1979.

• 9. Jazz - Queen

  Queen had to record their seventh album outside of England, due to a high tax bill they had just received.  At the suggestion of David Bowie, they made Jazz at Mountain Studios in the Montreaux, Switzerland Casino complex, location of the legendary “Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple.  Queen loved the studio so much, they bought it the next year, and this wonderful album is #9 on the countdown.

• 8. Dog And Butterfly - Heart

  One side was softer in tempo, the butterfly, and the other rocked, the dog, and that was Heart’s Dog And Butterfly, the #8 rock album on February 9, 1979.

• 7. Pieces Of Eight - Styx

  With the addition of Tommy Shaw on guitar, Styx had a harder edge to them, as evidenced by the rocking “Renegade,” off of the #7 rock album on our countdown, Pieces Of Eight.

• 6. Minute By Minute - The Doobie Brothers

  On its way to selling 3 million copies and giving The Doobie Brothers three Grammy awards, Minute By Minute, their eighth album, was the #6 rock album on February 9, 1979.  Here’s the excellent title track.

• 5. Toto - Toto

  Currently on the road with Journey, Toto emerged from the shadows of session work and became a successful band in their own right.  Their debut is the #5 rock album on our countdown.

• 4. Backless - Eric Clapton

  The followup to Eric Clapton’s biggest seller, Slowhand, was Backless, similar in sound and band lineup, and another hit for the legendary guitarist.  On the 9th of February, 1979, it was the #4 rock album.

• 3. Double Vision - Foreigner

  How can you not love an album who’s title track was inspired by a killer hockey check into the boards?  Foreigner’s sophomore album, Double Vision, is the #3 rock album on the countdown, and here’s the opening single from it.

• 2. 52nd Street - Billy Joel

  Billy will no doubt be performing a song or two off of this, his first of four #1 albums called 52nd Street, when he and Stevie Nicks come to town in June.  On February 9, 1979 it was #2, and it opens with “Big Shot.”

• 1. Blondes Have More Fun - Rod Stewart

  Topping the chart this week is the ninth album by a British rock legend, and his first foray into…disco! The album, and first single, instantly went platinum, and notched another #1 for the man they called “the Mod.” #1 on February 9, 1979 was Blondes Have More Fun by Rod Stewart.

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