Critics' Choice 1979

1. Ry Cooder Bop Till You Drop [Warner Brothers]
Since his brilliant Tex Mex excursion Chicken Skin Music, Ry Cooder had been a HP critics’ fave – and from the opening bars of ‘Little Sister’, the soul and R’n’B-flavoured Bop Till You Drop captured him at the top of his game. Scorching guitar. Great songs. Warm and winning vocals. Blues. Sex. Humour. And a great groove. Bingo.
2. Talking Heads – Fear Of Music [Sire]
3. Graham Parker – Squeezing Out Sparks [Phonogram]
4. The Undertones – The Undertones [Sire]
5. Elvis Costello – Armed Forces [Radar]