I agree about late 70s - early 80s being so good across a wide variety of genres. Especially if you're willing to narrow 78-83. Such a variety of sounds which

I agree about late 70s - early 80s being so good across a wide variety of genres. Especially if you're willing to narrow 78-83. Such a variety of sounds which somehow all seemed somewhat original. You had the new wave thing in pop music while the hard rock had resurged with Van Halen/Boston/AC-DC/ZZ Top/etc. Early metal (Metallica). Early hip-hop (Sugar Hill Gang/Houdini). Bands which had emerged in the late 60s like the Rolling Stones/The Who/Pink Floyd still putting out quality.