Alain Resnais was directing Gérard Depardieu in Mon oncle d’Amérique (My American Uncle):

Andrei Tarkovsky directed Stalker.

A Taste of Honey won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for their self-titled debut (1978). They released a follow-up, Another Taste, and immediately began to go into decline.

ABBA released Voulez-Vous and their Greatest Hits Volume 2.

AC/DC released Highway to Hell and was preparing to record Back in Black. The following year saw the death of lead singer Bon Scott (on 19 February).

Aerosmith released Night in the Ruts. Joe Perry quit the band midway through its production.

Agatha Christie published Miss Marple’s Final Cases and Two Other Stories.

Allen Tate passed away (on 9 February).

Alvin Toffler was preparing to publish The Third Wave (1980).

Amy Grant released My Father’s Eyes.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical Evita opened on Broadway.

Angela Carter published The Bloody Chamber.

Anita Ward released the single “Ring My Bell.”

Anthony Burgess was preparing to publish Earthly Powers (1980).

Arno Schmidt passed away (on 3 June).

Art Garfunkel released Fate for Breakfast, which included his cover of Mike Batt’s single “Bright Eyes,” recorded for the 1978 film adaptation of Watership Down.

In the middle of the year, his girlfriend Laurie Bird killed herself (on 15 June), at the age of 25.

Bachman–Turner Overdrive released Rock n’ Roll Nights.

Bad Company released Desolation Angels.

Barbara Taylor Bradford published A Woman of Substance.

Barbra Streisand released the concept album Wet.

Barry Manilow released One Voice.

Barry White released I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing to fulfill his contract obligations with 20th Century, then formed his own label, Unlimited Gold, to release The Message Is Love.

Belva Plain was preparing to publish Random Winds (1980).

Bette Midler released Thighs and Whispers.

Betty Carter released her live album The Audience with Betty Carter.

Bill Haley came out of retirement to tour Europe and release one last album, Everyone Can Rock & Roll.

Billy Joel was still releasing singles off his 1978 album 52nd Street.

Blondie released Eat to the Beat.

Blue Öyster Cult released Mirrors, which included their first collaboration with Michael Moorcock, “The Great Sun Jester.”

Bob Dylan released his first album since becoming a born-again Christian, Slow Train Coming.

Bob Marley & The Wailers released Survival.

The Boys Next Door were about to change their name to The Birthday Party.

Brian Blessed was starring in Flash Gordon: