Who had the hit single "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me" in 1980?

Billy Joel had the hit single “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” in 1980. The song was released as the lead single from his seventh studio album, Glass Houses, and became one of his biggest American hits.

Written by Joel and produced by Phil Ramone, the song takes a sarcastic look at changing music trends, fashion, and the pressure to appear modern. Its central argument is that new styles and labels do not necessarily make music fundamentally different: it is still rock and roll. The sharp lyrics were matched with a brisk, radio-friendly arrangement.

The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1980 and held that position for two weeks. It was Joel’s first U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single. Glass Houses also marked a stylistic shift, using a more aggressive rock sound than some of his earlier piano-centered work.

Listeners sometimes confuse this song with Joel’s later hit “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” which was released in 1989. “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” belongs firmly to Joel’s 1980 period.