Wasn't Dire Straits' debut album (titled Dire Straits) released in 78?   I'm pretty sure I bought it in 79 ... and I remember they were being lauded even way back then as the "Second Beatles".

The greatest thing about that decade (for me) had to be the birth of my twin sons in 82! (Even though I spent the rest of that decade listening to Kermit, Raffi or Sharon Lois and Bram).