TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 17, 2023 13:08:38 GMT 1
I don't have 1988 down as a strong year for albums, with most of my favourite albums of that year having already come up in your 1987 list as that's when they were actually released. In the big scheme of music, my top year for singles ever is 1978 and my top year for albums ever is 1995. But that may simply be my habits of the time, as obviously I missed loads of albums in the earlier years. No it isn't my top 3 are probably the weakest of the 80s, I will be compiling 1995 very soon.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 19, 2023 7:27:44 GMT 1
57 Thirty Eight Special - Rock & Roll Strategy
Their eighth album and they are starting to get a bit past their sell by date but sometimes when you get to that point, you suddenly write the song of your career that song is 'Second Chance'. Unlike many classic rockers at the time, they were not given that song by a major songwriter, it was theirs and it is the best song in their catalogue without question.So much so it raises the level of what would have been possibly their weakest album yet. 38 Special never make bad music but this one maybe is not for their fans and more for US radio at the time. As it was my introduction to the band I do look at it more favourably. The forementioned single was a huge US top 10 hit, the album not so good just #61, their lowest charter of the 80s. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 19, 2023 7:34:08 GMT 1
56 Roachford - Roachford
Roachford are another of those bands that I like everything they do but never felt strong enough about any of them to buy. If we had streaming in the 80s and 90s I am sure they would have got a lot of attention from me and they tended to do pretty well in my charts. One reason this album couldn't fail is Andrew Roachford's voice, it doesn't matter what he sings, he just makes everything sound good. My favourite track is 'Family Man' I am not being awkward but I liked that it sounded a bit darker than 'Cuddly Toy; and if you ever had Atlantic 252 you will know how sick I got of that song, now of course it's brilliant. The album did very well in the Uk reaching #11 and #109 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 19, 2023 7:42:31 GMT 1
55 Talk Talk - Spirit of EdenTheir fourth album and a critical favourite and regarded as a classic in its genre. I was not ready for this record in 1988 and I am still not entirely. It is said this album helped invent post-rock, not sure if that was a good thing as to me most of it is just arty rubbish. But #2 on Rate Your Music for 1988 shows how revered it is by the Pitchfork and blogger brigade. And ok yes it is gorgeous and I bet it would be another of those late night headphone records like Blue Nile. So as this is only the second time I have played this, it is hard for me to be fair about it, so that's why it gets a non-committal placing. The record reached #19 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 19, 2023 7:49:26 GMT 1
54 Hothouse Flowers - People
The debut album from the Irish Celtic rock band and a very welcome success for me. I already knew 'Don't Go' as it flopped in the UK on first issue but they performed the song on Eurovision as guests and it exploded on re-issue. Again I don't think it's their best song why was 'Feet On The Ground' not the follow-up single here, it was an Irish number one!! 'i'm Sorry' was a poor choice. Anyway the album is superb and reached #2 in the UK and #88 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 19, 2023 7:57:39 GMT 1
53 Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
Speaking of Atlantic 252, Paula was their darling. This record won't become a big success in this year, breaking huge in the US in 1989 and carrying into 1990 in the UK. This was the kind of pop I loved at the time and I was into her from her debut 'Knocked Out'. The contrariness continues, I didn't rate 'Straight Up' as high as 'Forever Your Girl' which I bought and 'Cold Hearted'. "Opposites Attract" is total cheese on a stick and its lyrics are even more unintentionally hilarious today than they were then. The rest of the album with the exception of "The Way That You Love Me" is very run-of-the-mill but it is a fun record. As I said the album was huge, it reached #1 in the US where it sold over 7 million and #3 in the UK 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 20, 2023 7:41:02 GMT 1
52 Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
The debut album from the American Rock band and one I didn't know at the time, like most of the UK, 'Been Caught Stealing' was my introduction to the band. But I have become a bit of a fan of Jane's since their comeback album in the 00s so I do know this record. It is hard to say if this record is better than its more famous follow-up. I think it is maybe more consistent but at the same time a bit less interesting. 'Jane Says' though is one of their best ever songs. The record was not as big a hit as it deserved to be mainly blamed on the videos not being MTV friendly, it reached #103 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 20, 2023 7:51:09 GMT 1
So who just misses the top 50, there is a bit of a story behind this album for me which is both very good and very cringe, so it is hard to even think about it. 51 Breathe - All That Jazz
The debut album from the English pop band. If you can imagine a more sophisto-pop Take That, kind of if 00s Gary Barlow took the reins from day one, that would give you an idea of their sound. They struggled to break through but started getting hits in the US before the UK. 'Hands To Heaven' was huge in the US and made the top 10 here on re-issue. But they had so many good songs "Don't Tell Me Lies", "Jonah" and my favourite "How Can I Fall?" which is like The 1975 in their ballad mode. I had this on cassette and it was the soundtrack to quite a night that's all I will say. The record reached #22 in the UK and #34 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 20, 2023 7:57:45 GMT 1
ok top 50 time and I love this list and we start with another record I bought. 50 The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues
A bit of a change of sound for their 4th album, moving away from the arenas to the corner of an Irish pub. One person who I was not a fan at all off is Van Morrison hence why you wont see anything by him on these lists but the comparisons are clear on this record. But it is Mike Scott not Van so that makes it 100x better, So a very good Celtic folk/rock album and a weird purchase for me again I blame the Virgin Megastore, they did brainwash me with a lot of music. The record reached #13 in the UK and #76 in the US 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 20, 2023 8:03:10 GMT 1
49 Bangles - Everything
Another album with baggage why do all these songs remind me of great times which were closely followed by cringe, being a teenager! Their third album and a much more straightforward pop rock album, it just rolls along really, just great song after great song. Then we have 'Eternal Flame' just can't listen to it anymore But that is fine as there are plenty other gems especially "In Your Room" which is such a sexy Susanna vocal and song. The record reached #5 in the UK and #15 in the US. 4/5
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Post by smokeyb on Jul 20, 2023 21:42:08 GMT 1
55 Talk Talk - Spirit of EdenTheir fourth album and a critical favourite and regarded as a classic in its genre. I was not ready for this record in 1988 and I am still not entirely. It is said this album helped invent post-rock, not sure if that was a good thing as to me most of it is just arty rubbish. But #2 on Rate Your Music for 1988 shows how revered it is by the Pitchfork and blogger brigade. And ok yes it is gorgeous and I bet it would be another of those late night headphone records like Blue Nile. So as this is only the second time I have played this, it is hard for me to be fair about it, so that's why it gets a non-committal placing. The record reached #19 in the UK. 4/5 I have this (well I do have all their albums),I know what you mean about this one, there are no real catchy singles like the previous albums,and the tracks are all quite long, but I listen to it late at night with a glass of wine or three,and I like it.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 22, 2023 7:27:45 GMT 1
48 Scritti Politti - Provision
Their third album after a bit of a gap and it is possibly my favourite overall. I think it is quite underated and has some fantastic singles especially "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry for Loverboy)" but "First Boy in This Town (Lovesick)" is also brilliant. It is just a really good record. Always a fan of dance music but Green will move much further into that genre on the next record. The record reached #8 in the UK and #113 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 22, 2023 7:36:49 GMT 1
47 Vixen - VixenNow a debut album from a new American rock band. I was very excited for them as they were produced and their debut single written by Richard Marx. "Edge of a Broken Heart" has maybe not aged as well as other tracks, though. Basically a more hair metal Heart and it is an excellent album, especially songs like "Cryin'" and "Love Made Me". Thought it was more successful though it only reached #86 in the UK and #41 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 22, 2023 7:49:53 GMT 1
46 The Wonder Stuff - The Eight Legged Groove Machine
Bubbling just under the mainstream is a new music scene called grebo which mostly consists of bands from the Midlands. We have alraedy seen Pop Will Eat Itself and another band Crazyhead just missed the cut for 1988. But the most likely to go mainstream are The Wonderstuff. Possibly just as much an influence as The Stone Roses when it comes to Brit Pop. This is a great album of guitar pop which is full of energy and fun which is lacking in alternative music at the time. Singles that you can actually dance and mosh to such as "It's Yer Money I'm After, Baby", "Unbearable", "Give, Give, Give Me More, More, More" and "A Wish Away". They built up a fanbase as the year went on and the first listed single cracked the top 40. The record reached #18 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 22, 2023 7:56:33 GMT 1
45 Cinderella - Long Cold WinterThe second album from the hair metal band, and it is my favourite and mainly as it moves away from that sound incorporating more blues rock bringing them closer to Black Crowes and Guns N Roses. Which I think puts them on another level from bands like Poison or Warrant."Gypsy Road" is a classic track and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" is a great ballad. Really it is a very solid album, with no dodcy misteps which usually plague hair metal albums. The record did pretty well reaching #10 in the US where it sold over 3 million copies and #30 in the UK. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 7:57:17 GMT 1
44 Transvision Vamp - Pop Art
The debut album from the band fronted by Wendy James. I was not sure what I would think of it in 2023 and I was pleased to say I still enjoy it. Indie pop was pretty big right now with bands like The Primitives, but Transvision Vamp took it more to the mainstream. So many great singles, "I Want Your Love", "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" and "Sister Moon". The record reached #4 in the UK and #115 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 8:08:52 GMT 1
43 a-ha - Stay on These Roads
Their third album and they miss the top 40 this time but they are still of course making great music. Honestly although this album is lower I still love it. 'Stay On These Roads' is classic A-Ha/ I think it would be better with the single version of 'The Living Daylights' it is just more dramatic and atmospheric. But no bad tracks, even 'Touchy' which is one of their cheesiest songs ever is still fun. The record reached #2 in the UK and #148 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 8:13:33 GMT 1
42 Eddie Money - Nothing to Lose
Also dropping out of the top 40 is the new record from the AOR man. Pretty much in the same vein as 'Don't Hold Back' just the songs are not quite as brilliant even the lead single 'Walk On Water' can't hold a candle to previous hits but it was the first single I managed to buy by him so that makes it special. This was his seventh album and it reached #49 in the US. His last decent sized hit. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jul 23, 2023 8:21:53 GMT 1
41 Crowded House - Temple Of Low Men
The second album from New Zealand-Australian rock band. I was a bit disappointed with what I heard from this at the time but it is a much better album than the singles indicate and "Better Be Home Soon" is now one of my favourite Crowded House songs. I see on Wikipedia it is called a 'darkly difficult album' and that is maybe why I was not raedy for it when I was 16. It is more downbeat but their are still uptempo songs like "When You Come" although I am still not keen on 'Sister Madly' which is maybe why it misses the top 40. With this album I think many thought Crowded House were just going back to being an Antipodean thing like John Farnham or Jimmy Barnes when the album reached #40 in the US and #99 in the UK. Things will turn round for them quite dramatically. 4/5
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Good Old Days
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Post by Good Old Days on Jul 23, 2023 9:03:04 GMT 1
Vixen is my favourite rock group.
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