Billboard Number One Album Rock Tracks 1989

capital-R rock music was in a weird divided place in the late '80s. the biggest young bands were the brazenly commercial metal/hard rock guys, the 'alternative' stuff that we might consider the best of the era was a couple years off from having a mainstream breakthrough, a lot of aging stars had gone in big on videos and drum machines to stay relevant...

...and by then most boomers had CD players, and needed something to buy other than stuff they were replacing from vinyl.

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Were any non-singles even appearing on the 'AOR' charts by this point?

Like, did anyone think CSNY or the Stones or even Robert Plant were doing the best work of their careers at this point?

not in 1990 probably, but the Honeydrippers project aside, Plant's eighties albums are damn good and don't embarrass him at all. Shaken 'n' Stirred is ready to be reclaimed by the Trans claque.

No, I love a lot of solo Plant actually, especially Manic Nirvana and Dreamland. He didn't deserve to be lumped in with the other two. I still kind of doubt that many people were saying "this is better than Zep IV!" is all.

But no, it wasn't the best example for the point I was making there.

I don't know the 80s albums except for Now and Zen tbh. Ever get into Peter Gabriel territory?

gabriel's not the worst comparison

Looks like this will probably be the first time I vote for Tom Petty in a poll.

Like, did anyone think CSNY or the Stones...were doing the best work of their careers at this point?

One thing to consider re:these two was how greased the hype machine was. The CSNY was their first lp in 18 years, while the Stones were on a new label, celebrating the end of the Jagger-Richards feud, and embarking on their first all-enormodome tour in like 6-8 years.

Did not expect that from you, Rudipherous.

Alfred has me interested in that Stevie Nicks song though.

It's batshit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UchhRsc2spg

I miss my chance tell Sund4r: I Won't Back Down. Which I just voted for. Gave a sloppy listen to the Nicks before you posted that but I will try again. I don't tend to zero in on lyrics as much as you do, Alfred.

But there are a bunch of Tom Petty songs from this time period that I think are hard to argue with as good songs, even if I've never been into his sound.

haha I don't really care for lyrics! I noticed hers because they're particularly insane even for her. The tasteful Rupert Hine production (even the flamenco guitar and airy synth clouds he'd reprise for Rush's "Ghost of a Chance") helps.

I think I've made that mistake before about you and lyrics, but I do notice you mentioning them.

I feel dumb saying it, but I have a little trouble making out the words Nicks is singing much of the time and her voice just ends up sounding like her voice. And I like her voice, though the style of a song like this makes it hard for me to get excited about. I wouldn't really call the production tasteful, though I found myself enjoying the flauxmenco guitar part of the time.

This is annoying: I was going to post something about how crap "Runnin Down a Dream" is, went to listen to it to back this up, and then realized I know the whole thing by heart, which completely deflates my original point.

Again, time to get offline.

Oh, THIS Stevie Nicks song. I still hear this on the radio all the time.

OK, really going offline now.

Going off the grid?

looks like a grocery store playlist!

Petty album the first I ever sold off, think I like it more now than then but I dunno, so earnest!

The Call = The Fixx, no?

voted Stand over The End of the Innocence

Thinking more of 1989, I remember listening to Green a lot when I was packing to move out from home to live on my own, which gives it way too much importance somehow. As I think I've said elsewhere, I was really into it for maybe half a year. Something like that. I neither love nor hate Stand at this point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSxt-PFofNg

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Four votes for Nicks? TWO votes for CSNY???

there is magic all around us -- if I do say so myself

Principle of Moments is very good! I forgot how good "Big Log" was.

Tbh I probably mostly like Manic Nirvana for nostalgia.

Four votes for Nicks? TWO votes for CSNY???
I know! One of them should have been another vote for Free Fallin' and REM can suck it!

My vote for Free Falling would have stood in the way of an REM win, and after I had already voted, I changed my mind and wished that's what I had voted for.

somehow didn't notice 'rooms on fire' up there, yeah that's a pretty great solo nicks track

oh man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to2KasivROc