09/17/2007
Mix Disc Monday Home / Music Home / Bullz-Eye Home
1989 marked the tail end of the hair metal days, the emergence of some great new acts, and the comebacks of some others. What else happened? Ted Bundy was executed, Time and Warner merged, the Exxon Valdez oil spill happened, the Sky Dome in Toronto opened, and there was a major earthquake in San Francisco during the World Series. Below is a playlist of songs from 1989 that should bring back memories of all kinds for all kinds of people.
"A Girl Like You," the Smithereens (11)
The Smithereens had a lot of songs that
were hits on the modern rock charts but they never
really had a top ten single. Still, they were a
solid band that wrote hooky songs--songs that were
especially good for drinking lots of beer to.
"Who Loves You," Alannah Myles (Alannah
Myles)
A Canadian hottie that I keep picturing
with tight black leather pants on. Must have been
a video, a dream, or both. Anyway, Myles could sing
her ass off, and even though "Black Velvet" was the
big hit, this song was less sexy but more powerful.
"Eat for Two," 10,000 Maniacs (Blind
Man’s Zoo)
Before she decided she was better than the other
9,999 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant and her band made
some really awesome records. This song was a modest
single and still one of their best.
"Love Shack," B-52’s (Cosmic Thing)
It’s not that the B-52’s didn’t already
have a nice following and some big hits, but this
album was their coming out party. In fact, this
track may be one of the most played party songs
in history.
"Heaven," Warrant (Dirty Rotten Filthy
Stinking Rich)
You can joke all you want about hair metal being
cheesy, but most of these bands sure knew their
way around a melody. In fact, with hits like this,
you could say Warrant was just Journey with longer
hair and tighter pants.
"Roni," Bobby Brown (Don’t
Be Cruel)
Most people know Bobby Brown because he’s a wife-beating
drunk who is married to Whitney Houston. But back
in the day the dude had some big hits, with and
without New Edition.
"Talent Show," the Replacements (Don’t
Tell a Soul)
The Replacements had some great albums,
but for my money it doesn’t get any better than Don’t
Tell a Soul. When I’m asked for my favorite
albums of all time, I always forget to mention
this one, so I’m making up for that right here
and now.
"Free Fallin’," Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
(Full Moon Fever)
Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers never really went
away, but this was a comeback album of sorts. A
top ten hit, this is an anthem of a song that rivals
Petty’s Damn the Torpedoes days.
"Wicked Game," Chris Isaak (Heart
Shaped World)
As I write this 18 years after its release,
I remember one thing and I’m betting all of you
do too: the black and white video of Isaak and
that super-hot chick on the beach.
"Tonight I’m Falling," TNT (Intuition)
This Norwegian group was a hair band that never
really got the recognition it deserved. I’d put
this song up against any pop hair metal song in
history.
"So Alive," Love and Rockets (Love
and Rockets)
One of a multitude of songs hat reminds
me of a great radio station on Long Island I
listened to growing up, WLIR, 92.7. They were
always on the cutting edge, and were probably
one of the first stations anywhere to play Love
and Rockets.
"Toy Soldiers," Martika (Martika)
There’s always room for one-hit wonders on these
lists, especially when they help us identify with
a particular moment in history. I mean, does anyone,
and I mean ANYONE, know what Martika is doing right
this minute?
"Don’t Rush Me," Taylor Dayne (Tell
It to My Heart)
True story: I lived in the same Long Island town
as Taylor Dayne, and bumped into her on a train
going to New York City. I know none of you care,
but she used to be pretty freaking hot.
"If I Can Just Get Through the Night,"
Phoebe Snow (Something Real)
Ms. Snow had a big hit with "Poetry Man"
in the seventies, so this was something of a comeback
and this song really showcased her enormous vocal
range.
"Mixed Emotions," Rolling Stones (Steel
Wheels)
There are about 100 Stones songs you think of
before this one, but Steel Wheels was
a comeback album for them because they wound up
touring in support of it, and it was their first
tour in seven years. Regardless, this song has
always rocked in my book.