The Next TOP SONG of 1988 - 1. Heartbreak Beat - Psychedelic Furs (1 Viewer)

[Bracie Smathers]

List consists of songs from 88, singles albums released and will also include songs listed at the top of the playlist from the radio station I DJ'd at up in the Colorado Rocky Mountain town of Steamboat Springs.  

The songs at the top of that playlist were in heavy rotation in 88 and would include tunes from any part of 87 so my parameters widen on this list.  Also I would move from Steamboat to Boulder Colorado to begin college at CU where they had one of the top AOR stations in the country KBCO.  So my list will include tunes in heavy rotation from my station KFMU and KBCO with one exception and I'll explain that when I get to it later.

100.  Kokomo - The Beach Boys

Is this one of the GREATEST tunes of 88?  Eh, my roommate was the sales manager from KFMU and scored us free tickets to an outdoor concert to see the Boys.  I can confirm the rumors.

Lots of hot girls with smoking bods in bikinis would climb up on the shoulders of guys and when a song was played that they liked, like Kokomo, they would take off thier tops and flash the appreciative crowd. 

I can also confirm that... They were real and they were spectacular

100.  Kokomo - The Beach Boys

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

98.  Mystery Tune????

97.  Perfect - Fairground Attraction

96.  Holding On - Steve Winwood 

95. Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes · K.D. Lang

94.  Hot Rod Lincoln - Asleep At The Wheel

93.  Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac 

92.  Streets of your Town - Go Betweens 

91.  A Trick Of The Light - The Triffids 

90.  When It's Love - Van Halen 

89.  Kiss and Tell - Bryan Ferry

88.  Victoria  - The Fall

87.  You are the Everything - R.E.M. 

86.  Paper In Fire - John Mellencamp 

85.  Angel Eyes - The Jeff Healey Band 

84.  Jesus Christ -  U2

83.  Blind - Talking Heads

82.  Can't Stay Away From You  - Gloria Estefan

81.  Breakfast In Bed - UB40 · Chrissie Hynde

80.  The Last Beat Of My Heart - Siouxsie And The Banshees

79.  (I've Had) The Time Of My Life  - Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes 

78.  Copperhead Road  - Steve Earle

77.  A Smile In A Whisper -  Fairground Attraction 

76.  Queen of the Slipstream - Van Morrison

75.  Patience - Guns N' Roses  = STAND - R.E.M.

74.  Englishman In New York - Sting

73.  Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - U2

72.  Into Temptation - Crowded House 

71.  Hungry Eyes  - Eric Carmen

70.  Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson 

69.  Orinoco Flow - Enya 

68.  Elvis is Everywhere - Mojo Nixon

67.  Did Ye Get Healed - Van Morrison

66.  Only Love - BoDeans 

65.  Hawkmoon 269 - U2

64.  Used To Love Her - Guns N' Roses

63.  Got My Mind Set On You (Version I) - George Harrison 

62.  Turn You Inside-Out - R.E.M.

61.  Nothing - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

60.  Rain In The Summertime - The Alarm

59. La Bamba -  Los Lobos

58.  Someone Like You - Van Morrison

57.  Fragile - Sting

56.  Unchain My Heart - Joe Cocker

55.  One Step Up - Bruce Springsteen

54.  Nothing But Flowers - The Talking Heads

53.  Somewhere Down The Crazy River - Robbie Robertson 

52. The Ballad of Jenny Rae - BoDeans

51.  The One I Love - R.E.M.

50.  Circle - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

49.  I Wanna Be Like You - Los Lobos

48.  Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac 

47.  Faith - George Michael

46.  Brilliant Disguise - Bruce Springsteen

45.  Ship Of Fools - Erasure 

44.  Bring Me Some Water - Melissa Etheridge

43.  Slow Turning - John Hiatt 

42.  Trampolene - Julian Cope 

41.  Shakin', Shakin' Shakes - Los Lobos 

40.  Joshua Tree-One Tree Hill - U2

39.  The Look - Roxette 

38.  The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson 

37. Someday/Dreams - BoDeans

36.  The Killing Jar - Siouxsie And The Banshees

35.  End Of The Line - The Traveling Wilburys

34.  Roll With It - Steve Winwood 

33.  The Valley Road  - Bruce Hornsby & The Range

32.  Sister Madly - Crowded House

31.  Tom's Diner  - Suzanne Vega

30.  Where The Streets Have No Name  - U2

29.  Rattled /Last Night -The traveling Wilburys

28.  Let It Roll - Little Feat 

27.  Dude Looks Like A Lady - Aerosmith 

26.  Charlotte Anne - Julian Cope 

25.  Totally Nude - Talking Heads

24.  Tunnel of Love  - Bruce Springsteen 

23.  So Emotional - Whitney Houston 

22.  Like The Weather - 10,000 Maniacs 

21.  Always With Me, Always With You - Joe Satriani

20.  Cherry Bomb - John Mellencamp 

19.  Get Up -  R.E.M.

18.  Sign Your Name -  Sananda Maitreya (formerly known as Terence Trent D'Arby)

17.  Mary's Prayer - Danny Wilson

16.  Working on It - Chris Rea

15.  Just Like Heaven - The Cure 

14.  Welcome Tomorrow - Love And Rockets

13.  New Sensation - INXS

12.  Pop Song 89 - R.E.M.

11.  I'm Sorry - Hothouse Flowers 

10.  I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2

9.  Need You Tonight - INXS

8.  Crazy - Icehouse

7.  Its the end of the world by R.E.M -  R.E.M

6.  No New Tale To Tell - Love and Rockets 

5.  Devil Inside - INXS

4.  Push It - Salt-N-Pepa 

3.  With Or Without You - U2

2.  Litany (Life Goes On) - Guadalcanal Diary 

1.  Heartbreak Beat - Psychedelic Furs 

 

[Dennis Castro]

 

[Mookie Gizzy]

Oh boy. I posted in the wrong forum.

List consists of songs from 88, singles albums released and will also include songs listed at the top of the playlist from the radio station I DJ'd at up in the Colorado Rocky Mountain town of Steamboat Springs.  

The songs at the top of that playlist were in heavy rotation in 88 and would include tunes from any part of 87 so my parameters widen on this list.  Also I would move from Steamboat to Boulder Colorado to begin college at CU where they had one of the top AOR stations in the country KBCO.  So my list will include tunes in heavy rotation from my station KFMU and KBCO with one exception and I'll explain that when I get to it later.

100.  Kokomo - The Beach Boys

Is this one of the GREATEST tunes of 88?  Eh, my roommate was the sales manager from KFMU and scored us free tickets to an outdoor concert to see the Boys.  I can confirm the rumors.

Lots of hot girls with smoking bods in bikinis would climb up on the shoulders of guys and when a song was played that they liked, like Kokomo, they would take off thier tops and flash the appreciative crowd. 

I can also confirm that... They were real and they were spectacular

 

[scorchy]

I may not even like Kokomo, but I still sing it almost 25 years later whenever someone says Aruba or Jamaica, so it must be doing something right.

 

[zamboni]

I normally hold you in very high regard when it comes to musical taste, Bracie, but I have to strongly disagree with Kokomo being anywhere near the top 200 songs of the year. That is, unless there were only 200 songs released during the year.

And this from a big Beach Boys fan.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I may not even like Kokomo, but I still sing it almost 25 years later whenever someone says Aruba or Jamaica, so it must be doing something right.

And no, this was not in our or KBCO's rotation.  I chose it over a couple of tunes at the end of my list.

Pet Shop Boys  

 KD Lang  

Aztec Camera  

George Harrison  Harrison

Ziggy Bob's kid

MJ

Etheridge er the 'other' lesbian chart topper from 88

Bobby McFerrin

Milli Vanilli or as I called them Billy McVilli

None of these songs are associated with hot girls flashing me so Kokomo was an obvious choice.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

100.  Kokomo - The Beach Boys

reaction.

 

[Kanil]

Oh boy. I posted in the wrong forum.

List consists of songs from 88, singles albums released and will also include songs listed at the top of the playlist from the radio station I DJ'd at up in the Colorado Rocky Mountain town of Steamboat Springs.  

The songs at the top of that playlist were in heavy rotation in 88 and would include tunes from any part of 87 so my parameters widen on this list.  Also I would move from Steamboat to Boulder Colorado to begin college at CU where they had one of the top AOR stations in the country KBCO.  So my list will include tunes in heavy rotation from my station KFMU and KBCO with one exception and I'll explain that when I get to it later.

100.  Kokomo - The Beach Boys

Is this one of the GREATEST tunes of 88?  Eh, my roommate was the sales manager from KFMU and scored us free tickets to an outdoor concert to see the Boys.  I can confirm the rumors.

Lots of hot girls with smoking bods in bikinis would climb up on the shoulders of guys and when a song was played that they liked, like Kokomo, they would take off thier tops and flash the appreciative crowd. 

I can also confirm that... They were real and they were spectacular

I was 9 and loved this song.  I called the radio station up to request it and they played it.  But I was 9 and had the dial slightly to the left and was listening to the wrong station.  I called them back and asked if they didnt play it just because I was a kid.  They said they did and I didnt believe them.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

This is one of the 'heavy rotation' tunes form KFMU.  I was on my shift when the CD single came in and the music director gave it to me as he put it into the rotation.   I wasn't blown away by the track but it is considered ground breaking as it tells the story of the Australian abiogenies persecution.  

Number 95 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.  The group came up with the tune after touring Aboriginal communities of the Outback.  One of the companies that was exploiting their lands had the company slogan of 'Fair Go'.  The group turned that phrase on its head in the lyrics.

The time has come to say fair's fair

To pay the rent now, to pay our share

 

[DocHolliday]

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

This is one of the 'heavy rotation' tunes form KFMU.  I was on my shift when the CD single came in and the music director gave it to me as he put it into the rotation.   I wasn't blown away by the track but it is considered ground breaking as it tells the story of the Australian abiogenies persecution.  

Number 95 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.  The group came up with the tune after touring Aboriginal communities of the Outback.  One of the companies that was exploiting their lands had the company slogan of 'Fair Go'.  The group turned that phrase on its head in the lyrics.

The time has come to say fair's fair

To pay the rent now, to pay our share

I still like this song but it’s totally due to the fantastic chorus. The lyrics are solid but the vocals are just awful outside of the chorus.  

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I still like this song but it’s totally due to the fantastic chorus. The lyrics are solid but the vocals are just awful outside of the chorus.  

I admit I wasn't blown away by the tune when I first heard it but I like it a lot now.

 

[zamboni]

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

Now you’re cooking - this would have been high up in my own personal top 100.

 

[scorchy]

I really liked the whole Diesel and Dust album.  This was from '87 under my system or else I would have rated it somewhere in the 60s or 70s.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

:kokodot:

 

[Bogart]

I normally hold you in very high regard when it comes to musical taste, Bracie, but I have to strongly disagree with Kokomo being anywhere near the top 200 songs of the year. That is, unless there were only 200 songs released during the year.

And this from a big Beach Boys fan.

I'm going to guess that big fans of the Beach Boys unanimously hate the song, while those that aren't big fans and maybe only know the Beach Boys first from that song either like it or have no opinion.

 

[FairWarning]

Now you’re cooking - this would have been high up in my own personal top 100.

Same, it was a pretty big song in 1988.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm going to guess that big fans of the Beach Boys unanimously hate the song, while those that aren't big fans and maybe only know the Beach Boys first from that song either like it or have no opinion.

Hey, my friend! Hope all is well with you.

Anyway, I'm a pretty big Beach Boys fan. While "Kokomo" is far from my favorite, I'd rather listen to it on endless loop than some of Mike Love's late 60s/early 70s stuff with the BB.

 

[plinko]

 Diane Coffee cover of Kokomo 

I like this enough that I asked Diane Coffee himself at a show, if I could get a better quality copy of it. He just laughed ,  said it was some silly #### he did and wandered off

 

[Leroy Hoard]

And no, this was not in our or KBCO's rotation.  I chose it over a couple of tunes at the end of my list.

Aztec Camera  

George Harrison  Harrison

While I'll admit Kokomo has a certain earwormyness to it, I would much rather listen to these three.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

98.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

The only way to present this song, lol.

 

[Bogart]

98.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

The only way to present this song, lol.

I wonder how long you have to watch to count as a view. That number is getting up there.

 

[scorchy]

98.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

The only way to present this song, lol.

Hated it at the time but it was definitely super-popular.  The artist seems like a good dude and his voice has grown on me even if his 80s output hasn't.

Covering The Smiths (This Charming Man plus There Is A Light...)

 

[rockaction]

Thoughts:

Can you get rickrolled if you know you're getting rickrolled? Asking for a friend. 

By the way, the text editor does not place an underline under "rickrolled." That's outstanding. 

I was surprised Midnight Oil didn't make scorchy's list when I saw Bracie post it this morning or last night, but that was explained rather quickly. '87. 

Kokomo is not a great song, but scorchy is dead on about the earworm and those countries. Very memorable song, let's say. 

 

[Dennis Castro]

Hated it at the time but it was definitely super-popular.  The artist seems like a good dude and his voice has grown on me even if his 80s output hasn't.

Covering The Smiths (This Charming Man plus There Is A Light...)

Very cool. Thanks for posting. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I really liked the whole Diesel and Dust album.  This was from '87 under my system or else I would have rated it somewhere in the 60s or 70s.

Ditto. The Oils have never made a bad album and this is one of their best. 

My friends and I associate this with ‘87 because that’s when the album came out, but I may well not have heard the song until ‘88. I don’t remember. What I do remember was that it was so distinctive and forceful compared to most of the other new material being marketed as rock the time.

 

[Doug B]

The artist seems like a good dude and his voice has grown on me even if his 80s output hasn't.

You're number 98 is a very solid tune, modern-day meme or not.

The production on his songs those first few years ... most of the instrumentation sounds really dated now. "Never Gonna Give You Up"'s synthesize strings do help lift that song a level above the rest of his early material, though. Would love to hear this crew combine with a solid pop-rock engine room (e.g. Flaming Lips, 21 Pilots) to do an updated version with Astley on vox.

Astley covering The Temptations ... strong voice, odd instrumentation on a classic. 

BONUS: Astley in 2019 released a version of "Never Gonna Give You Up" with his vocals only accompanied by a piano. Whoa.

BONUS 2: Pretty nice semi-acoustic cover by Acoustic Brew. Good sound for four dudes sitting around the kitchen table.

 

[Doug B]

Would love to hear this crew combine with a solid pop-rock engine room (e.g. Flaming Lips, 21 Pilots) to do an updated version with Astley on vox.

Well ...this is pretty dang close though the sound fidelity is a little weak. Rick Astley fronting the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl is apparently a fan.

(LINK -- NSFW language warning. FF to 1:15 to get past any words)

 

[Bracie Smathers]

...  My friends and I associate this with ‘87 because that’s when the album came out, but I may well not have heard the song until ‘88. I don’t remember. What I do remember was that it was so distinctive and forceful compared to most of the other new material being marketed as rock the time.

See, that is why I made the list as I did.  I only had one new CD debut on my shift and that was the tune and that is why I recall my instant reaction where I wasn't blown away.  My raw initial reaction tainted my ranking but I like being true to how I felt as a 23 year old.

The album was released and charted well in Australia, the UK, and NZ in 87 but as I noted our station didn't even get the single until 88 so its an 88 tune for me all the way.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

You're number 98 is a very solid tune, modern-day meme or not.

I like it a lot but its the most forced overplay of any song in history and I got rickrolled before it became a meme and it got a bit ridiculous about 20 years ago.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

97.  Perfect - Fairground Attraction

I had never heard this tune or group before putting together this list.  If Scorchy hadn't devasted my list it 'probably' wouldn't have made my next-100 but it squeaked-in.  I put this off to the side many times but it grew on me.  I don't think it charted and its a bit goofy but in a pleasant way.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

 I only had one new CD debut on my shift and that was the tune and that is why I recall my instant reaction where I wasn't blown away.  My raw initial reaction tainted my ranking but I like being true to how I felt as a 23 year old.

Of course. Whereas I was smitten instantly and delved deeper into them as much as I could. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

96.  Holding On - Steve Windwood 

One of four charting tunes from Windwood in 88.

I loved Windwood's vocals from the 1960s when he was the 16 year old lead singer of the Spencer Davis Group.  I loved Arc Of A Diver and we'll see another one from Windwood later on this list.

 

[TripItUp]

Now you’re cooking - this would have been high up in my own personal top 100.

Yep, this makes my top 50...interestingly, as many of you may know., the lead singer went on to become a successful politician in Australia.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

96.  Holding On - Steve Windwood 

One of four charting tunes from Windwood in 88.

I loved Windwood's vocals from the 1960s when he was the 16 year old lead singer of the Spencer Davis Group.  I loved Arc Of A Diver and we'll see another one from Windwood later on this list.

One d in Winwood. Sorry, I’m a writer, I can’t help but notice these things.

This song is … ok. It sounds more exciting than it actually is, if that makes any sense.

 

[TripItUp]

Kokomo also easily makes my top 100 for the year, bonus points for Cocktail soundtrack.

 

[rockaction]

One d in Winwood. Sorry, I’m a writer, I can’t help but notice these things.

This song is … ok. It sounds more exciting than it actually is, if that makes any sense.

Coming in because I noticed the same and noticed you commented and just knew. 

If you're wondering, I was going to tell him, too. 

 

[TripItUp]

Saw Steve Winwood open for Fleetwood about 15 years ago...his set was super bongo drums heavy...It was kinda weird.   He did bust out some "Higher Love" and "Valerie" which are always crowd pleasers.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

This is one of the 'heavy rotation' tunes form KFMU.  I was on my shift when the CD single came in and the music director gave it to me as he put it into the rotation.   I wasn't blown away by the track but it is considered ground breaking as it tells the story of the Australian abiogenies persecution.  

Number 95 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.  The group came up with the tune after touring Aboriginal communities of the Outback.  One of the companies that was exploiting their lands had the company slogan of 'Fair Go'.  The group turned that phrase on its head in the lyrics.

The time has come to say fair's fair

To pay the rent now, to pay our share

Yep, this makes my top 50...interestingly, as many of you may know., the lead singer went on to become a successful politician in Australia.

Far from a one hit wonder in Australia. They were maybe even bigger than INXS. Their early albums charted for years, especially 10, 9, 8 etc. US Forces would have been a huge hit in Australia, if the band believed in releasing singles. Like Metallica, a lot of their early stuff was albums without singles. 

As for Peter Garrett, at the height of the bands success in the mid 80s he was a committed Greenie. The labour government was genuinely worried about the ability of Garrett to resonate with the young voters, my mate convinced us all to donate $2 each to the Green Party lol. Anyway they lined up Garrett for a debate on TV, watched by millions with one of the heavy hitters in the Labour party, Bill Hayden. Hayden would have been prime minister if he wasn’t rolled by the charismatic Bob Hawke who legitimately held the world record for fastest beer drinker and won 4 consecutive elections. Never lost one. Anyway Hayden and Garrett debated on TV and Hayden took him behind the woodshed and destroyed him. Garrett was a successful lawyer before Midnight oil so was no dummy. Hayden was masterful at attacking Garretts weak points, destroying his credibility and arguing about what he wanted to, not what Garrett wanted to. I wish I could find the video. It was a masterclass. 

Anyway Garrett later sold his soul, joined the Labour party and became Education minister, Environment as well. He admitted as much himself. Tried to change the system from within. System too strong lol. 

97.  Perfect - Fairground Attraction

I had never heard this tune or group before putting together this list.  If Scorchy hadn't devasted my list it 'probably' wouldn't have made my next-100 but it squeaked-in.  I put this off to the side many times but it grew on me.  I don't think it charted and its a bit goofy but in a pleasant way.

This song was number one in the UK and Australia, not to name hugely successful in Europe.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Saw Steve Winwood open for Fleetwood about 15 years ago...his set was super bongo drums heavy...It was kinda weird.   He did bust out some "Higher Love" and "Valerie" which are always crowd pleasers.

I saw him open for Steely Dan about 5 or 6 years ago. His set was mostly Traffic material, plus his two big hits from Spencer Davis Group and Higher Love. 

You may have seen him around the time of his 2003 solo album About Time, which was very heavy on percussion and hearkened back to the 1970-73 Traffic sound. I thought it was pretty good, particularly the cover of Timmy Thomas' Why Can't We Live Together. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

Number 95 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.  

That's weird to me because while it may be true from a Hot 100 perspective, FM radio where I grew up played quite a few tracks from Diesel and Dust, 1990's Blue Sky Mining and 1993's Earth and Sun and Moon. After that the band got less promotion over here as Peter Garrett became more involved in Australian politics. 

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I may not even like Kokomo, but I still sing it almost 25 years later whenever someone says Aruba or Jamaica, so it must be doing something right.

It's an okay song, but the residual effects were grim. The success fed the monstrous ego of the truly horrible Mike Love, and let him stake the delusional claim that he and not Brian Wilson was and always had been, the true genius behind the band. 

 

[rockaction]

It's an okay song, but the residual effects were grim. The success fed the monstrous ego of the truly horrible Mike Love, and let him stake the delusional claim that he and not Brian Wilson was and always had been, the true genius behind the band. 

Some people just miss the memo. I don't think anybody would have begrudged Mike Love his stake in the Beach Boys had he hadn't been such an insufferable ####### about their successes and from whence they were borne. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

95.  Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes · K.D.  Lang

K.D. Lang broke out the same year as Melissa Etheridge, both openly gay women.  I liked Lang, she was cool and got the nom de plume of the Lesbian Elvis which was awesome IMHO.  This is off her debut album which consisted of Country covers. 

I really like the Spanish guitar on this one.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

One d in Winwood. Sorry, I’m a writer, I can’t help but notice these things.

This song is … ok. It sounds more exciting than it actually is, if that makes any sense.

Auto correct doesn't recognize proper pronouns.  I originally typed it in the right way but doubted myself, lol.

As far as tunes on the bottom of this list, just hang in there.  Scorchey adopted a scorched earth policy to my list so the bottom quarter isn't as tight as I'd prefer but it does improve.  

 

[Mookie Gizzy]

I saw him open for Steely Dan about 5 or 6 years ago. His set was mostly Traffic material, plus his two big hits from Spencer Davis Group and Higher Love. 

You may have seen him around the time of his 2003 solo album About Time, which was very heavy on percussion and hearkened back to the 1970-73 Traffic sound. I thought it was pretty good, particularly the cover of Timmy Thomas' Why Can't We Live Together. 

I like Holding On. And the Timmy Thomas cover is $$

 

[scorchy]

Auto correct doesn't recognize proper pronouns.  I originally typed it in the right way but doubted myself, lol.

As far as tunes on the bottom of this list, just hang in there.  Scorchey adopted a scorched earth policy to my list so the bottom quarter isn't as tight as I'd prefer but it does improve.  

I've already heard a couple of things I like that I'd never heard before.  Fairground Attraction were complete unknowns to me but the song was fun.  I could easily pick kd lang out of a lineup even 25 years later but don't think I could have named a song of hers.

 

[BobbyLayne]

95.  Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes · K.D.  Lang

K.D. Lang broke out the same year as Melissa Etheridge, both openly gay women.  I liked Lang, she was cool and got the nom de plume of the Lesbian Elvis which was awesome IMHO.  This is off her debut album which consisted of Country covers. 

I really like the Spanish guitar on this one.

Loved k.d. lang & the Reclines back in the day. I think I first became aware of her when she did a duet with Roy Orbison for a new arrangement of "Crying"

I don't remember this particular song but I was in the Mediterranean and the Gulf a lot that year. When I got back to the states the next summer my sister was listening to an album called Absolute Torch and Twang. Kind of wore that one out, but never really got into her again after that.

(aside - I'm pretty sure neither she or Melissa were out yet back then. hell, Elton John and George Michael didn't come out until the mid-to-late 90s. I think we sometimes forget how different 1988 was from today.)

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Loved k.d. lang & the Reclines back in the day. I think I first became aware of her when she did a duet with Roy Orbison for a new arrangement of "Crying"

I don't remember this particular song but I was in the Mediterranean and the Gulf a lot that year. When I got back to the states the next summer my sister was listening to an album called Absolute Torch and Twang. Kind of wore that one out, but never really got into her again after that.

(aside - I'm pretty sure neither she or Melissa were out yet back then. hell, Elton John and George Michael didn't come out until the mid-to-late 90s. I think we sometimes forget how different 1988 was from today.)

I forgot about her duet with Obinson, that is great Bobby.

They both were VERY OUT in 88.  As I noted KD got the tag of the 'Lesbian Elvis' and Messila was also openly out.  I was going to CU in Boulder, considered one of the most 'liberal' colleges in the country at the time and they had vibrant gay community.  KBCO had Etheridge on Heavy rotation and must have mentioned it for me to know.

I think it was 'easier' for females to come out and in general it was 'easier' in the music field due to Bowie and Freddie Mercury and lots of rumors about Elton John. I know Pete Townnshend OUTTED himself as bi a few years prior but backtracked and I think even today is murky on the subject.

I don't think it was a coincidence that a female, Ellen was the first openly gay TV star to come out over a big name male.  The only big-name male to come out as far as I recall was Rock Hudson and that was because he either had or was dying of AIDS so he had nothing to lose and had public support.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I've already heard a couple of things I like that I'd never heard before.  Fairground Attraction were complete unknowns to me but the song was fun.  I could easily pick kd lang out of a lineup even 25 years later but don't think I could have named a song of hers.

I thought that THIS song of hers came out in 88.  Was surprised to find out it came out a few years later.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

94.  Hot Rod Lincoln - Asleep At The Wheel

One of the funnest country rock bands of all time doing a great cover of a Commander Cody classic.