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

[BobbyLayne]

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.

I don't want to

 

or be the Well actually guy (I hate that guy)

but Ellen came out in 1997

If it's on the Internet then it must be true is a pretty lousy litmus test, but if I Google "When did Xxxx come out?" I get:

• k.d. lang 1992 (described as "stunned the world")
  
• Melissa 1993 (and it was A BIG DEAL, I remember this one)
  
• Elton John 1976 AND 1992 
  
• George Michael 1998 (I'm dubious....didn't we all know he was gay when he was still in Wham?)
  

But to your point, I thought Elton John was always out. Like years before he came out publicly in the mid-70s I think we all assumed he was gay, right?

NBD either way. Or if you prefer, NTTAWWT.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I don't want to

 

or be the Well actually guy (I hate that guy)

but Ellen came out in 1997

If it's on the Internet then it must be true is a pretty lousy litmus test, but if I Google "When did Xxxx come out?" I get:

• k.d. lang 1992 (described as "stunned the world")
  
• Melissa 1993 (and it was A BIG DEAL, I remember this one)
  
• Elton John 1976 AND 1992 
  
• George Michael 1998 (I'm dubious....didn't we all know he was gay when he was still in Wham?)
  

But to your point, I thought Elton John was always out. Like years before he came out publicly in the mid-70s I think we all assumed he was gay, right?

NBD either way. Or if you prefer, NTTAWWT.

I knew for a fact that Etheridge was OUT there in 88.  I don't remember how I heard but it was discussed in our coed dorm.  Also KD was an uber dyke known as the first CeLESBIAN.  She would tell interviewers to call her K.D. DADDY and still does.  She reveled in it and Rolling Stone had her on the cover with the Lesbian Elvis tag.  

It was a blast to see or hear any of her interviews in the way she gave less than zero F'cks.  I think that her attitude was long overdue and made her many fans.

 

[scorchy]

George Michael 1998 (I'm dubious....didn't we all know he was gay when he was still in Wham?)

According to an interview with George from Behind the Music, he didn't realize he was gay when he was in Wham, but admits that when he looks back at the Wake Me Up... video, it should have been abundantly clear.

 

[BobbyLayne]

According to an interview with George from Behind the Music, he didn't realize he was gay when he was in Wham, but admits that when he looks back at the Wake Me Up... video, it should have been abundantly clear.

not long after FB hit the mainstream (2004?) a high school buddy tracked me down. we exchanged a few messages and then he asked for my email.

he sends me this diatribe that starts off with “if I don’t hear from you again or this offends you…” & tells me his story. I wrote back 

“Dave, were you the last one in our circle of friend’s to realize you were gay? Because any one of us could have told you that in 1978.”

 

[Bracie Smathers]

93.  Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac 

According to Wiki its the most recent number one single by Fleetwood Mac which I find difficult to fathom but I'll go with Wiki.  

Remember this was still in our heavy rotation at the station and strongly attached to 1988.

 

[TripItUp]

93.  Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac 

According to Wiki its the most recent number one single by Fleetwood Mac which I find difficult to fathom but I'll go with Wiki.  

Remember this was still in our heavy rotation at the station and strongly attached to 1988.

Seems appropriately ranked.  Not their best, but still a song I'll listen to.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

92.  Streets of your Town - Go Betweens 

Another tune and group I hadn't heard till putting together this list.

From Australia, U2 lifted parts of this song when they played "Elevation" and "With or Without You" on the opening of the Pacific leg of their Vertigo World Tour in Brisbane, in dedication to the song writer and vocalist Grant McLennan.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

92.  Streets of your Town - Go Betweens 

Another tune and group I hadn't heard till putting together this list.

From Australia, U2 lifted parts of this song when they played "Elevation" and "With or Without You" on the opening of the Pacific leg of their Vertigo World Tour in Brisbane, in dedication to the song writer and vocalist Grant McLennan.

Awesome choice. Brisbane is Australias 3rd largest city and will host the 2032 Olympics. This is where the Go-Betweens were from and their love letter to the city. A prominent bridge in the city is called “The Go-Betweens Bridge” 

This song only reached #68 on the Australian charts as the Brisbane market was dwarved by the Sydney and Melbourne markets. I think from memory it was top 10 in Queensland, which Brisbane is the capital of. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Awesome choice. Brisbane is Australias 3rd largest city and will host the 2032 Olympics. This is where the Go-Betweens were from and their love letter to the city. A prominent bridge in the city is called “The Go-Betweens Bridge” 

This song only reached #68 on the Australian charts as the Brisbane market was dwarved by the Sydney and Melbourne markets. I think from memory it was top 10 in Queensland, which Brisbane is the capital of. 

That is one of the fun things I get out of making these lists, finding music I had never heard before or uncovering something I had forgotten about.  I hadn't heard this tune or this group before putting the list together, I liked it but put it off to the side and gave it another listen and kept it to the side.  I gave it a third listen and was hooked.  Its a solid tune and it  should have gotten more airplay and unlike many 80s tunes it works today IMHO.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

91.  A Trick Of The Light - The Triffids 

Another Aussie group I hadn't heard of.  I had to dig to find tunes from 88 and hit the UK. Australia, and NZ charts to find anything and found this one.

I really like it.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

91.  A Trick Of The Light - The Triffids 

Another Aussie group I hadn't heard of.  I had to dig to find tunes from 88 and hit the UK. Australia, and NZ charts to find anything and found this one.

I really like it.

Did someone later do a cover of this? It sounds so familiar but I swear I can't remember this.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

That is one of the fun things I get out of making these lists, finding music I had never heard before or uncovering something I had forgotten about.  I hadn't heard this tune or this group before putting the list together, I liked it but put it off to the side and gave it another listen and kept it to the side.  I gave it a third listen and was hooked.  Its a solid tune and it  should have gotten more airplay and unlike many 80s tunes it works today IMHO.

I think one of the regulars in the music threads @The Dreaded MarcoLoved The Go Betweens and Grant McLennan in particular. His death was a sad day. 

91.  A Trick Of The Light - The Triffids 

Another Aussie group I hadn't heard of.  I had to dig to find tunes from 88 and hit the UK. Australia, and NZ charts to find anything and found this one.

I really like it.

They were from Perth, just like INXS, but they had to go the UK to get appreciative audiences. They struggled with the Australian pub rock scene. Most Australians wouldnt have heard of them. Only the smart intellectual arty ones lol. 

Perth is allegedly the most isolated city of over 1 million people. Auckland says hello lol. Apparently its cheaper to fly to Indonesia than to Sydney for most residents of Perth. Perth and Western Australia is really another country. Most british expats land there these days. 

Wide Open Road is probably their biggest song, but this would be #2. 

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

I think one of the regulars in the music threads @The Dreaded MarcoLoved The Go Betweens and Grant McLennan in particular. His death was a sad day. 

Nice memory, JML.

Big Go-Betweens fan as well as McLennan and Forster solo works. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Did someone later do a cover of this? It sounds so familiar but I swear I can't remember this.

The WHO did a song called Trick Of The Light so the name of the song stood out to me even though I wasn't familiar with the group but it is not the same tune.

The sound of the song is distinctive, that opening riff stands out and it did 'seem' familiar to me as well but I can't find any covers that sound familiar.  

I was surprised the song didn't really chart because it is pretty good.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

90.  When It's Love - Van Halen 

I'm not particularly found of power ballads but this one is actually decent.  It was featured on a VH1 special, The Greatest: 25 Greatest Power Ballads, where it was ranked as the 24th greatest power ballad of all time.

Eddie Van Halen has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to Eric Clapton.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

90.  When It's Love - Van Halen 

I'm not particularly found of power ballads but this one is actually decent.  It was featured on a VH1 special, The Greatest: 25 Greatest Power Ballads, where it was ranked as the 24th greatest power ballad of all time.

Eddie Van Halen has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to Eric Clapton.

Great song, love the harmonies. Sammy's outfit could not scream late 1980's any louder if it had a bullhorn.

You could still smoke in bars when this video was filmed. 

 

[rockaction]

You could still smoke in bars when this video was filmed. 

You could still smoke in bars until 2002 even in New England, and New England had tons of eager regulators. That whole thing didn't come to pass until the aughts. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

89.  Kiss and Tell - Bryan Ferry

Ferry always seemed so polished.  This didn't chart very well but it sounds like classic 80s Bryan Ferry.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

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.

I always liked the original. This version was good, too.

"Guy beside me was white as a ghost!" 

 

[Gr00vus]

89.  Kiss and Tell - Bryan Ferry

Ferry always seemed so polished.  This didn't chart very well but it sounds like classic 80s Bryan Ferry.

Bete Noir and the prior Boys and Girls are fantastic albums.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

88.  Victoria  - The Fall

A post-punk cover of a Kinks tune.  The original has a country feel with those great Ray Davies vocals this version shreds with a stronger beat. 

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

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

Wait, what?  That album has like a half-dozen songs that might make my top-100 that year.  And then another three or four from later albums.

 

[zamboni]

99.  Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil

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

Wait, what?  That album has like a half-dozen songs that might make my top-100 that year.  And then another three or four from later albums.

In this context, one hit wonder refers to US Billboard Top 40 appearances. BAB was indeed their only song that charted in the Top 40.

 

[scorchy]

88.  Victoria  - The Fall

A post-punk cover of a Kinks tune.  The original has a country feel with those great Ray Davies vocals this version shreds with a stronger beat. 

I had a couple of songs by The Fall in my post-punk countdown.  Mark E. Smith was as prolific as he was influential, but man, so much of The Fall's stuff is almost impossible to listen to.  Victoria is probably the most accessible thing he ever recorded.  Good pick.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

87.  You are the Everything - R.E.M. 

Green was MY ALBUM from 1988, a deeper track that I loved.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

89.  Kiss and Tell - Bryan Ferry

Ferry always seemed so polished.  This didn't chart very well but it sounds like classic 80s Bryan Ferry.

Bete Noir and the prior Boys and Girls are fantastic albums.

This period of Ferry is nice. Time has forgotten it unfortunately. I have no idea how he paid for that lifestyle. His record sales were not great.

88.  Victoria  - The Fall

A post-punk cover of a Kinks tune.  The original has a country feel with those great Ray Davies vocals this version shreds with a stronger beat. 

Mark E Smith was a miserable sod....accounts for the large number of bandmates and collaborators. This was the only one of his that remotely broke through.

 

[TripItUp]

90.  When It's Love - Van Halen 

I'm not particularly found of power ballads but this one is actually decent.  It was featured on a VH1 special, The Greatest: 25 Greatest Power Ballads, where it was ranked as the 24th greatest power ballad of all time.

Eddie Van Halen has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to Eric Clapton.

Would have this one way higher and certainly in the top 100.

 

[TripItUp]

Wait, what?  That album has like a half-dozen songs that might make my top-100 that year.  And then another three or four from later albums.

It was overlooked.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Wait, what?  That album has like a half-dozen songs that might make my top-100 that year.  And then another three or four from later albums.

In this context, one hit wonder refers to US Billboard Top 40 appearances. BAB was indeed their only song that charted in the Top 40.

I do hate the “term one hit wonder”. It’s lazy. Maybe someone like Norman Greenbaum, but it diminishes an artists work. Take A-Ha for example, everyone only remembers Take on Me, but Sun Always Shines on Tv made #20. Not to mention their prolific excellence over decades. I got a double greatest hits of A Ha and I play the second disc, newer songs more than the early stuff. Stuff like Celice, Foot of the Mountain, Summer Moved On, Analogue....brilliant stuff. 

 

[zamboni]

I do hate the “term one hit wonder”. It’s lazy. Maybe someone like Norman Greenbaum, but it diminishes an artists work. Take A-Ha for example, everyone only remembers Take on Me, but Sun Always Shines on Tv made #20. Not to mention their prolific excellence over decades. I got a double greatest hits of A Ha and I play the second disc, newer songs more than the early stuff. Stuff like Celice, Foot of the Mountain, Summer Moved On, Analogue....brilliant stuff. 

Agreed - there are tons of other artists in that same realm.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

You could still smoke in bars until 2002 even in New England, and New England had tons of eager regulators. That whole thing didn't come to pass until the aughts. 

In NJ it was allowed until at least 2006. That was the year I met my wife and some of our early dates were in smoke-filled bars. It was banned shortly thereafter.

 

[northern exposure]

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

This song (and the album it was on) marked Lang’s move from her cow punk past to a more Adult Contemporary sound. 1992 was also the year k.d. officially came out as a lesbian.

 

[Dennis Castro]

You could still smoke in bars when this video was filmed. 

You could still smoke on airplanes when that video was filmed.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

In NJ it was allowed until at least 2006. That was the year I met my wife and some of our early dates were in smoke-filled bars. It was banned shortly thereafter.

So it was your fault then.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

This song (and the album it was on) marked Lang’s move from her cow punk past to a more Adult Contemporary sound. 1992 was also the year k.d. officially came out as a lesbian.

I'm not sure how they designate OFFICALLY coming out but people seemed to unofficially knnow back in 88.  

Maybe because she would openly hide it by responding to prying questions like this....

Interviewer:  Can you at least admit you are an ICON?

K.D. Lang:  I'm a DYCON.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

86.  Paper In Fire - John Mellencamp 

Another one that was in heavy rotation that I recall playing a lot.

In a 1989 interview with the BBC, Mellencamp said: "'Paper in Fire' deals with a lot of biblical things – paper in fire, in fact, is hell, and is referred to in the Bible as hell. 'A man will be cast into paper in fire.' It's in there, believe me, it's in there. That's where that term came from.

The Bible passage in question is Ecclesiastes 7:5-6:

“It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a fool! For a fool’s compliment is as quickly gone as paper in fire, and it is silly to be impressed by it.”

The line, "we keep no check on our appetites," from the song's final verse, was cited in the 1963 movie Hud, which is one of Mellencamp's favorite movies and has inspired many of his songs.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

85.  Angel Eyes - The Jeff Healey Band 

The album was released in 88 but this tune didn't chart till 89 when they released it on its own as a single.  

A Canadian group whose lead singer tragically died in the early 2000s.  Nice tune that may have been forgotten over time.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

86.  Paper In Fire - John Mellencamp 

Another one that was in heavy rotation that I recall playing a lot.

In a 1989 interview with the BBC, Mellencamp said: "'Paper in Fire' deals with a lot of biblical things – paper in fire, in fact, is hell, and is referred to in the Bible as hell. 'A man will be cast into paper in fire.' It's in there, believe me, it's in there. That's where that term came from.

The Bible passage in question is Ecclesiastes 7:5-6:

“It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a fool! For a fool’s compliment is as quickly gone as paper in fire, and it is silly to be impressed by it.”

The line, "we keep no check on our appetites," from the song's final verse, was cited in the 1963 movie Hud, which is one of Mellencamp's favorite movies and has inspired many of his songs.

One of his best. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

85.  Angel Eyes - The Jeff Healey Band 

The album was released in 88 but this tune didn't chart till 89 when they released it on its own as a single.  

A Canadian group whose lead singer tragically died in the early 2000s.  Nice tune that may have been forgotten over time.

Healey was an excellent guitarist with a great story, but I never cared for this song or any of his others that I heard around this time. Really dragged down by crappy late 80s production.

 

[Bogart]

90.  When It's Love - Van Halen 

I'm not particularly found of power ballads but this one is actually decent.  It was featured on a VH1 special, The Greatest: 25 Greatest Power Ballads, where it was ranked as the 24th greatest power ballad of all time.

Eddie Van Halen has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to Eric Clapton.

I'm an unapologetic Van Hagar over Van Halen fan, but man this video is cringe worthy and had to have original lineup fans screaming at their TVs, "What did you do to our band Sammy?!?!" And Sammy and Eddie trying so hard to show, "look, best friends for ever!! Suck it Dave!!"

Still love the song. Hadn't listened in a while. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

84.  Jesus Christ -  U2

Cover of Woody Guthrie tune that Woody wrote in 1940 and didn't release until 1956.  The U2 version was released on Folkways: A Vision Shared - A Tribute to Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly in 1988 so it may have slipped by many.

 

[zamboni]

On 12/29/2021 at 5:53 AM, Bracie Smathers said:
90.  When It's Love - Van Halen 

I'm not particularly found of power ballads but this one is actually decent.  It was featured on a VH1 special, The Greatest: 25 Greatest Power Ballads, where it was ranked as the 24th greatest power ballad of all time.

Eddie Van Halen has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to Eric Clapton.
Expand  

Great song, love the harmonies. Sammy's outfit could not scream late 1980's any louder if it had a bullhorn.

I thought he did worse earlier.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

83.  Blind - Talking Heads

 The entire vocal was written improvisationally with those in the control room making suggestions as to which parts worked and David memorizing them on the spot. The only lyric that came from that improvisation was the chorus, in which he sang 'Blahnd, blahnd, blahnd'. His head moved like a muppet and we all watched, fascinated, as if he were a bug on a pin under a microscope. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

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

I worked with a guy named Roman who was so in love with Gloria that he'd literally swoon.  When I saw this on the list I gave it a listen and I like it and I know Roman is smiling somewhere. 

 

[scorchy]

83.  Blind - Talking Heads

 The entire vocal was written improvisationally with those in the control room making suggestions as to which parts worked and David memorizing them on the spot. The only lyric that came from that improvisation was the chorus, in which he sang 'Blahnd, blahnd, blahnd'. His head moved like a muppet and we all watched, fascinated, as if he were a bug on a pin under a microscope. 

I don't know if Talking Heads just kept kept getting weirder or if my teenage tolerance for their weirdness had waned, but I was totally by the time Naked rolled around.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I don't know if Talking Heads just kept kept getting weirder or if my teenage tolerance for their weirdness had waned, but I was totally by the time Naked rolled around.

It was their last album, and they broke up in 91 but I loved the Heads.

So did the Dude. 

Jeff Bridges Compares PULP FICTION To The Talking Heads

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

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

I worked with a guy named Roman who was so in love with Gloria that he'd literally swoon.  When I saw this on the list I gave it a listen and I like it and I know Roman is smiling somewhere. 

In my school at the time, about one in three girls rocked the "celery stalk" ponytail that Gloria has in the video.

Another third had the side ponytail. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

81.  Breakfast In Bed - UB40 · Chrissie Hynde

Reggae makes the list.  (Channeling John Candy from Trains Planes and Automobiles) Go to Jamaica, have some rum.

Learn something new every day.  This is a cover of a Dusty Springfield tune originally done in 1969.

This version reached #6 on the UK charts in 1988.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

84.  Jesus Christ -  U2

Cover of Woody Guthrie tune that Woody wrote in 1940 and didn't release until 1956.  The U2 version was released on Folkways: A Vision Shared - A Tribute to Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly in 1988 so it may have slipped by many.

I've always liked this, but the rankers in JML's U2 countdown gave it a "meh." 

 

[DocHolliday]

87.  You are the Everything - R.E.M. 

Green was MY ALBUM from 1988, a deeper track that I loved.

This is such a beautiful song and one of my favorite songs by REM.  It’s my favorite song from the album and there are a handful of songs from that album that never got old.