Let's dive into the 1987 Albums campaign! This year marked an interesting crossover period where music styles from the first half of the decade began transforming into new genres, creating fresh musical opportunities and providing stages for new talents.
In terms of innovation, MTV Europe was launched, and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" became the first single released on CD, while the cassette tape continued to rise in popularity.
Synthpop was still prominent in the mainstream, with Erasure and Pet Shop Boys maintaining its presence. The pop hits from the emerging Stock Aitken Waterman pop factory, including Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," became chart-toppers and contributed to making it the best-selling single of the year.
On the other hand, House music was slowly growing and taking over dance floors, providing a fresh and dynamic sound. Simultaneously, indie pop/rock was flourishing, offering more diverse and alternative forms of music.
At the Brit Awards, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel received honors for Best Female and Best Male, respectively, showcasing the diversity and richness of the musical landscape in 1987.
01. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses [Mute]
Music for the Masses was the sixth studio album for Depeche Mode which was released in September 1987 on Mute Records. Unlike their previous album, this album was not produced by Daniel Miller and the production process was handed over to David Bascombe. The album featured the hit singles "Behind the Wheel", "Strange Love" and "Never Let Me Down Again". The album reached number 10 in the UK charts and number 1 in the Spanish Albums charts. Music for the Masses was reissued in 2006.
02. The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me [Fiction / Elektra]
Kiss me, Kiss me, Kiss me was the seventh studio album by the Cure and the first one reaching the Billboard Top 40. The album was recorded between 1986 and 1987, and it was originally intended to be released as a double album. The album was released through Fiction in the UK and Elektra in the US. The album is mostly remembered for one of Cure’s biggest hits, “Just Like Heaven” but also featured “Why Can’t I Be You?” and “Catch”. The album reached No. 2 in the France singles charts, and it was reissued in 2006.
03. U2- The Joshua Tree [Island Records]
The Joshua Tree was the fifth studio album by U2 which was released in March 1987 on Island Records. The album was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno and featured U2’s biggest hit singles, “With or Without You”, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and "Where the Streets Have No Name". The Joshua Tree is one of the world's best-selling albums, with over 25 million copies sold. U2 commemorated the record's 20th anniversary with a remastered re-release, and its 30th anniversary with a concert tour and reissue.
04. The Smiths- Strangeways, Here We Come [Rough Trade]
Strangeways, Here We Come is the fourth and final studio album by the Smiths, released by Rough Trade Records in September 1987. All the songs were composed by Johnny Marr, with lyrics written and sung by Morrissey. The album reached number 2 in the UK charts, and it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry. The album featured four singles, including "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me".
05. R.E.M.- Document [I.R.S.]
Document was the fifth album by R.E.M. released in September 1987 and the first on which the band worked with producer Scott Litt. It was the first platinum album for the band, which also gave birth to the hits "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and “The One I Love” and also helped the band move towards mainstream success. In 2012, Slant Magazine listed the album at number 17 on its list of Best Albums of the 1980s.
06. INXS- Kick [WEA / Atlantic / Mercury]
Kick was the sixth album by INXS, released in 1987 by three different labels in Australia, US and UK. It is considered as band most successful album to date, which went six times platinum. It featured the hit singles "New Sensation", "Never Tear Us Apart", "Devil Inside" and "Need You Tonight". In July 2012, the album was re-issued in various formats to celebrate the album's 25th anniversary. This marked the third time the album has been expanded since its initial release.
07. The Jesus and Mary Chain- Darklands [Blanco Y Negro]
Darklands was the second album release by The Jesus and Mary Chain released on Blanco Y Negro. The album marks a turning point in the band's music, going from the noise-pop of Psychocandy to a more melodic indie/alternative sound. The album, on which all songs were written and performed by Jim Reid and William Reid featured the singles “April Skies” and “Happy When it Rains”. The album reached number 5 in the UK Albums charts, and it was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
08. Pet Shop Boys- Actually [Parlophone Records ]
Actually was the second album release by Pet Shop Boys which was released on Parlophone Records and EMI Manhattan in the United States and Canada. The album spawned four UK Top 10 singles: No. 1 lead-off single "It's a Sin", "Rent", "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" – a duet with fellow Parlophone artist Dusty Springfield. Actually was re-released in 2001 as Actually/Further Listening 1987–1988. The re-released version was not only digitally remastered but came with a second disc of B-sides. Actually has sold over 4 million copies to date.
09. Echo & the Bunnymen- Echo & the Bunnymen [WEA / Sire]
Echo & the Bunnymen was the fifth studio album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen, their last with drummer Pete de Freitas, who died in 1989 in a motorcycle accident, aged 27. The album reached number four on the UK Albums Chart, number 51 on the United States Billboard 200, and it has been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. It included the singles "The Game", "Lips Like Sugar" and "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo". The album has been reissued for the first time in the UK in 2003 and some critics think of it as Echo and the Bunnymen’s finest work.
10. Sinéad O'Connor- The Lion and the Cobra [Ensign / Chysalis]
The Lion and the Cobra was the 1987 debut album by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor on Ensign/Chysalis records which she released at the age of 20 while being pregnant with her first child. The album charted worldwide, reaching No.27 in the United Kingdom and No. 36 on the US Billboard Top 200. The album featured the hit singles "Troy" and "Mandinka" which both reached high positions in the charts around Europe. The album sold 2,500,000 copies worldwide. Slant Magazine listed the album at #46 on its list of Best Albums of the 1980s.
11. George Michael- Faith
12. Prince- Sign ☮' the Times
13. David Sylvian- Secrets of the Beehive
14. Love and Rockets- Earth, Sun, Moon
15. The Sisters of Mercy – Floodland
16. The Replacements - Pleased to Meet Me
17. 10000 Maniacs- In My Tribe
18. Sonic Youth- Sister
19. The Cult- Electric
20. Dead Can Dance- Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
21. Dinosaur Jr.- You're Living All Over Me
22. Siouxsie & The Banshees- Through the Looking Glass
23. The Wedding Present- George Best
24. Midnight Oil- Diesel and Dust
25. Suzanne Vega- Solitude Standing
12. Prince- Sign ☮' the Times
13. David Sylvian- Secrets of the Beehive
14. Love and Rockets- Earth, Sun, Moon
15. The Sisters of Mercy – Floodland
16. The Replacements - Pleased to Meet Me
17. 10000 Maniacs- In My Tribe
18. Sonic Youth- Sister
19. The Cult- Electric
20. Dead Can Dance- Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
21. Dinosaur Jr.- You're Living All Over Me
22. Siouxsie & The Banshees- Through the Looking Glass
23. The Wedding Present- George Best
24. Midnight Oil- Diesel and Dust
25. Suzanne Vega- Solitude Standing