Let's step back into 1989 and celebrate its 30th anniversary, a year that served as both the culmination of the '80s decade and a precursor to the changes that would define the '90s. It's renowned as a year of revolutions, witnessing sweeping changes in Eastern Bloc countries in Europe, and a year of technological innovations with the introduction of the first commercial internet services.
Musically, the charts were still under the influence of Stock-Aitken-Waterman hits, which also welcomed Donna Summer into their hits factory. However, the latter part of 1989 saw the emergence of new sounds. House music, spearheaded by acts like Inner City and S'Express, gained prominence, while Italo disco evolved into the Eurodance genre. While 1989 may be chronologically associated with the '80s, it undeniably encapsulated the spirit of the impending '90s, with music styles that would reach their peaks in the following decade and beyond.
The following Top 20 represents the result of the 'Best of 1989 - The Album list' from 2019 together with our in-house votes.
Disintegration is the eighth studio album by The Cure released in May 1989 by Fiction Records. The album became band's biggest commercial peak, charting at number three in the United Kingdom and at number 12 in the United States, and producing several hit singles including "Lovesong" and "Lullaby". It also saw the band returning to the introspective and gloomy gothic rock style the band had established in the early 80s. Disintegration was certified silver in the United Kingdom, and by 1992 had sold more than three million copies worldwide. Disintegration has been included in numerous "Best Of" lists including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and Melody Maker and the album was reissued as deluxe version in 2010.
02. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses [Silvertone Records]
The Stone Roses was the self titled debut album released by the band in 1989 through Silvertone Records. It was recorded mostly at Battery Studios in London with producer John Leckie and it featured incredible 7 single releases from 1988 until 1992 including their biggest hits "Fools Gold" and "She Bangs the Drums". In 1999, on the 10th anniversary of its release, a two-disc special edition re-release of The Stone Roses reached number nine on the UK Albums Chart and another reissue followed in 2007. In 2000, it received the "greatest album ever" award at the NME Premier Awards show, and in 2006, the album topped the magazine's 100 Greatest British Albums Ever list. In 2005, Spin magazine ranked it 78 on its list of the 100 greatest albums of the past twenty years.
03. Pixies - Doolittle [4AD]
Doolittle is the second studio album by Pixies, released in April 1989 on 4AD. Pixies released two singles from Doolittle, "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven", both of which were chart successes on the US. The album itself reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart, an unexpected success for the band. The album has continued to sell consistently well in the years since its release, and in 1995 was certified gold by the RIAA. It has been cited as inspirational by many alternative artists, while numerous music publications have ranked it as one of the most influential albums ever. A 2003 poll of NME writers ranked Doolittle as the second-greatest album of all time and Pitchfork ranked it as the fourth best album of the 80's.
04. Galaxie 500 - On Fire [Rough Trade]
04. Galaxie 500 - On Fire [Rough Trade]
On Fire is the second studio album by Galaxie 500, released in 1989 on Rough Trade Records. The album was produced by Mark Kramer and all tracks on the album were written by the band. "Blue Thunder" is the only song which was released as single in 1990. In 2002, Pitchfork placed it at number 16 on its Top 100 Albums of the 1980s. In 2010, the album was re-issued and peaked at number 45 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.
05. New Order - Technique [Factory Records]
Technique is the fifth studio album by New Order, released in January 1989 by Factory Records. It was also New Order's final studio album to be released under Factory Records before going bankruptcy in 1992. Technique was the first New Order album to reach number one on the UK charts, and "Fine Time", the first single from the album, reached number 11. The album has been listed by several publications as one of the best albums of the 1980s and of all time and has been reissued in 2008 as collectors edition.
06.The Blue Nile - Hats [Linn Records / A&M Records]
Hats is the second studio album by The Blue Nile, originally released in October 1989 on Linn Records and A&M Records. It also became the band's most successful album, reaching number 12 on the UK album charts and spawning three singles: "The Downtown Lights", "Headlights on the Parade", and "Saturday Night". In November 2012 Virgin Records released two-CD "Collector's Edition" versions of Hats and its predecessor A Walk Across the Rooftops in the UK and Europe, each containing a remastered version of the original album plus a second CD of bonus tracks.
07. Julee Cruise- Floating into the Night [Warner Bros]
Floating into the Night is the debut studio album by Julee Cruise which was released on September 12, 1989 on Warner Bros Records, and features compositions and production by Angelo Badalamenti and film director David Lynch. Two singles were released from the album: "Falling" and "Rockin' Back Inside My Heart", both of which were featured in the television series Twin Peaks. The album received a CD reissue in Europe in October 1998 and a LP repressing by Plain Recordings in the United States in October 2014.
08.Tears For Fears - The Seeds of Love [Fontana/Mercury]
The Seeds of Love was the third album by Tears for Fears released in 1989 Fontana/Mercury. The album was an international success, entering the UK Albums Chart at number one and reaching the top ten in numerous other countries including the US. It featured the hit singles "Woman in Chains", "Advice for the Young at Heart" and the title track. Despite its success, it would be the last album that band members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith would work on together for over a decade. The album was remastered for the first time in 1999.
09. Kate Bush - The Sensual World [EMI]
The Sensual World is the sixth studio album by Kate Bush which was released in October 1989. It featured the hit singles "The Sensual World", "This Woman's Work" and "Love and Anger" and it has been certified Platinum by the BPI for sales of 300,000 in the UK after peaking at No 2. In 1991, the album received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and the singer was also nominated for two BRIT Awards in 1990 as Best British Producer and Best British Album of the Year for the album "The Sensual World".
10. Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine [TVT]
Pretty Hate Machine is the debut studio album by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on October 20, 1989 by TVT Records. It features a synth-driven electronic sound blended with industrial and rock elements and it was promoted with three singles: "Down in It", "Head Like A Hole", and "Sin". A remastered edition of the album was released in 2010.
11. Madonna- Like A Prayer [ Sire]
12. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Automatic [Blanco Y Negro Records]
13. The Wedding Present - Bizarro [RCA]
14. Spacemen 3- Playing with Fire [Fire]
15. Bel Canto- Birds of Passage [Nettwerk Records]
16. 808 State – 90 [ZTT]
17. Simple Minds – Street Fighting Years [A&M]
18. Xymox-Twist of Shadows [Wing Records/ Polydor]
19. 10,000 Maniacs- Blind Man’s Zoo [Elektra]
20. Prefab Sprout- Protest Songs [Kitchenware /CBS]
21. The Field Mice - Snowball [Sarah Records]
22. Frazier Chorus - Sue [Virgin Records]
23. Malcolm McLaren - Waltz Darling [Epic]
24. Liza Minnelli - Results [Epic]
25. He Said- Take Care [Mute]