FEATURE:
IN THIS PHOTO: Pixies (1987)
1987
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ONE might ask why the year 1987 should…
IN THIS PHOTO: Aretha Franklin
happen into my consciousness. Well...for one thing; it is thirty years in the past so, in a rather arbitrary way, deserves a commendation – on account of the fact it has reached its thirtieth anniversary. More than that, I want to celebrate the best albums of a decade that, to many, was rather insignificant and cheesy...
In this year, Aretha Franklin became the first women to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer storms the world and Beastie Boys get themselves censored! Throw in the fact The Beatles’ first five albums were released onto C.D.; Fugazi played their first live show and Cher returned to music (following a five-year gap) and it was pretty damned eventful!
More than that; there were some sensational albums that have inspired and endured this far down the lines. I will be featuring the Mercury Prize-nominated acts/albums tomorrow and, one feels, were the Prize around in 1987 – the panel would have a bloody hard choice choosing a shortlist from this rundown (if they included international albums - before you get all smart-arse!)...
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Michael Jackson – Bad
Release date: 31st August
Genres: Pop; Rock; Funk; Dance
Standout track: Leave Me Alone
Prince – Sign o’ the Times
Release date: 30th March
Genres: R&B; Rock; Funk; Psychedelia; Soul
Standout track: If I Was Your Girlfriend
The Smiths – Strangeways, Here We Come
Release date: 28th September
Genres: Alternative-Rock; Indie-Pop
Standout track: Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Whitney – Whitney
Release date: 2nd June
Genres: Pop; Dance; R&B
Standout track: So Emotional
U2 – The Joshua Tree
Release date: 9th March
Genre: Rock
Standout track: Where the Streets Have No Name
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
Release date: 21st July
Genres: Hard-Rock; Heavy-Metal
Standout track: Sweet Child o’ Mine
George Michael – Faith
Release date: 30th October
Genres: Pop; Funk; R&B; Soul
Standout track: Faith
Dinosaur Jr. – You’re Living All Over Me
Release date: 14th December
Genres: Alternative-Rock; Noise-Rock
Standout track: Kracked
Midnight Oil – Diesel and Dust
Release date: August
Genre: Alternative-Rock
Standout track: Beds Are Burning
Public Enemy – Yo! Bum Rush the Show
Release date: 10th February
Genres: East Coast Hip-Hop; Hip-Hop
Standout track: Public Enemy No. 1
R.E.M. – Document
Release date: 1st September
Genre: Alternative-Rock
Standout track: The One I Love
10,000 Maniacs – In My Tribe
Release date: 27th July
Genres: Alternative-Rock; Folk-Rock
Standout track: What’s the Matter Here?
Pixies – Come On Pilgrim
Release date: 28th September
Genre: Alternative-Rock
Standout track: Caribou
The Housemartins – The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
Release date: September
Genre: Indie-Rock
Standout track: Five Get Over Excited
The Wedding Present – George Best
Release date: 12th October
Genre: Jangle-Pop
Standout track: A Million Miles
Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
Release date: 15th November
Genres: Rap-Rock; Hip-Hop
Standout track: (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)
Sonic Youth – Sister
Release date: June
Genres: Noise-Pop; Art-Rock
Standout track: Stereo Sanctity