1989 in music
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This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.
Events
- January 7 - Genesis '88 and Sunrise/Back to the Future stage large-scale illegal Acid House party in London
- January 14 - Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in Russia. Bootleg copies sell for as much as $1,000 in the United States
- January 14 - Genesis '88 and Sunrise/Back to the Future stage large-scale illegal Acid House party in London
- January 23 - James Brown is sentenced in Georgia to 6 years in jail in connection with a police chase through two different states
- January 25 - Madonna files for divorce from Sean Penn after three-and-a-half years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
- January - Phil Keaggy and Randy Stonehill form the "Keaggy/Stonehill Band" for a one time tour that pays tribute to 1960s artists like The Beatles. Tim Chandler plays bass for the band and David Raven plays drums.
- January 28 - Genesis '88 stage large-scale illegal Acid House (from strength to strength) party in London
- February 6 - King Tubby Jamaican dub music master, was shot and killed by unknown persons outside his home in Duhaney Park, upon returning from a session at his Waterhouse studio, probably in a robbery attempt.
- February 12 - Tiny Tim launches an unsuccessful campaign to be the mayor of New York City.
- February - Roy Orbison joins Elvis Presley as the only singers to ever simultaneously have two Top 5 albums on the Billboard Charts
- February 17 - Whitesnake's David Coverdale marries Tawny Kitaen
- Alice Cooper completes his return with the album Trash. It becomes one of the best selling albums of the year.
- March 6 - Smokey Robinson's autobiography Inside My Life is published. Dream Theater releases their first studio album When Dream and Day Unite
- March 21 - Madonna's "Like a Prayer" music video, taped in Late December 1988 attracts criticism for its use of Catholic iconography and for the use of cross burning imagery, but also garnered praise for its interpretation of discrimination, rape, and faith. Pepsi drops Madonna as a spokesperson out of fear the video will cause religious groups to boycott the company.
- April - Three young men attempt to mug record producer and author Reed Arvin. Reed, being a rather large man, was able to go home with his money. The three young men were forced to return to their homes empty handed and nursing a few bruises.
- April 9 - The Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman announces that he's getting married to 19 year old Mandy Smith, whom he has dated for 6 years.
- April 12 Garth Brooks debut album released, it will reach the top of the Country charts and make top 20 in the American pop charts.
- April 28 - Jon Bon Jovi marries his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada
- May 1 - California jewelry store employees call the police reporting a suspicious person hanging around their store. The person turned out to be Michael Jackson shopping in disguise
- May - The first issue of Ptolemaic Terrascope is published
- June 13 British-born singer Sonia made her debut Disco hit "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" went straight #1 in her native home country in the UK charts after She was sign PWL Records and team up with Stock Aitken Waterman.
- July 9 - All four original members of the Monkees reunite in Los Angeles for a concert performance at the Universal Amphitheater. The following day the quartet attend an induction ceremony at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where they receive a star.
- August 11 - 12 - Moscow Music Peace Festival held in the Soviet Union. The event was put together by Doc McGhee and the Make a Wish Foundation to expose the Russian people to western culture, promote international cooperation in fighting the drug war, and promote peace. The event came to epitomize the fall of the Soviet Union and the height of pop metal. Headlined by Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, and the Scorpions.
- August 31 - The Rolling Stones open their Steel Wheels North American tour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- September 14 - Madonna and Sean Penn's divorce is granted.
- December 12 - Genesis '88 stage large-scale illegal Acid House (the fight goes on) party in London
- December 17 - Gloria Mills "Millie" Chapman is born as the second child of Amy Grant and Gary Chapman. Amy's 1991 hit "Baby Baby" was dedicated to her.
- December 19 - Sergey Lozinsky a Polish music sensation is born in Colorado.
- December 24 - Genesis '88 and Biology parties stage illegal Acid House party in Slough UK
- December 31 - Genesis '88 and Biology parties stage biggest Acid House (FREE) party (Future Power People) of the night in Slough Panasonic building (15,000 people), which was later joined by Sunrise/Back to the Future after their event was stopped by police.
Bands formed
- Blind Melon
- Café Tacuba
- Cap'n Jazz
- Chainsaw Kittens
- The Chemical Brothers
- The Cranberries
- Blur
- Codeine
- Denki Groove
- dEUS
- En Vogue
- FireHouse
- Flipper's Guitar
- Fuel
- Funkdoobiest
- Ghetto Concept
- Guttermouth
- Jerky Boys
- Green Day
- Leftover Salmon
- Luna Sea
- Main Source
- Marilyn Manson
- Monster Magnet
- Morphine
- Pavement
- Rainbow Butt Monkeys (Finger Eleven)
- Rascalz
- The Pillows
- The 69 Eyes (Finnish Band)
- Therion
- Toadies
- Ulceration (Fear Factory)
Bands disbanded
- The Bangles (reformed in 2000)
- Circle Jerks (reformed in 1994)
- The Monkees
- New Edition (reformed in 1996)
- Operation Ivy
- Wall of Voodoo
Bands reformed
Albums released
| Contents: | Top • January • February • March • April • May • June • July • August • September • October • November • December |
|---|
January
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | A Show of Hands | Rush | Live |
| 10 | New York | Lou Reed | - |
| 13 | Fabulous Disaster | Exodus | - |
| 14 | Снова в СССР | Paul McCartney | Live; exclusive USSR release |
| 23 | Oh Yes I Can | David Crosby | - |
| 24 | Electric Youth | Debbie Gibson | - |
| Skid Row | Skid Row | - | |
| 25 | Touch | Sarah McLachlan | Arista Records re-release |
| After the War | Gary Moore | - | |
| 30 | Dylan & The Dead | Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead | Live |
| Technique | New Order | - | |
| ? | Loc'ed After Dark | Tone Lōc | - |
February
March
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | When Dream and Day Unite | Dream Theater | - |
| 8 | Girl You Know It's True | Milli Vanilli | US version of All or Nothing |
| 11 | 101 | Depeche Mode | - Live double album |
| 13 | The Stone Roses | The Stone Roses | - |
| 14 | 3 Feet High and Rising | De La Soul | - |
| Extreme | Extreme | - | |
| Yellow Moon | The Neville Brothers | - | |
| 21 | Like a Prayer | Madonna | - |
| Nick of Time | Bonnie Raitt | - | |
| 22 | Make Them Die Slowly | White Zombie | - |
| 28 | Alannah Myles | Alannah Myles | - |
| Larger than Life | Jody Watley | - |
April
May
June
July
August
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | The Cinderella Theory | George Clinton | - |
| 4 | Practice What You Preach | Testament | - |
| 14 | Now That's What I Call Music 15 (UK series) | Various Artists | - |
| 16 | Perfect Symmetry | Fates Warning | - |
| Mother's Milk | Red Hot Chili Peppers | - | |
| 17 | The Death of a Dictionary | Public Affection | band changed name to Live |
| 21 | Rock Island | Jethro Tull | - |
| Conspiracy | King Diamond | - | |
| 22 | After 7 | After 7 | - |
| Enuff Z'nuff | Enuff Z'nuff | - | |
| Cocked & Loaded | L.A. Guns | - | |
| 28 | Adeva! | Adeva | - |
| Still Cruisin' | The Beach Boys | - | |
| 29 | Sleeping with the Past | Elton John | US |
| Steel Wheels | The Rolling Stones | - | |
| 30 | Escape from Havana | Mellow Man Ace | Debut |
| Up To Here | The Tragically Hip | - |
September
October
November
December
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gutter Ballet | Savatage | - |
| Change the Weather | Underworld | - | |
| 2 | Now That's What I Call Music 16 (UK series) | Various Artists | - |
| 11 | Monty Python Sings | Monty Python | Compilation |
| 15 | Consuming Impulse | Pestilence | - |
| ? | Surprise | Better Than Ezra | cassette only |
Release Date Unknown
- 5643 Song EP (EP) - Anal Cunt
- 88 Song E.P. (EP) - Anal Cunt
- Different - Thomas Anders
- Return of the Ugly - Bad Manners
- Anthology - Bad Manners
- Psycho Café - Bang Tango
- Mr. Music Head - Adrian Belew
- I Can See You - Black Flag
- Realm of Chaos - Slaves to Darkness - Bolt Thrower
- Dig? - Bill Bruford
- Rite Time - Can
- Christ: The Bootleg - Crass
- Best Wishes - Cro-Mags
- Live ED - Étienne Daho
- Waking Hours - Del Amitri
- Tragedy Again - D.I.
- DC Talk - dc Talk
- Breakin' Through the BS - Bo Diddley
- Living Legend - Bo Diddley
- Rasta Souvenir - Manu Dibango
- Sumiran Karle (Bhajan) - Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta
- Just Like Heaven - Dinosaur Jr.
- All That Jazz - Ella Fitzgerald
- On Fire - Galaxie 500
- Hallelujah - Happy Mondays
- Desert Wind - Ofra Haza
- Modern - Hijokaidan
- The Healer - John Lee Hooker
- Enter the Realm - Iced Earth (demo EP)
- At Peace - Jade Warrior
- Jaya - Jaya
- Bulletproof Heart - Grace Jones
- West Textures - Robert Earl Keen
- Night of Rage - Kraut
- Western Shadows - Carole Laure
- Piretos tou erota - Vicky Leandros
- Godhead - Lowlife
- Powertrip - Ludichrist (final album)
- Drowning in Limbo - Lydia Lunch
- No More Blues - Susannah McCorkle
- Ozma - Melvins
- Devil's Night Out - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- Complete Discography - Minor Threat
- Post-Mersh Vol. 3 - Minutemen
- All Aboard the Mind Train - The Modern Art
- Face of Despair - Mortal Sin
- Shine - Mother Love Bone
- Snakes 'n' Ladders - Nazareth
- Helter Stupid - Negativland
- Once We Were Scum, Now We Are God - No
- Wrong - NoMeansNo
- Get Yer Jujus Out - Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & His Inter-Reformers Band
- Energy - Operation Ivy
- Sittin' Pretty - The Pastels
- A Word from the Wise - Pennywise (EP)
- Record Collectors - Poison Idea
- Suck on This - Primus (live debut)
- Fight The Power...Live! - Public Enemy (live, released on VHS)
- The Good News and The Bad News - The Rainmakers
- The Road to Hell - Chris Rea
- Blow - Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
- The Symphony Sessions - Red Rider
- Riders go Commercial - Riders in the Sky
- Something Inside So Strong Kenny Rogers
- Hard Volume - Rollins Band
- The Later Years - Roxy Music
- Samiam - Samiam
- Early Music - Santana
- Buzz Factory - Screaming Trees
- Century Flower - Shelleyan Orphan
- The Complete Sham 69 Live - Sham 69
- Bound by the Beauty - Jane Siberry
- Street Fighting Years - Simple Minds
- Cyborgs Revisited - Simply Saucer
- Tweez - Slint
- Agent Orange - Sodom
- Heart Like a Sky - Spandau Ballet
- Nights Like This - Stacey Q.
- Love Among the Cannibals - Starship
- Surprise - Syd Straw
- Modernism: A New Decade - The Style Council (final album)
- Special - The Temptations
- A Bead to a Small Mouth - Various Artists
- Absolute - Various Artists
- Dum-Dum - The Vaselines
- Some Disenchanted Evening - The Verlaines
- 3 - Violent Femmes
- Liberation - Bunny Wailer
- Prime 5 - Ween
- Niki Nana - Yanni
- Broadway the Hard Way - Frank Zappa
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 - Frank Zappa
Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1989.
| # | Artist | Title | Year | Country | Chart Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madonna | Like a Prayer | 1989 |  |
UK 1 - Mar 1989, US BB 1 - Mar 1989, US CashBox 1 of 1989, Sweden 1 - Mar 1989, Switzerland 1 - Mar 1989, Norway 1 - Mar 1989, Poland 1 - Apr 1989, Éire 1 - Mar 1989, New Zealand 1 for 2 weeks Apr 1989, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Sep 1989, Holland 2 - Mar 1989, Austria 2 - Apr 1989, Australia 2 of 1989, Germany 2 - Mar 1989, France 4 - Mar 1989, Italy 5 of 1989, POP 5 of 1989, RYM 13 of 1989, US BB 14 of 1989, Scrobulate 33 of pop, Europe 49 of the 1980s, Germany 96 of the 1980s, OzNet 161, Rolling Stone 300, Acclaimed 629 |
| 2 | The Bangles | Eternal Flame | 1989 | |
UK 1 - Feb 1989, US BB 1 - Feb 1989, Holland 1 - Mar 1989, Sweden 1 - Apr 1989, Norway 1 - May 1989, Australia 1 of 1989, Éire 1 - Apr 1989, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Oct 1989, Switzerland 2 - May 1989, Austria 3 - May 1989, Germany 5 - May 1989, US CashBox 7 of 1989, France 10 - Feb 1989, US BB 11 of 1989, POP 25 of 1989, Europe 27 of the 1980s, Scrobulate 70 of 80s, RYM 73 of 1989, OzNet 141, Germany 196 of the 1980s |
| 3 | Phil Collins | Another Day in Paradise | 1989 |  |
US BB 1 - Nov 1989, Sweden 1 - Nov 1989, Switzerland 1 - Nov 1989, Norway 1 - Nov 1989, Poland 1 - Nov 1989, Germany 1 - Jan 1990, Grammy in 1990, UK 2 - Nov 1989, Holland 2 - Oct 1989, Austria 2 - Dec 1989, Italy 3 of 1990, France 9 - Nov 1989, POP 21 of 1989, Europe 60 of the 1980s, Scrobulate 67 of ballad, RYM 133 of 1989, Germany 195 of the 1990s, OzNet 214 |
| 4 | Roxette | The Look | 1989 |  |
US BB 1 - Feb 1989, Sweden 1 - Jan 1989, Switzerland 1 - Apr 1989, Norway 1 - Mar 1989, Germany 1 - Apr 1989, Australia 1 for 6 weeks Nov 1989, Holland 2 - Mar 1989, Austria 2 - May 1989, Australia 3 of 1989, France 4 - Apr 1989, US CashBox 6 of 1989, UK 7 - Apr 1989, Poland 8 - Apr 1989, Italy 9 of 1989, US BB 21 of 1989, Germany 30 of the 1980s, POP 39 of 1989, RYM 94 of 1989, OzNet 567 |
| 5 | The B52s | Love Shack | 1989 | |
US BB 1 of 1989, Éire 1 - Mar 1990, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks Jan 1990, Australia 1 for 8 weeks Mar 1990, POP 1 of 1989, UK 2 - Mar 1990, KROQ 2 of 1989, US BB 3 - Sep 1989, Party 3 of 2007, France 4 - Oct 1989, Australia 16 of 1990, Holland 18 - Dec 1989, Sweden 20 - Mar 1990, RYM 37 of 1989, Scrobulate 61 of 80s, TheQ 238, Rolling Stone 243, RIAA 243, OzNet 311, WXPN 498, Acclaimed 662 |
Top hits
- "All She Wants Is" - Duran Duran
- "Another Day in Paradise" - Phil Collins
- "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" - Soul II Soul
- "Lay Your Hands on Me" - Bon Jovi
- "Bat Attack '89" - Crime Fighters Inc.
- "Batdance" - Prince
- "Beds Are Burning" - Midnight Oil
- "Blame It on the Rain" - Milli Vanilli
- "Buffalo Stance" - Neneh Cherry
- "Cartoon" - Soul Asylum
- "Chained to the Wheel" - Black Sorrows
- "Cherish" - Madonna
- "Compulsory Hero" - 1927
- "Cry in Shame" - Johnny Diesel & The Injectors
- "Do You Believe in Shame?" - Duran Duran
- "Don't Ask Me Why" - Eurythmics
- "Don't Know Much" - Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville
- "Don't Wanna Lose You" - Gloria Estefan
- "Dr. Feelgood" - Mötley Crüe
- "Drama!" - Erasure
- "Eternal Flame" - The Bangles (released in Late 1988)
- "With Every Beat of My Heart" - Taylor Dayne
- "Express Yourself" - Madonna
- "Eyes of a Stranger" - Queensrÿche
- "Forever" - Kiss
- "Funky Cold Medina" - Tone Lōc
- "Get On Your Feet" - Gloria Estefan
- "Hand on Your Heart" - Kylie Minogue
- "Hangin' Tough" - New Kids on the Block
- "Heaven Help Me" - Deon Estus
- "Heavy Metal" - Judas Priest
- "I Drove All Night" - Cyndi Lauper
- "I Feel the Earth Move" - Martika
- "I'll Be There for You" - Bon Jovi
- "If I Could" - 1927
- "If I Could Turn Back Time" - Cher
- "If Only I Could" - Sydney Youngblood
- "If Tomorrow Never Comes" - Garth Brooks
- "Im Nin'Alu" - Ofra Haza
- "Janie's Got a Gun"- Aerosmith
- "Johnny, Johnny Come Home" - Avalanche
- "Kickstart My Heart" - Mötley Crüe
- "Killin' Time" - Clint Black
- "Lambada" - Kaoma
- "Leave a Light On" - Belinda Carlisle
- "Like a Prayer" - Madonna (released in Late 1988)
- "Lily Was Here" - Dave Stewart & Candy Dulfer
- "Listen to Your Heart" - Roxette
- "Lost in Your Eyes" - Debbie Gibson
- "Love in an Elevator" - Aerosmith
- "Love Shack"- The B-52's
- "Make Me Smile" - Nick Barker & The Reptiles
- "Me, Myself and I" - De La Soul
- "Miss You Much" - Janet Jackson
- "Monsters of Rock" - Judas Priest
- "My Brave Face" - Paul McCartney
- "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" - Great White
- "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" - Living Colour
- "Orange Crush" - R.E.M (released in 1988)
- "Personal Jesus" - Depeche Mode
- "Poison" - Alice Cooper
- "Pour toi Arménie" - Charles Aznavour and other artists
- "Rendez-vous chaque soir" - Dalida (inédit)
- "Ride On Time" - Black Box
- "Right Here Waiting" - Richard Marx
- "Ring My Bell" - Collette
- "Roam" - The B-52's
- "Rock On" - Michael Damian
- "Rock 'N' Roll Music" - Mental As Anything
- "Round & Round" - New Order
- "Runnin' Down a Dream" -Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- "Say Goodbye" - Indecent Obsession
- "She Drives Me Crazy" - Fine Young Cannibals
- "She Has to Be Loved" - Jenny Morris
- "Sometime to Return" - Soul Asylum
- "Soul Revival" - Johnny Disel & The Injectors
- "Stand" - R.E.M. (released in 1988)
- "Stop!" - Sam Brown
- "Straight Up" - Paula Abdul
- "Stuck on You" - Paul Norton
- "Talk It Over" - Grayson Hugh
- "Tell Me Why" - Exposé
- "The Best" - Tina Turner
- "The Crack-Up" - The Black Sorrows
- "The Dance" - Garth Brooks
- "The Look" - Roxette
- "The World Seems Difficult" - Mental As Anything
- "Toy Soldiers" - Martika
- "Tucker's Daughter" - Ian Moss
- "Un soir qu'on oublie pas" - Dalida (inédit)
- "Veronica" - Elvis Costello
- "What I Am" - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
- "What You Don't Know" - Exposé
- "When I Looked At Him" - Exposé
- "When I See You Smile" - Bad English
- "Where Are You Now?" by Jimmy Harnen w/ Synch
- "We Didn't Start the Fire" - Billy Joel
- "Wild Thing" - Sam Kinson
- "Winning It All"- The Outfield
- "Wild Thing" - Tone Loc
- "This Woman's Work (song)" - Kate Bush
- "You Got It" - Roy Orbison
- "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" - New Kids on the Block (released in 1988)
- "Young Years" - Dragon
- "You'll Never Know" - 1927
- "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" - Sonia
Most Critically Acclaimed Songs of 1989
This info is taken from Acclaimedmusic.net [1]
- 1. "Fight the Power", Public Enemy
- 2. "Fools Gold", The Stone Roses
- 3. "Monkey Gone to Heaven", Pixies
- 4. "Like a Prayer", Madonna
- 5. "Debaser", Pixies
- 6. "Rockin' in the Free World", Neil Young
- 7. "Back to Life", Soul II Soul
- 8. "Personal Jesus", Depeche Mode
- 9. "Epic", Faith No More
- 10. "Me Myself and I", De La Soul
Published popular music
- "Kiss the Girl" m. Alan Menken, w. Howard Ashman, from The Little Mermaid
- "Part of Your World" m. Alan Menken, w. Howard Ashman, from The Little Mermaid
- "Under the Sea" m. Alan Menken, w. Howard Ashman, from The Little Mermaid
- "We Didn't Start the Fire" w.m. Billy Joel
- "You Got It" w.m. Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty
Classical music
- Elliott Carter - Three Occasions for Orchestra (1986-9); Violin Concerto
- Einar Englund - Wind Quintet
- John McCabe - String Quartet No. 5
- Einojuhani Rautavaara - Piano Concerto No. 2
- Robert Simpson - String Quartet No. 13; Vortex for Brass Band
- John Tavener - The Protecting Veil
- I Nyoman Windha - Puspanjali
Opera
- Conrad Cummings - Photo-Op
- Anthony Davis - Under the Double Moon
- Alexander Vustin - Devil in Love (not performed)
Musical theater
- Aspects of Love (Andrew Lloyd Webber) - London production
- City of Angels Broadway production
- Grand Hotel Broadway production
- Gypsy (Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim) - Broadway revival
- Meet Me in St. Louis Broadway production
- Miss Saigon (Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil) - London production
- Pacific Overtures (Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman) - London production