https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1990
https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-house-tracks-of-the-90s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everybody_Everybody
Dance Music Network
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The 90s
A lot of the popular music from the 90s was pretentiously produced and marketed for sales. Leading to the following decades (2000s and beyond) music industry becoming unrecognizable. Many music experts say today’s music just doesn’t compare. Maybe the 90s was the best and the beginning of the worst pop music in modern history. To be determined.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990s_in_music
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1989
We are nearing the conclusion of the breathtaking, inspirational, and altruistic 1980s. Reflecting on the music charts of 1989, I’m not super impressed however, there are some remarkable developments are unfolding. All genres, in their authentic and talented manifestations, dominate the charts and airwaves. Pop reigns supreme, while the R&B charts are ablaze, poised to usher in the fabulous 1990s R&B era. My alternative rock station, KJET, is no longer broadcasting, and even though I am in college, I am becoming somewhat out of touch with the college radio and the alternative rock scene. I am preparing to abandon it soon in favor of underground dance music aka club music. I am tuning into C.89.5 in my car.
Surprisingly, I bid farewell to the 80s with three songs from the soul charts in 1989. Goodbye 80s, I love you a lot. Thank God for music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_Black_Singles_number_ones_of_1989
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_in_the_Way_(You_Make_Me_Feel)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_No_Crime
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_Life_(However_Do_You_Want_Me)
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3 Women
The impact of women in music throughout the 80s should be obvious with our girl Madonna dominating the charts going head to head with the biggest pop stars of all time including Prince and Michael Jackson. I could dedicate a top 10 list to my favorite female recording artists/songs from the 80s. Instead the three below represent my role models. The all-female band, alternative, record producer. That’s on my resume.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Belle_Stars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Ono
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1988
According to the 1988 Billboard charts and KROQ playlist, this marked the beginning of my musical preferences veering away from the mainstream or popular. My favorite songs from 1988, not charting, were either B sides or 12” records Rex and others introduced me to. I will select three songs/records that I am somewhat less excited about this year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1988
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_You_Tonight
I loved INXS and watched the boys become superstars as expeditiously as possible. After Shabooh Shoobah most of the their singles were on the poppy side and I never purchased another record. I give Need You Tonight a generous 4/5 including the cool music video.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hazy_Shade_of_Winter
This selection represents the soon to be, fleeting 80s era. This song by The Bangles is a 60s cover. The 80s was a decade that recycled 60s music on the side. This song also represents the end of my adolescence. I’ll give it a noteworthy 3.5/5 stars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Have_I_Done_to_Deserve_This%3F_(song)
I didn’t love What Have I Done to Deserve This initially but I was informed it is cult classic. It is a cut and I will give it a well-deserved 4/5 stars.
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1987
I chose one song from each of the three moderately impressive music charts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_Black_Singles_number_ones_of_1987
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1987
https://www.rocklists.com/kroq-1987.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_(Alexander_O%27Neal_song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangelove_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy%3F_(Public_Image_Ltd_album)
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1987 The Year in Hip Hop
I have openly expressed my preference for hip hop and rap music created prior to 1992. Selecting 1987 at random, I aim to find three hip hop records from that year that I can genuinely endorse. While 1987 may be considered early in the history of hip hop, it undeniably falls within the golden age of the genre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_in_hip-hop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Bad
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Ya_Like_Me_Now
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aka Rex
It is time for me to introduce the audience to my best friend and long time music partner aka Rex. His most recognized moniker is DJ 7Up which is also used by a more popular DJ. This is my aka Rex.
I could have brought him up in 1983 when posting Fascination or State Farm. It was Don Quixote that reminded me of how influential, inspirational and enlightening my relationship with aka Rex turned out to be throughout most of my life. He introduced me to house music, high energy music, Euro-disco and he was one of the first individuals who discussed record production with me. I am going to play you one of our collaborations when we transition to my first record label in 1999.
Our first recording was made as the duo The Art Department circa 1987. Unfortunately I don’t have any of those sound recordings preserved. They were epic records created by two 18 year bffs that put their similar taste in funky up tempo music to work.
https://www.blackhistory.mit.edu/archive/bang-orchestra-hologram-ca-late-1980s
Rex turned me on to hundreds of bangers. Here is one of the earlier ones.
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1986
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_Black_Singles_number_ones_of_1986
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1986
Who doesn’t love Stevie Wonder? I am dedicating Go Home to my mother. I’m not sure she if she bought this single. However I know her taste, she probably did.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Home_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1986
https://rocklists.com/kroq-1986.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigmouth_Strikes_Again
The Smiths were my favorite band in high school. Keep in mind I have many favorites. In 1986 they were getting ready to break up and Bigmouth was being played on KJET. For some reason I never paid attention to Morrissey’s music post Smiths.
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Shout Out to Cameo
My last favorite funk band coming out of the 70s is doing alright in the 80s, compared to Parliament/Funkadelic and Slave, anyway. Cameo’s sound is changing in the 80s as reflected by the smaller band line up and a more electronic sound. A lot of people became familiar with Cameo for the first time when Word Up came out. I suppose the music industry blessed Larry Blackmon with a major label deal when most of the other funk bands were out of luck and going out of business.