October 1989 -- Wait, I like some of these...

As much as I've ragged on music from the late 80's, I do remember having one mix tape from 1989 that both reflected what was on the radio at the time and yet I also liked it virtually top to bottom.  It must've been from this month, since mixed in with the truly awful were lead singles from big albums that fired up music at the end of the 80's.

Girl groups were doing well, and this week my favorites by Expose, Seduction, and Cover Girls all charted.  I was definitely hit or miss with big-hair rock, but among my favorites in the genre were "18 and Life," "Dr Feelgood" and Aerosmith.

A few veterans had their biggest hits of the era -- Rolling Stones, Cher-- or even their career -- the Cure, the B-52's, even Alice Cooper...and I liked them all!  Some vets had perfectly decent songs, even if they weren't iconic (Tina Turner, Starship)

Some artists were in the middle of long, long runs from the same album, to mixed results (Bobby Brown (OK), Milli Vanilli  & Madonna (good), Abdul (bad), Marx (awful), New Kids (OK and horrible).

Two legit rap records were on the charts, the pop-friendly Bust a Move, and the least pop friendly song of the decade of "Me So Horny" which led to some changes in how American Top 40 and others introduced and played songs.  

And at #1, leading her huge run of hits from Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson.  

Favorites:  

(4-star) Aerosmith, Poco, Rolling Stones, Motley Crue, the Cure, Seduction, "Girl...you know" 

(5-star) Listen to your Heart, When I looked at him -- winner:  Expose!

1 1 MISS YOU MUCH –•– Janet Jackson – 8 (1)
2 4 LOVE SONG –•– The Cure – 11 (2)
3 6 SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE –•– Tears For Fears – 8 (3)
4 9 LISTEN TO YOUR HEART –•– Roxette – 9 (4)
5 5 MIXED EMOTIONS –•– Rolling Stones – 8 (5)
6 15 COVER GIRL –•– New Kids On The Block – 6 (6)
7 11 LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR –•– Aerosmith – 8 (7)
8 10 IT’S NO CRIME –•– Babyface – 11 (8)
9 7 BUST A MOVE –•– Young M.C. – 13 (7)
10 13 WHEN I LOOKED AT HIM –•– Expose – 10 (10)

11 14 DR. FEELGOOD –•– Motley Crue – 8 (11)
12 2 CHERISH –•– Madonna – 10 (2)
13 17 ROCK WIT’CHA –•– Bobby Brown – 9 (13)
14 3 GIRL I’M GONNA MISS YOU –•– Milli Vanilli – 12 (1)
15 22 WHEN I SEE YOU SMILE –•– Bad English – 6 (15)
16 18 HEALING HANDS –•– Elton John – 9 (16)
17 8 HEAVEN –•– Warrant – 14 (2)
18 12 IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME –•– Cher – 16 (3)
19 21 THE BEST –•– Tina Turner – 8 (19)
20 25 DIDN’T I (BLOW YOUR MIND) –•– New Kids On The Block – 6 (20)

21 26 LOVE SHACK –•– The B-52’s – 8 (21)
22 29 (IT’S JUST) THE WAY THAT YOU LOVE ME –•– Paula Abdul – 10 (22)
23 27 CALL IT LOVE –•– Poco – 9 (23)
24 16 IT’S NOT ENOUGH –•– Starship – 12 (12)
25 30 I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE –•– Martika – 8 (25)
26 41 ANGELIA –•– Richard Marx – 3 (26)
27 35 POISON –•– Alice Cooper – 5 (27)
28 38 BACK TO LIFE –•– Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler – 5 (28)
29 46 BLAME IT ON THE RAIN –•– Milli Vanilli – 3 (29)
30 19 18 AND LIFE –•– Skid Row – 16 (4)

31 33 GLAMOUR BOYS –•– Living Colour – 9 (31)
32 40 SUNSHINE –•– Dino – 7 (32)
33 37 DON’T SHUT ME OUT –•– Kevin Paige – 10 (33)
34 34 LET GO –•– Sharon Bryant – 10 (34)
35 42 GET ON YOUR FEET –•– Gloria Estefan – 4 (35)
36 24 YOU’RE MY ONE AND ONLY (TRUE LOVE) –•– Seduction – 16 (23)
37 48 ME SO HORNY –•– 2 Live Crew – 7 (37)
38 49 DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES –•– Kix – 7 (38)
39 45 MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT –•– Cover Girls – 7 (39)

40 58 WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE –•– Billy Joel – 2 (40)