Originally published January 1, 1989 in the Bergen Record
1988’s 10 Best Albums
1. “Folkways: A Vision Shared A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly” This thoughtful, lovingly produced 14-song collection went a long way toward introducing a new generation of pop music fans to the links between Woody Guthrie and Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter and such modern singer-songwriters as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Pete Seeger. They, along with Willie Nelson, John Cougar Mellencamp, U2, and others poignantly and, sometimes amusingly, interpreted the works of these folk-music giants.
2. Tracy Chapman, “Tracy Chapman” Tracy Chapman emerged as the unlikeliest pop star of 1988 a folk singer-songwriter who wasn’t afraid to take a no-holds barred approach to such subjects as poverty, racism, and domestic violence. Her debut album was striking for the strength of its material and the conviction with which she delivered it. Chapman’s standing also rose with her participation on the Amnesty International “Human Rights Now!” tour.
3. Keith Richards, “Talk Is Cheap” and Robert Plant, “Now and Zen” The two rock-and-roll veterans came through with glittering gems that reaffirmed their staying power.
Keith Richards, on his debut solo album, produced the kind of raw rock that was the Rolling Stones stock in trade. Richards guitar work was as edgy as ever, and, despite his raspy, ragged voice, he managed to score points as a convincing vocalist.
Working with a core of young, enthusiastic musicians, ex-Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant produced his best solo album to date. “Now and Zen” sizzled from the opening track “Heaven Knows” right through the closer, “White, Clean and Neat. ” Singing with more control and precision than he has in years, Plant also came to terms with his Led Zeppelin past (“Tall Cool One”).
4. Hothouse Flowers, “People” Music that is passionate and honest made the debut album from one of Ireland’s newest bands a winner. Hothouse Flowers, which traces its roots to a Dublin-based Irish-language school, mixes traditional instruments, such as the bodhran and bouzouki, with such standard-issue rock instruments as guitar, bass, and drums. The result is a spiritual sound for songs dealing with such secular topics as aging and personal failures.
5. Brian Wilson, “Brian Wilson” All the things that made the Beach Boys music so appealing the wondrous melodies and lush harmonies found their way onto Brian Wilson’s first solo album. The self-titled LP, with its crisp instrumentation and soaring harmonies, recalled the Beach Boys classic “Pet Sounds.” For Wilson, beset by emotional and physical problems for close to two decades, the album was both a personal and musical triumph.
6. The Traveling Wilburys, “The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1” Drawing from a number of musical wellsprings (pop, folk-rock, rockabilly, and country), the Wilbury brothers a k a George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne produced a wonderfully cheerful, melodic album. The recent death of Orbison makes this a bittersweet selection.
7. John Hiatt, “Slow Turning” For the second year in a row, John Hiatt appears on the top-10 list. Last year’s LP “Bring the Family” did what none of Hiatt’s previous albums could do: capture the intensity of his live performances. This year’s “Slow Turning” does the same. It also solidifies Hiatt’s reputation as a songwriter who can turn a phrase the way few of his contemporaries can.
8. Midnight Oil, “Diesel and Dust” The Australian band hit paydirt with “Diesel and Dust,” a collection of potent, politicized rock. The group succeeded largely by striking a balance between the message and the music. While the subject matter was serious nuclear weapons, Aboriginal land rights the music always remained vibrant.
9. In Tua Nua, “The Long Acre” Rock-and-roll melded with Celtic folk music established the Irish band as a musical force to be reckoned with. The unique sound of the seven-member group was intensified by the stirring vocals of lead singer Leslie Dowdall and the judicious use of such traditional instruments as uilleann pipes, whistles, and violins.
10. U2, “Rattle and Hum” The two-record set showed the Irish quartet continuing to mature musically. “Rattle and Hum” furthered the exploration into American roots music blues, country, and gospel begun on last year’s U2 album, “The Joshua Tree.”
Honorable mention: Patti Smith, “Dream of Life”; Randy Newman, “Land of Dreams”; Paul Kelly and the Messengers, “Under the Sun”; Bon Jovi, “New Jersey”; Big Audio Dynamite, “Tighten Up Vol. 88”; and Melissa Etheridge, “Melissa Etheridge.”