Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1988, Hothouse Flowers released their debut album, People. As with many Irish bands of the time, their pathway to broader music business exposure went through the garlanded terraces constructed by U2. Legend has it that Bono saw the band performing on television, which led to a single released on U2’s label, Mother Records. That in turn led to a recording contract with PolyGram’s London Records and a hearty push to college radio. Surely the youthful programmers who were instrumental in propelling U2’s The Joshua Tree to sensation levels would connect with the earnest, tuneful, emotionally open material on People.

Although mainstream crossover never really arrived, the college kids did dig it. In some ways, Hothouse Flowers took elements from a big batch of recent favorites — Midnight Oil, the Waterboys, the Alarm, and, yes indeed, U2 — and swirled it into music that seemed familiar and new all at once. The songs shouldered out of the speakers with an uncommon urgency and a thrilling fullness. Hothouse Flowers was one of the bands that immediately stirred a desire to see them live, the promise of these songs unencumbered by the confines of a studio was almost unbearably tantalizing. (I type the preceding as someone who had one of those heartbreaking so-close-and-yet-so-far experiences when the band was still touring on People.) With one album, Hothouse Flowers seemed like titans.

People was waiting there for me when I arrived in college radio, and I’m sure I played every last song on it multiple times, feeling transported in every instance. I’d wager I played “Don’t Go” the most, in part because it’s close to the Platonic ideal of the band’s straightforward, rough-hewn barroom beauty and heartfelt immediacy. At one time — and maybe still now — I would have eagerly argued this song is perfect.

Listen or download —> Hothouse Flowers, “Don’t Go”

(Disclaimer: I believe People and most of the original Hothouse Flowers discography to be out of print, at least as physical items that can be procured from your favorite local, independently owned record store in a manner than compensates both the proprietor of said store and the original artist. Also, sharing this track should qualify as fair use. If you can buy this record, do so. It’s wondrous, as are several other releases that bear the band’s name. If not, buy something. Your record store needs your support. Since I do know the rules, I will gladly and promptly remove this file from my little corner of the digital world if asked to do so by any individual or entity with due authority to make such a request.)