1000. Falco, Einzelhaft (1982) In the early nineteen-eighties, German pop music was having a moment in the U.S. That surge in popularity was so pronounced that two different tracks sung in German — Nena’s “99 Luftballoons” and Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom” — … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — 1000 – 997
Over seven years ago, I shared the first College Countdown post, taking advantage of an online find — an old CMJ Top Cuts chart, which are devilishly difficult to track down in the otherwise information-packed superhighway — to offer a … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — An Introduction
4. Sinead O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U” The tip-off about the identity of the songwriter in there in title. When Sinead O’Connor released “Nothing Compares 2 U” as the lead single from her sophomore album, I Do Not Want What … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 4 – 1
8. Eleventh Dream Day, “Testify” Eleventh Dream Day was a band that seemed to come out of nowhere to storm the college charts, beginning with the release of their major label debut, Beet, in late 1989. Raved about in the … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 8 – 5
12. The Smithereens, “Blues Before and After” The second single from the Smithereens album 11, “Blues Before and After” was a perfect example of the slightly tougher sound the New Jersey band generated with producer Ed Stasium. Probably best know … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 12 – 9
16. The Creatures, “Standing There” Siouxsie Sioux was never one to recede from pointed commentary, particularly when it came to sexist attitudes that have long been rife in society. For the first single from the Creatures album Boomerang, she and … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 16 – 13
20. Kevn Kinney, “MacDougal Blues” Back in the day, I don’t think we knew about the ability to claim Kevn Kinney as one of our own. Livin’ on the air in Central Wisconsin, we had a prideful devotion to artists … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 20 – 17
24. Kate Bush, “Love and Anger” In 1989, When Kate Bush released The Sensual World, her sixth full-length studio album, it had been four years since she’d shimmered new music into the world. Bush was never particularly prolific or expedient, … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 24 – 21
28. Nine Inch Nails, “Head Like a Hole” Last week, I noted that “Down in It” was the first song Trent Reznor wrote for the album Pretty Hate Machine, the debut release from his band Nine Inch Nails. “Head Like … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 28 – 25
32. The Creatures, “Fury Eyes” Siouxsie and the Banshees were coming off of one of their biggest hits — the single “Peek-A-Boo” from the 1988 album Peepshow — when key band members Siouxsie Sioux and Budgie slipped away to a … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 40 Cuts, March 16, 1990 — 32 – 29
Coffee for Two 