100 Greatest Albums of 1989

Criteria: These 1989 albums were chosen for their initial and lasting popularity and their influence and impact on rock music in general. Also considered is critical acclaim. The list includes rock and roll and related genres that were influential on rock music.

Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'. Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. 3 Feet High And Rising
De La Soul
2. Doolittle
The Pixies
3. Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
4. Like A Prayer
Madonna
5. Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
6. Disintegration
The Cure
7. The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
8. Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
9. The End Of The Innocence
Don Henley
10. Technique
New Order
11. Freedom
Neil Young
12. Pretty Hate Machine
Nine Inch Nails
13. Full Moon Fever
Tom Petty
14. Pump
Aerosmith
15. Club Classics Vol. One (Keep On Movin')
Soul II Soul
16. New York
Lou Reed
17. Dr. Feelgood
Mütley Crüe
18. The Real Thing
Faith No More
19. The Raw & The Cooked
Fine Young Cannibals
20. Pump Up The Jam: The Album
Technotronic
21. Tender Lover
Babyface
22. Affection
Lisa Stansfield
23. Cuts Both Ways
Gloria Estefan
24. Soul Provider
Michael Bolton
25. Oh Mercy
Bob Dylan
26. Cosmic Thing
The B-52s
27. Loc-ed After Dark
Tone Loc
28. Repeat Offender
Richard Marx
29. Mystery Girl
Roy Orbison
30. Hooked/To The Extreme
Vanilla Ice
31. Skid Row
Skid Row
32. Altars Of Madness
Morbid Angel
33. Heart Shaped World
Chris Isaak
34. ...But Seriously
Phil Collins
35. Bleach
Nirvana
36. Avalon Sunset
Van Morrison
37. Heart Of Stone
Cher
38. Storm Front
Billy Joel
39. All Hail The Queen
Queen Latifah
40. The Great Radio Controversy
Tesla
41. Steel Wheels
The Rolling Stones
42. Walking With A Panther
LL Cool J
43. The Sensual World
Kate Bush
44. Done By The Forces Of Nature
The Jungle Brothers
45. Big Daddy
John Cougar Mellencamp
46. Beneath The Remains
Sepultura
47. Unfinished Business
EPMD
48. Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
49. Journeyman
Eric Clapton
50. Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like A Wind
Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville

51. Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
52. Can't Fight Fate
Taylor Dayne
53. As Nasty As They Wanna Be
2 Live Crew
54. Flowers In The Dirt
Paul McCartney
55. Girl You Know It's True
Milli Vanilli
56. Batman
Prince
57. Electric Youth
Debbie Gibson
58. Spike
Elvis Costello
59. Louder Than Love
Soundgarden
60. Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
Warrant
61. Hats
The Blue Nile
62. Mother's Milk
Red Hot Chili Peppers
63. After 7
After 7
64. No One Can Do It Better
The DOC
65. A New Flame
Simply Red
66. Big Tyme
Heavy D & The Boyz
67. The Seeds Of Love
Tears For Fears
68. Paradise/Big Fun
Inner City
69. ...Twice Shy
Great White
70. The Biz Never Sleeps
Biz Markie
71. Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip-Hop
Boogie Down Productions
72. Yellow Moon
The Neville Brothers
73. Larger Than Life
Jody Watley
74. Everything
The Bangles
75. The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!
Ice-T
76. Sonic Temple
The Cult
77. Don't Tell A Soul
The Replacements
78. On Fire
Galaxie 500
79. Love And Rockets
Love And Rockets
80. Blind Man's Zoo
10,000 Maniacs
81. The Healer
John Lee Hooker
82. The Cactus Album
3rd Bass
83. Back On The Block
Quincy Jones
84. Streetcleaner
Godflesh
85. Labour Of Love II
UB40
86. It's A Big Daddy Thing
Big Daddy Kane
87. In Step
Stevie Ray Vaughan
88. Stone Cold Rhymin'
Young MC
89. Sleeping With The Past
Elton John
90. Mental Floss For The Globe
Urban Dance Squad
91. Alannah Myles
Alannah Myles
92. Slip Of The Tongue
Whitesnake
93. Oranges And Lemons
XTC
94. Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
95. 11
The Smithereens
96. Hot In The Shade
KISS
97. Trash
Alice Cooper
98. Eyes On This
MC Lyte
99. Enuff Z'Nuff
Enuff Z'Nuff
100. Brave And Crazy
Melissa Etheridge
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1989
Brett's choice - An unheralded great album from 1989
* Oof
Happy Flowers

Brian's choice:
* The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll
The Mekons

Ryan's choice:
* Welcome To The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South

Lew's choice:
* The Road to Hell
Chris Rea
1988   |   1990