100 Greatest Albums of 1989

1989 record album covers for 3 Feet High And Rising, Doolittle, Paul's Boutique, and Like A Prayer
Criteria: These 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
3 Feet High And Rising De La Soul album cover
Doolittle The Pixies album cover
Paul's Boutique Beastie Boys album cover
Like A Prayer Madonna album cover
Rhythm Nation 1814 Janet Jackson album cover
Disintegration The Cure album cover
 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


Top 100 Albums by Year: (in progress)