Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1987 - (page 218)

Protein Junkie said:
2003 is still free MES. You need to do this year. It was the birth of a very popular quiz show the name of which escapes me.
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I’ll have to decline. 79 to around 95 is my range. Too busy changing nappies after that to be bothering with new music. With the exception of Morrissey, Belle and Sebastian and a couple of Doves, James and The Thrills albums I couldn’t do any year after 95 any justice at all.
 
Mad Eyed Screamer said:
This is bannable language in these parts….
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0 for 2 from my personal vantage point, but I like a good amount of Rob's music too, so I just smile and give him the pass that MCD hopefully gives us both for our certain Canadian rock band leanings. ;-)

Since we have extra time until the next year in 80's turns over in the new year, I do plan on weighing in on 1987, I just haven't had the time yet to put in a proper write-up. That and having lots to do for that new/next year... ;-)
 
OB1 said:
Glad you included that Steve Earle track: another I agonised over picking.

Sadly, I still have a few on my shortlist:

Belinda Carlisle: “Circle in the Sand”
Jethro Tull: “Budapest”
Grateful Dead: “Touch of Grey”
Whitesnake: “Still of the Night”
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Added to the coda.

Mad Eyed Screamer said:
1987
It's funny how I have easily sat here and typed every year from 1979 to 1986 without having to check online for facts and figures etc, yet here I am struggling to recall very much apart from The Greatest Band Of All Time splitting up!
So I actually had to do a little search into what songs / bands were belting out the belters to prompt me here!

Five albums to discuss - Four I loved and one, well.....

The Smiths 5 year existence ended in a manner that still isn't clear. Johnny wanted a break. He'd worked non stop touring / recording / managing the band.... managing Morrissey! Remember at this point, Johnny was 23 years of age! The rest of the band saw this as Johnny wanted out. He went to LA for that break and someone - we still don't know who - called the NME and said Johnny had left the band. Johnny denied it was him as did Morrissey deny he did it - and 38 years later we still don't know did it.....
The band released a couple of stand alone singles in 1987, "Sheila Take A Bow" and "Shoplifters of the world....." and as usual the B sides matched the A sides with the likes of "You Just haven't Earned It Yet Baby", although the Cilla Black cover of "Work is a four letter word" had Marr retorting "I didn't form a band to do Cilla Black covers..."
The fourth and final studio album was released - "Strangeways Here We Come" as the band again delivered an album with tunes such as "Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me", "Paint a vulgar picture", Unhappy birthday", and the album's ending, just Morrissey and Johnny together on "I won't share you". Was Morrissey sensing that Johnny was getting itchy feet and receiving offers to collaborate with others and was putting his feelings down inn a song?
Thank you Morrissey, Johnny, Mike and Andy for 5 great years and the music still lives on today. The pleasure, the privilege was ours......

The disappointment was Siouxsie & The Banshees. They produced a covers album called "Through The Looking Glass". Iggy's ''The passenger'' was decent enough but the other single 'This wheels on fire", just didn't do it for me despite being a successful single. Other covers included Sparks "This town ain't big enough for the both of us", The Jungle Book's snake (Kaa) song "Trust in me" and Billie Holiday's classic "Strange Fruit". I think I played it 3 times and never since. Maybe I should give it another go?

The Housemartins followed up 1986's excellent "London 0 Hull 4" with "The people who grinned themselves to death" and debuting with a new drummer, having replaced Hugh Whittaker who ended up in jail a bit later after an arson attack! The singles "Five get over excited", (Whittaker appears in the video alongside Dave Hemmingway, his replacement), "Me and the Farmer" and "Build" along with 9 other tracks, again adding social commentary to each tune and getting into trouble for bashing the royal family in the title track.
Recorded at Stockport's Strawberry Studios, the band roped in St Winifred's Choir to back them on "Bow Down" a song about the drabness of a day to day job at the hands of the bosses (Why's that man, rubbing his hands, looking at me, writing down his plans...").
The album came out and bang! The band apparently had a pact that it would be two albums and that's it. From the ashes would be The Beautiful South, Beats International and Fat Boy Slim. And a load of children's books courtesy of Stan Cullimore - that's Cullimore, not the woman beating, cottaging former Premier League player.

Julian Cope delivered "St Julian" and I went along to The International 2 to see him promote the album.
"World Shut your mouth" had been released in 1986, but follow up singles "Trampoline" and "Eve's Volcano" were, like the album, 1987 releases. I'd say this was Cope's last great album before going off his head a bit into druid stuff and the like.

The Cure just kept getting better and better.
The double album "Hot hot hot" spawned four singles: "Catch", "Why can't I be you?', "Hot hot hot" (though released as a single in 88) and my all time fave Cure song, "Just like Heaven", along with a whole load of other uplifting miserable songs!

The Wedding Present - George Best
Despite the name, what an album! Not a bad track on it and a worthy album to help get over the end of The Smiths.... "Shatner", "My favourite dress", "Everyone thinks he looks daft" and "Anyone can make a mistake" just a few of the peaches on the album.

My gig of the year was at Birmingham's NEC - Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, playing on their own and also a small set together. Great stuff. Dylan's voice wasn't too clever (has it ever been?) but I saw an absolute legend and still have the ticket today.

I think this was the year The Chart Show was aired on a Saturday morning and every 3rd week would be the Indie Charts (with rock and dance rotating alongside) and here I was introduced to The House Of Love's "Shine On", REM's "End of the world as we know it" and on The Tube I was introduced to Bristol band The Brilliant Corners, with the song "Brian Rix", who I must have seen 5 times at The Boardwalk / Hacienda in 87 / 88 / 89.
Oh and New Order matched Blue Monday with their biggest hit with "True Faith". Also, especially as I write this as it is indeed Xmas day in the UK, The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl released the timeless classic "The Fairytale of New York".
A band from Wigan were up and coming and their time is yet to come in 1987, but Factory band The Railway Children had a great single in "Brighter".

Wow reading all of that I can't believe I had to google a bit of it, just to kick my memory back a gear.

5 songs for the playlist

The Smiths - I won't share you. Was this Morrisey's ultimatum to his songwriting partner?
The Housemartins - Build. Look at Manchester city centre or around the Etihad Stadium and listen to the lyrics.
The Cure - Just like Heaven. Needs no introduction. A classic.
The Wedding Present - A million miles. The things a boy will do to try and get the attention of a local crush....
The Railway Children - Brighter. They should have been huge......
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Added to the main list, but please try to stick to the deadlines next time :)
 
The History of Rock & Roll - 1987

We don't serve your country, don't serve your king
White man listen to the songs we sing
White man came, took everything

We carry in our hearts the true country
And that cannot be stolen
We follow in the steps of our ancestry
And that cannot be broken

Happy New Year to my fellow History Of Rock crew here. Before we jump into 1988 next week, a mention of 1987 should be in play here. Kudos to @RobMCFC for an enjoyable intro read and start of the playlist for this year. From the intro lyrics here, Midnight Oil's "The Dead Heart" was the standout song, and I'm glad this track was picked out of all of the ones available off that fantastic album. Rehearing this again reminded me why and how I enjoyed this song so much, as this was the first year I and most would hear this band in their commercial breakthrough. High marks to Mellencamp, U2, The Hooters and Rush, and for Tom Petty's track, though I much prefer "Runaway Trains" as the standout musical and vocal track on that album. The Prince track was new to me, and it almost seemed too uncanny to the Roxette similar track that was soon to come, but Prince was first.

The Big Winner
“The Cross” – Prince, I wasn't listening to this album as much as I had heard Purple Rain prior, but this guitar-led track was really powerful. A spiritual Christian song that I wasn't anticipating, this track really was a standout. Kudos to @Saddleworth2 for nominating this non-single track. I've already re-listened to JCM's album from this year, and Prince is also on my list to check out from this track.

Top New Songs
  1. "Brighter" - The Railway Children, it never ceases to amaze me how much great music that I’ve not heard should have been more accessible. I immediately thought of this band as the UK’s version of early R.E.M., so I wasn’t surprised at all to read that they supported that band on their European tour at that time. Well matched indeed. Some great bass, jangly guitars, and a strong drum finish with great vocals, this was quite a find. Nearly the big winner, and I suppose we will not have heard the last of them. Great nomination, MES!
  2. "Song of Bernadette" – Jenifer Warnes, one other thing I really enjoy about the thread is the context on certain songs that the nominator provides, and I could really feel the look-back aspect and personalized lyrics of this song, quite powerful. We mostly fall, we mostly run…
  3. "Born in a Storm / Raintown " – Deacon Blue, in another year this could have been tops too, so this speaks to the quality depth this year. A great UK pop band from Glasgow that I know I know the name of, just not familiar with their material. Strong backing vocals by Lorraine McIntosh make the 2nd track.
  4. "This Corrosion" – Sisters of Mercy, an enjoyable track that sounded very Bowie-like, as if this was the type of music I wish he was making in the late 80s before he found his way again later on.
  5. "The Grat Commandment" - Camouflage, uncanny sound from this German band that I initially would have sworn was Depeche Mode, but was inspired by, and sounded good in the same genre.
  6. "Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft” and “A Million Miles” - The Wedding Present, strong guitars and some solid UK indie rock from a band I’d not heard of.
  7. "Paid In Full" – Eric B & Rakim, Marley Marl, not my typical genre, but a very good ryhmin’ hip hop song.
  8. “That Time of the Night” and “Incommunicado” – Marillion, it doesn’t surprise me that my Gabriel Genesis leaning friends were very partial to Marillion. Uncanny resemblance.
  9. "She Watch Channel Zero" – Public Enemy, see above, not what I was listening too, but a good song musically. Flavor Flav was very strong on this song. Doug Williams likely smiling for the timely shout out. Your blind, baby…

Top Songs I Knew Quite Well
  1. "King Of Birds" – R.E.M., not as big on this album as I once was, but this track is a standout lesser known gem off of that more commercial release.
  2. "Little Wing" - Sting, the whole 2nd solo album was fantastic, but this jazzy remake is one of his best.
  3. "Never Let Me Down Again" – Depeche Mode, song still sounding good, recently prominently well used in The Last of Us miniseries.
  4. "Did Ye Get Healed" – Van Morrison, I rediscovered this years after the fact, but a good period of lesser known tunes from Van in the 80’s.
  5. "Animal" – Def Leppard, their slower ballads are sometimes better than the more popular hits, this one and the title track of Hysteria being prime examples of what I still enjoy from them today.
  6. "Learning To Fly” – Pink Floyd, not to be compared to the former band version, but I was still a fan of David Gilmour’s led band with smoother vocals and that trademark guitar sound.
  7. "Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Beore" - The Smiths, one of my favourite songs from this band that by then, I as more enjoying during my college years
  8. “Have A Little Faith In Me” – John Hiatt, from the same album that soon gave us a Bonnie Raitt classic, this piano led vocal masterpiece was quite an emotional performance.
There are so many songs I knew this year, hard to mention them all, but these were the top ones that I still enjoy hearing today.

On Second Thought
I was not much of a George Michael fan in the 1980's, but the vocals delivered in “Father Figure” is some of the best and emotional ones I’ve heard. A very powerful R&B and gospel led song that sounds almost Prince-like, no wonder it hit #1 in many countries. Shirley Lewis’s backing vocals on this track also make it very memorable. I enjoyed revisiting this song and it sounding much better than I remember.
 
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Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
The History of Rock & Roll - 1987

We don't serve your country, don't serve your king
White man listen to the songs we sing
White man came, took everything

We carry in our hearts the true country
And that cannot be stolen
We follow in the steps of our ancestry
And that cannot be broken

Happy New Year to my fellow History Of Rock crew here. Before we jump into 1988 next week, a mention of 1987 should be in play here. Kudos to @RobMCFC for an enjoyable intro read and start of the playlist for this year. From the intro lyrics here, Midnight Oil's "The Dead Heart" was the standout song, and I'm glad this track was picked out of all of the ones available off that fantastic album. Rehearing this again reminded me why and how I enjoyed this song so much, as this was the first year I and most would hear this band in their commercial breakthrough. High marks to Mellencamp, U2, The Hooters and Rush, and for Tom Petty's track, though I much prefer "Runaway Trains" as the standout musical and vocal track on that album. The Prince track was new to me, and it almost seemed too uncanny to the Roxette similar track that was soon to come, but Prince was first.

The Big Winner
“The Cross” – Prince, wasn't listening to this album as much as I had heard Purple Rain prior, but this guitar-led track was really powerful. A spiritual Christian song that I wasn't anticipating, this track really was a standout. Kudos to @Saddleworth2 for nominating this non-single track. I've already re-listened to JCM's album from this year, and Prince is also on my list to check out from this track.

Top New Songs
  1. "Brighter" - The Railway Children, it never ceases to amaze me how much great music that I’ve not heard should have been more accessible. I immediately thought of this band as the UK’s version of early R.E.M., so I wasn’t surprised at all to read that they supported that band on their European tour at that time. Well matched indeed. Some great bass, jangly guitars, and a strong drum finish with great vocals, this was quite a find. Nearly the big winner, and I suppose well will not have heard the last of them. Great nomination, MES!
  2. "Song of Bernadette" – Jenifer Warnes, one other thing I really enjoy about the thread is the context on certain songs that the nominator provides, and I could really feel the look-back aspect and personalized lyrics of this song, quite powerful. We mostly fall, we mostly run…
  3. "Born in a Storm / Raintown " – Deacon Blue, in another year this could have been tops too, so this speaks to the quality depth this year. A great UK pop band from Glasgow that I know I know the name of, just not familiar with their material. Strong backing vocals by Lorraine McIntosh make the 2nd track.
  4. "This Corrosion" – Sisters of Mercy, an enjoyable track that sounded very Bowie-like, as if this was the type of music I wish he was making in the late 80s before he found his way again later on.
  5. "The Grat Commandment" - Camouflage, uncanny sound from this German band that I initially would have sworn was Depeche Mode, but was inspired by, and sounded good in the same genre.
  6. "Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft” and “A Million Miles” - The Wedding Present, strong guitars and some solid UK indie rock from a band I’d not heard of.
  7. "Paid In Full" – Eric B & Rakim, Marley Marl, not my typical genre, but a very good ryhmin’ hip hop song.
  8. “That Time of the Night” and “Incommunicado” – Marillion, it doesn’t surprise me that my Gabriel Genesis leaning friends were very partial to Marillion. Uncanny resemblance.
  9. "She Watch Channel Zero" – Public Enemy, see above, not what I was listening too, but a good song musically. Flavor Flav very strong on this song. Doug Williams likely smiling for the timely shout out. Your blind, baby…

Top Songs I Knew Quite Well
  1. "King Of Birds" – R.E.M., not as big on this album as I once was, but this track is a standout lesser known gem off of that more commercial release.
  2. "Little Wing" - Sting, the whole 2nd solo album was fantastic, but this jazzy remake is one of his best.
  3. "Never Let Me Down Again" – Depeche Mode, song still sounding good, recently prominently well used in The Last of Us miniseries.
  4. "Did Ye Get Healed" – Van Morrison, I rediscovered this years after the fact, but a good period of lesser known tunes from Van in the 80’s.
  5. "Animal" – Def Leppard, their slower ballads are sometimes better than the more popular hits, this one and the title track of Hysteria being prime examples of what I still enjoy from them today.
  6. "Learning To Fly” – Pink Floyd, not to be compared to the former band version, but I was still a fan of DG’s led band with smoother vocals and that trademark guitar sound.
  7. "Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Beore" - The Smiths, one of my favourite songs from this band that by then, I as more enjoying during my college years
  8. “Have A Little Faith In Me” – John Hiatt, from the same album that gave us a Bonnie Raitt classic, this piano led vocal masterpiece was quite an emotional performance.
There are so many songs I knew this year, hard to mention them all, but these were the top ones that I still enjoy hearing today.

On Second Thought
I was not much of a George Michael fan in the 1980's, but the vocals delivered in “Father Figure” is some of the best and emotional ones I’ve heard. A very powerful R&B and gospel led song that sounds almost Prince-like, no wonder it hit #1 in many countries. Shirley Lewis’s backing vocals on this track also make it very memorable. I enjoyed revisiting this song and it sounding much better than I remember.
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I did ok with The Cross, Raintown and Father Figure then mate. Honestly, I believe George is one of the very best white soul singers that ever lived. Some of his vocals are sublime. More on that soon :-)
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
"Born in a Storm / Raintown " – Deacon Blue, in another year this could have been tops too, so this speaks to the quality depth this year. A great UK pop band from Glasgow that I know I know the name of, just not familiar with their material. Strong backing vocals by Lorraine McIntosh make the 2nd track.
Click to expand...
They have made some very strong albums so there is a fair amount to discover. Lorraine was initially a band 'groupie'. Not in the usual sense, she just really liked the bands music and would go to as many of their gigs as possible and stand at the front and sing along with all their songs. Rickie Ross the lead singer and main songwriter liked her voice and invited her up on stage one night to accompany his vocals. The rest is history. Oh and he ended up marrying her too. Their two albums after Raintown are also very good - 'when the world knows your name' and 'fellow hoodlums'. I also like their 2014 album 'a new house'. Ross is a good songwriter and vocalist.

More helpful/useless info:
Their drummer who has been in the band from the get go is Dougie Vipond who has also made a name for himself as a presenter on BBC1 Scotland. He is the mainstay of their farming/country programme and pops up a lot on TV in gods own country. I know of him through a third party and by all reports he is as nice in real life as he comes across on screen and in the band.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
More helpful/useless info:
Their drummer who has been in the band from the get go is Dougie Vipond who has also made a name for himself as a presenter on BBC1 Scotland. He is the mainstay of their farming/country programme and pops up a lot on TV in gods own country. I know of him through a third party and by all reports he is as nice in real life as he comes across on screen and in the band.
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Well, you learn something everyday. I've seen him on a couple of shows and I never knew he was Deacon Blue's drummer.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
They have made some very strong albums so there is a fair amount to discover. Lorraine was initially a band 'groupie'. Not in the usual sense, she just really liked the bands music and would go to as many of their gigs as possible and stand at the front and sing along with all their songs. Rickie Ross the lead singer and main songwriter liked her voice and invited her up on stage one night to accompany his vocals. The rest is history. Oh and he ended up marrying her too. Their two albums after Raintown are also very good - 'when the world knows your name' and 'fellow hoodlums'. I also like their 2014 album 'a new house'. Ross is a good songwriter and vocalist.

More helpful/useless info:
Their drummer who has been in the band from the get go is Dougie Vipond who has also made a name for himself as a presenter on BBC1 Scotland. He is the mainstay of their farming/country programme and pops up a lot on TV in gods own country. I know of him through a third party and by all reports he is as nice in real life as he comes across on screen and in the band.
Click to expand...
Just had a listen to When the World Knows Your Name, an album I own, for the first time in probably 30-odd years.

"Queen of the New Year" and "Fergus Sings The Blues" still really hit the mark.

Sometime in early 1989, I was listening to Roger Scott on The Saturday Sequence and he played "Queen of the New Year" to kick off the show. Obviously he didn't state the name of the artist, and knowing that John Mellencamp was due a new album soon, I thought "Here we go!" when I heard all those fiddles, until I heard Rocky Ross singing! Anyway, it's a very good album and I bought it on the back of hearing this fantastic song.
 
RobMCFC said:
Just had a listen to When the World Knows Your Name, an album I own, for the first time in probably 30-odd years.

"Queen of the New Year" and "Fergus Sings The Blues" still really hit the mark.

Sometime in early 1989, I was listening to Roger Scott on The Saturday Sequence and he played "Queen of the New Year" to kick off the show. Obviously he didn't state the name of the artist, and knowing that John Mellencamp was due a new album soon, I thought "Here we go!" when I heard all those fiddles, until I heard Rocky Ross singing! Anyway, it's a very good album and I bought it on the back of hearing this fantastic song.
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they are such fun live. I saw them just before Christmas a few years ago at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh and my god what a party it was. They still make decent music. I mentioned 'A New House' which is relatively recent and some of the songs are as good as anything they have done. Inspired by memories, nature and Scotlands future it was released just priorto the Independence referendum and Ross's political leanings are pretty obvious on one or two tracks. Don't let that put you off though it is a fine album.

PS. Their 2025 album The Great Western Road is worth a listen too.
 
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RobMCFC said:
Just had a listen to When the World Knows Your Name, an album I own, for the first time in probably 30-odd years.

"Queen of the New Year" and "Fergus Sings The Blues" still really hit the mark.
Click to expand...
1767400724811.png

Ahhhhhh, that's where I know Deacon Blue from - "Fergus Sings The Blues"!

My first visit to the UK was with my then-girlfriend in June 1989 and upon renting our red small car in London and driving through England with little or no sleep listening to the limited radio stations, I distinctly remember having that song worn out on my ears during that trip, so much that we both (used to) goof on it for being the one song we'd hear over and over.

Now I know.... the rest of the story. Thank you Rob for reminding me of this! ;-)
RobMCFC said:
Sometime in early 1989, I was listening to Roger Scott on The Saturday Sequence and he played "Queen of the New Year" to kick off the show. Obviously he didn't state the name of the artist, and knowing that John Mellencamp was due a new album soon, I thought "Here we go!" when I heard all those fiddles, until I heard Rocky Ross singing! Anyway, it's a very good album and I bought it on the back of hearing this fantastic song.
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Nice. Surely the memories are still strong with this band! ;-)
 
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Saddleworth2 said:
They have made some very strong albums so there is a fair amount to discover. Lorraine was initially a band 'groupie'. Not in the usual sense, she just really liked the bands music and would go to as many of their gigs as possible and stand at the front and sing along with all their songs. Rickie Ross the lead singer and main songwriter liked her voice and invited her up on stage one night to accompany his vocals. The rest is history. Oh and he ended up marrying her too. Their two albums after Raintown are also very good - 'when the world knows your name' and 'fellow hoodlums'. I also like their 2014 album 'a new house'. Ross is a good songwriter and vocalist.

More helpful/useless info:
Their drummer who has been in the band from the get go is Dougie Vipond who has also made a name for himself as a presenter on BBC1 Scotland. He is the mainstay of their farming/country programme and pops up a lot on TV in gods own country. I know of him through a third party and by all reports he is as nice in real life as he comes across on screen and in the band.
Click to expand...
I was a big Deacon Blue fan back in the day, bought all their early albums after hearing ‘Dignity’,I saw them live a couple of times.Ricky Ross is a big Springsteen fan and you can hear the influences on some songs .I listened to the album ‘Hipsters’ a few years ago which I quite liked so must give the two you mentioned a spin.
 
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