In Step by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
In Step, the fourth and final studio album released by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
In hindsight, it is no surprise to anyone that In Step is the band’s strongest studio album largely due to it being the first that Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded clean and sober. The album featured strong compositions from the band as well as inspired cover songs. The album performed well in the US, Canada and Australia and won the the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Favourite track: The epic jazz-influenced instrumental “Riviera Paradise”
Flying In A Blue Dream by Joe Satriani
Flying In A Blue Dream, Satriani’s first album to include tracks with him performing vocals
Joe Satriani will never be remembered for his vocal work, but they were serviceable on the tracks he chose to sing. His success continued with this album, featuring four top 40 hits in the US. The album itself remained in the US charts for 39 weeks and made the top 40 in three other countries.
Favourite track: The title track “Flying In A Blue Dream”
Disintegration by The Cure
Disintegration was the eighth studio album released by English band The Cure
Recorded during a time of upheaval within the band, founding member Lol Tolhurst was sacked before the album’s release, the album is a return to the group’s gothic rock from earlier in the decade. The Cure released four successful singles from the album. The album itself fared very well internationally as it made the top ten in Australia, Austria, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland and France. It also peaked at #12 in the US.
Favourite track: The delightfully creepy “Lullaby”
The Healer by John Lee Hooker
The Healer featured an epic list of guest artists alongside blues legend John Lee Hooker
Although only reaching #62 on the US charts, the album made the top 20 in Australia and was successful enough to let John Lee Hooker live in comfort the rest of his life. John Lee won his first Grammy Award for his duet with Bonnie Raitt on “I’m In The Mood”. Featuring a plethora of guest contributors alongside a core band of session musicians, the guests featured included Carlos Santana, George Thorogood, Robert Cray and Los Lobos.
Favourite track: “The Healer” featuring the blistering guitarwork of Carlos Santana alongside John Lee’s simpler rhythmic playing
Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails
The debut album from industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails was released in October 1989
I became an instant Nine Inch Nails fan from the first moment I heard “Head Like A Hole”. I had heard nothing like it before and loved its sound, which in turn made me seek out the album. I love this album still and own it in several formats. It also remains perhaps the most accessible of the Nine Inch Nails releases.
Favourite track: “Kinda I Want To”
The Slabthrower 