History's Best Selling Music of 1989

Make way for the hits of 1989! This remarkable era stood as a testament to the tubular 80s arcade boom and the march of first-rate music. Crowd-pleasers such as Girl You Know It's True shared the spotlight with mega-bestsellers Like a Prayer and Full Moon Fever. Brought to you by top-notch makers from industry leaders like Frank Milli Vanilli and Madonna, these trailblazing products sparked mega-hit frenzies and Saturday morning excitement and earned a permanent place in cultural lore. Check out the complete rank-ordered ledger below to relive the finest releases of the year.

1. Girl You Know It's True

   Released in 1989 by Frank Milli Vanilli, Farian, Fab Morvan, Rob Pilatus, Arista Records

   On February 22, 1989, Arista Records unleashed an album in North America that would dominate the charts, only to become the centerpiece of an unprecedented industry scandal. *Girl You Know It's True* by Milli Vanilli was not just a collection of catchy pop-dance tracks; it was a cultural juggernaut. Its release on this date marked the beginning of a meteoric rise for the photogenic duo of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, propelling them to superstardom with a string of hit singles and a Grammy award, all built on a foundation that would eventually crumble in the most public way imaginable.

2. Like a Prayer

   Released in 1989 by Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Stephen Bray, Prince, Sire Records

   On March 21, 1989, Madonna released her fourth studio album, 'Like a Prayer,' a work that would cement her status not just as a pop superstar, but as a fearless and controversial artist. The album arrived amidst a firestorm of debate, primarily fueled by the music video for its title track, which had been released weeks earlier. Pepsi had signed Madonna to a multi-million dollar endorsement deal, using the song in a commercial. However, upon seeing the music video—with its imagery of burning crosses, stigmata, and a romantic relationship with a saint—the company bowed to pressure from religious groups and cancelled the campaign. This controversy only amplified the album's launch, turning it into a global cultural event and a defining moment of late-80s pop culture.

3. Full Moon Fever

   Released in 1989 by Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell, MCA Records

   Released on April 24, 1989, Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" marked a pivotal moment in the legendary musician's career. Though billed as his first official solo album, it was created in a period of creative transition and collaboration, most notably with Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. The project began during a hiatus for his band, The Heartbreakers, and while Petty was also working with the supergroup Traveling Wilburys. This release wasn't a departure from his band, but an expansion of his sound, resulting in one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed albums of his entire discography and a defining record of the late 1980s.

4. Disintegration

   Released in 1989 by The Cure, Fiction Records

   On May 2, 1989, The Cure released their eighth studio album, "Disintegration." This date marked a pivotal moment in the gothic rock genre and the band's own trajectory. Coming off the eclectic pop sounds of "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me," frontman Robert Smith felt a deep-seated pressure to create a more profound, serious work as he approached his 30th birthday. He deliberately sought a return to the dark, atmospheric sounds of their earlier albums like "Pornography," resulting in a masterpiece of melancholic introspection. The album's release was met with some initial resistance from their American label, which deemed it "commercial suicide," but it ultimately became the band's commercial peak and a defining statement of their career.

5. The Miracle

   Released in 1989 by Queen, Parlophone Records, Capitol Records

   On May 22, 1989, rock legends Queen released their thirteenth studio album, "The Miracle." The release marked a significant moment for the band, arriving after a period of intense solo projects and public speculation about their future and Freddie Mercury's health. The album represented a creative reunion, with the band deciding to share songwriting credits equally as "Queen" for the first time, fostering a sense of unity and collaborative spirit. This approach was a deliberate move to present a united front and recapture the collective magic that defined their earlier work. The album's optimistic tone and grand, layered production were a defiant statement in the face of private struggles, making its release a poignant and powerful chapter in the band's history.

6. Flowers In The Dirt

   Released in 1989 by Paul McCartney, MPL Communications, Capitol Records

   On June 5, 1989, Paul McCartney released "Flowers In The Dirt," his eighth solo studio album. The date marked a significant moment in the legendary musician's career, widely seen as a major artistic and commercial comeback. In the late 1980s, after a period of mixed critical reception to albums like "Press to Play," McCartney was keen to re-establish his creative footing. This release was not just another album; it was a carefully crafted statement, a collaboration with a new generation of talent, and the musical foundation for his first world tour in over a decade, signaling a triumphant return to the global stage.

7. Heart of Stone

   Released in 1989 by Cher, Geffen Records

   Released on June 19, 1989, Cher's nineteenth studio album, "Heart of Stone," marked the zenith of her late-80s musical comeback. Following the success of her 1987 self-titled album, this release cemented her status not just as a music legend, but as a contemporary pop-rock superstar. The date represents a pivotal moment when Cher, already an icon for decades, completely conquered the MTV generation. "Heart of Stone" arrived amidst a wave of slickly produced arena rock and power ballads, but it stood out due to Cher's unmistakable voice and larger-than-life persona, perfectly packaged for the era's bombastic tastes. It became one of her most commercially successful albums, defining her image for years to come.

8. Mother's Milk

   Released in 1989 by Red Hot Chili Peppers, EMI America

   On August 16, 1989, Red Hot Chili Peppers unleashed "Mother's Milk," an album that served as both a memorial and a rebirth. Following the tragic death of founding guitarist Hillel Slovak and the subsequent departure of drummer Jack Irons, the band's future was uncertain. With the recruitment of prodigious young guitarist John Frusciante and powerhouse drummer Chad Smith, the new lineup coalesced with explosive energy. This album marked a pivotal moment, a transition from their underground funk-punk roots towards the polished, melodic, and stadium-ready alternative rock that would make them global superstars. It was the sound of a band processing grief and finding exhilarating new life, setting the stage for their monumental success in the 1990s.

9. Louder Than Love

   Released in 1989 by Soundgarden, A&M Records

   On September 5, 1989, the landscape of rock music began to shift with the release of Soundgarden's "Louder Than Love." While not an immediate commercial blockbuster, this album was the band's major label debut with A&M Records, signaling the arrival of the Seattle sound on a national stage. It served as a crucial precursor to the grunge explosion of the early 1990s, introducing a wider audience to the potent, heavy, and melodically complex music brewing in the Pacific Northwest. The album's release on this date marks a pivotal moment when the underground 'Seattle Scene' took its first significant step towards the mainstream, laying the groundwork for bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains to conquer the music world just a few years later.

10. Let Love Rule

    Released in 1989 by Lenny Kravitz, Virgin Records

    On September 6, 1989, the music world was introduced to a new force of nature with the release of Lenny Kravitz's debut album, "Let Love Rule." Arriving at the tail end of a decade dominated by synth-pop and hair metal, Kravitz's sound was a breath of fresh, yet familiar, air. The album was a bold declaration of artistic independence and a throwback to the psychedelic soul and rock of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Released by Virgin Records, this date marks the official launch of a career that would see Kravitz become a global superstar, celebrated for his multi-instrumental talent, distinctive style, and message of peace and unity.

11. Rhythm Nation 1814

    Released in 1989 by Janet Jackson, A&M Records

    On September 19, 1989, Janet Jackson released her fourth studio album, "Rhythm Nation 1814," a groundbreaking work that cemented her status as a global pop icon with a conscience. Coming off the massive success of her 1986 album "Control," which was about personal independence, Jackson pivoted dramatically. Inspired by current events and news reports she watched on tour, she conceived of a concept album that would tackle social and political issues like racism, poverty, and substance abuse, all set to an infectious, danceable beat. The album was an ambitious statement, aiming to create a movement—a "nation" of people united by music against injustice.

12. The Seeds of Love

    Released in 1989 by Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith, Fontana Records

    On September 25, 1989, British duo Tears for Fears released their third studio album, "The Seeds of Love," ending a four-year silence that followed their global breakthrough "Songs from the Big Chair." The date marked a significant moment in late-80s pop music, unveiling a project legendary for its protracted and costly production. Fans and critics, eager to see how the band would follow up their multi-platinum success, were greeted with a complex, musically ambitious work that swapped the synth-pop of their earlier records for a sound heavily influenced by 60s psychedelia, jazz, and soul. Its release was a major event, representing the culmination of years of creative struggle, personal tension, and an unwavering commitment to artistic perfection.

13. Storm Front

    Released in 1989 by Billy Joel, Columbia Records

    On October 17, 1989, Billy Joel released his eleventh studio album, "Storm Front," an assertive and commercially successful effort that would define the next phase of his career. Coming at the tail end of a decade known for excess and change, the album captured the zeitgeist perfectly with its lead single, "We Didn't Start the Fire," a rapid-fire lyrical rundown of post-war history. The album's release marked a significant sonic shift for Joel, who parted ways with his longtime producer and much of his band to create a harder, more contemporary rock sound that proved he could remain relevant and dominant on the charts as the world prepared to enter the 1990s.

14. Pump Up the Jam

    Released in 1989 by Jo Bogaert, Ya Kid K, MC Eric, ARS Productions, SBK Records

    Released on November 28, 1989, the album "Pump Up the Jam" arrived as its title track was already an unstoppable global force, defining the sound of the transitioning decade. This release cemented the arrival of the "hip-house" genre, a fusion of house music's infectious four-on-the-floor beats with the swagger and lyrical flow of hip-hop. The album captured a pivotal moment in dance music history, moving it from the underground clubs of Chicago and New York squarely into the mainstream pop charts worldwide, establishing a new commercial paradigm for electronic music.

15. Deep

    Released in 1989 by Peter Murphy, Beggars Banquet Records, RCA Records

    Released in the United States on December 19, 1989, Peter Murphy's third solo album, "Deep," marked a pivotal moment for the former Bauhaus frontman. Arriving at the tail end of the 1980s, the album captured the zeitgeist of the burgeoning alternative rock movement, which was on the cusp of breaking into the mainstream. For Murphy, it represented the commercial and artistic culmination of his post-Bauhaus efforts, transforming him from a gothic rock icon into a bona fide alternative star in the U.S. Its release date positioned it to become one of the defining albums of the early '90s alternative scene, largely propelled by its enormously successful lead single.