Best of 1989- The Album List

Let's step back into 1989 and celebrate its 30th anniversary, a year that served as both the culmination of the '80s decade and a precursor to the changes that would define the '90s. It's renowned as a year of revolutions, witnessing sweeping changes in Eastern Bloc countries in Europe, and a year of technological innovations with the introduction of the first commercial internet services.

Musically, the charts were still under the influence of Stock-Aitken-Waterman hits, which also welcomed Donna Summer into their hits factory. However, the latter part of 1989 saw the emergence of new sounds. House music, spearheaded by acts like Inner City and S'Express, gained prominence, while Italo disco evolved into the Eurodance genre. While 1989 may be chronologically associated with the '80s, it undeniably encapsulated the spirit of the impending '90s, with music styles that would reach their peaks in the following decade and beyond.

 The following Top 20 represents the result of the 'Best of 1989 - The Album list' from 2019 together with our in-house votes.

The Blue Nile Expanded Reissues on EMI

EMI Records is pleased to announce the release of the first 2 albums by The Blue Nile, A Walk Across The Rooftops and Hats as expanded 2CD 'Collector's Editions'. Both albums come with a bonus disc of rare and previously unreleased material chosen by Paul Buchanan and Robert Bell, who also oversaw the remastering of the original albums with their long time Blue Nile engineer Calum Malcolm. 

The debut album ‘A Walk Across the Rooftops’ was originally released in 1984 on Linn Records- a label set up specifically to release the album and featured the hit single "Tinsletown in The Rain". The follow up album 'Hats' was released five years after and it often described as a cinematic experience.

Paul Buchanan in 'Mid Air'

Paul Buchanan of The Blue Nile is back with his debut solo album. 'Mid Air' is a collection of short, slow songs, all featuring Buchanan's immaculate voice accompanied by a piano and some subtle strings. The  was self-released on his own Newsroom Records on May 21, 2012. and it entered the UK charts at number 14. 'Mid Air' is available through Paul Buchanan's official site.

 http://paulbuchanan.com/

Nileism- The Strange Course of the Blue Nile

This year sees the 30th anniversary of The Blue Nile's first work together. Four albums - containing a total of just 33 songs - have followed since. For the first time Allan Brown, a fan from the time of the band's first album in 1983 and friend of the band's composer Paul Buchanan, gets behind the veil to analyse the band's agonisingly slow progress through personal memoir, critical study, access to unreleased recordings and encounters with those who have been central to the strange and elusive mythology of The Blue Nile.

Retrovision: The Blue Nile- Tinseltown In The Rain

Instant Hit- The Blue Nile- I Love This Life

"I Love This Life" served as the debut single for the Glasgow-based band Blue Nile, released in 1981 under their own label, Peppermint Records. The song showcased a more minimalistic style compared to the music Blue Nile would later become known for. Interestingly, this single did not appear on any of the Blue Nile albums released throughout their career