1988. It was the year H.W. “Read My Lips” Bush defeated Dukakis. The Wonder Years and Roseanne were all the rage, but many of us were tuned in to Mystery Science Theater 3000 instead. Libyan terrorists bombed a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie. The Soviets got the hell out of Afghanistan. Every little kid in America wanted a Tastybake oven. Nike just did it. The Cubs played their first night game at Wrigley. And Beetle Juice was one of our favorite flicks. Musically, it was a great year for the Little Records crowd. On this special edition of Sunday Brunch, I present Part 1 of a two-part series in which I explore the year 1988 by spinning some of my favorite songs from that calendar year. We’ll hear from Dinosaur Jr. (pictured), The Church, The Feelies, The Bats, Band of Susans, Fugazi, The Fall, The Posies, The Darling Buds, The Godfathers, Camper Van Beethoven, The Pooh Sticks, Eleventh Dream Day, Cowboy Junkies, The Bevis Frond, My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Jane’s Addiction, The Wild Swans, Camouflage, Skinny Puppy, Jesus & Mary Chain, Alice Donut, Shudder to Think, and lots more.

Playlist

1. The Church — Reptile
2. Alice Donut — American Lips
3. The Darling Buds — Burst
4. The Brilliant Corners — Oh!
5. E-I-E-I-O — Andy Warhol’s Dead But I’m Not
6. The Fall — Victoria
7. The Posies — What Little Remains
8. The Sneetches — Nowhere At All
9. Eleventh Dream Day — Coercion
10. Cowboy Junkies — Misguided Angel
11. Choo Choo Train — Big Blue Buzz
12. The Pooh Sticks — On Tape
13. Shudder To Think — Abysmal Yellow Popcorn Wall
14. Fugazi — Give Me The Cure
15. Green River — Rehab Doll
16. American Music Club — Firefly
17. Camper Van Beethoven — Never Go Back
18. The Godfathers — The Strangest Boy
19. My Bloody Valentine — Emptiness Inside
20. For Against — Sabres
21. The Feelies — Higher Ground
22. The Bevis Frond — Lights Are Changing
23. The Bats — Time To Get Ready
24. The Wonder Stuff — Unbearable
25. Dinosaur Jr. — Keep The Glove
26. Half Japanese — Face Rake
27. Pere Ubu — We Have The Technology
28. Hugo Largo — Eskimo Song
29. Cocteau Twins — Blue Bell Knoll
30. Jane’s Addiction — Up The Beach
31. Band Of Susans — Hope Against Hope
32. Ministry — Deity
33. Skinny Puppy — Testure
34. Camouflage — The Great Commandment
35. The Jesus And Mary Chain — Sidewalking
36. The Wild Swans — Young Manhood