I adore that you included The Smiths. That’s my favorite album and the last. But also good timeline dude/ very lovely history of amazing music here 🖤🖤🖤
Hey Indigo, thanks for that lovely comment. There’s an awful lot of Smiths on my videos. One of my goals when I started the VC videos was to rebuild my Smiths 12” collection which I sold in 1992 and document it..I’m halfway there. Thanks again! 😊
While Dave was listening to Napalm Death along with you, I was busy crying over missing the Depeche Mode concert. . I won tickets and my parents wouldn’t let me go. Crushed! I didn’t hear of HappyMondays until later, but loved them, too. Love DinoJr, too…and Pixies forever! What an awesome year for music…so much awesome variety.
Hey B. I don’t often move into thrash, but the whole earache record label was so ridicoulous it really appealed for about a year ‘Unseen Terror’ were my favourites! Mental! Yeah the Mondays went huge over here after ‘Step On’ then the follow up album ‘Yes Please’ was absolute crap..& they never recovered! Dino are the best! I think 88 is almost as good.
The Terrance Trent album was released during my first full year working at Strawberries Records. I was a clerk at the time and later a manager. But I had a lot more fun as a clerk because I was around the new releases constantly. We had store playlists tapes that promoted the new releases. I must have heard the first four tracks on the TTD album 900 times. But I never got sick of it. I really liked the album. The Lilac Time cover always reminded me of the inner book inside Quadrophenia. The black and white shots of the houses were really similar. You choose so many of my favorites from 87 that I do not know which one to start talking about first. It is too late to leave a 100 line comment. But I could easily do so Harris. Brilliant choices. Especially Locust Abortion Tech and naturally Strangeways. Strangeways was in my top three albums of 87. By the way. I also love I Won't Share You. Morrissey's vocals are undeniably real and beautiful. . Just a quick story. I met Bob, Grant and Greg Norton before one of the early Husker Du shows at either Cantones or The Channel in Boston back in 1984. I think they played with The Minutemen if I remember right. Anyways. I remember telling them the quickest way to get to Newbury Street. Grant has his arm in a sling because he fell the night before. But he was good for the show. I also met Bob again thirty years later as a club in Provincetown. I did not recognize him at first. It was kind of dark inside. We talked for about five minutes. Super nice guy. Like yourself. Thanks Harris. My favorite post of the week~ Rob/Boston
Wow Rob, incredible Huskers Story..it seems you’ve met most of my heroes at one time or another. I find the whole backdrop to Warehouse fascinating & tragic. It seems the band were just combusting, & the album feels like a document of those times. I didn’t like it at first, but it slowly turned into my favourite album of theirs. Locus is an incredible album, I REALLY hated it when I first heard it, then it all started making some sort of sense..I listened to it again last night..it’s still absolutely bizarre .Paul Leary has to be the most underrated guitarist ever (along with Joey Santiago!) It sounds like your record shop career was more successful than mine..I was only 17 at the time & thought HMV were working for me! 😆 Needless to say I was soon shown the door...but the musics industries loss was the insurance industries gain! 😆 Thanks as ever Rob, always appreciate your comments. We’re currently drowning over here in the U.K.!
‘She popped up on Facebook, after several hours of searching’ love it 😂 Key question for me is why Terence Trent Darby become a green grocer if he couldn’t sell carrots 🥕 I love The Wedding Present, great album, great cover. Strangeways is my favourite Smiths album, I know I’m in a minority. Pilgrim brilliant! Well done on keeping your inners in tact 😁 You have so sold that Husker Du record to me…..I just need it now……punk rock Rumours, yes I need it! Fabo video, loved it! Mike
Hey Mike! Yeah that Huskers album may appeal to you, for them it’s almost standard indie rock, try a track like ‘Ive Cold Ice or ‘ Friend You’ve Got To Fall’ if you like them then your probably enjoy the rest. I’m glad you picked up on that joke!...nobody else has...it takes an uncommon mind to understand my sense of humour Mike..make of that what you will 😆
Before watching I was saying "1987? What was I doing? Listening to?". Well, working, penpalling, trading tapes, school, being 33 etc.. Most of the penpals were girls and I entertained them with mixtapes which included songs from over half of the albums you showed. Sonic Youth, Wedding Present, Buttholes, Pixies (one girl made special address labels for both of us with Pixies lyrics and photo) Big Black, Husker Du and more! '87 was obviously one helluva great year!
I think mixtapes were probably more an American thing. I remember me & my mates just taping full albums. Interesting, Maybye there’s some cultural thing behind it.Would have been interesting showing your intentions with a Napalm Death track! . Yeah 87/88 are my favourite years in music..but it’s all about time & place I guess. Thanks Ed, hope all is well!
Yeah, Warehouse is great..took me a few plays for it to sink in, but it always struck me as a soap opera on vinyl. I’ve always loved ‘These Importamt Years’ seemed like a natural ending point for the band. 87 was a great year..I’m saying 88 might be even better..may have to do that video one day 😊
Hey RM I think you would really like That Lilac Time, very folk pop, & catchy choruses, not sure if it’s easy to find, but worth a stream to check it out!
Best vocalisation of the Wedding Present I have ever heard. The only vocalisation of the Wedding Present…..David Gedge is from Middleton (nr Oldham and Rob Walker) hence the Man United George Best link. Great video Harris. 👍
Hi Andy, appreciate it mate. Ok that explains the George Best link. I’ve got a book with photos of him actually promoting the album with the band, but my gut feeling is he probably needed the cash, tragic life..what a player though!
Amazing how Steve Albini was everywhere in the late 80s and early 90s. It Takes A Million byPE still sounds fresh and original. Your #2 and #1 albums are so outstanding. 80s had a lot of incredible music. I am trying to get 88 done but it is taking awhile, need to get into it
Look forward to your 88 list Steve, if there’s not too much crossover between us I will do one myself! I love that Cure album ,the follow up ‘Disintegration’ was a big dissapointment for me, I found it one paced. Yes Surfer Rosa with Albini at the helm is probably one of the most influential records released in my lifetime. I suspect we both might have that on our 88 list, but I think there a lot I would have that you won’t, so could be intersting 😊
Hi, Harris. So, 1987 was my absolute worst year. Less than 2 weeks into the year I totaled my family's car leading to 2 plastic surgeries. That was the least traumatic thing that happened that year. Music did help a lot, so I listened to Cat Stevens "Teaser and the Firecat". Because of my deep depression I never turned it over. I listened to side 1 over and over. If I had been listening to some of the records you showed it might have really helped me.
Blimey Maria, that sounds awful. I’ve never heard a Cat Steven album, must change that! I had a bit of a bad year in 92 & that Husker Du album certainly helped me out. Music is a fantastic healer underrated in fact, it can really aid you even in your worst moments...Napalm Death excepted obviously...no good can come from listening to them! Hope all is well, we’re drowning over in the U.K.!
Ha,ha cheers M. Peel was playing loads of Grindcore in 87/88.Ive just checked that comp is call Grind Madness at the BBC it’s loads of different bands Peel sessions.My favourite were a band called ‘Unseen Terror’ that added slight (very slight) punk elements, I thought they were absolutely mental. It just seemed the logical end point for thrash, which sort of appealed to me, if you can write an insane epic that lasts 3 seconds..where else is there to go! The gaps between the songs were longer than the songs 😂
Another great video Harris, not a bad record highlighted. l had to think what was l doing in 87, living in Canterbury, getting grenades thrown at me in Ulster . Great days.
Hey Mike, blimey that sounds intense. The day I moved to Bognor in 94 the IRA let loose with their final bomb..thankfully it just damaged Clinton Cards...in typical Bognor fashion no one even seemed to notice! Cheers Mike!
I have missed that humour. Wonderful episode, showed a lot of my favorites. I do remember D’arby getting really big. Some many great records. For me Joey from the Pixies is maybe top 5 guitar players. Be well
Hey Shaun, I actually didn’t think the Rolling Stones list of top 250 guitarists was too bad...but leaving Joey Santiago out seems bizarre, particularly as Rolling Stones is now quite indie-centric. Yeah, I’ve now shown Locust Abortion on about 5 videos, it’s going to have to go into retirement now! Cheers mate.
@@Harrispilton22 : In my opinion; Rolling Stone music magazine has always been a fraudulent music publication when it comes to reviewing popular, rock music or any other music in general for that matte.r
Yeah, RS was never a favourite magazine of mine., but I think in the context of what it’s been historically the list wasn’t a disaster. Although they also missed out Vini Reilly & Wilco Johnson who between them helped invent U.K. indie rock & Punk Rock @@Lunatic4Bizcas
Hi Harris, only heard about 4 of those albums. I bought “It Takes A Nation.. in 88 and then that debut LP.. sounded like different bands at the time but I still like them both. The life changing album for me in 87 was Paid In Full .. Eric B & Rakim. I saw George Best in the early 70’s when he was at Fulham.. not really in his prime then but a legend.
Hi Ed, yeah I’ve seen clips of George Best for Fulham...he almost joined Saints in about 77 during the alcoholic years...but he probably dodged a bullet there! Yeah I sort of missed Eric B & Rakim until about 1992, when I heard ‘Know The Ledge’ which is possibly the greatest hip hop tune ever. P.E was my entry point!
Hi Harris - I don't have loads of 87 releases but looking at the spreadsheet top 5 (in no order) are probably 'Psonic Psunspot', Dead Can Dance's 'Within the Realm...', 'Music for the Masses', Marillion's 'Clutching at Straws' and 'Strangeways..' I must track down some Lilac Time albums. 'Just Like Heaven' gets me every time, one of my all time favourite songs...cheers Dale
Hi Dale. Always good to fire up the spreadsheets! Yes this list confirms my music taste was very much a product of the NME & Melody Maker. I think you would certainly enjoy the Lilac Time album I showed. Very catchy folk pop, perfect for Autumn. Thanks Dale!
Another great selection Harris.. I made the same mistake assuming that Dinosaur jr track was called "Little furry things" & i also thought that Butthole Surfers track was called "Sweet Loaf" as you mentioned when in fact its "Sweat Loaf"
Harris is this your first video of original material in 15 years? Nice how you did that to coincide with the Stones new album. Great list mate. A lot of my fav’s Depeche, SY, Mondays, Dinosaur, Wedding Present, Smiths, Pixies, PE, Big Black (even with a rude word), Buttholes (there is nothing like it), Cure (I’m a Kiss Me apologist too) & Husker (What a way to go out). 😊Terence was the 2nd best INXS singer 😂 Charmaine & Harris, those were the days. I think I might like the Lilac Time with your description. Cheers…Ben
Hi Ben, yeah Kiss Me always seemed to get ranked 5/6th in the Cure album rankings. I think the one that followed it up is really dull, but it made them massive worldwide..strange. That Lilac Time is like the GB’s at their most commercial, is catchy folk pop, you may well enjoy it. Yeah 87& 88 will always be my favourite year for guitar albums. The nineties I pretty much entered the dance years..which threw up very few decent albums imo. Good to hear from you mate, you’ve been quiet of late, hope all is well 😊
We lived on NME and Melody Maker back in those 80s too. Got the papers as imports in Canada. Loved the picks UK journos were discovering. Great picks! Im a huge fan of Strangeways. Had that on CD when I was younger. Terence Trent was awesome back then. Sign your name also a great jam. Killer Napalm!!
Agreed Jason. The weeklies were flawed but fantastic. Me & my mates were listening to Extreme Noise Terror & Alexander O’Neil which probably comes from the weeklies & John Peel. It’s interesting you read the weeklies because you have the same outlook, your just as likely to listen to Lynx as something on Earache, I’ve been like it all my life. Minor Threat, Kc & The Sunshine Band, if it’s good it’s good 😌
Love that Wedding Present album and all their early singles! I never really got into the Pixies. They were good but I just didnt pick it up. PE were the greatest.
Sir. Your musical upbringing sounds like mine, except with better access to British Magazines. 😄 Goddamn do I need that DM LP. My GOD man with the Lilac Time. Fantastic stuff. Strangeways is my favourite. "I Won't Share You" is one of my faves as well. Like "Please, Please, Please..." but at a proper length. This has been a legendary Piltonator experience. Cheers to you, sir. 😁
Hey Craig. Yeah the weeklies were pretty decent. You’d be reading about Extreme Noise Terror, then detroit house & then Kylie Minogue. Really drove the U.K. music scene..them they invented Britpop & it got so large nobody needed the weeklies anymore, you could read about those bands anywhere. It killed them...the Internet would eventually have done for them anyway I guess. Cheers mate hope all is well
@@Harrispilton22 former NME subscriber. They would come to my house in Canada about three at a time, different packages, shipped differently at different times, but brilliant. Stopped around 2005.
Great video Harris 1987 was a massive year for me for music I think it was the year I fully got into the album format (1986 was a transitional year, and before that was singles really). Loved all the records you showed and loved the reminiscences as well - too funny 😂
Hey cheers. Yeah the music press from 87 to about 91 was fantastic, I jumped on any passing bandwagon, Grunge,House, Hip Hop, Shoegaze..if they were inventing a genre..then I was jumping on it..I just found it a really exciting time...88 may be my favourite year, I may do a video on that some day 😊 @@Stuck_in_the_70s
All great picks, I have the stangeways vinyl best song on there is a rush and a push and the land is ours. I had the queen is dead in high school, still wish I had it Ive seen the queen is dead going for around $70-$89 US dollars these days. I used to have the kiss me kiss me kiss me album also it's filled with great songs.
Pleased that you dropped another good vid ! Happy Mondays, Dino Jr. Music For The Masses.. Fun video, and killer music ! I like Strangeways" .. Now your warming up with Pixies and nice shout out for Joey Santiago ! 💫
@Harrispilton22 I looked in up to make sure.. Yep, born in the P.I. Speaking of.. Can't wait for our Japan / Thailand trip again coming up in March. I need a proper hit list this time ! The Saints debut is at the tippy top of it. We love your vids, Harris. See you on the next one !
Sounds good. I do come across that Saints debut on my travels..but it’s either beaten up or £60.00 plus!!! Thanks for your kind words about my videos, I enjoy doing them! Got another lined up for tomorrow as it’s a quiet Sunday 😊 @@jtsrecordroom3963
Terence Trent Darby was hyped to the max and as you say was set for the top league, until that is he started doing interviews and shortly thereafter disappeared without trace! Looking forward to your Beatles tribute vid 👍
Hey Stevie..I actually thought he deserved the hype. That show I saw was incredible, he did some James Brown moves that were incredible, one of the greatest gigs I’ve ever been to & the crowd was going berserk, shame he faded away really. I’m off to Poole tomorrow..can’t say I’m looking forward to it 😆
@@Harrispilton22 I just looked him up, no wonder we didn't hear much as he changed his name in 2001 to Sananda Maitreya. He's still going though. Good luck in Poole, although I think there is a weather warning in place 🤔
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me I found thrifting.. A very very good day indeed ! 😊 Just got New Day Rising from our SST Store.. Probably out of stock.. again !
The Smiths and Pixies were and still are high on my list of 1987 albums. I often thought I should listen to that Wedding Present album and never got to it, but now I'm going to check it out. I had the Warehouse Songs and Stories cassette in my car for years. I used to love that album, but I haven't listened to it since the 90s. "Punk rock Rumours" has convinced me to listen to it again!
Hi Arturo. Yes ‘Warehouse’ I find fascinating. It slowly reveals itself after a few listens. ‘Friend You’ve got to Fall’ is clearly Bob having a Pop at Grant & Grants ‘Too Much Spice’ is I Believe is about Bob. ‘She Floated Away’ is wonderful. Like you, it’s a record I put to bed about 30 years ago, But Ive started playing it again, it’s still holds up, the melodies are just so strong. The Wedding Present are very English. My favourite was their cover of ‘Nowhere Fast’ by Girls At Our Best. It was on the cassette version. Both versions are amazing, but the Wedding Present really hammer it! Cheers as ever Arturo! 😊
@@Harrispilton22 I listened to most of the first two Wedding Present albums on UA-cam and George Best is right up my alley! Bizarro is good too, but not as odd as GB (odd in a good way). How did I miss this album for all this time?! I'm going to look for it now, and try not to think of all the times I saw it in shops and passed it by.
Hey Arturo, great stuff. They’re compilation ‘Tommy’ is similiar to GB, all the early singles & ‘B’ sides. They were the masters of the breakneck cover version. They’re versions of Orange Juices ‘Felicity’ The Beatles ‘Getting Better’ & Tom Jones ‘It’s Not Unusual’ are all absolutely fantastic. 😊 @@ArturoGofunkez
That’s great Arturo! If you can track down ‘Tommy’ that’s more of the same including there breakneck cover of Orange Juice’s ‘Felicity’ & early singles like ‘Once More’ & b-sides.@@ArturoGofunkez
I remember David Gedge saying that he wasn't particularly interested in football but admired George Best because he was an individualist who didn't care what people thought. Something like that anyway.
‘Indivualist who didn’t care what people thought’ he should have given me a call! I’m a no holds barred maverick! 😂 Imagine your debut album being called ‘Harris Pilton’
I could see you living in a Countcell Ooouse with a Charmaine, with soft cream, aka 'satanic', walls. Napalm Death, takes me back. The squatters who inhabited empty maisons in SE London, Elephant and Castle way, used to like them. Their gigs allegedly like days out in the All Blacks ScrumDown.
Yes! Napalm were loved by the crusties...god knows why? I have know idea what their gigs were like, but let me assure you the front 5 rows at Terence Trent Darby were no place for the faint hearted. Charmaine ended up going out with my best mate..but it ended after 6 months, I reckon I dodged the bullet, she could be married to a UA-cam superstar now..her loss.
Nice calls throughout. Very 1987! Totally with you on "Sister"..."EVOL" is the better record, any day of the week. I'm also, I'll freely admit, one of those weirdos who think that "Strangeways" is The Smiths best album. "I Won't Share You" (totally agree, it's a wonderful song) is apparently a lyric aimed squarely at Marr by Mozzer as they were parting ways, and Johnny was looking to "play the field" with other musicians. Good shout on "The Lilac Time", too. I remember "Return To Yesterday" was the single, but it never got a sniff of "proper" chart action. I'd only just discovered Peel in '87, so probably snagged the biggies in your list circa the following year or two (definitely bagged all of the Huskers, Buttholes, Pixies, D Jr, Big Black during this period). I'd probably have REM's "Document" in my 15...the last IRS full-length, and that front-loaded side one is all killer. Cheers! D
Hi Darren , yes it’s a lovely song.Just listened to it again. I thought about Documet & yes very front loaded. Probably should have switched it for Terence Trent or Napalm , which were really nostalgia picks. I also should have include ‘Hate Your Friends’ by The Lemonheads which I probably listened to more than any of these albums.. although it isn’t highly thought of ,I really loved it, it’s like Husker Du on stabilisers! Thanks, just seen your feeling a bit rough, hope you back up & running soon! 😊
Great video, love Big Black, Pixies, the Buttholes, all brilliant stuff! Sonic Youth, I agree EVOL is better, but Sister is not far behind. I didn't care for Strangeways back then, but I love it now. Would have loved to have seen Depeche Mode back then. Cheers!
Hey Mike , I was thinking of people in the VC this list would chime with, & you were one of them. I’m truly a product of the British music press. It’s always interesting to Google the Melody Maker & NME end of year lists for particular years. Full of great, often forgotten albums.
Napalm Death line up changed very quickly, I think even during Scum I remember reading that Grant Hart was incorrectly diagnosed HIV+. Particularly devastating for a current addict, which hastened his decline.
Yes..I meant to mention that Mark, so good call.I always do these videos off the top of my head, so each time I forget something I intended to say, traumatic times for Grant. Yes, I read that the Napalm line up was pretty fluid..I’m not a big enough fan to know the ins & out but I imagine the bands family tree would look fairly messy! Cheers Mark!
Hey Paddy! I meant to mention you in this video...but totally forgot so glad you commented 😊 Screaming Blue Messiahs? ‘I wanna be a Flintstone’ I get the connection! 😆 Say hello to to Paddy & the Paddy Juniors! Hopefully bump into you soon!
I had that Napalm Death album...I know what you mean about the drums slowing down...I was working at a photographic studio in this time period and some of the albums I would play in the reception area were this one....War and Pain by Voivod....Die by the Sword by Slayer etc. needless to say I didn"t stay in that job!!!
Hi David, I’ve never heard Vovoid..don’t know why? I loved it when Peel let loos with the Grindcore, I’ve just been listening to the band Unseen Terror’s Peel Session on UA-cam..absolutely mental! Not a genre I wanted to listen to after about a year. Yarh I’m not suprised you were shown the door! 😂 Should have played some Splint Endz..who know where you’re career would have led to!
Hi Harris - At least Southampton are semi respectable. Norwich are heading towards relegation. My Top 3 in 87 were The Replacements , The Cure & That Petrol Emotion. I saw The Pixies open for The Cure at Dodger Stadium 🏟 in 1989 & 30 years later The Pixies opened for The Cure again at The Rose 🌹 Bowl 🏟 in 2019 ( Rose Bowl hosted the 1994 WC Final ). That Lilac Time record is outstanding.
We’ve just scored another last minute winner! I still don’t actually think we’re that good..but we’re scraping by! Norwich are a mystery mate, the wheels have fallen off. I remember reading about that Cure gig. I’m glad someone else likes that Lilac Time record. I’ll have to look at when we play the Canaries next..I’ve lost track! Cheers David!
Nice you mentioned That Petrol Emotion. I bought End of the Millennium Psychosis Blues because it was in the cheap bins. Surprisingly good album. Greetings
Ha,ha I didn’t credit a joke I stole in my last video & someone got upset (I’m not getting paid for this does it really matter? 😆) So I made sure I credited Steven Wright on this one. As a teen I memorised his ‘I had a Pony’ album. Guys a genius. Thanks Ritchie.
‘I used to be in the Jehovah Witness Protection Programme...Every Sunday Morning I would Knock On Someone’s Door & Tell Them I Was Somebody Else’. That’s his finest moment! 😆 @@vinylrichie007
Oof! Crikey they're all a bit loud. You must be completely mutton if you've been listening to that lot since 1987. Just checked my collection of records from 1987, it's mostly country and world music...Oh, and George Best.
Ha,Yeah Headley, it struck me this was a fairly loud selection.I grew up in Slough under Heathrow’s flight path..so when I moved down south Maybye I subconsciously yearned for the deranged tones of Napalm Death & Big Black! I actually made the decision to stop listening to music through headphones a few years ago as my hearing was clearly shot to bits & its Definately helped!..although the neighbours now hate me.....even more.
As much as the Mondays weren't big yet both Mancs footy clubs were equally crap though so were my Arsenal until GG took over. 87 i was mulleted, anorak wearing Smash hits buying geek (though i did buy licence to ill at least) once i got into the school football team i got cool so goodbye five star and a-ha...... A-haha.
Hi Martin.TBH I never had an uncool phase when I was young I was reading the weeklies from about 14 & was all these credible albums...it’s only in the last 15 years that I’ve been searching for pop singles, which is now my main love.I just bought the extended mix of ‘The Sun Allways Shines On Tv’ it’s awesome..& the Blow Monkeys ‘Diggin Your Scene’ my music taste has developed in reverse! 😂 Football! The games gone mate!
I adore that you included The Smiths. That’s my favorite album and the last. But also good timeline dude/ very lovely history of amazing music here 🖤🖤🖤
Hey Indigo, thanks for that lovely comment. There’s an awful lot of Smiths on my videos. One of my goals when I started the VC videos was to rebuild my Smiths 12” collection which I sold in 1992 and document it..I’m halfway there. Thanks again! 😊
While Dave was listening to Napalm Death along with you, I was busy crying over missing the Depeche Mode concert. . I won tickets and my parents wouldn’t let me go. Crushed! I didn’t hear of HappyMondays until later, but loved them, too. Love DinoJr, too…and Pixies forever! What an awesome year for music…so much awesome variety.
Hey B. I don’t often move into thrash, but the whole earache record label was so ridicoulous it really appealed for about a year ‘Unseen Terror’ were my favourites! Mental! Yeah the Mondays went huge over here after ‘Step On’ then the follow up album ‘Yes Please’ was absolute crap..& they never recovered! Dino are the best! I think 88 is almost as good.
The Terrance Trent album was released during my first full year working at Strawberries Records. I was a clerk at the time and later a manager. But I had a lot more fun as a clerk because I was around the new releases constantly. We had store playlists tapes that promoted the new releases. I must have heard the first four tracks on the TTD album 900 times. But I never got sick of it. I really liked the album. The Lilac Time cover always reminded me of the inner book inside Quadrophenia. The black and white shots of the houses were really similar. You choose so many of my favorites from 87 that I do not know which one to start talking about first. It is too late to leave a 100 line comment. But I could easily do so Harris. Brilliant choices. Especially Locust Abortion Tech and naturally Strangeways. Strangeways was in my top three albums of 87. By the way. I also love I Won't Share You. Morrissey's vocals are undeniably real and beautiful. . Just a quick story. I met Bob, Grant and Greg Norton before one of the early Husker Du shows at either Cantones or The Channel in Boston back in 1984. I think they played with The Minutemen if I remember right. Anyways. I remember telling them the quickest way to get to Newbury Street. Grant has his arm in a sling because he fell the night before. But he was good for the show. I also met Bob again thirty years later as a club in Provincetown. I did not recognize him at first. It was kind of dark inside. We talked for about five minutes. Super nice guy. Like yourself. Thanks Harris. My favorite post of the week~
Rob/Boston
Wow Rob, incredible Huskers Story..it seems you’ve met most of my heroes at one time or another. I find the whole backdrop to Warehouse fascinating & tragic. It seems the band were just combusting, & the album feels like a document of those times. I didn’t like it at first, but it slowly turned into my favourite album of theirs. Locus is an incredible album, I REALLY hated it when I first heard it, then it all started making some sort of sense..I listened to it again last night..it’s still absolutely bizarre .Paul Leary has to be the most underrated guitarist ever (along with Joey Santiago!) It sounds like your record shop career was more successful than mine..I was only 17 at the time & thought HMV were working for me! 😆 Needless to say I was soon shown the door...but the musics industries loss was the insurance industries gain! 😆 Thanks as ever Rob, always appreciate your comments. We’re currently drowning over here in the U.K.!
‘She popped up on Facebook, after several hours of searching’ love it 😂
Key question for me is why Terence Trent Darby become a green grocer if he couldn’t sell carrots 🥕 I love The Wedding Present, great album, great cover. Strangeways is my favourite Smiths album, I know I’m in a minority. Pilgrim brilliant! Well done on keeping your inners in tact 😁 You have so sold that Husker Du record to me…..I just need it now……punk rock Rumours, yes I need it! Fabo video, loved it! Mike
Hey Mike! Yeah that Huskers album may appeal to you, for them it’s almost standard indie rock, try a track like ‘Ive Cold Ice or ‘ Friend You’ve Got To Fall’ if you like them then your probably enjoy the rest. I’m glad you picked up on that joke!...nobody else has...it takes an uncommon mind to understand my sense of humour Mike..make of that what you will 😆
Before watching I was saying "1987? What was I doing? Listening to?". Well, working, penpalling, trading tapes, school, being 33 etc..
Most of the penpals were girls and I entertained them with mixtapes which included songs from over half of the albums you showed. Sonic Youth, Wedding Present, Buttholes, Pixies (one girl made special address labels for both of us with Pixies lyrics and photo) Big Black, Husker Du and more! '87 was obviously one helluva great year!
I think mixtapes were probably more an American thing. I remember me & my mates just taping full albums. Interesting, Maybye there’s some cultural thing behind it.Would have been interesting showing your intentions with a Napalm Death track! . Yeah 87/88 are my favourite years in music..but it’s all about time & place I guess. Thanks Ed, hope all is well!
This is a killer list. "The punk rock Rumours." I love that record too! Lots of great records in this video.
Yeah, Warehouse is great..took me a few plays for it to sink in, but it always struck me as a soap opera on vinyl. I’ve always loved ‘These Importamt Years’ seemed like a natural ending point for the band. 87 was a great year..I’m saying 88 might be even better..may have to do that video one day 😊
That Lilac Time record sounds great. I had never hear of them. Great to see Happy Mondays and Public Enemy on here...they're just awesome!
Hey RM I think you would really like That Lilac Time, very folk pop, & catchy choruses, not sure if it’s easy to find, but worth a stream to check it out!
Best vocalisation of the Wedding Present I have ever heard. The only vocalisation of the Wedding Present…..David Gedge is from Middleton (nr Oldham and Rob Walker) hence the Man United George Best link. Great video Harris. 👍
Hi Andy, appreciate it mate. Ok that explains the George Best link. I’ve got a book with photos of him actually promoting the album with the band, but my gut feeling is he probably needed the cash, tragic life..what a player though!
Amazing how Steve Albini was everywhere in the late 80s and early 90s. It Takes A Million byPE still sounds fresh and original. Your #2 and #1 albums are so outstanding. 80s had a lot of incredible music. I am trying to get 88 done but it is taking awhile, need to get into it
Look forward to your 88 list Steve, if there’s not too much crossover between us I will do one myself! I love that Cure album ,the follow up ‘Disintegration’ was a big dissapointment for me, I found it one paced. Yes Surfer Rosa with Albini at the helm is probably one of the most influential records released in my lifetime. I suspect we both might have that on our 88 list, but I think there a lot I would have that you won’t, so could be intersting 😊
Hi, Harris. So, 1987 was my absolute worst year. Less than 2 weeks into the year I totaled my family's car leading to 2 plastic surgeries. That was the least traumatic thing that happened that year. Music did help a lot, so I listened to Cat Stevens "Teaser and the Firecat". Because of my deep depression I never turned it over. I listened to side 1 over and over. If I had been listening to some of the records you showed it might have really helped me.
Blimey Maria, that sounds awful. I’ve never heard a Cat Steven album, must change that! I had a bit of a bad year in 92 & that Husker Du album certainly helped me out. Music is a fantastic healer underrated in fact, it can really aid you even in your worst moments...Napalm Death excepted obviously...no good can come from listening to them! Hope all is well, we’re drowning over in the U.K.!
Napalm Death was the very last band I ever thought I’d see you champion! That was a surprise!!
Ha,ha cheers M. Peel was playing loads of Grindcore in 87/88.Ive just checked that comp is call Grind Madness at the BBC it’s loads of different bands Peel sessions.My favourite were a band called ‘Unseen Terror’ that added slight (very slight) punk elements, I thought they were absolutely mental. It just seemed the logical end point for thrash, which sort of appealed to me, if you can write an insane epic that lasts 3 seconds..where else is there to go! The gaps between the songs were longer than the songs 😂
Another great video Harris, not a bad record highlighted. l had to think what was l doing in 87, living in Canterbury, getting grenades thrown at me in Ulster . Great days.
Hey Mike, blimey that sounds intense. The day I moved to Bognor in 94 the IRA let loose with their final bomb..thankfully it just damaged Clinton Cards...in typical Bognor fashion no one even seemed to notice! Cheers Mike!
I have missed that humour. Wonderful episode, showed a lot of my favorites. I do remember D’arby getting really big. Some many great records. For me Joey from the Pixies is maybe top 5 guitar players. Be well
Hey Shaun, I actually didn’t think the Rolling Stones list of top 250 guitarists was too bad...but leaving Joey Santiago out seems bizarre, particularly as Rolling Stones is now quite indie-centric. Yeah, I’ve now shown Locust Abortion on about 5 videos, it’s going to have to go into retirement now! Cheers mate.
@@Harrispilton22 : In my opinion; Rolling Stone music magazine has always been a fraudulent music publication when it comes to reviewing popular, rock music or any other music in general for that matte.r
Yeah, RS was never a favourite magazine of mine., but I think in the context of what it’s been historically the list wasn’t a disaster. Although they also missed out Vini Reilly & Wilco Johnson who between them helped invent U.K. indie rock & Punk Rock @@Lunatic4Bizcas
Hi Harris, only heard about 4 of those albums. I bought “It Takes A Nation.. in 88 and then that debut LP.. sounded like different bands at the time but I still like them both. The life changing album for me in 87 was Paid In Full .. Eric B & Rakim. I saw George Best in the early 70’s when he was at Fulham.. not really in his prime then but a legend.
Hi Ed, yeah I’ve seen clips of George Best for Fulham...he almost joined Saints in about 77 during the alcoholic years...but he probably dodged a bullet there! Yeah I sort of missed Eric B & Rakim until about 1992, when I heard ‘Know The Ledge’ which is possibly the greatest hip hop tune ever. P.E was my entry point!
Hi Harris - I don't have loads of 87 releases but looking at the spreadsheet top 5 (in no order) are probably 'Psonic Psunspot', Dead Can Dance's 'Within the Realm...', 'Music for the Masses', Marillion's 'Clutching at Straws' and 'Strangeways..' I must track down some Lilac Time albums. 'Just Like Heaven' gets me every time, one of my all time favourite songs...cheers Dale
Hi Dale. Always good to fire up the spreadsheets! Yes this list confirms my music taste was very much a product of the NME & Melody Maker. I think you would certainly enjoy the Lilac Time album I showed. Very catchy folk pop, perfect for Autumn. Thanks Dale!
Another great selection Harris.. I made the same mistake assuming that Dinosaur jr track was called "Little furry things" & i also thought that Butthole Surfers track was called "Sweet Loaf" as you mentioned when in fact its "Sweat Loaf"
Correct! I actually checked that after the video..so I’m glad someone picked up on it. Great track though, great album! Cheers!
Harris is this your first video of original material in 15 years? Nice how you did that to coincide with the Stones new album. Great list mate. A lot of my fav’s Depeche, SY, Mondays, Dinosaur, Wedding Present, Smiths, Pixies, PE, Big Black (even with a rude word), Buttholes (there is nothing like it), Cure (I’m a Kiss Me apologist too) & Husker (What a way to go out). 😊Terence was the 2nd best INXS singer 😂 Charmaine & Harris, those were the days. I think I might like the Lilac Time with your description. Cheers…Ben
Hi Ben, yeah Kiss Me always seemed to get ranked 5/6th in the Cure album rankings. I think the one that followed it up is really dull, but it made them massive worldwide..strange. That Lilac Time is like the GB’s at their most commercial, is catchy folk pop, you may well enjoy it. Yeah 87& 88 will always be my favourite year for guitar albums. The nineties I pretty much entered the dance years..which threw up very few decent albums imo. Good to hear from you mate, you’ve been quiet of late, hope all is well 😊
We lived on NME and Melody Maker back in those 80s too. Got the papers as imports in Canada. Loved the picks UK journos were discovering.
Great picks! Im a huge fan of Strangeways. Had that on CD when I was younger. Terence Trent was awesome back then. Sign your name also a great jam. Killer Napalm!!
Agreed Jason. The weeklies were flawed but fantastic. Me & my mates were listening to Extreme Noise Terror & Alexander O’Neil which probably comes from the weeklies & John Peel. It’s interesting you read the weeklies because you have the same outlook, your just as likely to listen to Lynx as something on Earache, I’ve been like it all my life. Minor Threat, Kc & The Sunshine Band, if it’s good it’s good 😌
@@Harrispilton22 hehe Yes variety is the spice of life isnt it!
Love that Wedding Present album and all their early singles! I never really got into the Pixies. They were good but I just didnt pick it up. PE were the greatest.
Sir. Your musical upbringing sounds like mine, except with better access to British Magazines. 😄
Goddamn do I need that DM LP. My GOD man with the Lilac Time. Fantastic stuff. Strangeways is my favourite. "I Won't Share You" is one of my faves as well. Like "Please, Please, Please..." but at a proper length.
This has been a legendary Piltonator experience. Cheers to you, sir. 😁
Hey Craig. Yeah the weeklies were pretty decent. You’d be reading about Extreme Noise Terror, then detroit house & then Kylie Minogue. Really drove the U.K. music scene..them they invented Britpop & it got so large nobody needed the weeklies anymore, you could read about those bands anywhere. It killed them...the Internet would eventually have done for them anyway I guess. Cheers mate hope all is well
@@Harrispilton22 former NME subscriber. They would come to my house in Canada about three at a time, different packages, shipped differently at different times, but brilliant. Stopped around 2005.
Great video Harris 1987 was a massive year for me for music I think it was the year I fully got into the album format (1986 was a transitional year, and before that was singles really). Loved all the records you showed and loved the reminiscences as well - too funny 😂
Hey cheers. Yeah the music press from 87 to about 91 was fantastic, I jumped on any passing bandwagon, Grunge,House, Hip Hop, Shoegaze..if they were inventing a genre..then I was jumping on it..I just found it a really exciting time...88 may be my favourite year, I may do a video on that some day 😊 @@Stuck_in_the_70s
All great picks, I have the stangeways vinyl best song on there is a rush and a push and the land is ours. I had the queen is dead in high school, still wish I had it Ive seen the queen is dead going for around $70-$89 US dollars these days. I used to have the kiss me kiss me kiss me album also it's filled with great songs.
Pleased that you dropped another good vid ! Happy Mondays, Dino Jr. Music For The Masses.. Fun video, and killer music ! I like Strangeways" .. Now your warming up with Pixies and nice shout out for Joey Santiago ! 💫
I thought a few of these would be your favourites JT. Yeah Joey Santiago was an incredible guitarist, I think he was born in the Philippines?
@Harrispilton22 I looked in up to make sure.. Yep, born in the P.I. Speaking of.. Can't wait for our Japan / Thailand trip again coming up in March. I need a proper hit list this time ! The Saints debut is at the tippy top of it. We love your vids, Harris. See you on the next one !
Sounds good. I do come across that Saints debut on my travels..but it’s either beaten up or £60.00 plus!!! Thanks for your kind words about my videos, I enjoy doing them! Got another lined up for tomorrow as it’s a quiet Sunday 😊 @@jtsrecordroom3963
@Harrispilton22 Awesome.. I will tune in. Going to Sacramento tomorrow to a nice record shop called Kicksville records.. Should make for a nice day.
Terence Trent Darby was hyped to the max and as you say was set for the top league, until that is he started doing interviews and shortly thereafter disappeared without trace!
Looking forward to your Beatles tribute vid 👍
Hey Stevie..I actually thought he deserved the hype. That show I saw was incredible, he did some James Brown moves that were incredible, one of the greatest gigs I’ve ever been to & the crowd was going berserk, shame he faded away really. I’m off to Poole tomorrow..can’t say I’m looking forward to it 😆
@@Harrispilton22 I just looked him up, no wonder we didn't hear much as he changed his name in 2001 to Sananda Maitreya. He's still going though.
Good luck in Poole, although I think there is a weather warning in place 🤔
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me I found thrifting.. A very very good day indeed ! 😊 Just got New Day Rising from our SST Store.. Probably out of stock.. again !
The Smiths and Pixies were and still are high on my list of 1987 albums.
I often thought I should listen to that Wedding Present album and never got to it, but now I'm going to check it out. I had the Warehouse Songs and Stories cassette in my car for years. I used to love that album, but I haven't listened to it since the 90s. "Punk rock Rumours" has convinced me to listen to it again!
Hi Arturo. Yes ‘Warehouse’ I find fascinating. It slowly reveals itself after a few listens. ‘Friend You’ve got to Fall’ is clearly Bob having a Pop at Grant & Grants ‘Too Much Spice’ is I Believe is about Bob. ‘She Floated Away’ is wonderful. Like you, it’s a record I put to bed about 30 years ago, But Ive started playing it again, it’s still holds up, the melodies are just so strong. The Wedding Present are very English. My favourite was their cover of ‘Nowhere Fast’ by Girls At Our Best. It was on the cassette version. Both versions are amazing, but the Wedding Present really hammer it! Cheers as ever Arturo! 😊
@@Harrispilton22 I listened to most of the first two Wedding Present albums on UA-cam and George Best is right up my alley! Bizarro is good too, but not as odd as GB (odd in a good way). How did I miss this album for all this time?! I'm going to look for it now, and try not to think of all the times I saw it in shops and passed it by.
Hey Arturo, great stuff. They’re compilation ‘Tommy’ is similiar to GB, all the early singles & ‘B’ sides. They were the masters of the breakneck cover version. They’re versions of Orange Juices ‘Felicity’ The Beatles ‘Getting Better’ & Tom Jones ‘It’s Not Unusual’ are all absolutely fantastic. 😊 @@ArturoGofunkez
@@Harrispilton22 I didn't find the vinyl George Best yet, but I found a CD version with a bunch of singles and b-sides added. 23 tracks. I love it!
That’s great Arturo! If you can track down ‘Tommy’ that’s more of the same including there breakneck cover of Orange Juice’s ‘Felicity’ & early singles like ‘Once More’ & b-sides.@@ArturoGofunkez
I remember David Gedge saying that he wasn't particularly interested in football but admired George Best because he was an individualist who didn't care what people thought. Something like that anyway.
‘Indivualist who didn’t care what people thought’ he should have given me a call! I’m a no holds barred maverick! 😂 Imagine your debut album being called ‘Harris Pilton’
I could see you living in a Countcell Ooouse with a Charmaine, with soft cream, aka 'satanic', walls. Napalm Death, takes me back. The squatters who inhabited empty maisons in SE London, Elephant and Castle way, used to like them. Their gigs allegedly like days out in the All Blacks ScrumDown.
Yes! Napalm were loved by the crusties...god knows why? I have know idea what their gigs were like, but let me assure you the front 5 rows at Terence Trent Darby were no place for the faint hearted. Charmaine ended up going out with my best mate..but it ended after 6 months, I reckon I dodged the bullet, she could be married to a UA-cam superstar now..her loss.
I don’t want to be that guy but Barney and BamBam were Rubbles not stones 😂. Only messin.
Great video as always.
Hi Martin! Ha,ha, cheers for the audit! I was waiting for someone to say that! 😂 I’m now going to sack one of my fact checkers! Hope all is well!
Nice calls throughout. Very 1987!
Totally with you on "Sister"..."EVOL" is the better record, any day of the week. I'm also, I'll freely admit, one of those weirdos who think that "Strangeways" is The Smiths best album. "I Won't Share You" (totally agree, it's a wonderful song) is apparently a lyric aimed squarely at Marr by Mozzer as they were parting ways, and Johnny was looking to "play the field" with other musicians. Good shout on "The Lilac Time", too. I remember "Return To Yesterday" was the single, but it never got a sniff of "proper" chart action.
I'd only just discovered Peel in '87, so probably snagged the biggies in your list circa the following year or two (definitely bagged all of the Huskers, Buttholes, Pixies, D Jr, Big Black during this period). I'd probably have REM's "Document" in my 15...the last IRS full-length, and that front-loaded side one is all killer. Cheers! D
Hi Darren , yes it’s a lovely song.Just listened to it again. I thought about Documet & yes very front loaded. Probably should have switched it for Terence Trent or Napalm , which were really nostalgia picks. I also should have include ‘Hate Your Friends’ by The Lemonheads which I probably listened to more than any of these albums.. although it isn’t highly thought of ,I really loved it, it’s like Husker Du on stabilisers! Thanks, just seen your feeling a bit rough, hope you back up & running soon! 😊
Harris every school had a Charmaine Wilson, ours was Heidi Stevens, everyone knew who she was :)
Ha,ha True Shaun! I will add Charmaine saw straight through me & ended up going out with my mate! Her loss 😆
@@Harrispilton22 😀👍
Great video, love Big Black, Pixies, the Buttholes, all brilliant stuff! Sonic Youth, I agree EVOL is better, but Sister is not far behind. I didn't care for Strangeways back then, but I love it now. Would have loved to have seen Depeche Mode back then. Cheers!
Hey Mike , I was thinking of people in the VC this list would chime with, & you were one of them. I’m truly a product of the British music press. It’s always interesting to Google the Melody Maker & NME end of year lists for particular years. Full of great, often forgotten albums.
Napalm Death line up changed very quickly, I think even during Scum
I remember reading that Grant Hart was incorrectly diagnosed HIV+. Particularly devastating for a current addict, which hastened his decline.
Yes..I meant to mention that Mark, so good call.I always do these videos off the top of my head, so each time I forget something I intended to say, traumatic times for Grant. Yes, I read that the Napalm line up was pretty fluid..I’m not a big enough fan to know the ins & out but I imagine the bands family tree would look fairly messy! Cheers Mark!
What no Bikini Red by the Screaming Blue Messiahs?Great meeting you the other week- Paddy from the Overdraft
Hey Paddy! I meant to mention you in this video...but totally forgot so glad you commented 😊 Screaming Blue Messiahs? ‘I wanna be a Flintstone’ I get the connection! 😆 Say hello to to Paddy & the Paddy Juniors! Hopefully bump into you soon!
@@Harrispilton22Cheers Harris, I’ll be looking out for you😄
That meant to read ‘say hello to Mrs Paddy ..& stop messing with her algorithm 😂 ‘@@eyesocketlove
I had that Napalm Death album...I know what you mean about the drums slowing down...I was working at a photographic studio in this time period and some of the albums I would play in the reception area were this one....War and Pain by Voivod....Die by the Sword by Slayer etc. needless to say I didn"t stay in that job!!!
Hi David, I’ve never heard Vovoid..don’t know why? I loved it when Peel let loos with the Grindcore, I’ve just been listening to the band Unseen Terror’s Peel Session on UA-cam..absolutely mental! Not a genre I wanted to listen to after about a year. Yarh I’m not suprised you were shown the door! 😂 Should have played some Splint Endz..who know where you’re career would have led to!
@@Harrispilton22 😂!!!
Hi Harris - At least Southampton are semi respectable. Norwich are heading towards relegation. My Top 3 in 87 were The Replacements , The Cure & That Petrol Emotion. I saw The Pixies open for The Cure at Dodger Stadium 🏟 in 1989 & 30 years later The Pixies opened for The Cure again at The Rose 🌹 Bowl 🏟 in 2019 ( Rose Bowl hosted the 1994 WC Final ). That Lilac Time record is outstanding.
We’ve just scored another last minute winner! I still don’t actually think we’re that good..but we’re scraping by! Norwich are a mystery mate, the wheels have fallen off. I remember reading about that Cure gig. I’m glad someone else likes that Lilac Time record. I’ll have to look at when we play the Canaries next..I’ve lost track! Cheers David!
Nice you mentioned That Petrol Emotion. I bought End of the Millennium Psychosis Blues because it was in the cheap bins. Surprisingly good album. Greetings
@@SCjuisy The O'Neil Brothers are very talented. Underrated band for sure. Debut , Manic Pop Thrill is top notch
A nod to Steven Wright.
Ha,ha I didn’t credit a joke I stole in my last video & someone got upset (I’m not getting paid for this does it really matter? 😆) So I made sure I credited Steven Wright on this one. As a teen I memorised his ‘I had a Pony’ album. Guys a genius. Thanks Ritchie.
@@Harrispilton22I never acknowledge where I get my ideas.
I’ve never heard that Husker Du album.
‘I used to be in the Jehovah Witness Protection Programme...Every Sunday Morning I would Knock On Someone’s Door & Tell Them I Was Somebody Else’. That’s his finest moment! 😆 @@vinylrichie007
Oof! Crikey they're all a bit loud. You must be completely mutton if you've been listening to that lot since 1987.
Just checked my collection of records from 1987, it's mostly country and world music...Oh, and George Best.
Ha,Yeah Headley, it struck me this was a fairly loud selection.I grew up in Slough under Heathrow’s flight path..so when I moved down south Maybye I subconsciously yearned for the deranged tones of Napalm Death & Big Black! I actually made the decision to stop listening to music through headphones a few years ago as my hearing was clearly shot to bits & its Definately helped!..although the neighbours now hate me.....even more.
As much as the Mondays weren't big yet both Mancs footy clubs were equally crap though so were my Arsenal until GG took over. 87 i was mulleted, anorak wearing Smash hits buying geek (though i did buy licence to ill at least) once i got into the school football team i got cool so goodbye five star and a-ha...... A-haha.
Hi Martin.TBH I never had an uncool phase when I was young I was reading the weeklies from about 14 & was all these credible albums...it’s only in the last 15 years that I’ve been searching for pop singles, which is now my main love.I just bought the extended mix of ‘The Sun Allways Shines On Tv’ it’s awesome..& the Blow Monkeys ‘Diggin Your Scene’ my music taste has developed in reverse! 😂 Football! The games gone mate!