5 Excellent Albums Released 35 Years Ago This Month

We’re looking back today to November 1989. The variety of cool albums released that month was particularly strong. It’s not often you get outlaw country and hip-hop classics released in such a short span.

In addition, there are a couple classic rock veteran acts that had their say as well. Here is what was going on in the music world album-wise 35 years ago this month.

West Textures by Robert Earl Keen

Keen took five years between recording his solo debut and following it up with another studio release. West Textures certainly justified the hiatus. The Texas native divvied up the songs between the sentimental (“Sing One for Sister”) and the silly (“It’s the Little Things”), the quiet (“Maria”), and the aquatic (“The Five Pound Bass”). His covers don’t break up the flow of his originals, and his storytelling shines through on the epic “The Road Goes on Forever” and the slice-of-life “Mariano.” Throw in the weeper of a closer “Love Is a Word I Never Throw Around” and you have a pristine alt-country set.

The Cactus Album by 3rd Bass

This duo garnered more press with their 1991 record Derelicts of Dialect, in large part because of the Vanilla Ice takedown “Pop Goes the Weasel.” But their debut is stronger on the whole, and it’s actually one of the more consistent rap LPs from what was a halcyon year for the genre. MC Serch and Pete Nice often came on a bit strong in looking for battles that maybe weren’t there, but top-notch production from The Bomb Squad, Prince Paul, and Sam Sever ensured a thrilling ride when their rhymes were on point (which they mostly were). Album highlight: “Wordz of Wizdom,” where Sever’s samples make ’70s soft rocker Gary Wright sound infinitely funky.

Journeyman by Eric Clapton

Clapton wasn’t doing a ton of songwriting at this stage, as you’ll note by the fact he has just two co-writing credits in a dozen songs. The title suggests a kind of ease with the material and his status in the music world, and he exudes that on this record. Even when he gets a little fiery on tracks like “Pretending” and “Bad Love,” it’s more a controlled burn. When he finally cuts loose on the closing “Before You Accuse Me,” it snaps you to attention. Up to that point, the high points are the ballads, including the soulful “Running on Faith” and “Run So Far,” which was contributed by his old buddy George Harrison.

Done by the Forces of Nature by The Jungle Brothers

The duo of Mike Gee and Afrika Baby Bam were somewhat eclipsed in popularity by their fellow Native Tongues posse members A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. But The Jungle Brothers’ first two albums formed a heck of a one-two punch. The lack of a huge commercial breakthrough could be laid on their fearlessness in addressing thorny issues in their music, as they do throughout Done by the Forces of Nature on smart, searing cuts like “Acknowledge Your Own History.” When they do cut loose with their posse-mates on “Doin’ Our Own Dang,” they show how well they can hang with the best.

Presto by Rush

The Canadian trio took a more song-oriented approach on this, their 13th studio album. That meant allowing more space for Geddy Lee’s vocal melodies to shine, as on the richly melodic title cut. There’s also more of an emphasis placed here on the guitar work of Alex Lifeson, who gets to bring more thunder than usual on tracks like “Show Don’t Tell” and “War Paint.” While Neil Peart’s lyrics can still be a bit labyrinthine at times (and that’s part of the fun of them), they deal with more down-to-earth concerns than this band usually delivered. If you know somebody who thinks Rush is impenetrable, play them this disc and you just might change their mind.

Photo by Steve Eichner/Getty Images