The Ledge #725: 1986

I wish I could say I have vivid memories of 1986, but I really don't. Look, it was the year after I graduated from college, and life was a party. I was working in a record store during the day at night I was a club DJ. Quite often the club followed me to the home I shared with a couple of friends with similar lifestyles.

I do remember the music, though, and tonight's show celebrates the soundtrack of that glorious year. What surprised me as I was preparing this show, though, is that this was a year where roots rock dominated my life. Sure, there was plenty of traditional punk and alternative music, too, and that will probably be the focus of a sequel, but jangly guitars seemed to the be the sound of the times for me.

What was your favorite record of 1986?

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1. Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper - Stuffin' Martha's Muffin

2. The Feelies - Slipping (Into Something)

3. The Feelies - Sedan Delivery 

4. R.E.M. - These Days

5. Camper Van Beethoven - (We're A) Bad Trip

6. Camper Van Beethoven - Good Guys & Bad Guys

7. Soul Asylum - Tied To The Tracks

8. The Magnolias - Keep It Inside

9. Hüsker Dü - Sorry Somehow

10. Suburbs - Every Night's A Friday Night

11. Bob Dunlap & Symphonic Fuzz - Loud Loud Loud Loud Guitars

12. The Jayhawks - Let The Critics Wonder

13. Dream Syndicate - Slide Away

14. Guadalcanal Diary - I See Moe

15. Dumptruck - Back Where I Belong

16. The Beat Farmers - Powderfinger

17. Beat Rodeo - Twin Home Towns

18. The BoDeans - She's A Runaway

19. Scruffy The Cat - 40 Days & 40 Nights

20. Jason & The Scorchers - Golden Ball And Chain

21. E-I-E-I-O - This Time

22. The Church - Myrrh 

23. Elvis Costello - Brilliant Mistake

24. Billy Bragg - Levi Stubbs' Tears

25. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues

26. Ill Bill and the Spinal Chills - Play With Me (Jean-Anne)

27. The Cramps - Can Your Pussy Do The Dog?

28. The Lyres - You'll Never Do It Baby

29. Tommy Keene - Places That Are Gone