1990 in music

List of years in music (table)
In radio
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
In television
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
In film
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
  • Art
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Science
+...

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.

This year was the peak of cassette sales in the United States, with sales declining year on year since then.[1]

Specific locations

  • 1990 in British music
  • 1990 in Norwegian music
  • 1990 in South Korean music

Specific genres

  • 1990 in country music
  • 1990 in heavy metal music
  • 1990 in hip hop music
  • 1990 in Latin music
  • 1990 in jazz

Events

January–March

  • January 8 – Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor released her famous single "Nothing Compares 2 U" (originally written, composed and performed by Prince) which was a worldwide success, becoming one of the best selling singles in the world in 1990 and topped the charts in many countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
  • January 18 – Eric Clapton plays the first of eighteen shows in a three-week span at London's Royal Albert Hall.
  • January 21 – MTV's Unplugged is broadcast for the first time, on cable television, with British band Squeeze.
  • February 6
    • Billy Idol is involved in a serious motorcycle accident, resulting in several broken bones. Idol had been scheduled to have a major role in Oliver Stone's film The Doors, but due to his injuries, the role was reduced almost to a bit part. The role of the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, originally intended for Idol, was recast entirely as a result of the accident.
    • Bob Marley's birthday is a national holiday in Jamaica for the first time.
  • February 14 – 50,000 fans watch The Rolling Stones play the first of 10 concerts at Tokyo's Korakuen Dome, the beginning of the Stones' first ever tour of Japan. The group was originally scheduled to perform there in 1973 but a drug conviction prevented Mick Jagger from obtaining a visa at the time.
  • February 16 – Ike Turner is sentenced to four years in prison for possession of cocaine.
  • February 21 – The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards are presented in Los Angeles, hosted by Garry Shandling. Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time wins Album of the Year, while Bette Midler's cover of "Wind Beneath My Wings" wins both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Milli Vanilli win Best New Artist.
  • February 24 – The Byrds (Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman and David Crosby) reunite, for the first time in 25 years, to perform at a Los Angeles tribute to Roy Orbison. The three are joined unexpectedly on stage by Bob Dylan, who sings "Mr. Tambourine Man" with the band.
  • March 15 – MCA Inc. purchases Geffen Records for over $550 million in stock. Under the agreement, David Geffen will continue to run the record company through an employment contract.
  • March 16 – Flea and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers are arrested and charged for an incident two days earlier at a performance in Daytona Beach during MTV's spring break coverage, in which they allegedly sexually assaulted and verbally abused a female audience member after jumping from the stage. They are released on $2,000 bail.
  • March 20
    • Gloria Estefan's tour bus is involved in an accident. Estefan suffers several broken bones in her back.
    • A riot almost breaks out in downtown Los Angeles when Depeche Mode draw a crowd of 20,000 during an in-store appearance at Wherehouse Entertainment to sign copies of their new album Violator.[2]
  • March 25 – Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee is arrested for allegedly exposing his buttocks during a performance in Augusta, Georgia.
  • March 28 – The Go-Go's reunite to play a benefit concert for the California Environmental Protection Act. They play several more reunion shows later in the year.

April–June

  • April 4 – Gloria Estefan returns to Miami, Florida after undergoing back surgery following the March 20 accident.
  • April 5 – Michael Jackson is awarded 'Artist of the Decade' by George H. W. Bush at the White House.
  • April 6 – Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee suffers a mild concussion after falling off of scaffolding above his elevated drum kit during a performance in New Haven, Connecticut.
  • April 7 – Neil Young, Elton John, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Guns N' Roses and Jackson Browne perform at Farm Aid IV in Indiana. John dedicates "Candle in the Wind" to AIDS patient Ryan White during his performance. White dies the following day.
  • April 13 – Madonna starts her controversial Blond Ambition Tour in Tokyo, Japan.
  • April 16 – A massive tribute concert is held at Wembley Stadium for recently freed anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, who appears in a pre-taped 45-minute speech at the event. Performers include Anita Baker, Tracy Chapman, Peter Gabriel, The Neville Brothers and Neil Young. The event is broadcast to 61 countries around the world.
  • April 24 – Janet Jackson is honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[3]
  • April 25 – Jimi Hendrix's Fender Stratocaster, on which he performed his famous version of the "Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock, is auctioned off in London for $295,000.
  • April 27 – Axl Rose marries model Erin Everly, daughter of singer Don Everly, in a Las Vegas ceremony. Divorce papers are filed on May 24, then withdrawn, then filed again in October.
  • May 5 – The 35th Eurovision Song Contest, held in Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb, is won by Italian singer Toto Cutugno for the song "Insieme: 1992", Italy's first victory in the contest since 1964. At 46 years old, Cutugno becomes the oldest winner of the contest to date, a record he holds until 2001.
  • May 6 – Valery Leontiev show "It seems to me that I have not lived" in the Olympic Stadium.
  • May 12 – First Prague Spring International Music Festival following the Velvet Revolution: Rafael Kubelík conducts the Czech Philharmonic orchestra in Smetana's Má vlast.
  • May 18 – The Rolling Stones open their Urban Jungle European tour in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • May 29
    • In Canada, Toronto police threaten to arrest Madonna if she performs her simulated masturbation scene during her performance of "Like a Virgin" on her Blond Ambition Tour. Madonna refuses to change her show, and the police decide not to press charges, later denying that they had ever threatened to do so (a claim refuted by footage captured during the filming of Madonna's 1991 documentary Truth or Dare).
    • At the Eurovision Young Musicians Competition 1990 finals, held at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, pianist Nick van Oosterum of the Netherlands takes first place.
  • June 10 – Members of rap group 2 Live Crew are arrested and charged with obscenity after a performance in a Hollywood, Florida nightclub.
  • June 12 – Mariah Carey releases her debut album, which would go on to top the Billboard 200 for 11 consecutive weeks.[4]
  • June 30 – Knebworth 1990, a one-off festival at Knebworth Park, England in support of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. Participating musicians have all been winners of the Silver Clef Award. The acts include headliners Pink Floyd, Genesis, Robert Plant, Elton John, Dire Straits, Status Quo, Eric Clapton and others.

July–September

  • July 7 – The Three Tenors give their first concert, at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome.
  • July 14 – Jean Michel Jarre's concert Paris la Defense attracts 2.5 million spectators.
  • July 21 – Roger Waters and numerous guest stars stage a performance of Pink Floyd's The Wall in Berlin, Germany to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall eight months earlier. Scorpions, Cyndi Lauper, Thomas Dolby, Sinéad O'Connor, The Band and Bryan Adams are among the performers.
  • August 5 – Madonna ends her controversial Blond Ambition Tour in Nice, France. The last date was aired live and broadcast on HBO in United States, and later released as Laser Disc only.
  • August 13 – Curtis Mayfield is paralyzed from the neck down in an accident at an outdoor concert in Flatbush, Brooklyn, after stage lighting equipment collapses on top of him.
  • August 19 – Leonard Bernstein conducts his final performance at Tanglewood; he suffers a coughing fit in the middle of one piece which almost brings the concert to a premature end.
  • August 22 – James MacMillan's symphonic piece The Confession of Isobel Gowdie premieres at The Proms in London.
  • August 24
    • A judge rules that heavy metal band Judas Priest is not responsible for the actions of two Nevada youths who shot themselves, one fatally, after listening to the band's music in December 1985.
    • Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor sparks controversy when she refuses to play a concert at the Garden State Arts Center in New Jersey unless the venue refrains from its tradition of playing a recording of the American national anthem before the performance. O'Connor is heavily criticized and her music is dropped from a number of radio stations as a result.
  • August 27 – Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan is killed in a helicopter crash following a concert at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin. He was 35.
  • September 4 – Walter Yetnikoff steps down after fifteen years as President of CBS Records.
  • September 11 – After a decade of performing in the Francophone world, Céline Dion makes her formal English-language debut in the United States with the release of her album Unison.
  • September 26 – The poorly received Cop Rock premieres on US television; it was TV's only musical police drama.

October–December

  • October 9 – Leonard Bernstein announces his retirement from the conducting podium; he dies five days later.
  • October 20 – A Florida jury acquits 2 Live Crew of the obscenity charges stemming from a June 10 performance of their act known for its sexually explicit lyrics.
  • October 22 – Pearl Jam, then named "Mookie Blaylock", play their first show as a band at the Off Ramp club in Seattle, Washington.
  • October 27 – Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" reaches number one.[5] It was also the first song to simultaneously peak atop the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock chart.[6]
  • November 6 – Madonna releases her new single, "Justify My Love". The accompanying music video is banned by MTV amid international controversy over its sexually explicit content.
  • November 21 – The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger finally marries longtime girlfriend Jerry Hall in a traditional Hindu ceremony on the island of Bali, although the wedding's legality is questionable.
  • November 27 – Amid growing public skepticism towards the artistic integrity of dance-pop duo Milli Vanilli as well as creative differences with frontmen Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, music producer Frank Farian admits that Morvan and Pilatus had been lip-synching all of their songs, including hits such as "Girl You Know It's True." In actuality, the tracks were composed and recorded by an ensemble of much older artists. Milli Vanilli's Grammy award for Best New Artist is voided in the ensuing fallout; accounts vary as to whether it was revoked or if Morvan and Pilatus returned it themselves.
  • December 1 – ABC airs a television special accompanying the Red Hot + Blue benefit album in which contemporary pop performers reinterpret the songs of Cole Porter. The special includes video clips portraying the societal effects of AIDS.
  • December 3 – Following the banning of her "Justify My Love" music video by MTV, singer Madonna appears on Nightline to defend the video.
  • December 15 – Rod Stewart marries model Rachel Hunter.
  • December 31 – The nineteenth annual New Year's Rockin' Eve special airs on ABC, with appearances by The Beach Boys, Bell Biv DeVoe, The Kentucky Headhunters, Nelson, The O'Jays and Sweet Sensation.

Also in 1990

  • Fall – For the first time, Amy Grant and Gary Chapman hold a night of music at their Franklin, Tennessee Riverstone Farm, for local teenagers. Performers included Rich Mullins, Rick Elias, Charlie Peacock, Wes King and Michael W. Smith. The event becomes known as "The Loft".
  • Guitarists: Dan Nilsson & Micke Bargstörm, Bassist: Martin Persson & Drummer: Rille Even, all quit Opeth who were the original members of the band. David Isberg, the only remaining original member hires Guitarists: Mikael Åkerfeldt (who applied for a bassist position even when the band already had bassist causing friction but ended up as a guitarist) Andreas Dimeo, Bassist: Nick Döring & Drummer: Anders Nordin.
  • Studio Fredman is built.
  • Sons of Kyuss change their name to Kyuss and add new members, except for guitarist Josh Homme.
  • After a hiatus of 7 years, rock group Styx reform to record a new album and tour without long-time guitarist Tommy Shaw, who was committed to Damn Yankees at the time.
  • Tapes of the original William Walton score for the 1969 film Battle of Britain are rediscovered, having been lost since the score was abandoned in favour of one by Ron Goodwin.

Bands formed

  • See Musical groups established in 1990

Bands disbanded

  • See Musical groups disestablished in 1990

Albums released

January–March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
8 Scumdogs of the UniverseGwar-
15 FloodThey Might Be Giants-
Reading, Writing and ArithmeticThe SundaysDebut
16 The Hit ListJoan JettCovers album
PaleToad the Wet Sprocket-
RVS IIIRicky Van Shelton-
23 Lone WolfHank Williams Jr.-
Missing Links Volume TwoThe MonkeesRarities compilation
Stick It to YaSlaughterDebut
25 We're in This TogetherLow Profile-
29 A Bit of What You Fancy The QuireboysDebut
Cloudcuckooland Lightning Seeds-
Vigil in a Wilderness of MirrorsFish-
30 RiversideLuka Bloom-
The Sweet KeeperTanita TikaramUS
? ColourThe ChristiansUS
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
5 Chill OutThe KLF-
Lost ParadiseParadise LostDebut
7 Frizzle FryPrimusDebut
9 Blue Sky MiningMidnight Oil-
12 Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'EmMC HammerUS
Stay Sick!The Cramps-
13 ChanceThe Rave-Ups-
Shake Your Money MakerThe Black CrowesDebut
Welcome to the Beautiful SouthThe Beautiful SouthUS
16 Spiritual HealingDeath-
17 HeritageEarth, Wind & Fire-
19 Up to No GoodPeter Wolf-
20 Carved in SandMission UKUS
Dark at the End of the TunnelOingo Boingo-
The Language of LifeEverything but the Girl-
This Should Move YaMantronixUS
21 Break ThroughB'z-
Heading for TomorrowGamma Ray-
Same Place the Fly Got SmashedGuided by Voices-
22 Blackout in the Red RoomLove/Hate-
Damn YankeesDamn Yankees-
Gold Afternoon FixThe Church-
Submarine BellsThe Chills-
27 Here in the Real WorldAlan Jackson-
Highwayman 2The Highwaymen-
28 Ah Via MusicomEric Johnson-
The Privilege of PowerRiot-
? Travel-LogJ.J. Cale-
M
A
R
C
H
1 The Caution HorsesCowboy Junkies-
5 Just Say OzzyOzzy OsbourneLive EP
Backstreet SymphonyThunderDebut
HappinessThe BelovedUS
New Funky NationBoo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.-
6 Birds of PassageBel CantoUS
Third World WarriorKris Kristofferson-
9 House PartyVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
12 I Do Not Want What I Haven't GotSinéad O'Connor-
ChangesbowieDavid BowieCompilation
Beg to DifferProng-
EyeRobyn HitchcockUS
ResistanceBorghesia-
Manners & PhysiqueAdam Ant
13 FunhouseKid 'n Play-
My RomanceCarly SimonCovers album
Pretty WomanVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
16 Here at the HomeTribe-
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Original Motion Picture SoundtrackVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
19 Blacks' MagicSalt-N-Pepa-
Manic NirvanaRobert Plant-
ViolatorDepeche Mode-
20 PoisonBell Biv DeVoeDebut
Sex PacketsDigital UndergroundDebut
ExtricateThe FallUS
ShowtimeNitzer EbbUS
SwaggerBlue AeroplanesUS
26 BrigadeHeart-
Mental Floss for the GlobeUrban Dance SquadUS
Paintings in YellowSandra-
Still Got the BluesGary Moore-
27 Livin' Like HustlersAbove the Law-
Forever EverlastingEverlastDebut
A View from 3rd StreetJude Cole-
Social DistortionSocial Distortion-
29 Representing the MamboLittle Feat-
? The Best of Van MorrisonVan MorrisonCompilation
Join TogetherThe WhoLive box set

April–June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
2 BulkheadSevered Heads-
UnisonCeline DionCanada
3 Born to SingEn Vogue-
ChemicrazyThat Petrol Emotion-
Lloyd ColeLloyd Cole-
Read My LipsJimmy Somerville-
9 Behind the MaskFleetwood Mac-
10 Act IIIDeath Angel-
Days of Open HandSuzanne Vega-
Fear of a Black PlanetPublic Enemy-
Laura BraniganLaura Branigan-
PeaceAnything Box-
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of RhythmA Tribe Called QuestDebut
11 Songs for DrellaLou Reed and John Cale-
Vanity/NemesisCeltic Frost-
13 39/SmoothGreen DayDebut
16 Spanking MachineBabes in Toyland-
17 The Good SonNick Cave and the Bad Seeds-
Johnny GillJohnny Gill-
Last Decade Dead CenturyWarrior SoulDebut
Live on BroadwayBarry ManilowLive
The Myth of RockConsolidated-
Reading, Writing, and ArithmeticThe SundaysUS
19 RepeaterFugaziUS
23 HammerheartBathory-
Let Them Eat BingoBeats InternationalUS
LifeInspiral Carpets-
Metaphysical Graffiti The Dead Milkmen-
Slam Big Dipper-
Everybody KnowsSonia-
Now That's What I Call Music 17Various ArtistsUK; compilation
30 Charmed LifeBilly Idol-
? LovegodThe Soup Dragons-
Up in ItThe Afghan Whigs-
Closer to the FlameDave Edmunds-
M
A
Y
1 When the Storm Comes DownFlotsam and Jetsam-
The Winding SheetMark Lanegan-
8 EclipseYngwie MalmsteenUS
Greatest HitsThe BanglesCompilation
Young LionsAdrian Belew-
Tattooed MillionaireBruce Dickinson-
The RevivalTony! Toni! Toné!-
Shut Up and DancePaula AbdulRemix album
Wilson PhillipsWilson Phillips-
Goodbye JumboWorld Party-
10 SteelheartSteelheart-
11 Screaming Life/FoppSoundgardenCompilation
14 Circle of OneOleta Adams-
Love MovesKim Wilde-
Packed!The Pretenders-
DAAS IconDoug Anthony All Stars-
15 Corruption in TokyoElement EthanJapan; live
Livin' It UpGeorge Strait-
Lock up the WolvesDio-
Reflections of PassionYanniCompilation
A Round and a BoutSqueezeUS; live
TenY&T-
BloodlettingConcrete Blonde-
18 AmeriKKKa's Most WantedIce CubeSolo debut
20 AñosLuis Miguel-
21 Vol. II: 1990 – A New DecadeSoul II Soul-
22 I'm BreathlessMadonnaSoundtrack
Let the Rhythm Hit 'EmEric B. & Rakim-
Son of AlbertAndrew Ridgeley-
25 The Ghost in ScienceSusumu HirasawaJapan
MeccaAge of ChanceUS
29 Natural History: The Very Best of Talk TalkTalk TalkCompilation
Hell to PayJeff HealeyCanada
I Want Too MuchA HouseUS
KatydidsKatydidsUS
Meet John DoeJohn Doe-
PodThe Breeders-
30 TangledJane Wiedlin-
31 All the Stuff (And More!) Volume 1RamonesCompilation
All the Stuff (And More!) Volume 2RamonesCompilation
? AmarokMike Oldfield-
Joe Cocker LiveJoe CockerLive
The InternationaleBilly BraggMini-LP
ManscapeWireUS
J
U
N
E
1 The Word as LawNeurosis-
4 10The StranglersUS
Gold MotherJames-
Left Hand PathEntombedDebut
5 Step by StepNew Kids on the Block-
7 Sumerian CryTiamat-
11 Real Men... Wear BlackCameo-
A Catholic EducationTeenage Fanclub-
Sings Cole PorterDionne WarwickCover
Utd. State 90808 State-
12 Armchair TheatreJeff LynneSolo debut
CompositionsAnita Baker-
En las Buenas... y en las MalasJosé José-
Holy WaterBad Company-
I'll Give All My Love to YouKeith Sweat-
Mariah CareyMariah CareyDebut
15 Sudden StopColin JamesCanada
18 AliasAlias-
Past to Present 1977-1990TotoCompilation+ 4 new tracks
Turtle SoupThe Mock TurtlesUK
19 This Time AroundGreen on Red-
20 Beyond BeliefPetra-
21 No DepressionUncle TupeloDebut
Wicked Beat B'z EP
25 DeicideDeicide-
LivoniaHis Name Is Alive-
New Art RiotManic Street PreachersEP
ReputationDusty Springfield-
Stick It in Your Ear Paul Laine Japanese release date
26 After the RainNelson-
Danzig II: LucifugeDanzig-
GooSonic Youth-
Kiss of LifeGene Loves Jezebel-
Live It UpCrosby, Stills & Nash-
29 Black AngelsKronos Quartet-
? BiohazardBiohazard-
BustedCheap Trick-
Midnight StrollRobert Cray-

July–September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
2 Flesh & BloodPoison-
Smooth Noodle MapsDevo-
3 The Hard WaySteve Earle-
Lights...Camera...Revolution!Suicidal Tendencies-
Lofty's Roach SouffleHarry Connick Jr.-
Seven TurnsThe Allman Brothers Band-
Spirits Dancing in the FleshSantana-
We Are in LoveHarry Connick Jr.-
10 Brick by BrickIggy Pop-
Live and DirectAdamskiUS
PandemoniumThe Time-
StrayAztec CameraUS
13 Live'r Than GodThee HypnoticsUS
16 Naked ThunderIan Gillan-
Tales from the Twilight WorldBlind Guardian-
Bad of the HeartGeorge LamondDebut
17 EdutainmentBoogie Down Productions-
19 AppleMother Love Bone-
23 Slave to the ThrillHurricane-
24 Banned in the U.S.A.2 Live Crew-
Cowboys from HellPantera-
Goodnight L.A.Magnum-
In the Heart of the YoungWinger-
Take a Look AroundMasta Ace-
Un-Led-EdDread Zeppelin-
30 Harmony CorruptionNapalm Death-
Joy Rides for Shut-InsCavedogs-
31 Hell Is for WimpsNewsboys-
? SmileRideUS
Ichabod and IThe Boo Radleys-
A
U
G
U
S
T
7 Blaze of GloryJon Bon JoviYoung Guns II soundtrack
Brother's KeeperThe Neville Brothers-
BellybuttonJellyfish-
EnchantedMarc AlmondUS
Head DownMoevUS
PornograffittiExtreme-
World CliqueDeee-Lite-
13 BossanovaPixies-
Then & NowAsiaCompilation
14 100 Miles and Runnin'N.W.AEP
Cleopatra GripThe Heart ThrobsUS
Pump Up the VolumeVarious ArtistsUS; soundtrack
15 Louder Than LoveTKA-
17 Eaten Back To LifeCannibal Corpse-
20 FireHouseFireHouse-
LibertyDuran Duran-
Peace of MindBreathe-
TyrBlack Sabbath-
21 Against the LawStryper-
DetonatorRatt-
FaceliftAlice in Chains-
Graffiti BridgePrinceSoundtrack
Persistence of TimeAnthrax-
Ritual de lo HabitualJane's Addiction-
27 No FencesGarth Brooks-
OtisMojo Nixon-
28 Time's UpLiving Colour-
31 The PartyThe PartyDebut
So Much 2 SayTake 6-
? The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a ChickenREO Speedwagon-
Caustic GripFront Line Assembly-
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
3 Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1George MichaelUK
4 ChroniclesRushCompilation
& Love for AllThe Lilac TimeUS
1978–1990Go-BetweensUS; compilation
And the Horse They Rode in OnSoul Asylum-
EmpireQueensrÿche-
In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing UpMinistryLive
The NeighborhoodLos Lobos-
The RembrandtsThe Rembrandts-
Rumor Has ItReba McEntire-
The Wild PlacesDan Fogelberg-
7 The Cactus Revisited3rd BassRemix
Two FiresJimmy Barnes-
10 To The ExtremeVanilla Ice-
BoomaniaBetty Boo-
Ragged GloryNeil Young and Crazy Horse-
11 Cherry PieWarrant-
Under the Red SkyBob Dylan-
Dave Stewart and the Spiritual CowboysDave Stewart and The Spiritual CowboysUS
Dear 23The Posies-
GliderMy Bloody ValentineEP; US
Short Dog's in the HouseToo Short-
Soundtrack from Twin PeaksAngelo BadalamentiSoundtrack
UnisonCeline DionUS
Home For ChristmasDolly Parton-
12 Never, NeverlandAnnihilator-
14 Armed Audio WarfareMeat Beat ManifestoUS
Mama Said Knock You OutLL Cool J-
17 PainkillerJudas Priest-
The Wall Live in BerlinRoger WatersUK; live
Themes – Volume 2: August 82 – April 85Simple MindsBox set
Romantic?The Human League
Room to RoamThe Waterboys-
Heaven or Las VegasCocteau Twins-
18 Collected WorksHunters & CollectorsUS
In a Priest Driven AmbulanceThe Flaming Lips-
The Layla Sessions: 20th Anniversary EditionDerek and the DominosRemix + unreleased material
Minnie 'n Me: Songs Just for GirlsChrista Larson-
Red MoonThe Call-
19 Cause of DeathObituary-
21 Lawn BoyPhish-
Nomads Indians SaintsIndigo Girls-
24 The Razors EdgeAC/DC-
Some People's LivesBette Midler-
ExperienceMary's Danish-
Rag and Bone Buffet: Rare Cuts and LeftoversXTCRarities compilation
Rust in PeaceMegadeth-
25 All Shook DownThe Replacements-
An Emotional FishAn Emotional FishUS
Family StyleThe Vaughan Brothers (Stevie Ray and Jimmie)-
Have You Seen Me LatelyCarly Simon-
SuperchunkSuperchunk-
Third EyeRedd Kross-
Wild & LonelyThe AssociatesUS
Without a NetGrateful DeadLive
XINXS-
Hi-FiveHi-Five-
? In the BloodLondonbeat-
It's... MadnessMadnessUS;Compilation
Nu Thangdc Talk-
Passion and WarfareSteve Vai-

October–December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
1 No Prayer for the DyingIron Maiden-
Dr. Adamski's Musical PharmacyAdamski-
Better Off DeadSodom-
Hell's DitchThe Pogues
DanniiDannii Minogue-
Go West Young ManMichael W. Smith-
The La'sThe La's-
Exitos de Gloria EstefanGloria EstefanCompilation
2 CrawdaddyDarling BudsUS
Jordan: The ComebackPrefab SproutUS
New InsideTiffany-
Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th AnniversaryVarious ArtistsCompilation
5 This Is Our MusicGalaxie 500-
Wrong Way UpBrian Eno and John Cale-
8 EnlightenmentVan MorrisonUK
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr BandRingo StarrLive
Themes – Volume 1: March 79 – April 82Simple MindsBox set
Themes – Volume 3: September 85 – June 87Simple MindsBox set
9 Change of SeasonHall & Oates-
Edge of the CenturyStyx-
FUN '90MekonsEP
Girls, Girls, GirlsElvis CostelloCompilation
Seasons in the AbyssSlayer-
Shooting Straight in the DarkMary Chapin Carpenter-
Souls of BlackTestament-
15 RemastersLed ZeppelinCompilation
The Rhythm of the SaintsPaul Simon-
Bona DragMorrisseyCompilation
Themes – Volume 4: February 89 – May 90Simple MindsBox set
NowhereRide-
16 Back from HellRun-D.M.C.-
Brand New DanceEmmylou Harris-
HackInformation Society-
Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982–198310,000 ManiacsCompilation
Hindu Love GodsHindu Love Gods-
Hold Me UpGoo Goo Dolls-
Private Times...and the Whole 9!Al B. Sure!-
RecyclerZZ Top-
The Geto BoysGeto BoysRemix
22 Slaves & MastersDeep Purple-
BehaviourPet Shop Boys-
Heart Still BeatingRoxy MusicLive
Vision ThingThe Sisters of Mercy-
The Greatest Hits, So FarPublic Image Ltd.Compilation
Cure for SanityPop Will Eat Itself-
Kool-AidBig Audio Dynamite II-
23 458489The FallUS; compilation
Billy's Live BaitGear Daddies-
Circle SlideThe Choir-
Faith Hope LoveKing's X-
LifeInspiral CarpetsUS
Some FriendlyThe CharlatansUS
29 Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinBoxed Set
ChokeThe Beautiful SouthUK
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3Traveling Wilburys-
30 Down To EarthMonie Love-
Ghost of a DogEdie Brickell & New Bohemians-
If There Was a WayDwight Yoakam-
InteriorsRosanne Cash-
LennonJohn LennonBox set
Red Hot + BlueVarious ArtistsCole Porter tribute
Taste of ChocolateBig Daddy Kane-
This ChristmasPatti LaBelleChristmas
Too Dark ParkSkinny Puppy-
31 Raygun... Naked RaygunNaked Raygun-
? Up from the AshesDon Dokken-
Gling-GlóBjörk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar-
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
5 Don't ExplainRobert PalmerUK
Mixed UpThe CureUK; Remix album
Serious Hits... Live!Phil CollinsLive
Tripping the Live FantasticPaul McCartneyLive
ReverberationEcho and the Bunnymen-
Refugees of the HeartSteve Winwood-
Pills 'n' Thrills and BellyachesHappy Mondays-
6 BirdbrainBuffalo Tom-
A Brief History of the Twentieth CenturyGang of FourCompilation
CakeThe Trash Can SinatrasUS
Coma of SoulsKreator-
Crazy WorldScorpions-
The Dancing YearsShriekback-
I'm Your Baby TonightWhitney Houston-
Put Yourself in My ShoesClint Black-
Somewhere SoonThe HighUS
Stick It LiveSlaughterLive EP
SyntonicKon KanUS
7 Risky B'z
8 To Be ContinuedElton JohnBox set + 4 new tracks
12 Ven ConmigoSelena-
Rhythm of LoveKylie Minogue-
13 Mermaids soundtrackVarious ArtistsUS; soundtrack
Anything Is PossibleDebbie Gibson-
Blast the Human FlowerDanielle DaxUS
Five Man Acoustical JamTeslaLive
GalaLushUS
The Immaculate CollectionMadonnaGreatest hits + 2 new tracks
StandardsThe AlarmUS; Compilation
15 NaïveKMFDM-
16 GodWeenSatan: The OnenessWeenDebut
19 Shaking the TreePeter GabrielCompilation
20 CasinoBlue Rodeo-
Ferociously StonedCherry Poppin' DaddiesDebut
Heartbreak StationCinderella-
This Is a CollectiveConsolidatedEP
23 Against the GrainBad Religion-
26 A Social GracePsychotic Waltz-
27 Grits Sandwiches for BreakfastKid RockDebut
Ralph TresvantRalph TresvantSolo debut
RisingDonovanLive
Now! That's What I Call Music 18Various ArtistsUK; compilation
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
3 MCMXC a.D.EnigmaDebut
4 Grains of SandThe Mission UKUS
Home AloneJohn WilliamsSoundtrack
One for AllBrand Nubian-
The Simpsons Sing the BluesThe SimpsonsDebut
10 Live at Hammersmith '84Jethro TullLive
11 Devo's Greatest HitsDevoCompilation
Devo's Greatest MissesDevoCompilation
The Raw and the RemixFine Young CannibalsRemixes and alternate versions
18 Gonna Make You SweatC+C Music Factory-
Business as UsualEPMD-
99%Meat Beat Manifesto-
? Obey the TimeThe Durutti Column-

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest positions in the charts of 1990.[7]

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1Sinéad O'ConnorNothing Compares 2 U1990Republic of IrelandUK 1 - Jan 1990 (16 weeks), US Billboard 1 - Mar 1990 (21 weeks), ARC 1 of 1990 (peak 1 15 weeks), Japan (Tokyo) 1 - Mar 1990 (18 weeks), Holland 1 - Jan 1990 (16 weeks), Sweden 1 - Feb 1990 (12 weeks), Finland 1 for 1 week - Mar 1990, Austria 1 - Mar 1990 (5 months), Switzerland 1 - Feb 1990 (29 weeks), Norway 1 - Feb 1990 (16 weeks), Poland 1 - Mar 1990 (51 weeks), Belgium 1 - Feb 1990 (16 weeks), Italy 1 for 1 week - Mar 1990, Germany 1 - Feb 1990 (5 months), ODK Germany 1 - Feb 1990 (32 weeks) (11 weeks at number 1) (16 weeks in top 10), Eire 1 for 6 weeks - Jan 1990, Canada RPM 1 for 5 weeks - May 1990, New Zealand 1 for 5 weeks - Apr 1990, Australia 1 for 8 weeks - Feb 1990, Europe 1 for 5 weeks - Feb 1990, Germany 1 for 11 weeks - Mar 1990, Spain 1 for 1 week - Apr 1990, MTV Video of the year 1990, KROQ 1 of 1990, Grammy in 1990 (Nominated), US Platinum (certified by RIAA in Apr 1990), UK Platinum (certified by BPI in Mar 1990), US BB 3 of 1990, US Radio 3 of 1990 (peak 1 11 weeks), Australia 3 of 1990, Canada 3 of 1990, US CashBox 4 of 1990, Germany Gold (certified by BMieV in 1990), Brazil 5 of 1990, Switzerland 6 of 1990, Italy 8 of 1990, Europe 8 of the 1990s (1990), nuTsie 11 of 1990s, Germany 19 of the 1990s (peak 1 19 weeks), Holland free40 22 of 1990, UK Songs 2013-23 peak 30 - Jul 2023 (4 weeks), Japan (Osaku) 30 of 1990 (peak 5 17 weeks), Vinyl Surrender 48 (1990), Poland 59 of all time, Billboard 50th song 77, 55th Billboard 100 87 (1990), Belgium 90 of all time, Billboard100 92, DMDB 92 (1990), Acclaimed 113 (1990), OzNet 138, Rolling Stone 162, WXPN 661, UKMIX 800, RYM 9 of 1990
2MadonnaVogue1990United StatesUK 1 - Apr 1990 (14 weeks), US Billboard 1 - Apr 1990 (24 weeks), US CashBox 1 of 1990, Japan (Tokyo) 1 - Apr 1990 (19 weeks), Sweden 1 - Apr 1990 (9 weeks), Finland 1 for 1 week - May 1990, Norway 1 - Apr 1990 (14 weeks), Poland 1 - Apr 1990 (23 weeks), Belgium 1 - Apr 1990 (14 weeks), Italy 1 for 2 weeks - May 1990, Canada RPM 1 for 3 weeks - Jun 1990, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks - May 1990, Australia 1 for 5 weeks - May 1990, Europe 1 for 8 weeks - Apr 1990, Spain 1 for 1 week - Jun 1990, US 2 X Platinum (certified by RIAA in Jun 1990), ARC 2 of 1990 (peak 1 15 weeks), US Radio 2 of 1990 (peak 1 10 weeks), Holland 2 - Apr 1990 (10 weeks), Switzerland 2 - Apr 1990 (19 weeks), MTV Video of the year 1990 (Nominated), ODK Germany 4 - Apr 1990 (23 weeks) (10 weeks in top 10), Canada 4 of 1990, UK Gold (certified by BPI in May 1990), US BB 5 of 1990, Italy 5 of 1990, Germany 6 - Apr 1990 (4 months), France 7 - Apr 1990 (1 week), Austria 7 - May 1990 (3 months), POP 7 of 1990, Brazil 10 of 1990, Australia 10 of 1990, Japan (Osaku) 11 of 1990 (peak 1 19 weeks), Switzerland 12 of 1990, nuTsie 35 of 1990s, Germany 230 of the 1990s (peak 4 13 weeks), Acclaimed 521 (1990), UKMIX 714, OzNet 881, RYM 8 of 1990, Global 33 (5 M sold) - 1990, Party 181 of 2007
3LondonbeatI've Been Thinking About You1990United KingdomUS Billboard 1 - Feb 1991 (19 weeks), Holland 1 - Aug 1990 (16 weeks), Sweden 1 - Sep 1990 (10 weeks), Finland 1 for 1 week - Dec 1990, Austria 1 - Oct 1990 (5 months), Switzerland 1 - Oct 1990 (22 weeks), Belgium 1 - Sep 1990 (14 weeks), Italy 1 for 3 weeks - Dec 1990, ODK Germany 1 - Sep 1990 (46 weeks) (2 weeks at number 1) (15 weeks in top 10), Canada RPM 1 for 2 weeks - Apr 1991, Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Feb 1991, Europe 1 for 9 weeks - Sep 1990, Germany 1 for 2 weeks - Oct 1990, Spain 1 for 1 week - Dec 1990, UK 2 - Sep 1990 (13 weeks), Norway 2 - Oct 1990 (9 weeks), Germany 2 - Jan 1991 (4 months), Australia 4 of 1991, US Gold (certified by RIAA in Sep 1991), Germany Gold (certified by BMieV in 1990), Italy 7 of 1990, Japan (Tokyo) 10 - Jan 1991 (19 weeks), France 10 - Oct 1990 (1 week), Brazil 10 of 1991, US Radio 13 of 1991 (peak 1 11 weeks), Canada 14 of 1991, Poland 15 - Nov 1990 (9 weeks), US CashBox 17 of 1991, Switzerland 26 of 1991, POP 29 of 1991, US BB 31 of 1991, ARC 35 of 1991 (peak 1 14 weeks), Germany 59 of the 1990s (peak 1 17 weeks), Japan (Osaku) 66 of 1991 (peak 7 16 weeks), UK Silver (certified by BPI in Oct 1990), RYM 166 of 1990
4Vanilla IceIce Ice Baby1990United StatesUK 1 - Nov 1990 (15 weeks), US Billboard 1 - Sep 1990 (20 weeks), Holland 1 - Nov 1990 (13 weeks), Belgium 1 - Dec 1990 (14 weeks), Eire 1 for 1 week - Dec 1990, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks - Dec 1990, Australia 1 for 3 weeks - Jan 1991, Europe 1 for 6 weeks - Dec 1990, Spain 1 for 1 week - Feb 1991, Sweden 2 - Nov 1990 (9 weeks), Switzerland 2 - Nov 1990 (20 weeks), Norway 2 - Dec 1990 (12 weeks), Germany 2 - Jan 1991 (4 months), ODK Germany 2 - Nov 1990 (25 weeks) (14 weeks in top 10), US Platinum (certified by RIAA in Oct 1990), UK Platinum (certified by BPI in Jan 1991), Austria 3 - Nov 1990 (5 months), Germany Gold (certified by BMieV in 1990), POP 4 of 1990, France 5 - Dec 1990 (1 week), Switzerland 9 of 1991, Japan (Tokyo) 10 - Oct 1990 (11 weeks), Australia 15 of 1991, ARC 19 of 1990 (peak 1 14 weeks), US CashBox 21 of 1990, US Radio 30 of 1990 (peak 1 9 weeks), US BB 45 of 1990, Italy 65 of 1991, Japan (Osaku) 70 of 1991 (peak 3 19 weeks), Germany 82 of the 1990s (peak 2 16 weeks), Canada 98 of 1990, UKMIX 474, RYM 188 of 1990, Party 42 of 2007
5MC HammerU Can't Touch This1990United StatesHolland 1 - Jul 1990 (13 weeks), Sweden 1 - Aug 1990 (5 weeks), Belgium 1 - Jul 1990 (13 weeks), Australia 1 of 1990, New Zealand 1 for 6 weeks - Jul 1990, Australia 1 for 5 weeks - Jul 1990, Europe 1 for 8 weeks - Aug 1990, Spain 1 for 1 week - Sep 1990, Japan (Tokyo) 2 - May 1990 (21 weeks), Switzerland 2 - Jul 1990 (17 weeks), ODK Germany 2 - Jul 1990 (25 weeks) (12 weeks in top 10), Grammy in 1990 (Nominated), UK 3 - Jun 1990 (16 weeks), Germany 3 - Jul 1990 (4 months), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Aug 2005), Germany Gold (certified by BMieV in 1990), Austria 5 - Aug 1990 (4 months), POP 5 of 1990, France 6 - Jun 1990 (2 weeks), Norway 6 - Aug 1990 (8 weeks), US Billboard 8 - Apr 1990 (17 weeks), US Radio 8 of 1990 (peak 1 12 weeks), Switzerland 15 of 1990, Scrobulate 18 of rap, Japan (Osaku) 29 of 1990 (peak 2 17 weeks), US CashBox 39 of 1990, US BB 55 of 1990, Canada 70 of 1990, nuTsie 72 of 1990s, Brazil 78 of 1990, Germany 147 of the 1990s (peak 2 15 weeks), RIAA 201, Acclaimed 1797 (1990), UK Silver (certified by BPI in Aug 1990), RYM 63 of 1990, Party 214 of 1999, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500

Top 40 chart hit singles

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"A Dreams a Dream"Soul II SoulApril 19908661 (Greece)See chart performance entry
"À toutes les filles..."Félix Gray & Didier BarbelivienMay 1990n/an/a1 (France, Belgium)See chart performance entry
"After the Rain"NelsonOctober 19906n/a6 (United States)39 (US Billboard Album Rock Tracks)
"All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You"HeartMarch 1990281 (Australia, Canada)See chart performance entry
"All or Nothing"Milli VanilliJanuary 19904741 (New Zealand)See chart performance entry
"All Together Now"The FarmNovember 1990n/a44 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Alors regarde"Patrick BruelSeptember 1990n/an/a3 (France)14 (Québec) – 16 (Europe [European Airplay Top 50]) – 20 (Europe [Eurochart Hot 100])
"Alright"Janet JacksonMarch 19904204 (Netherlands, United States)See chart performance entry
"The Anniversary Waltz" (Part One)Status QuoSeptember 1990n/a22 (United Kingdom)

3 (Ireland)5 (Netherlands)9 (Austria)12 (Switzerland)13 (Belgium)17 (Germany)104 (Australia)

"The Anniversary Waltz" (Part Two)Status QuoDecember 1990n/a1616 (United Kingdom)14 (Ireland) – 33 (Belgium) – 66 (Netherlands)
"Are You Dreaming?"Twenty 4 SevenNovember 1990n/a174 (Switzerland)See chart performance entry
"Around the Way Girl"LL Cool JNovember 19909n/a9 (United States)1 (U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Songs) – 5 (U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs) – 7 (U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs) – 27 (New Zealand) – 45 (Australia)
"Avant de partir"Roch VoisineJuly 1990n/an/a7 (France)12 (Québec) – 34 (Europe)
"Because I Love You"Stevie BSeptember 1990161 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Been Caught Stealing"Jane's AddictionNovember 1990n/a3424 (Ireland)1 (US Billboard Alternative Songs) – 29 (US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks) – 56 (Australia)
"Being Boring"Pet Shop BoysNovember 1990n/a205 (Finland, Italy)See chart performance entry
"Better the Devil You Know"Kylie MinogueApril 1990n/a22 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Black Cat"Janet JacksonAugust 19901151 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Black Velvet"Alannah MylesReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
121 (4 countries)See chart performance entry
"Blaze of Glory"Bon JoviJuly 19901131 (4 countries)See chart performance entry
"Blue Savannah"ErasureJanuary 1990n/a31 (Israel)See chart performance entry
"Candy"Iggy PopSeptember 199028679 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection"NelsonMay 19901541 (United States)11 (Canada) – 20 (Australia) – 44 (New Zealand)
"Cherry Pie"WarrantAugust 199010356 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"Close to You"Maxi PriestMay 1990171 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Club at the End of the Street"Elton JohnApril 1990284712 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Come Back to Me"Janet Jackson2202 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Cradle of Love"Billy IdolApril 19902342 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Crying in the Rain"A-haJune 1990n/a131 (Norway)See chart performance entry
"Cult of Snap"Snap!September 1990n/a81 (Spain)See chart performance entry
"The Dance"Garth BrooksApril 1990n/a363 (Ireland)1 (Canada Country Tracks, U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs) – 31 (Scotland) – 89 (Europ)
"Dangerous"RoxetteMay 1990262 (Canada, Denmark, United States)See chart performance entry
"Disappear"INXSSeptember 19908211 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Do You Remember?"Phil CollinsApril 19904n/a1 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Doin' the Do"Betty BooMay 19909073 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"Don't Miss The Party Line"Bizz NizzApril 1990n/a77 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Don't Wanna Fall in Love"Jane ChildJanuary 19902222 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Don't Worry"Kim ApplebyOctober 1990n/a21 (Zimbabwe)See chart performance entry
"Don't You Love Me"49ersMarch 199078126 (Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Doubleback"ZZ TopMay 1990n/a299 (Sweden)See chart performance entry
"Downtown Train"Rod StewartCharted in '89/'903101 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Dub Be Good to Me"Beats InternationalJanuary 19907611 (Israel, United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Enjoy the Silence"Depeche ModeFebruary 1990861 (Denmark, Spain)See chart performance entry
"Epic"Faith No MoreJanuary 19909251 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"Escapade"Janet JacksonJanuary 19901171 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Falling"Julee CruiseCharted in '90,'91,'92n/a71 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"Fantasy"Black BoxOctober 1990n/a53 (Australia, Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Forever"KissJanuary 19908658 (United States)

17 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock – 18 (Canada) – 73 (Australia)

"Freedom! '90"George MichaelOctober 19908281 (Canada, Zimbababwe)See chart performance entry
"Friends In Low Places"Garth BrooksAugust 1990n/a363 (Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)"TechnotronicJanuary 1990121 (6 countriesSee chart performance entry
"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"C+C Music FactoryNovember 1990131 (5 Countries)See chart performance entry
"Groove Is in the Heart"Deee-LiteAugust 1990421 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"Hanky Panky"MadonnaJuly 19901021 (Finland)See chart performance entry
"Happenin' All Over Again"Lonnie GordonJanuary 1990n/a43 (Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Have You Seen Her"MC HammerMarch 1990482 (Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Healing Hands"Elton JohnJune 199013451 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)"Chad JacksonFebruary 1990n/a33 (Netherlands, United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Heart of Stone"Taylor DayneJuly 199012n/a4 (Canada)1 (Canada Adult Contemporary) – 8 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) – 42 (Australia)
"Hello Afrika"Dr. AlbanSeptember 1990n/an/a1 (Austria)See chart performance entry
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"UB40January 19907463 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"High Enough"Damn YankeesSeptember 19903813 (United States)2 (US Billboard Album Rock Tracks) – 12 (Canada) – 24 (New Zealand) – 57 (Australia)
"Hold On"En VogueMarch 1990252 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Hold On"Wilson PhillipsFebruary 1990161 (United States)See chart performance entry
Holy Smoke"Iron MaidenSeptember 1990n/a33 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"Michael BoltonReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
131 (Belgium, United States)See chart performance entry
"How Can We Be Lovers?"Michael BoltonMay 19903102 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"I Can't Stand It!"Twenty 4 SevenReleaesd in 1989
Charted in '90/'91
n/a71 (Europe, Italy)See chart performance entry
"I Don't Have the Heart"James IngramAugust 19901n/a1 (United States)2 (US Billboard Adult Contemporary) – 53 (US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song) – 78 (Australia)
"I Don't Know Anybody Else"Black BoxReleaesd in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
2341 (Finland)See chart performance entry
"I Go to Extremes"Billy JoelJanuary 19906703 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"I Promised Myself"Nick Kamen1990n/a501 (Austria, Sweden)See chart performance entry
"I Saw Red"WarrantNovember 199010n/a10 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"The ChimesMay 1990n/a62 (Norway)See chart performance entry
"I Wanna Be Rich"CallowayMay 199021002 (United States)See chart performance entry
"(I Wanna Give You) Devotion"Nomad & MC Mikee Freedom1990n/a21 (Greece)See chart performance entry
"I Wish It Would Rain Down"Phil CollinsMay 1990371 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Ice Ice Baby"Vanilla IceAugust 1990111 (9 Countries)See chart performance entry
"If Wishes Came True"Sweet SensationJune 19901n/a1 (United States)See chart performance entry
"I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"Robert Palmer & UB40October 1990n/a61 (New Zealand)See chart performance entry
"I'll Be Your Everything"Tommy PageFebruary 19901531 (United States)See chart performance entry
"I'll Be Your Shelter"Taylor DayneMarch 19904431 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"I'll Never Fall in Love Again"Deacon BlueAugust 1990n/a22 (Ireland, United Kingdom)72 (Netherlands)
"I'm Free"The Soup Dragons & Junior Reid19907955 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"I'm Not in Love"Will to PowerJuly 1990211 (Canada, Ireland, UK)See chart performance entry
"I'm Your Baby Tonight"Whitney HoustonSeptember 1990151 (Greece, Italy, Portugal, US)See chart performance entry
"Impulsive"Wilson PhillipsOctober 19904421 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Infinity"Guru JoshReleased in 1989
Charted in 1990
n/a51 (Spain)See chart performance entry
"Insieme: 1992"Toto Cutugno1990n/an/a2 (Portugal, Switzerland)See chart performance entry
"It Must Have Been Love"RoxetteMarch 1990131 (8 countries)See chart performance entry
"It Takes Two"Rod Stewart & Tina TurnerNovember 1990n/a51 (Denmark)See chart performance entry
"It's Here"Kim WildeApril 1990n/a424 (Finland)See chart performance entry
"It's On You"M.C. Sar & The Real McCoyReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
n/an/a1 (Spain)See chart performance entry
"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"BombalurinaJuly 1990n/a11 (Ireland, United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"I've Been Thinking About You"LondonbeatSeptember 1990121 (15 countries)See chart performance entry
"Janie's Got a Gun"AerosmithReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
4761 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"The Joker"Steve Miller BandAugust 1990
Released in 1974
Reissued in 1990
n/a11 (4 countries)See chart performance entry
"Jōnetsu no Bara"The Blue HeartsSee chart performance entry
"Just Like Jesse James"CherReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
8118 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Justify My Love"MadonnaNovember 1990121 (4 Countries)See chart performance entry
"Keep It Together"MadonnaJanuary 19908n/a1 (Australia) with "Vogue"
See chart performance entry
"Keep On Running"Milli VanilliNovember 1990n/a762 (Austria)See chart performance entry
"Killer"Adamski & SealMarch 1990n/a11 (Belgium, UK, Zimbabwe)See chart performance entry
"King of Wishful Thinking"Go WestJuly 19908183 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Kingston Town"UB40March 1990n/a41 (France)See chart performance entry
"Kinky Afro"Happy MondaysOctober 1990n/a55 (United Kingdom)1 (US Billboard Alternative Airplay) – 22 (Europe) – 34 (New Zealand) – 63 (Australia)
"Let's Try It Again"New Kids on the BlockSeptember 19905386 (Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Listen to Your Heart"RoxetteReleased in 1988
Charted in '88,89,90
161 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Listen to Your Heart"SoniaReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
n/a1010 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Live Together"Lisa StansfieldFebruary 1990n/a107 (Belgium)See chart performance entry
"Love and Kisses"Dannii MinogueFebruary 1990n/a84 (Australia)15 (New Zealand) – 22 (Ireland) – 25 (Europe) – 48 (Belgium)
"Love Takes Time"Mariah CareyAugust 19901371 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Love Will Lead You Back"Taylor DayneJanuary 19901691 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Love Will Never Do (Without You)"Janet JacksonOctober 19901342 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Mary Had a Little Boy"Snap!December 1990n/a81 (Canada, Zimbabwe)See chart performance entry
"Miles Away"WingerOctober 1990125612 (United States)14 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) – 44 (Canada) – 151 (Australia)
"Miracle"Jon Bon JoviNovember 199012298 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"Mona (I Need You Baby)"Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2March 1990n/a22 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Mélodie d'amour"KaomaSee chart performance entry
"More Than Words Can Say"AliasSeptember 19902n/a1 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"My, My, My"Johnny GillMay 1990108910 United States)See chart performance entry
"Naked In The Rain"Blue PearlJune 1990n/a42 (Austria)See chart performance entry
"No Coke"Dr. AlbanNovember 1990n/an/a1 (Australia)See chart performance entry
"No More Lies"Michel'leReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
7787 (United States)1 (US Billboard Dance Singles Sales) – 2 (US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) – 7 (US Billboard Dance Club Songs) – 153 (Australia)
"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'ConnorJanuary 1990111 (17 countries)See chart performance entry
"Ooops Up"Snap!June 19903551 (Greece)See chart performance entry
"Opposites Attract"Paula AbdulReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
121 (Australia, Canada, US)See chart performance entry
"The Other Side"AerosmithJune 1990224622 (Canada, United States)1 (US Albums Rock Tracks)
"Pictures of You"The CureMarch 199071249 (Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Play That Funky Music"Vanilla IceNovember 19904103 (Finland)See chart performance entry
"Poison"Bell Biv DeVoeMarch 19903193 (New Zealand)See chart performance entry
"Policy of Truth"Depeche ModeMay 199015165 (Finland)See chart performance entry
"The Power"Snap!January 1990211 (7 countries)See chart performance entry
"Pray"MC HammerAugust 1990282 (New Zealand, United States)See chart performance entry
"Praying for Time"George MichaelAugust 1990161 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Price of Love"Bad EnglishMarch 19905805 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Release Me"Wilson PhillipsJune 19901361 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Ride On Time"Black BoxReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
n/a11 (Iceland, Ireland, UK)See chart performance entry
"Right Here, Right Now"Jesus JonesSeptember 19902312 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Roam"The B-52'sReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
3172 (New Zealand)See chart performance entry
"Rockin' Over the Beat"TechnotronicReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
9599 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Romeo"DinoSeptember 19906n/a6 (United States)32 (Canada) – 35 (US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play) – 48 (New Zealand) – 69 (US Billboard Hot R&B Singles) – 105 (Australia)
"Sacrifice"
(1990 reissue)
Elton JohnMay 1990
First released in 1989
18552 (Europe, France)See chart performance entry
UK # 1 with "Healing Hands"
"Sadeness (Part I)"EnigmaOctober 1990511 (14 countries)See chart performance entry
"Saviour's Day"Cliff RichardNovember 1990n/a11 (United Kingdom)5 (Ireland) – 36 (Belgium) – 97 (Australia)
"Sensitivity"Ralph TresvantOctober 19904184 (United Kingdom)1 (UK Dance) – 1 (US Billboard Hot R&B Singles) – 19 (US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play) – 62 (Australia)
"She Ain't Worth It"Glenn Medeiros & Bobby BrownMay 19901121 (United States)See chart performance entry
"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"CherNovember 19903311 (7 countries)See chart performance entry
"Show Me Heaven"Maria McKeeJune 1990n/a11 (Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, UK)See chart performance entry
"Signs"TeslaNovember 19908708 (United States)2 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) – 72 (Canada)
"So Close"Hall & OatesSeptember 199011694 (Canada)6 (US Billboard Adult Contemporary) – 9 (US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart) – 106 (Australia)
"So Hard"Pet Shop BoysSeptember 19906241 (Finland)See chart performance entry
"Soca Dance"Charles D. LewisJuly 1990n/an/a1 (Belgium, France)See chart performance entry
"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"Phil CollinsApril 19904151 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Something to Believe In"PoisonSeptember 19904353 (Canada)5 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) – 38 (New Zealand) – 44 (Australia) – 98 (Europe)
"Steamy Windows"Tina TurnerReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
39135 (Belgium)See chart performance entry
"Step by Step"New Kids on the BlockSeptember 1990121 (Canada, Spain, United States)See chart performance entry
"Step Back in Time"Kylie MinogueOctober 1990n/a44 (Finland, Ireland, UK)See chart performance entry
"Step On"Happy MondaysMarch 19905755 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Still Got the Blues (For You)"Gary MooreApril 199097311 (Belgium)See chart performance entry
"Sucker DJ (A Witch for Love)"Dimples D.November 1990n/a171 (Australia)2 (New Zealand) – 8 (Netherlands) – 10 (Austria) – 16 (Germany) – 25 (Belgium)
"Suicide Blonde"INXSAugust 19909111 (Canada, New Zealand)See chart performance entry
"Tears on My Pillow"Kylie MinogueJanuary 1990n/a11 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Thieves in the Temple"PrinceJuly 1990673 (Denmark)See chart performance entry
"This Beat Is Technotronic"TechnotronicFebruary 1990n/a145 (Finland, Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Thunderstruck"AC/DCSeptember 1990n/a131 (Finland)See chart performance entry
"To Love Somebody"Jimmy SomervilleNovember 1990n/a84 (Netherlands)5 (New Zealand) – 11 (Switzerland) – 12 (Italy) – 15 (France) – 20 (Germany)
"Tom's Diner" (remix)Suzanne Vega&DNAJuly 1990521 (Austria, European, Greece, Switzerland)See chart performance entry
"Tonight"New Kids on the BlockFebruary 1990733 (France, Netherlands, UK)See chart performance entry
"Touch Me"49ersReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
n/a33 (Finland, Greece, UK)See chart performance entry
"Turtle Power!"Partners In KrymeApril 19901311 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"U Can't Touch This"MC HammerMay 1990831 (6 countries)See chart performance entry
"Unbelievable"EMFOctober 1990131 (United States)See chart performance entry
"Unchained Melody"The Righteous BrothersOctober 19901911 (6 countries)See chart performance entry
"Unskinny Bop"PoisonJune 19903151 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"Vision of Love"Mariah CareyMay 1990191 (Canada, New Zealand, United States)See chart performance entry
"Vogue"MadonnaMarch 1990111 (30 countries)See chart performance entry
"Volare"Gipsy KingsReleased in 1989
charted in '89/'90
n/a8616 (France)1 (US Billboard Hot Latin Songs) – 24 (Belgium, Italy) – 26 (Netherlands) – 90 (Australia)
"What I Am"Edie Brickell & New BohemiansReleased in 1988
Charted in '88,'89,'90
7311 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"What it Takes"AerosmithFebruary 19909n/a9 (United States)1 (US Billboard Album Rock Tracks) – 15 (Canada) – 19 (New Zealand) – 46 (Australia
"What Time Is Love?"The KLFAugust 1990n/a55 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Where Are You Baby?"Betty BooJuly 1990n/a33 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"Wicked Game"Chris IsaakReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
6101 (Belgium)See chart performance entry
"Wiggle It"2 in a RoomNovember 19901533 (Australia, Ireland, UK)See chart performance entry
"With Every Beat of My Heart"Taylor DayneReleased in 1989
Charted in '89/'90
5535 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Without You"Mötley CrüeFebruary 19908398 (United States)11 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) – 46 (Australia)
"Words"The ChristiansReleased in 1989
charted in '89/'90
n/a181 (France)See chart performance entry
"World in Motion"England New OrderMay 1990n/a11 (United Kingdom)See chart performance entry
"World in My Eyes"Depeche ModeSeptember 199052172 (Denmark, Spain)See chart performance entry
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"Jimmy SomervilleJanuary 19908751 (Israel)See chart performance entry

Other chart hit singles

  • "The Age of Love" – Age of Love
  • "Algo de mí en tu corazón" – Alejandro Lerner (ARG)
  • "Baila Esta Cumbia" – Selena y Los Dinos (MEX)
  • "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)" – Stevie B (#1 US, #2 CAN, #3 NLD)
  • "Been Caught Stealing" – Jane's Addiction
  • "Being Boring" – Pet Shop Boys (#3 FR, #4 Japan, #5 FIN)
  • "Better the Devil You Know" – Kylie Minogue (#1 (ISR), #2 (UK), #4 (Australia)
  • "Birdhouse In Your Soul" – They Might Be Giants (#6 UK)
  • "Bird on the Wire" – The Neville Brothers
  • "Blue Sky Mine" – Midnight Oil (#7 CAN, #8 Australia)
  • "Bo le lavabo" – Lagaf' (#1 (FR))
  • "Burbujas de Amor" – Juan Luis Guerra
  • "C'est toi qui m'as fait" – François Feldman (#2 FR)
  • "Chain Reaction" – John Farnham (#3 Australia)
  • "De mí" – Charly García (ARG)
  • "De Música Ligera" – Soda Stereo (#1 ARG)
  • "Ding Dong" – Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
  • "Do Me!" – Bell Biv DeVoe (#3 US)
  • "El Cariño Es Como Una Flor" – Rudy La Scala (#1 US Latin)
  • "Epic" – Faith No More (#1 Australia, #2 NZ)
  • "Escapade" – Janet Jackson (#1 US, CAN)
  • "Fais-moi une place" – Julien Clerc (#8 FR)
  • "Falling" – Julee Cruise (#1 AUS, #2 SWE, #3 NOR)
  • "Fantasy" – Black Box (#3 AUS, IRL, #4 AUT, #5 UK)
  • "Forever" – Kiss (#8 US)
  • "Freedom! '90" – George Michael (#1 (SP), #2 (UK), #6 (Australia, IRL))
  • "Friends In Low Places" – Garth Brooks (#3 IRL)
  • "Frente a Frente" – Chico & Roberta (#5 FR)
  • "Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)" – Technotronic (#1 BE, CAN, SP)
  • "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" – C+C Music Factory (#1 AUT, NLD, SWI, US)
  • "Groove Is In The Heart" – Deee-Lite (#1 AUS, #2 UK, NZ #4 US)
  • "Hacelo por mí" – Attaque 77 (#1 (ARG))
  • "Hanky Panky" – Madonna (#1 FIN, #2 UK, #3 IRE, #5 ITA, #6 AUS, #10 US)
  • "Happenin' All Over Again" – Lonnie Gordon
  • "Have You Seen Her" – MC Hammer (#4 (US), #6 (FIN), #8 (UK))
  • "Healing Hands" – Elton John
  • "Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)" – Chad Jackson (#3 UK, #5 NLD)
  • "Heart of Stone" – Taylor Dayne
  • "Hello Afrika" – Dr. Alban (#1 AUT, #2 GER, #3 SWI)
  • "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" – UB40 (#3 AUS, #6 NZ, #9 NLD)
  • "Here We Are" – Gloria Estefan
  • "High Enough" – Damn Yankees (#4 (POL))
  • "Hijo de la Luna" – Mecano #3 (NLD))
  • "Hiroshima" -Sandra (#4 GER, SWI)
  • "Hold On" – En Vogue (#2 US, #5 UK)
  • "Hold On" – Wilson Phillips (#1 US, #2 AUS, #3 CAN)
  • "Holy Smoke" – Iron Maiden (#3 UK, #4 IRL)
  • "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" – Michael Bolton (#1 US, BE, #2 AUS)
  • "How Can We Be Lovers?" – Michael Bolton
  • "The Humpty Dance" – Digital Underground (#11 US)
  • "I Can't Stand It!" – Twenty 4 Seven (#2 AUT, IT, SWI)
  • "I Don't Have the Heart" – James Ingram
  • "I Don't Know Anybody Else" – Black Box (#2 IRL, #3 SWI, #4 NOR, UK)
  • "I Go to Extremes" – Billy Joel (#1 JAP, #3 CAN)
  • "I Promised Myself" – Nick Kamen (#1 AUT, SWE, #3 SWI)
  • "I Saw Red" – Warrant
  • "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" – The Chimes (#2 NOR, #6 UK, IRL, NZ)
  • "I Wanna Be Rich" – Calloway (#2 US)
  • "(I Wanna Give You) Devotion" – Nomad & MC Mikee Freedom (#2 UK)
  • "I Wish It Would Rain Down" – Phil Collins (#1 CAN, POL, #2 ZIM)
  • "Ice Ice Baby" – Vanilla Ice
  • "Ich hab' geträumt von dir" – Matthias Reim
  • "If Wishes Came True" – Sweet Sensation (#1 US)
  • "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – Robert Palmer & UB40 (#1 NZ, #4 AUS, #5 AUT, NLD, SWI)
  • "I'll Be Your Everything" – Tommy Page (#1 US)
  • "I'll Be Your Shelter" – Taylor Dayne (#1 CAN, #4 US, AUS)
  • "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" – Deacon Blue (#2 UK, #2 IRL)
  • "I'm Free" – The Soup Dragons & Junior Reid
  • "I'm Not in Love" – Will to Power (#7 US, #8 NOR)
  • "I'm Your Baby Tonight" – Whitney Houston (#1 IT, US, #2 BE, CAN, FIN, NLD)
  • "Impulsive" – Wilson Phillips
  • "Infinity" – Guru Josh (#1 SP, #2 BE, #3 NLD)
  • "Jukebox in Siberia" – Skyhooks (#1 AUS)
  • "Knockin' Boots" – Candyman
  • "Lay Down Your Guns" – Jimmy Barnes (#4 AUS)
  • "Le Jerk" – Thierry Hazard (#2 FR)
  • "Les hommes qui passent" – Patricia Kaas (#7 FR)
  • "Me siento mucho mejor" – Charly García
  • "Maldòn (la musique dans la peau)" – Zouk Machine (#1 FR, #9 NLD)
  • "Marie-Jeanne" – Michel Sardou (#2 FR)
  • "Megamix" – Technotronic (#4 IRL, #6 UK, #7 SWI)
  • "Mujer Amante" – Rata Blanca (ARG)
  • "Nah Neh Nah" – Vaya Con Dios (#3 ISR, CZ, #4 NLD, SWI)
  • "Obsesión" – Miguel Mateos (ARG)
  • "Odoru Pompokolin" – B.B.Queens (#1 JPN)
  • "On écrit sur les murs" – Demis Roussos (#4 FR)
  • "Only on the Radio" – The Osborn Sisters
  • "Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice)" – Gloria Estefan (#4 POL, #7 IRL, #9 NLD)
  • "Petit Frank" – François Feldman (#1 FR)
  • "Pourtant" – Roch Voisine (#3 FR)
  • "Se bastasse una canzone" – Eros Ramazzotti (#2 BE, #4 NLD, #7 SWI)
  • "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez" – Maná (#5 US Latin)
  • "Serious" – Duran Duran (# 3 ITA, #48 UK, #69 GER)
  • "Star" - Erasure
  • "Taiyō no Komachi Angel" – B'z (#1 JPN)
  • "Tengo Todo Excepto a Tí" – Luis Miguel (#1 US Latin)
  • "That's Freedom" – John Farnham (#6 AUS)
  • "Un'estate italiana" – Edoardo Bennato & Gianna Nannini (#1 IT, SWI, #2 GER)
  • "Verdammt, ich lieb' dich" – Matthias Reim (#1 AUT, BE, CRO, GER, NLD, POL, SWI)
  • "Vous êtes fous!" – Benny B (#3 FR)
  • "What's a Woman?" – Vaya Con Dios (#1 BE, NLD, #5 FR)
  • "White and Black Blues" – Joëlle Ursull (#2 FR)
  • "Y dale alegría a mi corazón" – Fito Paez (ARG)

Notable singles

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"100 Miles and Runnin'"N.W.A1990

2 (U.S Billboard Hot Rap Songs)
32 (New Zealand)
33 (Australia)
51 (U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks)

"Being Boring"Pet Shop BoysNovember 1990See chart performance entry
"Blue Savannah"ErasureJanuary 1990See chart performance entry
"Blue Sky Mine"Midnight OilFebruary 1990See chart performance entry
"Birdhouse in Your Soul"They Might Be GiantsJanuary 1990

3 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay)
6 (UK Singles Chart)
12 (Ireland)
125 (Australia)

"Can I Kick It?"A Tribe Called QuestOctober 1990See chart performance entry
"De-Luxe"LushMarch 199014 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs)
"Dig for Fire"PixiesOctober 1990

11 (US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks)
62 (UK Singles Chart)

"Dub Be Good to Me"Beats InternationalJanuary 1990See chart performance entry
"Enjoy the Silence"Depeche ModeFebruary 1990See chart performance entry
"Hello"The BelovedJanuary 1990See Chart Performance Entry
"Heaven or Las Vegas"Cocteau TwinsSeptember 19909 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay)
"Heavenly Pop Hit"The ChillsMarch 1990

2 (New Zealand)
17 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Songs)
97 (UK Singles Chart)
118 (Australia)

"Here's Where the Story Ends"The SundaysJanuary 19901 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay)
"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due"MegadethSeptember 1990See chart performance entry
"Iceblink Luck"Cocteau TwinsAugust 199038 (UK Singles Chart)
"Joey"Concrete BlondeMay 1990See chart performance entry
"Killer" b/w "Bass Line Changed My Life"Adamski featuring SealMarch 1990See chart performance entry
"Kool Thing"Sonic YouthJune 19907 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay)

24 (Ireland)
81 (UK Singles Chart)

"Metropolis"The ChurchFebruary 1990

1 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay)
11 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock)
19 (Australia)
41 (New Zealand)

"Never Enough"The CureSeptember 1990See chart performance entry
"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'ConnorJanuary 1990See chart performance entry
"Pictures of You"The CureMarch 1990See chart performance entry
"Policy of Truth"Depeche ModeMay 1990See chart performance entry
"Shine On" (re-record)The House of LoveJanuary 199020 (UK Single Charts)
"The Ship Song"Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsMarch 199084 (UK Singles Chart)
"Soon" b/w "Glider"My Bloody ValentineApril 199041 (UK Singles Chart)
"One Love"The Stone RosesJuly 1990See chart performance entry
"Took the Children Away"Archie RoachSeptember 1990n/a
"Velouria"PixiesJuly 1990

4 (US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks)
28 (UK Singles Chart)

"The Only One I Know"The CharlatansMay 1990See chart performance entry
"The Weeping Song"Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsSeptember 1990n/a

Other notable singles

  • "Alimony" (re-recording) – The Hummingbirds
  • "Allison" – Pixies
  • "All Different Things" – Bark Psychosis
  • "Caroline" – Concrete Blonde
  • "Daydreaming" – Massive Attack
  • "Looking for Atlantis" – Prefab Sprout
  • "Planet" – The Sugarcubes
  • "Story of My Life" – Social Distortion
  • "True Fools Fall" – Died Pretty

Top singles of 1990

  • United States: List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1990
  • Canada: List of number-one singles of 1990 (Canada)
  • UK: 1990 in British music#Charts
  • Japan: List of Oricon number-one singles of 1990

Other significant singles

  • "Little Fluffy Clouds" – The Orb (Sampling led to legal action.)
  • Sampling copyright debate continues over the Soho single Hippychick, which uses a sample from How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths.
  • "Keep It Together" w.m. Stephen Bray & Madonna
  • "The Simpsons theme song" m. Danny Elfman

Top ten best albums of the year

All albums have been named albums of the year for their hits in the charts.[8]

  1. Depeche Mode – Violator
  2. Pixies – Bossanova
  3. Megadeth – Rust in Peace
  4. Jane's Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual
  5. Cocteau Twins – Heaven Or Las Vegas
  6. Ride – Nowhere
  7. Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
  8. Happy Mondays – Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
  9. Sonic Youth – Goo
  10. The La's – The La's

Album charts

  • List of Canadian number-one albums of 1990

Classical music

  • Mario Davidovsky
    • Biblical Songs for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
    • Concertante for string quartet and orchestra
  • Thomas Demenga – Solo per due, for cello and orchestra
  • Lorenzo Ferrero
    • Cadenza, for clarinet and marimba
    • Discanto sulla musica sull'acqua di Handel
    • Four Modern Dances, for small orchestra
    • Musica per un paesaggio, for small orchestra
    • Rock my Tango, for piano solo
  • Henryk Górecki
    • Good Night, Op. 63, for soprano, alto flute, piano and three tam-tams
    • Intermezzo, for piano
  • John Harbison – The Flight into Egypt (cantata)
  • Chris Harman – Iridescence, for 24 strings
  • Paul Lansky – Smalltalk
  • Alvin Lucier – Music for Piano with One or More Snare Drums
  • Witold Lutosławski – Chantefleurs et chantefables for Soprano and Orchestra
  • John McCabe – Flute Concerto
  • James MacMillan
    • The Confession of Isobel Gowdie
    • The Berserking
  • Meredith Monk – Book Of Days
  • John Pickard – The Flight of Icarus
  • Carl Vine – Piano Sonata No. 1
  • Takashi Yoshimatsu – Symphony No. 1 Kamui-Chikap
  • John Zorn – The Dead Man

Opera

  • Gerald Barry – The Intelligence Park
  • Azio Corghi – Blimunda
  • Mark Lanz Weiser – Purgatory (chamber opera, based on a play by William Butler Yeats)

Jazz

Musical theater

  • Aspects of Love (Andrew Lloyd Webber) – Broadway production opened at the Broadhurst Theatre and ran for 377 performances
  • Bran Nue Dae (Jimmy Chi)
  • A Change in the Heir – Broadway production opened at the Edison Theatre and closed after only two weeks
  • Five Guys Named Moe – London production
  • Into the Woods London production opened on September 25 and ran for 197 performances. Starring Julia McKenzie and Imelda Staunton.
  • Once on This Island – Broadway production opened at the Booth Theatre and ran for 469 performances
  • Shogun – Broadway production opened at the Marquis Theatre and ran for 72 performances
  • Sunday in the Park with George (Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine) – London production
  • Truly Blessed – Broadway production opened at the Longacre Theatre and ran for one month

Musical films

  • Alissa in Concert
  • Cry-Baby
  • Graffiti Bridge
  • His Highness Abdullah
  • Thazhvaram

Awards

  • Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee: Tennessee Ernie Ford
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees: Hank Ballard, Bobby Darin, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon & Garfunkel and The Who
  • 1990 Country Music Association Awards
  • Grammy Awards of 1990
  • Eurovision Song Contest 1990: Toto Cutugno
  • Luc Ferrari wins the International Koussevitzky Prize for Recordings for his composition Histoire du plaisir et de la désolation
  • Juno Awards: Best Composer: David Tyson/Christopher Ward
  • Dalida is posthumously awarded the International Diploma by the "International Star Registry" (USA), three years after her death.[9][10]
  • Scottish composer Thomas Wilson is appointed a CBE.
  • Kumar Sanu wins the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award
  • Anuradha Paudwal wins the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
  • 32nd Japan Record Awards

Glenn Gould Prize

  • Yehudi Menuhin (laureate)

Music festivals

  • In Australia, the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival is founded by Michael Easton and Len Vorster.

Births

  • January 9 – Di Genius, Jamaican singer, producer, and DJ
  • January 10 – Nicolas Jaar, Chilean American composer and recording artist, works with FKA Twigs.
  • January 14 – Grant Gustin, American actor and singer (Glee)
  • January 22 – Logic (musician), American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
  • January 25 – Thomas Berge, Dutch singer
  • January 28 – Ichiko Aoba, Japanese singer
  • January 29 – MacKenzie Porter, Canadian country singer, songwriter, and actress.
  • February 1 – Laura Marling, British folk-pop singer-songwriter
  • February 3 – Sean Kingston, American-Jamaican R&B artist
  • February 6 – Georgia (musician), English record producer, songwriter, singer, rapper and drummer.
  • February 10 – SooYoung, a member of nine-piece Korean pop girl group Girls' Generation
  • February 16 – The Weeknd, Canadian singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer (Selena Gomez, Bella Hadid)
  • February 18 – Choi Sung-Bong, Korean singer
  • February 20 – Alemán, Mexican rapper
  • February 28 – Olivia Jean, American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. (She is known as the lead singer and guitarist of the all-female "garage goth" rock band, the Black Belles)
  • March 9 – YG, American rapper
  • March 13 – Klô Pelgag, Canadian singer from Quebec
  • March 15 – Siobhan Magnus, American singer
  • March 17
    • Hozier (musician), Irish singer-songwriter, musician and activist
    • Kai (Canadian singer), Canadian singer-songwriter (Flume)
  • March 20 – Tessa Violet, American singer-songwriter, musician, activist and YouTuber
  • March 21 – Erika de Casier, Portuguese-born Danish singer
  • March 22
    • Claire Huangci, American pianist
    • Lisa Mitchell, English-born Australian singer-songwriter
  • March 24 – Cleo Sol, British singer-songwriter
  • March 26 – Xiumin, South Korean singer (EXO)
  • March 27 – Kimbra, New Zealand singer-songwriter/guitarist
  • April 2 – Roscoe Dash, American rapper
  • April 8 – Jonghyun, South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer and actor { Shinee } (D. 2017)
  • April 10 – Maren Morris, American country music singer, songwriter, activist and record producer
  • April 20 – Luhan, Chinese singer-songwriter
  • April 21 – Nadya Dorofeeva, Ukrainian singer
  • April 22 – Machine Gun Kelly (rapper), American rapper, singer, musician and actor (Megan Fox)
  • April 24 – Carly Pearce, American country music singer and songwriter
  • April 27 – Robin Bengtsson, Swedish singer
  • April 29 – Loick Essien, British singer
  • May 12
    • Etika, American YouTuber and Twitch streamer whose career started as a rapper (D. 2019)
    • Shungudzo, a Zimbabwean-American singer, songwriter, former gymnast, and reality television personality.
  • May 14 – Sasha Spielberg, American actress and singer known by her stage name of Buzzy Lee.
  • May 17
    • I_o (musician), American electronic dance music DJ and record producer. (D. 2020)
    • Kree Harrison, American singer
  • May 26 – Nadia Oh, English singer, producer rapper, songwriter and model
  • May 27 – Chris Colfer, American singer, author and actor
  • May 30
    • YoonA, South Korean singer and actress, member of Girls' Generation
    • Phillipa Soo, American actress and singer.
  • June 4 – Zac Farro, American musician, drummer, singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist (Hayley Williams, Paramore)
  • June 5 – DJ Mustard, American producer, DJ,
  • June 6
    • Raisa Andriana, Indonesian singer
    • Mike G, American rapper (Odd Future)
  • June 7 – Iggy Azalea, Australian rapper
  • June 14 – Starrah, American songwriter, singer and rapper
  • June 16 – John Newman (singer), English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer
  • June 18 – Raleigh Ritchie, English actor, singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer
  • June 19
    • Jason Dy, Filipino singer
    • Moses Sumney, American singer-songwriter, musician
  • June 20 – Iselin Solheim, Norwegian singer and songwriter
  • June 23 – Sasami, American singer-songwriter and musician.
  • June 25 – Makj, American dj
  • July 4 – Fredo Santana, American rapper (d.2018)
  • July 6 – Meg Mac, Australian singer-songwriter and musician
  • July 10 – Talay Riley, British singer-songwriter, producer
  • July 12 – Maverick Sabre, British singer-songwriter
  • July 15 – Olly Alexander, English singer-songwriter, musician, producer
  • July 16
    • James Maslow, American actor, singer (Big Time Rush)
    • Paula Rojo, Spanish singer and songwriter.
    • Wizkid, Nigerian singer
    • C. Tangana, Spanish rapper, singer and songwriter (worked with Rosalía)
  • July 19 – GFOTY, British EDM Pop singer with PC music
  • July 23 – Dagny (singer), Norwegian pop singer
  • July 24
    • Ben McKenzie, Australian Idol contestant, singer, actor
    • Jay McGuiness, British singer, songwriter and dancer, former member of The Wanted
  • July 28 – Soulja Boy, American rapper
  • July 29 – Kat Dahlia Cuban-American R&B Latin Pop rapper, singer-songwriter and recording artist.
  • August – A.G. Cook, British singer-songwriter, music producer and former record label proprietor[11]
  • August 13
    • Shila Amzah, Malaysian singer
    • Serrini – Hong Kong singer-songwriter
  • August 15
    • Jennifer Lawrence, American singer/actress
    • BloodPop – American musician, record producer, and songwriter (Worked with Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Madonna, Lady Gaga)
  • August 16 – Rina Sawayama, Japanese-British singer-songwriter, activist and model.
  • August 18 – Tommy Genesis, Canadian rapper, model and artist
  • August 21 – Bo Burnham, American comedian and musician
  • August 24 – Hiroki Kamemoto, Japanese guitarist (Glim Spanky)
  • August 30 – Julia Jacklin, Australian singer-songwriter and musician
  • September 3 – IZA, Brazilian singer-songwriter
  • September 4 – James Bay (singer), English singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • September 6 – DPR Ian, Australian singer
  • September 9 – Haley Reinhart, American singer and songwriter
  • September 11 – Alex Cameron, Australian musician
  • September 18 – Sam Perry (looping artist), Australian singer-songwriter and looping artist
  • September 19 – Bjarki, Icelandic electronic music composer
  • September 20 – Phillip Phillips, American jazz singer-songwriter, guitarist and sometime actor
  • September 21 – Phoebe Ryan, American singer-songwriter
  • September 22 – Sorcha Richardson, Irish singer-songwriter
  • September 25 – Danny L Harle, British music producer and composer (PC Music)
  • September 27 – Mitski, Japanese-American singer-songwriter and musician
  • October 1 – Charlotte McDonnell, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (Chameleon Circuit)
  • October 2 – Samantha Barks, A Manx singer and actress
  • October 4 – Saki, Japanese guitarist and songwriter (Mary's Blood)
  • October 5 – Taylour Paige, American singer and dancer
  • October 7 – Seinabo Sey, Swedish recording artist and songwriter
  • October 8 – Trent Harmon, American signer
  • October 11 – Behzod Abduraimov, Uzbek classical pianist
  • October 19 – Jessica Meuse, American singer
  • October 20 – Andrew Watt (record producer), American record producer, singer, musician, and songwriter (Miley Cyrus, Camilla Cabello, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Charlotte Lawrence)
  • October 23 – Stan Walker, Australian-New Zealand singer-songwriter, activist, actor and television personality
  • October 26 – Stu Mackenzie, Australian musician (King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard)
  • October 29 – Eric Saade, Swedish singer-songwriter
  • October 31 – JID, American rapper and songwriter
  • November 2 – Kendall Schmidt, American actor, singer (Big Time Rush, Hilary Duff)
  • November 6 – Kris Wu, Canadian rapper
  • November 7 – Matt Corby, Australian singer-songwriter
  • November 14 – DJ Suede the Remix God, American hip hop record producer and songwriter
  • November 18
    • Jackie Thomas, New Zealand singer
    • Myk Perez, Filipino singer
  • November 26
    • Rita Ora, British singer
    • Chip, British rapper
    • tofubeats, Japanese singer, producer and DJ
  • November 27 – blackbear, American rapper, producer, singer
  • December 11 – Hyolyn, Korean singer and dancer
  • December 20
    • JoJo, American singer, songwriter, activist and actress
    • Bugzy Malone, English rapper
  • December 21
    • Holiday Sidewinder, Australian singer-songwriter, musician and record producer
    • Taylor Louderman, American actress, singer, and dancer
  • December 23 – Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, American singer and actress (Demi Lovato)
  • December 26
    • Jon Bellion, American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer
    • Illenium, American DJ and record producer
  • December 28 – David Archuleta, Season 7 American Idol runner-up[12]
  • December 29 – Nightbirde, American singer-songwriter (d. 2022)

Unknown:

  • Virgen Maria, Spanish DJ and record producer.

Deaths

  • January 3 – Arthur Gold, American pianist, 72
  • January 7 – Jimmy Van Heusen, composer and songwriter, 77
  • January 18 – Melanie Appleby of British duo Mel and Kim, 23 (liver cancer)
  • January 19 – Semprini, pianist and broadcaster, 81
  • January 28 – Puma Jones, American singer, 36 (breast cancer)
  • January 23 – Allen Collins, Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist, 37 (complications from pneumonia)
  • February 1 – Peter Racine Fricker, composer, 69
  • February 2 – Mel Lewis, drummer and bandleader, 60 (cancer)
  • February 8 – Del Shannon, singer-songwriter, 55 (suicide by shotgun)
  • February 14 – Tony Holiday, German singer, 38 (AIDS-related illness)
  • February 15 – George Suranovich, drummer (Love, Eric Burdon, Chuck Berry), 45 (heart attack)
  • February 16 – Keith Haring, iconic graffiti artists and AIDS activist
  • February 24 – Johnnie Ray, singer, 63 (liver failure)
  • February 26 – Cornell Gunter, R&B singer, 53 (gunshot wound)
  • March 6 – Mala, singer, 50
  • March 11 – Muriel Dickson, operatic soprano, 86
  • March 17 – Ric Grech, bassist (Family, Blind Faith), 43 (brain haemorrhage)
  • March 19 – Andrew Wood, singer (Mother Love Bone), 24 (heroin overdose)
  • April 3 – Sarah Vaughan, American jazz singer, 66 (lung cancer)
  • April 25 – Dexter Gordon, jazz saxophonist, 67
  • May 1 – Sergio Franchi, Italian-American tenor/actor, 64 (brain cancer)
  • May 8 – Luigi Nono, composer, 66
  • May 16 – Sammy Davis, Jr., American entertainer, 64
  • June 3 – Richard Sohl, pianist (Patti Smith Group), 37 (heart failure)
  • June 4 – Stiv Bators, punk musician, 40 (concussion)
  • June 6 – Joe Loss, English bandleader, 80
  • June 14 – Erna Berger, operatic soprano, 89
  • June 15 – Jim Hodder, Steely Dan drummer, 42 (drowning)
  • June 16 – Dame Eva Turner, operatic soprano, 98
  • June 21
    • June Christy, American singer, 64 (renal failure)
    • Elizabeth Harwood, operatic soprano, 52 (cancer)
  • June 22 – Kripp Johnson, American singer (The Del-Vikings), 54
  • June 25 – Peggy Glanville-Hicks, composer, 77
  • July 2 – Snooky Lanson, American singer, 76
  • July 7 – Cazuza, singer and composer, 32 (AIDS-related)
  • July 15 – Trouble T Roy, hip-hop dancer, 22 (fall from stage)
  • July 16 – Sidney Torch, pianist, cinema organist, conductor, orchestral arranger and composer
  • July 18 – Gerry Boulet, Canadian singer-songwriter (Offenbach), 44 (colon cancer)
  • July 26 – Brent Mydland, keyboardist (Grateful Dead), 37 (drug overdose)
  • August 3 – M. Ranga Rao, Indian film composer and music director
  • August 14 – Lafayette Leake, blues and jazz pianist, organist, vocalist and composer, 71
  • August 15 – Viktor Tsoi, Russian singer of Kino, 28 (car accident)
  • August 15 – Ingrid Lang-Fagerström, Swedish harpist, 92
  • August 17 – Pearl Bailey, singer, 72
  • August 27 – Stevie Ray Vaughan, American blues guitarist performer, 35 (helicopter crash)
  • September 2 – Sari Biro, pianist, 78
  • September 6 – Tom Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), 48 (AIDS-related)
  • September 13 – Phil Napoleon, jazz trumpeter, 89
  • October 3 – Eleanor Steber, operatic soprano, 76
  • October 4 – Ray Stephens, a onetime member of The Village People, 35
  • October 6
    • Asser Fagerström, pianist, composer and actor, 78
    • Danny Rodriguez, Christian rap artist, 22 (shot)
  • October 8 – B. J. Wilson, drummer of Procol Harum, 43 (pneumonia after three years in a coma)
  • October 14 – Leonard Bernstein, American composer and conductor, 72 (pneumonia and a pleural tumor)
  • October 16
    • Art Blakey, jazz drummer, 71
    • Jorge Bolet, pianist, 75
  • October 27 – Xavier Cugat, violinist, bandleader and arranger, 90
  • October 31 – M. L. Vasanthakumari, Carnatic musician and playback singer, 62
  • November 3 – Mary Martin, US singer and actress, 76
  • November 10 – Ronnie Dyson, soul singer and actor
  • December 2 – Aaron Copland, American composer
  • December 7 – Dee Clark, singer, 52 (heart attack)
  • December 18 – Paul Tortelier, cellist, 76

See also

  • 1990 in music (UK)
  • Record labels established in 1990
  • Timeline of musical events

References

  1. "U.S. Sales Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016.
  2. Ultimate Classic Rock (December 22, 2020). "When Depeche Mode's 'Violator' Nearly Caused a Riot: Book Excerpt". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  3. "Celebrity Pictures, Entertainment News Photo Galleries and Videos". www.wireimage.com. WireImage. Archived from the original on January 27, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  4. Rowley, Glenn (July 15, 2020). "Mariah Carey Shares Cryptic Teaser For 30th Anniversary Celebration of Debut Album". Billboard.
  5. "'Black Cat' Is Anything But Bad Luck For Jackson". DeKnock, Jan. Orlando Sentinel. October 26, 1990. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  6. "Rock On The Net: Janet Jackson Info Page". Rock on the Net. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  7. Hawtin, Steve (February 10, 2008). "Songs from the Year 1990". Steve Hawtin/TsorT. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
  8. "Best albums of 1990". besteveralbums. 2005. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  9. Dalida's Official Website, Awards and Achievements Archived 2004-03-17 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved December 29, 2009
  10. Dalida: Entre violon et amour, by Isaline, Éditions Publibook, 2002, p. 127. ISBN 978-2-7483-2629-1. (in French), retrieved December 29, 2009
  11. "Alexander Guy Cook". Companies House. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  12. "David Archuleta: Life After Idol - Portrait Magazine, November 2009 I..." February 21, 2013. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.