The A Lists: 1986 (79)

• The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (Shanachie)
• Robert Cray Band: Strong Persuader (Mercury)
• Beastie Boys: Lisenced to Ill (Def Jam)
• Hüsker Dü: Candy Apple Grey (Warner Bros.)
• Papa Wemba: L'Esclave (Gitta import)
• New Order: Brotherhood (Qwest)
• Sonny Sharrock: Guitar (Enemy)
• Rolling Stones: Dirty Work (Rolling Stones)
• Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman: Song X (Geffen)
• Camper Van Beethoven: Camper Van Beethoven (Pitch-a-Tent)
• Black Flag: Wasted Again (SST) ('87)
• Gap Band: The 12" Collection (Mercury)
• Z.Z. Hill: Greatest Hits (Malaco)
• Paul Simon: Graceland (Warner Bros.)
• Motorhead: Orgasmatron (GWR/Profile)
• Pere Ubu: Terminal Tower: An Archival Collection (Twin/Tone)
• Sonic Youth: Starpower (SST)
• Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Blood and Chocolate (Columbia)
• Mekons: The Edge of the World (Sin import)
• Mutabaruka: The Mystery Unfolds (Shanachie)
• They Might Be Giants: They Might Be Giants (Bar/None)
• The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy (Reprise)
• The Costello Show (Featuring Elvis Costello): King of America (Columbia)
• Royal Crescent Mob: Land of Sugar (No Other)
• The Neville Brothers: Treacherous (Rhino)
• Astor Piazzolla: Tango: Zero Hour (American Clavé)
• Run-D.M.C.: Raising Hell (Profile)
• The Housemartins: London 0, Hull 4 (Elektra)
• XTC: Skylarking (Geffen)
• Steve Earle: Guitar Town (MCA)
• Rap's Greatest Hits (Priority)
• Will Wright & Jim Reiman: Childhood's Greatest Hits (Rooster)
• The Lounge Lizards: Live in Tokyo/Big Heart (Island)
• Kate Bush: The Whole Story (EMI Manhattan)
• Ornette Coleman and Prime Time: Opening the Caravan of Dreams (Caravan of Dreams)
• Mekons: Crime and Punishment (Sin import)
• The Feelies: The Good Earth (Coyote)
• Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsys 2 (Capitol)
• Brian Eno: More Blank than Frank (EG)
• Mofungo: Messenger Dogs of the Gods (Lost)
• Salt-n-Pepa: Hot Cool and Vicious (Next Plateau)
• African Head Charge: Off the Beaten Track (On-U Sound import)
• Phil Alvin: Un "Sung" Stories (Slash)
• Abdullah Ibrahim: Water from an Ancient Well (Landmark)
• Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live 1975-85 (Columbia)
• Peter Stampfel and the Bottle Caps: Peter Stampfel and the Bottle Caps (Rounder)
• Prince and the Revolution: Parade (Paisley Park)
• Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Live Alive (Epic)
• Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force: Planet Rock--The Album (Tommy Boy)
• Tango Argentino (Atlantic)
• Camper Van Beethoven: II & III (Pitch-a-Tent)
• Jimi Hendrix: Johnny B. Goode (Capitol)
• The Art of Noise: In Visible Silence (Chrysalis)
• Thomas Mapfumo: The Chimurenga Singles 1976-1980 (Meadowlark)
• Warren Zevon: A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon (Asylum)
• Shop Assistants: Shop Assistants (53rd & 3rd import)
• Jon Hassell: Power Spot (ECM import)
• Police: Every Breath You Take: The Singles (A&M)
• Katrina and the Waves: Waves (Capitol)
• That Petrol Emotion: Manic Pop Thrill (Demon import)
• Black Flag: Who's Got the 10½? (SST)
• Dance Traxx (Atlantic)
• The Three Johns: The World by Storm (Abstract import)
• The Go-Betweens: Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express (Big Time)
• Aaron Neville: Make Me Strong (Charly import)
• Timbuk 3: Welcome From Timbuk 3 (I.R.S.)
• Don Dixon: Most of the Girls Like to Dance but Only Some of the Boys Like To (Enigma)
• David & David: Boomtown (A&M)
• New Model Army: The Ghost of Cain (Capitol)
• Laurie Anderson: Home of the Brave (Warner Bros.)
• The Velvet Underground: Another View (Verve)
• Marvin Gaye: Motown Remembers Marvin Gaye (Tamla)
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo: Inala (Shanachie)
• Mahotella Queens: Izibani Zomgqashiyo (Shanachie)
• Yaa-Lengi Ngemi: Oh, Miziki (MiyeMi)
• Pet Shop Boys: Please (EMI America)
• Iscathamiya: Zulu Worker Choirs in South Africa (Heritage import)
• Zazou Biyake: Mr. Manager (Pow Wow)
• Sally Timms and the Drifting Cowgirls: The Butcher's Boy Extended Player (T.I.M.S. International import)

Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s, 1990

The A Lists: 1985

The A Lists: 1987