Decade Personal Best: '80s

1. The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (Shanachie)
2. Ornette Coleman: Of Human Feelings (Antilles)
3. X: Wild Gift (Slash)
4. Sonny Rollins: G-Man (Milestone)
5. Franco & Rochereau: Omona Wapi (Shanachie)
6. Double Dee & Steinski: "The Payoff Mix"/"Lesson Two"/"Lesson 3" (Tommy Boy promotional EP)
7. DeBarge: In a Special Way (Gordy)
8. Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam)
9. Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A. (Columbia)
10. Replacements: Let It Be (Twin/Tone)

1. Funky Four Plus One: "That's the Joint" (Sugarhill)
2. T.S. Monk: "Bon Bon Vie" (Mirage)
3. Public Enemy: "Bring the Noise" (Def Jam)
4. Michael Jackson: "Beat It" (Epic)
5. Imagination: "Just an Illusion" (MCA)
6. Madonna: "Open Your Heart" (Sire)
7. Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock: "It Takes Two" (Profile)
8. Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force: "Looking for the Perfect Beat" (Tommy Boy)
9. Taana Gardner: "Heartbeat" (West End)
10. Beat: "Twist and Crawl" (Go-Feet import)

Village Voice, Jan. 2, 1990