Poll: What Was the Best Guitar Album of 1987?
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Excess was the order of the day in 1987. Oliver Stone created an anti-hero in his scrupulous corporate raider Gordon Gecko, setting an archetypal standard for greed.
The Sunset Strip was getting grungier and bawdier with former rag-tag bands now lavishing in fame and wealth. There was wealth to go around -- at least until Black Monday hit on October 19.
Music was not the exception but in fact the leader of the late-eighties consumerist explosion. Albums got bigger and more ambitious. With the success of Michael Jackson's Bad and Def Leppard's Hysteria, it became possible to squeeze five, six, even seven singles out of an LP. Record companies poured dollars into artist development, production values soared and as a result some great albums found their way into the hands of listeners -- some of them budding young guitarists.
Though some could argue it was an era of overly polished sterility, there were some undeniably classic records in 1987. Most notable, of course, was The Return of Bruno, Bruce Willis' debut album. You will notice The Return of Bruno was not included in this week's poll. The certain overwhelming response to this album would simply be unfair to the other releases of 1987.
So with that in mind, check out the other great LPs on the list and let us know what your favorite is.
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srt08joe
September 13, 2011 at 8:50pm
There's no doubt that Appetite for Destruction is a great record, and there were plenty of great records released in 1987. But, in my opinion, the Whitesnake record was by far THE best guitar album of 1987. In terms of a "guitar" album, the John Sykes tone was new and unique at the time. He had such a huge sound on that record. I can remember being in the guitar shops all the time with other players and we were spending hours with rack effects trying to dial in the Sykes tone. John Sykes, even though he's been around for ages, is still one of the most underrated, and definitely better than Slash.
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ChrisDude89
September 13, 2011 at 10:25am
I'm surprised that Nightfall, Candlemass' second album that came out in 1987, isn't mentioned. To me, it's one of the best guitar albums of 1987 and a doom metal classic. I would have voted for that album if it was listed.
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capgirl
September 13, 2011 at 9:30am
This was very difficult. I have to add my top three from this list.
Joe Satriani Surfing..
Joshua Tree U2
Hysteria Def Leppard
Not only technical playing skill..but flawless guitar tech production and recording All three!!!!
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Tarkess
September 13, 2011 at 8:40am
Again, some albums are gonna get tons of votes despite not being the bet in terms of guitarwork. How can anyone say Slash is better than either Marty Friedman or Jason Becker (Cacophony)?













