4 Outstanding 1986 Debut Albums That Put Jaw-Dropping Songwriting Front and Center

Prevailing musical trends changed at a faster pace in the 80s than at any other time in history. It wasn’t easy for musicians to find their footing with the ground constantly shifting beneath them. Luckily, great songwriting never truly goes out of style. These four 1986 albums were filled with outstanding examples of words and music, combined brilliantly by some standout songsmiths.

‘Crowded House’ by Crowded House

Crowded House was looking like they might be a flop. Two-thirds of the trio, including songwriter and singer Neil Finn, emanated from the beloved New Zealand band Split Enz. The new outfit signed with a US label and recorded with a hot producer in Mitchell Froom. But the first few singles from their self-titled debut did little to nothing. Luckily, they were given another shot with “Don’t Dream It’s Over”. The song became a sensation a year after the album was released. From there, folks dipped back into the album to find out that Finn was a gifted guy who combined effervescent melodies with lyrics that were nimble, clever, and always emotionally engaging.

‘The Way It Is’ by Bruce Hornsby & The Range

There were some brilliant No. 1 singles in the 80s, even when you consider those tracks that tended to be somewhat lightweight or frivolous when it came to the lyrics. For those reasons, “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby & The Range stands out as one of the most unlikely chart-toppers of the decade. Something about the seriousness and empathy that Hornsby displayed, both as a writer and a performer, truly struck a nerve with audiences. That song introduced an album that steered clear of flash and relied heavily on the interplay between Hornsby’s piano and his steady-chugging band. Hornsby’s songs, often co-written with his brother John, proved consistently thoughtful and subtly moving.

‘Guitar Town’ by Steve Earle

Steve Earle was more than a decade into his professional music career when he recorded his debut album. He probably could have put out something before then, but it might have been diluted by Nashville’s influence. Instead, Guitar Town slid between genres quite effortlessly. There was certainly a good deal of twang in Earle’s vocals and the musical approach. But the straight-talking, unflinching nature of the lyrics certainly bucked the trend of country music at the time. Earle proved that he could handle weepers like “Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left” as if he were a Music Row hired gun. But Guitar Down resonated because of the confessional truths filtering through sobering narratives like the title track and “Someday”.

‘Boomtown’ by David + David

David Baerwald and David Ricketts were knocking around Los Angeles playing in different bands, wondering why every one of them seemed to be focused on everything besides the quality of the music they were making. Hence, they decided to join forces and do something about it as David + David. Lead single “Welcome To The Boomtown”, with its affecting atmospherics and piercing character sketches, set the tone. The rest of Boomtown follows suit as the pair delivers heartland rock with a biting edge. Alas, this would be all we’d get from the duo, as they moved on to other musical avenues and never recorded another album. But they left behind an unforgettable one-off.

(Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)