Best of the 1990s: “Joey” by Concrete Blonde

Starting in the 1980s, I grew more and more aware of alternative rock music. MTV’s 120 Minutes showcased many neat alternative rock tracks in the mid to late 1980s and onward to the 1990s.

One of the bands that were part of the scene in 1990 was Concrete Blonde. I became aware of them when their third album Bloodletting became a hit on one of our local alt rock radio stations. The song leading the charge of hits from Bloodletting was “Joey”.

“Joey” was Concrete Blonde’s biggest hit and their only record to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 singles list. It peaked at #19 on that chart in 1990, and spent four separate weeks on Billboard’s Alternative Rock chart, where it peaked at #1. “Joey” is an angst ridden song about the writer’s ex-boyfriend.

As for the album Bloodletting, it is an album that I have liked through the years. Best tracks are “Joey”, “Caroline” “Darkening of the Night” and the long and brooding “Tomorrow Wendy”.

Listen to Bloodletting at the following links:

SPOTIFY

JOEY - YouTube Enhanced Audio