1988 | MTV | 120 Minutes

This is an independent project—we are non-commercial, we receive no funding from anyone, and we show no ads. It costs money and time to keep the archive going—we rely on donations to stay online. Help us keep the “dream of the ’90s” alive and make this place a permanent exhibit of all things alternative—because 120 Minutes deserves a home where its history and legacy live on.

You don’t need to create any accounts or sign up for anything to donate—it only takes a few seconds. We will never email you. Thank you so much!

Playlists

On This Page

January 10, 1988(playlist only)
January 17, 1988(playlist only)
January 24, 1988host Kevin Seal
February ?, 1988(playlist only)
March 6, 1988host Carolyne Heldman
March 13, 1988host Kevin Seal
April ?, 1988(playlist only)
April 17, 1988(playlist only)
May 1, 1988host Kevin Seal
May ?, 1988(playlist only)
May ?, 1988(playlist only)
May 22, 1988Midnight Oil
June ?, 1988(playlist only)
June 12, 1988host Carolyne Heldman
July 3, 1988(playlist only)
July 10, 1988(playlist only)
July 17, 1988host Kevin Seal
July 24, 1988(playlist only)
July 31, 1988(playlist only)
August 7, 1988(playlist only)
August 21, 1988host Kevin Seal
September 18, 1988host Kevin Seal
September 25, 1988host Kevin Seal
October ?, 1988MTV College Concert
October ?, 1988(playlist only)
November 7, 1988host Kevin Seal
December 18, 1988They Might Be Giants
December 25, 1988The Sugarcubes
 January 10, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 January 17, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 January 24, 1988
Source for this playlist: Peter A.
Host: Kevin Seal
No Guest
Dave Kendall makes an appearance discussing "New Records"
 February ?, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 March 6, 1988
Source for this playlist: Will Y.
Host: Carolyne Heldman
 March 13, 1988
Source for this playlist: Keith B.
Host: Kevin Seal
(date clue: D.O.A. "starts Friday" – released 3/18/88)
Billy Bragg – Greetings to the New Brunette
Balaam & The Angel – I Love the Things That You Do to Me
The Grapes of Wrath – Backward Town
(Top 10 College Radio Chart with Dave Kendall – Fishcotheque – The Jazz Butcher; She's Having a Baby – OST; The Sisters of Mercy – Floodland; T Bone Burnett – The Talking Animals; Jerry Harrison – Casual Gods; The Pogues – If I Should Fall From Grace With God; The Church – Starfish; The Godfathers – Birth School Work Death; Midnight Oil – Diesel and Dust; Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians – Globe of Frogs)
Big Audio Dynamite – C'Mon Every Beatbox
The Christians – Forgotten Town
R.E.M. – Finest Worksong
The Connells – Over There
Ministry – Revenge
(Fields of the Nephilim interview)
Fields of the Nephilim – Blue Water
The Godfathers – Birth. School. Work. Death
Echo & the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
Midnight Oil – Beds are Burning
Screaming Blue Messiahs – Bikini Red
(New releases with Dave Kendall – Nick Lowe – Pinker and Prouder Than Previous; Jimmy Cliff – Hanging Fire; Fini Tribe – Make It Internal; False Prophets – Implosion)
Jane Siberry – Ingrid (and the Footman)
T Bone Burnett – Killer Moon
The Cure – Hot. Hot. Hot.
The Waterboys – The Whole of the Moon
The Church – Under the Milky Way
World at a Glance – Burning Out
Bomb the Bass – Beat Dis (excerpt)
(120 X-Ray – Bomb The Bass "Beat Dis" video excerpt, Tim Simenon interview)
The Woodentops – Wheels Turning
 April ?, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 April 17, 1988
Source for this playlist: Winston B.
 May 1, 1988
Source for this playlist: logjam
Host: Kevin Seal (w/ psychedelic swirling background effect)
(This might be a partial list--the recording began during the Smithereens song.)
 May ?, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 May ?, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 May 22, 1988
Source for this playlist: chudbeagle
Host: Kevin Seal
Guest: Midnight Oil
Hour 2 was the Midnight Oil documentary "Black Fella, White Fella"
 June ?, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 June 12, 1988
Sources for this playlist: Annie Z., Keith B.
Host: Carolyne Heldman
(date clue: The Great Outdoors opens Friday)
YouTube has a user-uploaded video of an MTV station ID and open for this episode of 120 Minutes with host Carolyne Heldman. You can find it on YouTube at Carolyne Heldman MTV 120 Minutes 1988, if it is still up. (last checked April 4, 2011)
The Church – Under the Milky Way
(Top 10 College Radio Chart w/ Dave Kendall – Jesus and Mary Chain – Barbed Wire Kisses; Timbuk 3 – Eden Alley; Soul Asylum – s/t; The Pixies – Surfer Rosa; Tracy Chapman – s/t; Thomas Dolby – Aliens Ate My Buick; Graham Parker – The Mona Lisa Sister; Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – Conscious Party; Camper Van Beethoven – Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart; Peter Murphy – Love Hysteria)
Peter Murphy – All Night Long
Big Audio Dynamite – The Bottom Line
Graham Parker – Get Started. Start a Fire
Thomas Dolby – Airhead
Shona Laing – Soviet Snow
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – Tomorrow People
The Jam – A Town Called Malice
Soul Asylum – Sometime to Return
(120 Mins. X-ray – Tracy Chapman)
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
Morrissey – Everyday is Like Sunday
Smithereens – Only a Memory
(Record reviews with Dave Kendall – Ramones – Ramones Mania; Anarchy 6 – Hardcore Lives!; Wire – A Bell is a Cup Until It's Struck; Devo – Total Devo)
Prefab Sprout – The Golden Calf
Mighty Lemon Drops – Fall Down (Like the Rain)
Timbuk 3 – Rev. Jack & His Roamin' Cadillac Church
The Cure – Why Can't I Be You
The Fall – Victoria
The Mission U.K. – Tower of Strength
They Might Be Giants – (She Was A) Hotel Detective
[unknown video – not identified, not Google-able, not Shazam-able, not very good]
(New Music News – 2 Live Crew, Sinead O'Connor)
The Mekons – Ghosts of American Astronauts
 July 3, 1988
Source for this playlist: Matthew Z.
 July 10, 1988
Source for this playlist: Matthew Z.
 July 17, 1988
Source for this playlist: Mike B.
Date clues: Commercials for the movie Vibes opening August 5th, Caddyshack II which "starts Friday July 22nd", and Cocktail which "starts Friday July 29th". The first Young Fresh Fellows tour date in the Road Check segment is July 18.
Iggy Pop – Cold Metal
Top 10 College Radio Chart [Dave Kendall had the day off, so Kevin Seal pretended to be Dave, messing up his hair and then reading the chart with an English accent.] – chart is the same as listed for the Aug. 7 episode!
The Sugarcubes – Birthday
The Dancing Hoods – Baby's Got Rockets
Soul Asylum – Sometime to Return
Big Audio Dynamite – Just Play Music
Ranking Roger – So Excited
Peter Murphy – All Night Long
Depeche Mode – Just Can't Get Enough [Cult Classic video]
Joe Strummer – Trash City
X-Ray on The Smithereens
The Smithereens – House We Used To Live In
The Church – Reptile [World Premiere video]
[New Music News] Morrissey "Margaret on the Guillotine" controversy; Virgin "Downtown" AIDS charity LP release; Tiffany to appear on 5 million boxes of Cocoa Puffs cereal
Abecedarians – Soil
Midnight Oil – Dead Heart
Camper Van Beethoven – Eye Of Fatima, Part I
Patti Smith – People Have The Power
Erasure – Chains Of Love
E·I·E·I·O – Hey Cecelie
The Primitives – Crash
Single Gun Theory – Open The Skies
[Road Check: The Young Fresh Fellows]
The Timelords – Doctorin' The Tardis [excerpt, then Kevin Seal talking about the band's antics]
Doctor & The Medics – More
 July 24, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 July 31, 1988
Source for this playlist: David G.
 August 7, 1988
Sources for this playlist: Winston B., Will Y.
Iggy Pop – Cold Metal
Shona Laing – Soviet Snow
Soul Asylum – Cartoon
Top 10 College Radio Chart with Dave Kendall: Big Audio Dynamite – Tighten Up Vol 88; Railway Children – Recurrence; Ranking Roger – Radical Departure; Wire – A Bell Is A Cup; Paul Kelly – Under The Sun; Camper Van Beethoveen – Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart; Patti Smith – Dream Of Life; Iggy Pop – Instinct; The Sugarcubes – Life's Too Good; Shriekback – Go Bang
The Sugarcubes – Birthday
The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
Camper Van Beethoven – Eye Of Fatima Part I
Bad Brains – I Against I
Aztec Camera – Somewhere In My Heart
Swans – Love Will Tear Us Apart
X – Hungry Wolf (Cult Classic)
Dancing Hoods – Baby's Got Rockets
120 X-Ray on The Style Council
The Style Council – She Threw It All Away
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Peek A Boo
The Bible – Crystal Palace
Marty-Willson Piper – She's King
Paul Kelly & The Messengers – Dumb Things
Erasure – Chains Of Love
Agitpop – Girl But Not A Friend
Devo – Disco Dancer
The Primitives – Crash
 August 21, 1988
Source for this playlist: Keith B.
Host: Kevin Seal
(date clue: before Aug 23rd – concert dates. last week's guest was Paul Garrin)
Psychedelic Furs – All That Money Wants
(Top 10 College Radio Chart with Dave Kendall – Crowded House – Temple of Low Men; The House of Love – s/t; Siouxsie and the Banshees – Peek-a-Boo; Paul Kelly – Under the Sun; Iggy Pop – Instinct; Big Audio Dynamite – Tighten Up Vol. '88; Patti Smith – Dream of Life; The Primitives; Shriekback – Go Bang; The Sugarcubes – Life's Too Good)
The Sugarcubes – Cold Sweat
Hunter & Collectors – Back on the Breadline
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Peek-a-Boo
Patti Smith – People Have the Power
Stump – Charlton Heston
James – What For?
Hoodoo Gurus – I Want You Back
Big Audio Dynamite – Just Play Music
(120 X-Ray – The Primitives; interview with Tracey Tracey)
The Primitives – Crash
Ranking Roger – So Excited
Close Lobsters – Let's Make Some Plans
Iggy Pop – Cold Metal
(New releases with Dave Kendall – Hugo Largo – Drum; James – Strip-mine; Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Abbey Road EP; Suicidal Tendencies – Trip at the Brain)
Beatnik Beatch – Beatnik Beatch
The Cure – Why Can't I Be You
The House of Love – Christine
Depeche Mode – Strangelove
Soul Asylum – Cartoon
Swans – Love Will Tear Us Apart
Living Colour – Middle Man
(Music news – Paul Garrin vid – Elliott Sharpe – "Free Society")
Sparks – So Important
 September 18, 1988
Source for this playlist: Amy Macnamara
Host: Kevin Seal
Date clue: Kevin Seal says "We're all still getting over the Video Music Awards" which is typically held in September. I looked up the air date for the 1988 VMAs and it was September 7. This episode is probably from Sunday, September 18, 1988.
I didn't record all the videos. I cut some out :O But here is what I have:
Hunters & Collectors – "Back On The Breadline"
Dave Kendall (before toupee and he was lookin' HOT!) has a story on the LA Underground Club Scene. He's at a place called Alcohol Salad.
New Model Army – "The 51st State"
The Smiths – "Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before"
Dream Syndicate – "I Have Faith"
New Order – "Confusion" (Cult Classic)
More Dave Kendall at Alcohol Salad
Shriekback – "Get Down Tonight"
Psychedelic Furs video (cut the video before the title of it)
Top 10 Alternative Records – #1: Tighten Up Vol. 88 by Big Audio Dynamite
Big Audio Dynamite – "Just Play Music"
Pere Ubu – "We Have The Technology"
The House Of Love – "Christine"
Steve Taylor – "Jim Morrison's Grave"
Siouxsie & The Banshees – "Peek-A-Boo"
The Timelords – "Doctor And The Tardies"
X-Ray on Joy Division
Joy Division – "Atmosphere"
Throughout the episode Kevin Seal also mentions videos by Screaming Tribesmen, Michelle Shocked, Sugarcubes, Throwing Muses, Public Image Ltd, and Paul Kelly.
 September 25, 1988
Sources for this playlist: Amy Macnamara, Louise B.
Host: Kevin Seal (in tux with a bluescreen closeup of a mouth talking behind him)
Date clue: Commercial for "INXS Sunday" which was to be "next Sunday Oct. 2nd"
X-Ray: XTC
R.E.M. – "Talk About The Passion"
Alternative Top 10 Albums – #1 Tighten Up Vol. 88 by Big Audio Dynamite
Big Audio Dynamite – "Just Play Music"
The Feelies – "Away"
Let's Active – "Every Word Means No" (Cult Classic)
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – "My Bag"
Hunters & Collectors – "Back On The Breadline"
Dave Kendall record reviews: Rank by The Smiths, Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven by Love & Rockets reissue, Lightning Strikes by Lightning (Dave says it's "crap", Kevin interjects and says it was "funny"!), and Ghost Stories by Dream Syndicate
Dream Syndicate – "I Have Faith"
17 Pygmies – "Crossing The River"
TAPE ENDS :(
Throughout the episode Kevin Seal mentions videos by The Primitives, The Church, In Tua Nua, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Screaming Tribesmen, Iggy Pop, Shriekback, and Moev.
 October ?, 1988
Sources for this playlist: Jon C., David L.
 October ?, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
 November 7, 1988
Source for this playlist: Karen G.
Host: Kevin Seal
Date for Playlist: Kevin Seal "Tomorrow it's the V word... Vote!" Election day was on November 8. Also a commercial, "Child's Play starts Wednesday November 9". The DVD begins with Dave Kendall introducing the top 10 college radio chart and ends after The Feelies video.
Kevin Seal introduces the second half of 120 Minutes: "coming up, videos from the Lime Spiders and The Pop Tarts"
 December 18, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.
Guest Host: They Might Be Giants
 December 25, 1988
Source for this playlist: Jon C.

Playlists

This is an independent project—we are non-commercial, we receive no funding from anyone, and we show no ads. It costs money and time to keep the archive going—we rely on donations to stay online. Help us keep the “dream of the ’90s” alive and make this place a permanent exhibit of all things alternative—because 120 Minutes deserves a home where its history and legacy live on.

You don’t need to create any accounts or sign up for anything to donate—it only takes a few seconds. We will never email you. Thank you so much!

Contribute

If you have any playlists you’d like to contribute for episodes that aren’t yet listed in the archive, or to make any corrections to existing playlists, email us.

Back to top
The 120 Minutes ArchiveBack to top