Celebrating 26 Years of Big Sky’s “Best of the Decade” – A 90s Retrospective

Twenty-six years ago today, Big Sky released “Best of the Decade” – a compilation that captured the essence of the band’s journey through the 1990s. From their debut album in 1990 to this milestone collection in October 1999, the compilation showcased a decade of musical evolution and creative exploration.

A Decade Captured

“Best of the Decade” wasn’t simply a greatest hits collection. It represented Big Sky’s growth throughout the 90s, featuring two new tracks that encapsulated the band’s sound and vision during that formative period. The compilation served as both a celebration of what had been achieved and a testament to the creative spirit that defined the decade.

“Looking back at the 90s, it was an incredible time for music and creativity,” reflects Steve Louw. “These songs captured something special about that era.”

From Studio to Stage

What makes this anniversary particularly meaningful is that songs from Big Sky’s 90s catalogue recently came alive again at the Further On Up The Road concert on 13th September at Daisy Jones. The performance brought together tracks from across the band’s history, including material from this landmark compilation.

The energy at Daisy Jones that night demonstrated the enduring power of these 90s recordings. Performed alongside fellow blues and rock musicians, some of whom have been friends since 1976, the songs proved they’ve lost none of their impact over the past two-and-a-half decades.

A 90s Legacy

Twenty-six years on, “Best of the Decade” remains an important milestone in Big Sky’s catalogue. Released at the close of the 1990s, it captured a band at a crucial point in their journey – looking back at a decade of growth whilst standing on the threshold of a new millennium.

“The 90s shaped so much of who we became as musicians,” says Steve Louw. “These tracks tell that story.”

Listen to the Album

Watch the Music

The Compilation

“Best of the Decade” brought together 14 tracks spanning Big Sky’s three studio albums from the 90s: “Waiting For The Dawn” (1990), “Horizon” (1995), and “Going Down With Mr Green” (1997). The compilation featured classics like “Waiting For The Dawn”, “Diamonds And Dirt”, “Slow Dancing”, “One Cut With A Knife”, “Run To Me”, “Wasted”, and “Strange Room”.

The two new recordings, “Destiny” and “Skin Deep”, were produced by Kevin Shirley in New York in 1999. “Destiny” was recorded in the same room where David Bowie cut “Let’s Dance” and Bruce Springsteen made “Born in the U.S.A.” The session featured an impressive lineup: Anton Fig on drums, Pat Thrall on guitars, Mickey d’Michelle on bass, Eric Bazilian on guitar, Adam Holzman on Hammond organ, with Shirley himself adding dulcimer.

“I wrote ‘Destiny’ for my wife, Erna, a few days before I went into the studio,” Steve recalls. “Maybe it was the room, maybe it was working in New York again with Kevin and a brilliant band, but everything just clicked that day.”

“Skin Deep”, co-written by Steve and Kevin Shirley, drew inspiration from a Keith Richards interview where he noted, “All our bones are white and our blood red – beauty is ‘skin deep’.” The track featured Alex Foster on sax and Andy Kravitz on percussion, adding layers to the rock sound that defined the decade.

“Best of the Decade” is available on all major streaming platforms.