Krasnow’s Great ’88

Anita Baker, whose latest Elektra album spent a month at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine charts and who is widely hailed as one of the most gifted singers of the ‘80s.

Tracy Chapman, whose debut album has sold more than 2 million copies in the United States and earned her six Grammy nominations.

Metallica, the critically acclaimed metal band whose Elektra album “. . . And Justice for All” has gone platinum (1 million copies) and brought new standing to the can’t-get-no-respect heavy-metal genre.

The “Cocktail” sound-track album didn’t win favor among critics, but it has been high in the national sales charts almost six months. U.S. sales to date: 4 million.

Among other critically acclaimed acts on the eclectic roster: the State Radio and Television Female Choir of Bulgaria, the Icelandic rock band Sugarcubes, France’s Gipsy Kings, reggae newcomer Shinehead.