by: Michael Zabrodsky

It hangs in a place of honor in the City Hall lobby display case.

And it should.

On Oct. 19, 1988, the 10,000 Maniacs presented the city with their first gold record, the album In My Tribe.

A gold record symbolizes sales of 500,000 copies.

When Rolling Stone released its list of the 100 best albums of the 80s, In My Tribe landed at No. 65.

"I suppose it could have been worse," Maniacs bassist Steve Gustafson said with a laugh. "I have been told that's what it says, but I haven't really seen the actual article. I guess I would get pretty excited if I saw it in print.

"Look what was No. 1, too," Gustafson said. "London Calling, by The Clash, which was one of my favorite albums of the 80s. That came out in 1980. That means there are some interesting bands out there, but we still have to put up with bad stuff like Madonna."

Incidentally, Madonna, Madonna's self-titled first album, finished at No. 50.

In an era where techno-synth pop music became commonplace, record albums nearly went the way of the dinosaur in competition with the revolutionary compact disc, the 10,000 Maniacs have made their presence felt and have gained a place in music history.

"Best of" lists like Rolling Stone's are purely subjective, but Rolling Stone is the leader in music periodicals.

"I think it's wonderful," band Manager Peter Leak said. "We're proud and happy that it was picked. I didn't have any idea it would get picked.

"I wasn't aware the way they were doing the voting or that there was a chance," Leak said.

He said he didn't think the band's latest album, Blind Man's Zoo, was going to make the final countdown.

"I don't think it made it because it had not been out for very long. I also think that In My Tribe made the band really well-known. There was bound to be more attention on that anyway because that's the album that broke (ground for) the band anyway.

"It should have been No. 1, shouldn't it?" he added with a laugh. "I'm happy that it was picked at all, obviously. The higher it is the better you feel about it."

Mayor Steven B. Carlson agreed, "Well, I don't follow the rating of albums, but it is a dramatic accomplishment on their part."

"I think that is just wonderful news. I'm really very happy for the 10,000 Maniacs," Carlson said. "I'm very pleased for their success. They have gone a long way in their careers and all of Jamestown is very proud of their accomplishments."

Who knows what lies ahead in the next decade?