Wilson Phillips Takes Top Bottom Prize

Talk about kicking ‘em while they’re down.

Wilson Phillips--whose “Shadows and Light” album generated so little interest that the trio’s career is now in question--has just been awarded the top spot in Pop Eye’s 13th annual worst album of the year sweepstakes.

In the Bottom 10 poll--a survey of 25 music industry figures, from label execs to managers--the album was cited on 21 “worst” lists and dismissed as everything from “pretty pathetic” to “totally unlistenable.”

But the panel didn’t just take out their musical frustrations on the wounded. Voters also got in some pretty sharp digs at some of the year’s biggest sellers, including Michael Bolton’s herniated versions of old faves on “Timeless (The Classics)” and “Some Gave All,” by Mr. Achy Breaky himself, Billy Ray Cyrus.

On Bolton, one panelist remarked, “This was an easy choice because everything Bolton has done deserves to be in the Bottom 10.”

One observer even went so far as to suggest that Bolton, whose “Time Love & Tenderness” finished No. 4 in last year’s poll, be retired to the Bottom 10 Hall of Fame.

The year’s most despised albums:

1--”Shadows and Light,” Wilson Phillips (21 votes).

2--”Timeless (The Classics),” Michael Bolton (20).

3--”Some Gave All,” Billy Ray Cyrus (19).

4--”Keep the Faith,” Bon Jovi (15).

5--(tie) “Erotica,” Madonna, and “Beverly Hills, 90210,” various artists (14).

7--(tie) “Am I Not Your Girl?,” Sinead O’Connor, and “You Gotta Believe,” Marky Mark (11).

9--(tie) “Christmas Album,” Neil Diamond, and “Dos,” Gerardo (10).

This year’s No. 4, Bon Jovi, seemed to have drawn as much flak for singer Jon Bon Jovi’s new fussed-over coif as for the music: “Maybe it’s like Samson--cut his hair and lost his voice.”

In one head-to-head match-up, the “90210” collection beat out fellow Fox-TV show “The Heights” (a near-miss for the fantasy band, which some have dubbed “The Commitments 90210”).

Another pairing saw Neil Diamond’s Christmas album trouncing John Tesh’s New Age-y seasonal noodlings, though Diamond’s “support” seemed largely due to his failure to acknowledge his cultural roots on the album.

“Not to put one Hanukkah song on the album is total denial, and the Jewish people live by denial,” quipped one Jewish voter.

And what about Madonna’s appearance on the list?

“I’m totally tired of her,” snapped one panelist. “I’ll even put the book in with the album.”

Danger signals: Some longtime critical faves made a surprising appearance on several “Bottom 10” ballots. Among them: Bruce Springsteen’s “Human Touch” (5) and “Lucky Town” (4), Prince’s “ “ (3), Lou Reed’s “Magic & Loss” (2) and Sonic Youth’s “Dirty” (1).