The Top Ten Songs of 1986
Ranked #5,838 in Music, #163,833 overall
1986's Music
Keep reading for a trip back down memory lane, back to 1986 when vinyl still ruled!
The 1986 Hit List
- Top Selling Singles of 1986
- Don't Leave Me This Way
- Every Loser Wins
- I Want To Wake Up With You
- Living Doll
- Chain Reaction
- Top Selling Singles of 1986
- Lady in Red
- When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
- Take My Breath Away
- Papa Don't Preach
- So Macho
- What's Your Favorite Song of 1986?
- More 1986 Music
- More 80s Music
Top Selling Singles of 1986
1. Don't Leave Me This Way
Communards
2. Every Loser Wins
Nick Berry
3. I Want To Wake Up With You
Boris Gardiner
4. Living Doll
Cliff Richard & The Young Ones
5. Chain Reaction
Diana Ross
Don't Leave Me This Way
Communards
Their first hit was "You Are My World" in 1985. "Don't Leave Me This Way" became their biggest hit and also featured Sarah Jane Morris as co-vocalist.
The Communard's album Communards featuring Don't Leave Me This Way
Communards
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/25/2012)
The Communards biggest selling single was Don't Leave Me This Way and one of the reasons it was so good was the contrast between the two vocalists. Sarah Jane Morris had a deep contralto voice whereas Jimmy Somerville was renown for his falsetto singing voice.
Don't Leave Me This Way is one of those songs that when you hear it you are immediately transported back to an eighties club. Everyone hitting the dance floor and several trying to hit Jimmy's notes at the top of their voices, a must have for anyone stuck in the 80s.
Every Loser Wins
Nick Berry
Nick Berry found fame in the UK when he joined the cast of Eastenders. Within no time he was the soap's pin-up boy.
After Nick Berry released his single it was heavily promoted on Eastenders as a song that his character Simon Wicks sang.
Nick Berry
Nick Berry Framed And Matted 8x10 Color Photo
Amazon Price: (as of 05/25/2012)
Nick Berry became the nation's pin-up boy when he landed a role on Eastenders. Next came his number one song, but when the singing career stalled it was back to Eastenders.
Nick Berry soon caught the eye of the producers of a new show about a policeman in the 60s - Heartbeat. He left Eastenders to take on the starring role in the drama series.
His character is still referred to on Eastenders and is living in New Zealand which means that Nick Berry always has the opportunity to return to Albert Square.
I Want To Wake Up With You
Boris Gardiner
I Want To Wake Up With You, The Best of Boris Gardiner Album
With Boris Gardiner's velvet voice and those lyrics, "I Want To Wake Up With You," makes a classic love song that should be in everyone's collection.
I Want to Wake Up With You: The Best of Boris Gardiner
Amazon Price: $85.99 (as of 05/25/2012)
Living Doll
Cliff Richard & The Young Ones
The result was a re-make of Cliff Richard & The Shadows song Living Doll. The video was hilarious at the time with Rik Mayall's character referring to Cliff Richard as 'Your Majesty.'
The single was recorded for Comic Relief and became the first of many Comic Relief singles to be released most years.
Chain Reaction
Diana Ross
The song Chain Reaction was written by the Bee Gees who confessed that they were a little bit nervous about offering it to Diana Ross. The Gibbs brothers were worried that Diana Ross would find it too "Motown" sounding. That was the sound that suited her voice, however and their music and lyrics with Diana Ross' voice equalled a hit single
Diana Ross' album Eaten Alive featuring Chain Reaction
Eaten Alive
Amazon Price: (as of 05/25/2012)
As well as the fantastic song Chain Reaction this album also includes the singles Eaten Alive and Crime of Passion.
Chain Reaction is another of those songs that transport me straight back to the nightclubs of the 80s whenever I hear it - oh happy days!
Top Selling Singles of 1986
6. Lady in Red
Chris De Burgh
7. When The Going Gets Tough
Billy Ocean
8. Take My Breath Away
Berlin
9. Papa Don't Preach
Madonna
10. So Macho
Sinitta
Lady in Red
Chris De Burgh
When talking about the inspiration for his hit song Lady in Red, Chris De Burgh said that he was at a party and caught sight of his wife across the room. It's a song that is about when you're at that 'taking your partner for granted time' in your relationship and for some reason you 'see' them again and they still make your heart miss a beat.
It was a huge hit in the UK, helped along by the fact that it was played constantly in the lead up to the Royal wedding of the year. It did not do as well in the US in 1986, but was re-released in 1987 and became a top ten hit.
Chris De Burgh's album Into the Light featuring Lady in Red
Into the Light
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 05/25/2012)
This album also contains the beautiful song, "For Rosanna." In this song Chris De Burgh writes a different type of love song, the love of a father for his daughter.
He certainly has a touch of the Irish blarney when it comes to penning love songs and if you're in the mood for some easy listening, heart tugging songs then this album is for you.
When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
Billy Ocean
In 1986 he was asked to do the theme song to the Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner movie The Jewel of the Nile. The theme song was When The Going Gets Tough and was the seventh highest selling single of the year in the UK.
Billy Ocean's album Love Zone featuring When The Going Gets Tough
Love Zone
Amazon Price: $9.94 (as of 05/25/2012)
Not only does this album has the catchy When the Going Gets Tough going for it, but it also has There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry).
Here are the full track listings:
1. When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
2. Love Zone
3. Without You
4. There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)
5. Bitter Sweet
6. It's Never Too Late To Try
7. Showdown
8. Promise Me
9. Love Is Forever
This albums is very 80s, but does not have the 'tinnyness' that some 80s songs do when you revisit them.
It's a challenge to hear When The Going Gets Tough without singing along.......or at least tapping your toes!
Take My Breath Away
Berlin
Top Gun Soundtrack album featuring Berlin's Take My Breath Away
Top Gun Soundtrack
Amazon Price: $3.44 (as of 05/25/2012)
Berlin was formed in California in the late 70s and released their first single in 1980. Take My Breath Away became the bands biggest hit. As well as the song appearing on the Top Gun soundtrack album Berlin also featured Take My Breath Away on their Count Three & Pray album.
Despite international stardom with Take My Breath Away Berlin's Count Three & Pray album was not very successful and contributed to them disbanding in 1987.
Papa Don't Preach
Madonna
Madonna's True Blue album featuring Papa Don't Preach
True Blue
Amazon Price: $3.73 (as of 05/25/2012)
Papa Don't Preach did cause Madonna some controversy. In a nutshell Madonna has to tell her father that she's pregnant and that she's keeping her baby. Some groups complained that it was glamorizing pregnancy for young girls, but to me I didn't see that at all. At that age the mere thought of having to tell your father something like that was enough to make you behave! I certainly didn't see Madonna making light of a situation which, let's face it, many girls have been in. That's my opinion anyway.
So Macho
Sinitta
In 1986 she was to meet her former fiance and tv's most hated judge - Simon Cowell. This meeting represented a turning point in Sinitta's career. Simon Cowell was co-owner of Fanfare Records. Sinitta was Simon Cowell's first ever signing.
Simon Cowell then contacted songwriter and record producer George Hargreaves who provided the infectious song So Macho. This record eventually made it into the Top 10, it's highest position was number 2!
Sinitta's album Sinitta! featuring So Macho
Sinitta
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 05/25/2012)
This album is impossible to listen to without tapping your feet (or your fingers if driving). The beat makes it a great album to play at 80s parties if no one seems to want to dance - with these songs I guarantee there will be a stampede to the dance floor!
Sinitta's debut album - Sinitta! has a nostalgic feel to it as it captures pure 80s pop really well. The album appears to be a greatest hits for her as it's only missing one of her Top 10 hits - Right Back Where We Started From.
What's Your Favorite Song of 1986?
Did it make it onto the UK's Top Ten list of 1986?
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purplelady
Mar 2, 2011 @ 2:28 pm | delete
- Fun lens going back to 1986 and remembering the music. One of my favorite singles from 1986 was Sweet Love by Anita Baker.
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poddys Mar 2, 2011 @ 2:12 pm | delete
- Good lens, a couple of songs that I like as well. I don't remember hearing the remake of Livin Doll, but I used to love the original.
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outsource123
Jan 30, 2011 @ 7:03 am | delete
- I like this lens. Useful information.
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Ramkitten
Oct 18, 2009 @ 11:18 am | delete
- I had expected that I'd know every since one of these songs, since I was in high school at the time, but there are actually a few here that I don't.
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tandemonimom Feb 25, 2009 @ 4:42 pm | delete
- That was quite a trip down memory lane! 5* for a great lens.
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This 80s music webpage was last updated by lou16 on 31st August 2011
by lou16
I am a real 80s chick, I love the song 1985 - although I'm a little concerned that it was written about me :) I love 80s pop, new wave, new romantics,... more »
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