Hi Lads and Lasses! We are way overdue for a new Top 40 countdown! This week, we will take another trip across the pond, to the UK. And if you are in the UK already, look out, here we come! This week, we will take a look at what the Top 40 songs were this week in 1987, in the UK. For those of us in the U.S., there will be some familiar songs. There will also be plenty of songs that didn’t hit it big in the U.S. As usual, you can click on the song title to get the YouTube video of the song, and you can click on the album cover to buy or listen to the song on Amazon. So, let’s Return to the week ending July 12, 1987, and get the countdown started!
This is an electronic instrumental. I don’t listen to today’s EDM. Or maybe if I do hear it, I black out from the pain of that crap going into my ears. This song is OK since it has a small sample of “Axel F” in it.
Apparently this song, a Carlton Banks favorite, had a resurgence in 1987. The Welsh Wonder (I just made that up) Tom Jones, originally had a smash hit with this song in 1965, when he was an unknown.
This is a pretty good freestyle song by Joyce Sims, who hails from Rochester New York. She never hit it too big in the U.S. This song did reach up to #23 on the U.S. R&B charts, but did not chart on the mainstream Billboard Hot 100. But, it reached up to #34 on the U.K. charts. She is still around, with her most recent album being released in 2014.
This song was originally recorded in 1973 by Ronnie Dyson, then made popular in 1974 by The Main Ingredient. This reggae version by Freddie McGregor became a huge hit in the U.K. reaching all the way up to #9.
This was Living in a Box’s follow-up single to their self-titled single. It did not chart at all in the U.S., but reached #30 on the U.K charts. I’m really digging this song. It’s a very cool, upbeat song that sticks with you.
Here’s a song that hit it big everywhere. This was Jody Watley’s debut solo single. In 1987, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Originally, Watley was a member of Shalamar, who are huge in England. I still can’t figure out why they don’t have a huge audience here.
This song by the synth-pop duo, Erasure, was a huge hit in the U.K., reaching all the way to #7. It did not chart at all on the Billboard Hot 100. They would have to wait for “Chains of Love” the following year for that.
This song was a worldwide smash hit for the Australian band. It was nominated for Best Group Video, and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the group a Best New Artist award. This song was also covered by Paul Young in 1991, and by Sixpence None the Richer in 2003.
What the hell?!?!? Why have I not heard of this version before? I love the Bee Gees, and love this song. But, I had never heard about this super group, Boogie Box High. It consists of guitarist Nick Heyward (of Haircut One Hundred), keyboardist Mick Talbot (of The Style Council), guitarist–songwriter David Austin, bassist Deon Estus, and a singer you may have heard of – George Michael!
Well, that wraps up today’s list of songs. What do you think so far? Any new songs you hadn’t heard before? Come back tomorrow for some more gems.
Hi Everybody! We are back this week with another Top 40 Countdown! This week, we Return to 1987. This was one of the best periods in my life. I was in my junior year of high school. I was actually doing decent in school, finally. I had met a girl who would be a great girlfriend around this time. And music, movies, and TV shows were outstanding. So, “let’s go”, and Return to the week ending February 28, 1987, and begin the countdown. As usual, you can click on the song title to watch the video, and you can click onthe album cover to listen or purchase the song on Amazon.
Yeesh, this is a timely song title right now. I had forgotten about this song. This song also mentions the album title – Whiplash Smile. I always thought it was cool when there was no title track, but a song on the album had the title in the lyrics.
This was a huge hit for Robbie Nevil, reaching all the way up to #2 on the Hot 100. I was very much into rock at this point, so I didn’t care much for it. It didn’t help that it was constantly on the airwaves.
I love Boston! They were on fire in the late ’70s with back-to-back smash albums. However, it then took 8 years to release their 3rd album, Third Stage. It was another great album. But, what I remember most was when I bought the cassette, and in the liner notes, there were all kinds of excuses of why it took so long to release this album. Even back then, I thought that was strange.
We’ll close out today with another song I had never heard of before. I’ve been missing out! This song was off of Jeff Lorber’s Private Passion album. In 1988, Karyn White would go on to release her debut album, and had a great run as a solo artist.
Well, that wraps up today’s list of songs. Any favorites so far, or any forgotten hits for you? What were you doing at this time in 1987? I’d love to hear from you! Come back tomorrow as we continue the countdown.
Welcome back as the countdown continues. If you missed the first 10 songs, you can go back and check them out. In the early ’80s, radio was quite diverse. Disco was still winding down, and there were a lot of singer/songwriter, rock, and pop tunes. In the late ’80s, the Top 40 countdowns were still diverse. There was a good combination of pop, rock, and R&B. And today’s list is no exception. So, let’s go back to the good ole days, and Return to the week ending August 8, 1987, and go on with the countdown.
Often imitated, but never duplicated! This pioneering female freestyle group had an incredible start, landing four top 10 hits from their debut album, Exposure. And this was one of them.
Often, the question comes up, Can you name a song with the same name as its artist? This, Night Ranger, and Danger Danger are always my go-to’s. This song has that classic ’80s pop sound.
We wrap up today with a classy song. This song was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. I love both Dionne Warwick’s and Jeffrey Osborne’s voices. And together, they sound great.
Well, we’re halfway through the countdown. What do you think so far? Do you have any favorites, or are there any surprises that you had forgotten about? Let me know.