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!

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40. “Jack Mix II/III” by Mirage

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.

39. “It’s Not Unusual (1987)” by Tom Jones

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.

 

38. “Lifetime Love” by Joyce Sims

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.

37. “Just Don’t Want to be Lonely” by Freddie McGregor

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.

 

36. “Scales of Justice” by Living in a Box

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.

 

35. “Looking for a New Love” by Jody Watley

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.

 

34. “Victim of Love” by Erasure

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.

 

33. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House

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.

 

32. “Songbird” by Kenny G

Time for a little smooth jazz. Definitely not my kind of music. But, I do appreciate it much more now than I did when I was 16.

 

 

31. “Jive Talkin'” Boogie Box High

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!

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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.

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