28 February 1987 The video (below) is for the hit movie of the same name, while the sleeve (above) is for the high-profile jeans commercial in which it also featured. With that sort of double-barrelled marketing firepower behind it, the re-released 'Stand By Me' was never not going to be a number one. Okay, maybe … Continue reading Ben E. King – ‘Stand By Me’
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Aretha Franklin and George Michael – ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’
7 February 1987 Amazingly, Aretha Franklin only ever had two US number one singles and, even more amazingly, 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)' was one of them. (The other was 'Respect'.) This is her only chart-topper on our side of the Atlantic. Whatever the great lady may have thought of this state of … Continue reading Aretha Franklin and George Michael – ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’
Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley – ‘Jack Your Body’
31 January 1987 Jackie Wilson's 'Reet Petite' demonstrates an important caveat of number one single status: it's not a reliable snapshot of pop music. No one was stanning for Jackie Wilson in 1987. Those of us who were addicted to Top Of The Pops and Smash Hits at the time had a far wider and … Continue reading Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley – ‘Jack Your Body’
Jackie Wilson – ‘Reet Petite’
10 January 1987 This was the UK Christmas number one of 1986, a few weeks late to the top of the Irish pops. I'm not sure why there was a brief Jackie Wilson revival at the turn of 1986 and 1987. 'Reet Petite' wasn't in any commercial or high-profile movie, and Wilson had already died … Continue reading Jackie Wilson – ‘Reet Petite’
The Housemartins – ‘Caravan Of Love’
13 December 1986 My main takeaway from 'Caravan Of Love' at the time was the bit in the video where each of The Housemartins took down their hoods to reveal a crucifix shaved into their heads. Was this a thing now, or even allowed? Impressionable as I was, I didn't have the nerve or inclination … Continue reading The Housemartins – ‘Caravan Of Love’
Europe – ‘The Final Countdown’
29 November 1986 Correct me if I'm doing you wrong, but I doubt any of us listen to 'The Final Countdown' for the crafted verses or insightful lyrics. No sirree, we're all here for that humungous synth riff, a signal to unleash good-natured headbanging and devil-horns hand gestures. That 'we' probably includes the band, by … Continue reading Europe – ‘The Final Countdown’
Berlin – ‘Take My Breath Away’
1 November 1986 Trivia fans, get yer hats! Before becoming the lead singer of Berlin, who were from California and not Germany, Terri Nunn auditioned for the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars and turned down the sizeable role of Lucy Ewing in '80s TV soap Dallas. Giorgio Moroder co-wrote both 'Take My Breath … Continue reading Berlin – ‘Take My Breath Away’
Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman – ‘All I Ask Of You’
25 October 1986 During my Paris years I went to the Opera a couple of times, but I never saw any phantoms there. West End musicals: don't trust them! If you've visited Paris you may have taken in the sight of the Opéra Garnier, to give it its proper name, looming in opulence like a … Continue reading Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman – ‘All I Ask Of You’
Status Quo – ‘In The Army Now’
18 October 1986 The early reference to Uncle Sam clarifies that this isn't the British Army or 'You're In The Black And Tans Now'. You'd have liked to see the Quo style out that one on their Irish tour. I remember 'In The Army Now' being a massive radio hit at the time. It stalled … Continue reading Status Quo – ‘In The Army Now’
Madonna – ‘True Blue’
4 October 1986 As we've seen so far in our '80s number ones, '60s throwbacks were all the rage. Even Motown royalty like Diana Ross with 'Chain Reaction' was in 1986 harking back to her own classic sound. And Madonna is from Bay City, Michigan, just out the road from Detroit, so when it comes … Continue reading Madonna – ‘True Blue’
