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)’ →

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’ →

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’ →