Tag Archives: tb80s

by

Song of the Day #6,587: ‘Danger Zone’ – Kenny Loggins

The week of July 19, 1986, found a trio of songs atop the Billboard Hot 100 that I’ve already covered: Genesis’ ‘Invisible Touch,’ Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledgehammer,’ and Janet Jackson’s ‘Nasty.’

At #4 that week was Kenny Loggins’ ‘Danger Zone,’ the first of eight singles from the blockbuster soundtrack to the blockbuster movie Top Gun. Second single ‘Take My Breath Away,’ by Berlin, ended up making the bigger splash, reaching #1 and winning the Academy Award for Best Song. But this one was no slouch, peaking at #2 later that July.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,573: ‘Holding Back the Years’ – Simply Red

The week of July 5, 1986, found Billy Ocean holding on to the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘There’ll Be Sad Songs.’ At #2, a week before its own one-week stint at #1, was Simply Red’s ‘Holding Back the Years.’

This was the first of two #1 hits for the English pop/soul band. Their second, a cover of ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now,’ topped the chart in 1989.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,559: ‘There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)’ – Billy Ocean

Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald held the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 the week of June 21, 1986, with ‘On My Own.’ It was the second of three weeks the song spent at #1.

Just behind it was Billy Ocean’s ‘There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry),’ which eventually reached #1 and spent a single week there. It timed that achievement well, becoming the 600th #1 hit on the Hot 100.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,545: ‘I Can’t Wait’ – Nu Shooz

A trio of holdovers topped the Billboard Hot 100 the week of June 7, 1986. They were, in order, Madonna’s ‘Live To Tell,’ Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s ‘On My Own,’ and Whitney Houston’s ‘Greatest Love of All.’

In the #4 slot is the first (and likely last) appearance on this blog by Nu Shooz, a husband-wife pop duo that had one big U.S. hit: ‘I Can’t Wait.’ This song is actually a synth-pop remix of the duo’s original R&B recording.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,531: ‘On My Own’ – Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald

A pair of divas topped the Billboard Hot 100 the week of May 24, 1986: Whitney Houston with ‘Greatest Love of All‘ and Madonna with ‘Live to Tell.’ Alas, I’ve already written about both.

That brings us to #3, where we find another diva teaming up with one of the great soul singers. Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald’s ‘On My Own’ eventually spent three weeks at #1 and became the biggest hit for either artist.

Continue reading →