I think I know many of the #1 pop hits of 1986 because I watched MTV regularly at home at the time. I certainly don’t own most of these, but I heard them enough to identify the vast majority of the tracks. And I eventually did buy some greatest hits albums for this new technology called the compact disc: Heart, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Prince, Steve Winwood.
That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne & Friends (Arista), four weeks at #1, gold record. And such friends Ms. Warwick had: Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Elton John. Written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. Originally recorded by Rod Stewart in 1982.
Walk Like An Egyptian – The Bangles (Columbia), four weeks at #1, gold record
On My Own -Patti LaBelle/Michael McDonald (MCA), three weeks at #1, gold record
Greatest Love Of All – Whitney Houston (Arista), three weeks at #1, gold record
Stuck With You – Huey Lewis & the News (Chrysalis), three weeks at #1
Rock Me Amadeus – Falco (A&M), three weeks at #1
Kyrie – Mr. Mister (RCA), two weeks at #1
Kiss – Prince and the Revolution (Paisley Park), two weeks at #1, gold record
Papa Don’t Preach – Madonna (Sire), two weeks at #1, gold record
How Will I Know – Whitney Houston (Arista), two weeks at #1, gold record
Glory Of Love – Peter Cetera (Full Moon), two weeks at #1
When I Think Of You – Janet Jackson (A&M), two weeks at #1, gold record
True Colors – Cyndi Lauper (Portrait), two weeks at #1
Amanda – Boston (MCA), two weeks at #1
One week at #1
The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby & The Range (RCA)
Human – Human League (A&M/Virgin)
Addicted To Love – Robert Palmer (Island), gold record
They’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) – Billy Ocean (Jive). All three of his #1 hits had exactly eight words (including in the parentheses)
Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel (Geffen), from an album I did/do own. I have a LOT of Gabriel.
West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys (EMI America)
Take My Breath Away – Berlin (Columbia), gold record. I was flipping through the channels a few months ago and came across Top Gun, a movie that I had never seen before. I watched about a half hour of it, which seemed sufficient.
Sara – Starship (Grunt)
Venus – Bananarama (London); a cover of the Shocking Blue song that hit #1 in 1970
The Next Time I Fall In Love– Peter Cetera with Amy Grant (Full Moon)
You Give Love A Bad Name – Bon Jovi (Mercury)
Holding Back The Years – Simply Red (Elektra). I do have two Simply Red albums.
Higher Love – Steve Winwood (Island)
These Dreams – Heart (Capitol)
Live To Tell – Madonna (Sire)
Invisible Touch – Genesis (Atlantic). I have a couple of Genesis albums, including the one for which this song is the title track.