List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1987

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Al Jarreau topped the chart with "Moonlighting", the theme song from the TV show of the same name. Al Jarreau Molde.jpg
Al Jarreau topped the chart with "Moonlighting", the theme song from the TV show of the same name.

In 1987, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. The chart, which in 1987 was published under the title Hot Adult Contemporary, has undergone various name changes during its history but has been published as Adult Contemporary since 1996. [1] In 1987, 22 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by radio stations. [1]

Contents

In the year's first issue of Billboard the number one song was "Love Is Forever" by Billy Ocean, which was in its third week at number one. [2] It held the top spot for a single week in 1987 before being replaced by "This Is the Time" by Billy Joel. The third chart-topper of the year, "At This Moment" by Billy Vera and the Beaters, had originally been released in 1981 but met with little success. [3] Several years later, however, it was used in the NBC sitcom Family Ties to soundtrack the romance between Alex P. Keaton and his girlfriend Ellen Reed, [4] [5] after which it was re-released and went to number one on both the AC chart and Billboard's pop singles listing, the Hot 100. [3] A second song to top the AC chart in 1987 based on exposure on television was "Moonlighting", the theme song from the comedy-drama of the same name which aired on ABC. [6] [7] Performed by Al Jarreau, the song topped the chart for a single week in July. Two songs featured in films also topped the chart in 1987: "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship from the soundtrack of Mannequin , [8] and "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from Dirty Dancing . [9]

"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" was one of three songs to tie for the longest unbroken run at number one during the year with four weeks in the top spot, along with "Ballerina Girl" by Lionel Richie and "Little Lies" by Fleetwood Mac. Only two acts achieved more than one AC number one in 1987. Whitney Houston topped the chart with "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" in July and "Didn't We Almost Have It All" in September, and Steve Winwood reached number one with "The Finer Things" in April and "Back in the High Life Again" in August. All four songs spent three weeks at number one, and Houston and Winwood tied for the highest total number of weeks at number one by an act in 1987 with six apiece. The final AC number one of the year was "Got My Mind Set on You" by George Harrison, which also topped the Hot 100 but would prove to be the final song by the former member of the Beatles to reach the peak position on either chart before his death in 2001. [10] [11] The number one position on Billboard's Year-End AC chart for 1987 was held by "Can't We Try" by Dan Hill and Vonda Shepard, even though it failed to reach the top spot in the weekly charts during the year. [12]

Chart history

The British singer Steve Winwood (pictured in 1970) had two number ones in 1987. Stevie Winwood (1970).jpg
The British singer Steve Winwood (pictured in 1970) had two number ones in 1987.
Jeffrey Osborne collaborated with Dionne Warwick on the chart-topper "Love Power". Jeffrey Osborne.jpg
Jeffrey Osborne collaborated with Dionne Warwick on the chart-topper "Love Power".
George Harrison ended the year at number one. George Harrison 1974 (cropped).jpg
George Harrison ended the year at number one.
Chart history
Issue dateTitleArtist(s)Ref.
January 3"Love Is Forever" Billy Ocean [2]
January 10"This Is the Time" Billy Joel [13]
January 17 [14]
January 24 [15]
January 31"At This Moment" Billy Vera and the Beaters [16]
February 7"Ballerina Girl" Lionel Richie [17]
February 14 [18]
February 21 [19]
February 28 [20]
March 7"You Got It All" The Jets [21]
March 14 [22]
March 21"Mandolin Rain" Bruce Hornsby and the Range [23]
March 28 [24]
April 4 [25]
April 11"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" Starship [26]
April 18 [27]
April 25" The Finer Things " Steve Winwood [28]
May 2 [29]
May 9 [30]
May 16"Just to See Her" Smokey Robinson [31]
May 23" La Isla Bonita " Madonna [32]
May 30"Always" Atlantic Starr [33]
June 6 [34]
June 13"In Too Deep" Genesis [35]
June 20 [36]
June 27 [37]
July 4"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" Whitney Houston [38]
July 11 [39]
July 18 [40]
July 25"Moonlighting" Al Jarreau [41]
August 1"Back in the High Life Again" Steve Winwood [42]
August 8 [43]
August 15 [44]
August 22"Love Power" Dionne Warwick and Jeffrey Osborne [45]
August 29"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett [46]
September 5 [47]
September 12 [48]
September 19"Didn't We Almost Have It All" Whitney Houston [49]
September 26 [50]
October 3 [51]
October 10"Little Lies" Fleetwood Mac [52]
October 17 [53]
October 24 [54]
October 31 [55]
November 7"Breakout" Swing Out Sister [56]
November 14 [57]
November 21" (I've Had) The Time of My Life " Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes [58]
November 28 [59]
December 5 [60]
December 12 [61]
December 19"Got My Mind Set on You" George Harrison [62]
December 26 [63]

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  2. 1 2 "Adult Contemporary chart for January 3, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Whitburn 2005, p. 743.
  4. ↑ Chaney, Jen (June 9, 2011). "Michael J. Fox turns 50: We celebrate with an Alex P. Keaton fest" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  5. ↑ Weinman, Jaime (August 4, 2008). "Pluggin' a Pop Song". Maclean's . Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 351.
  7. ↑ Saperstein, Pat (February 12, 2017). "Grammy-Winning Jazz Singer Al Jarreau Dies at 76". Variety . Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  8. ↑ Greene, Andy (February 5, 2019). "Flashback: Starship Declare 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now'" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  9. ↑ Semigran, Aly (December 1, 2010). "'(I've Had) The Time of My Life': From 'Dirty Dancing' to 'Glee'". MTV. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  10. ↑ Whitburn 2002, p. 112.
  11. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 303.
  12. ↑ "1987: The Year in Music & Video". Billboard . December 26, 1987. p. Y-31.
  13. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 10, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 17, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 24, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 31, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 7, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 14, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 21, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 28, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 7, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 14, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 21, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 28, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 4, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 11, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 18, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 25, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 2, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 9, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 16, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 23, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 30, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 6, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 13, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 20, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  37. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 27, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  38. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 4, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  39. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 11, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  40. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 18, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  41. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 25, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  42. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 1, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 8, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 15, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 22, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 29, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  47. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 5, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 12, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 19, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  50. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 26, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  51. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 3, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  52. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 10, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  53. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 17, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  54. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 24, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 31, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  56. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 7, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 14, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  58. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 21, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  59. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 28, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  60. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 5, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  61. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 12, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  62. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 19, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  63. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 26, 1987". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.

Works cited

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