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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top Songs of 1986

1985 <-

1986

-> 1987

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

02/1986

Rock Me Amadeus by Falco

from Falco 3

417

✫1
US

4
dance

6
R&B

✫1
UK

charted as Rock Me Amadeus / Vienna Calling in US dance charts
[A&M 2821]
written by Rob Bolland, Ferdi Bolland & Falco

06/1986

Papa Don't Preach by Madonna

from True Blue

410

✫1
US

16
AC

4
dance

✫1
UK

[Sire 28660]
written by Brian Elliot & Madonna

03/1986

On My Own by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald

from Winner in You

409

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
R&B

2
UK

[MCA 52770]
written by Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

06/1986

Take My Breath Away by Berlin

from Top Gun: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

405

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
UK

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1986]

[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1986]
produced by Giorgio Moroder
[Columbia 05903]
written by Giorgio Moroder & Tom Whitlock

04/1986

Live to Tell by Madonna

from True Blue

384

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
UK

[Sire 28717]
written by Madonna & Patrick Leonard

04/1986

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

from So

379

✫1
US

✫1
dance

61
R&B

✫1
rock

4
UK

[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 1987]
[Geffen 28718]
written by Peter Gabriel

10/1986

You Keep Me Hangin' On by Kim Wilde

from Another Step

378

✫1
US

30
AC

6
dance

2
UK

[MCA 53024]
written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.

04/1986

Holding Back the Years by Simply Red

from Picture Book

363

✫1
US

29
R&B

2
UK

[R]
[Elektra 69564]
written by Mick Hucknall & Neil Moss

10/1986

True Blue by Madonna

from True Blue

361

3
US

5
AC

6
dance

✫1
UK

[Sire 7-28591]
written by Madonna & Stephen Bray

10.

12/1986

Open Your Heart by Madonna

from True Blue

359

✫1
US

12
AC

✫1
dance

4
UK

[Sire 28508]
written by Madonna, Gardner Cole & Peter Rafelson

11.

06/1986

Glory of Love by Peter Cetera

from Solitude/Solitaire

359

✫1
US

✫1
AC

3
UK

[from the movie The Karate Kid]
[Full Moon 28662]
written by Peter Cetera, David Foster & Diane Nini

12.

02/1986

I Can't Wait by Nu Shooz

from Poolside

359

3
US

38
AC

✫1
dance

2
R&B

2
UK

[Atlantic 89446]
written by John Smith

13.

02/1986

Kiss by Prince

from Parade

357

✫1
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

6
UK

with The Revolution

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #461]
[Paisley Park 28751]
written by Prince

14.

07/1986

The Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh

from Into the Light

356

3
US

2
AC

✫1
UK

[A&M 2848]
written by Chris de Burgh

15.

08/1986

Shake You Down by Gregory Abbott

from Shake You Down

353

✫1
US

2
AC

✫1
R&B

6
UK

[Columbia 06191]
written by Gregory Abbott

16.

10/1986

Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

from Slippery When Wet

352

✫1
US

✫1
rock

4
UK

[Polygram 888184 (Mercury)]
written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Desmond Child

17.

08/1986

(I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew

from Broadcast

350

✫1
US

24
AC

37
dance

4
rock

4
UK

[Virgin 99481]
written by Nick Van Eede

18.

08/1986

Human by The Human League

from Crash

350

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
dance

3
R&B

8
UK

[A&M/Virgin 2861]
written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

19.

10/1986

C'est la vie by Robbie Nevil

from Robbie Nevil

349

2
US

37
AC

✫1
dance

7
R&B

3
UK

[EMI 50047]
written by Robbie Nevil, Duncan Pain & Mark Holding

20.

01/1986

Manic Monday by The Bangles

from Different Light

345

2
US

10
AC

43
rock

2
UK

[Columbia 05757]
written by Prince (as Christopher)

21.

02/1986

Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer

from Riptide

342

✫1
US

36
dance

✫1
rock

5
UK

produced by Bernard Edwards
[Island 7-99570]
written by Robert Palmer

22.

09/1986

Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles

from Different Light

337

✫1
US

46
dance

3
UK

[Columbia 06257]
written by Liam Sternberg

23.

03/1986

Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston

from Whitney Houston

331

✫1
US

✫1
AC

3
R&B

8
UK

[Arista 9466]
written by Linda Creed & Michael Masser

24.

08/1986

When I Think of You by Janet Jackson

from Control

326

✫1
US

10
AC

✫1
dance

3
R&B

10
UK

[A&M 2855]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis & Janet Jackson

25.

01/1986

What Have You Done for Me Lately by Janet Jackson

from Control

323

4
US

38
AC

2
dance

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[A&M 2812]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis & Janet Jackson

26.

04/1986

There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) by Billy Ocean

from Love Zone

317

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

12
UK

[Jive 9465]
written by Billy Ocean, Wayne Brathwaite (as Wayne Anton Braithwaite) & Barry Eastmond (as Barry James Eastmond)

27.

08/1986

Stuck with You by Huey Lewis & the News

from Fore!

314

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
rock

12
UK

[Chrysalis 43019]
written by Chris Hayes & Huey Lewis

28.

05/1986

Venus by Bananarama

from True Confessions

314

✫1
US

29
AC

✫1
dance

8
UK

produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman
[London 886056]
written by Robbie van Leeuwen

29.

04/1986

A Different Corner by George Michael

from The Final

305

7
US

6
AC

✫1
UK

[Columbia 05888]
written by George Michael

30.

08/1986

Word Up by Cameo

from Word Up!

302

6
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Atlanta Artists 884933 ]
written by Larry Blackmon & Tomi Jenkins

31.

07/1986

The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby

from The Way It Is

302

✫1
US

✫1
AC

3
rock

15
UK

as Bruce Hornsby and The Range
[RCA 5023]
written by Bruce Hornsby

32.

05/1986

Invisible Touch by Genesis

from Invisible Touch

302

✫1
US

3
AC

✫1
rock

15
UK

[Atlantic 89407]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

33.

06/1986

Higher Love by Steve Winwood

from Back in the High Life

301

✫1
US

7
AC

✫1
rock

13
UK

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1987]
[Warner 28710 (Island)]
written by Steve Winwood & Will Jennings

34.

07/1986

Dancing on the Ceiling by Lionel Richie

from Dancing on the Ceiling

299

2
US

3
AC

6
R&B

7
UK

[Motown 1843]
written by Mike Frenchik, Lionel Richie & Carlos Rios

35.

03/1986

Crush on You by The Jets [pop band]

from The Jets

295

3
US

4
dance

4
R&B

5
UK

[MCA 52774]
written by Jerry Knight & Aaron Zigman

36.

02/1986

We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart

from Frantic Romantic

287

5
US

41
dance

64
R&B

2
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9424]
written by Narada Michael Walden & Preston Glass

37.

10/1986

The Final Countdown by Europe

from The Final Countdown

286

8
US

18
rock

✫1
UK

[Epic 34-06416]
written by Joey Tempest

38.

10/1986

Stand by Me by Ben E. King

from Stand By Me: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

285

9
US

10
AC

✫1
UK

[R]
[Atlantic 89361]
written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

39.

08/1986

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

from True Colors

279

✫1
US

5
AC

12
UK

[Portrait 06247]
written by Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg

40.

10/1986

Breakout by Swing Out Sister

from It's Better to Travel

277

6
US

✫1
AC

12
dance

4
UK

[Mercury 888016]
written by Andy Connell, Corinne Drewery & Martin Jackson

41.

11/1986

Somewhere Out There by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram

from An American Tail: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack

276

2
US

4
AC

8
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1988]
[MCA 52973]
written by James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil

42.

03/1986

Touch Me (I Want Your Body) by Samantha Fox

from Touch Me

273

4
US

41
dance

3
UK

[Jive 1006]
written by Jon Astrop, Pete Q. Harris & Mark Shreeve

43.

06/1986

The Edge of Heaven by Wham!

from Music from the Edge of Heaven

273

10
US

22
AC

✫1
UK

double A-side with Where Did Your Heart Go in the UK
[Columbia 06182]
written by George Michael

44.

11/1986

Notorious by Duran Duran

from Notorious

271

2
US

26
dance

7
UK

co-produced by Nile Rodgers
[Capitol 5648]
written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon & John Taylor

45.

08/1986

You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi

from Slippery When Wet

268

✫1
US

9
rock

14
UK

[Polygram 884953 (Mercury)]
written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Desmond Child

46.

03/1986

Why Can't This Be Love by Van Halen

from 5150

258

3
US

✫1
rock

8
UK

[Warner 28740]
written by Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen & Alex Van Halen

47.

07/1986

I Didn't Mean to Turn You On by Robert Palmer

from Riptide

257

2
US

26
dance

41
rock

9
UK

produced by Bernard Edwards
[Island 7-99537]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III) & Terry Lewis

48.

01/1986

These Dreams by Heart

from Heart

256

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
rock

62
UK

[Capitol 5541]
written by Martin Page & Bernie Taupin

49.

07/1986

The Rain by Oran Juice Jones

from Juice

254

9
US

7
dance

✫1
R&B

4
UK

[Def Jam 06209]
written by Vincent F. Bell

50.

07/1986

Walk This Way by Run-DMC

from Raising Hell

250

4
US

6
dance

8
R&B

8
UK

featuring Steve Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #287]
[Profile 5112]
written by Steven Tyler & Joe Perry

51.

04/1986

Nasty by Janet Jackson

from Control

240

3
US

2
dance

✫1
R&B

19
UK

[A&M 2830]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis & Janet Jackson

52.

09/1986

Amanda by Boston

from Third Stage

239

✫1
US

13
AC

✫1
rock

84
UK

[MCA 52756]
written by Tom Scholz

53.

08/1986

Don't Leave Me This Way by The Communards

from Communards

234

40
US

✫1
dance

✫1
UK

with Sarah Jane Morris
[MCA 52928]
written by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff & Cary Gilbert

54.

06/1986

Throwing It All Away by Genesis

from Invisible Touch

230

4
US

✫1
AC

✫1
rock

22
UK

[Atlantic 89372]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

55.

09/1986

The Next Time I Fall by Peter Cetera & Amy Grant

from Solitude/Solitaire

230

✫1
US

✫1
AC

78
UK

[Full Moon 28597]
written by Bobby Caldwell & Paul Gordon

56.

11/1986

At This Moment by Billy Vera

from By Request: The Best of Billy Vera & the Beaters

228

✫1
US

✫1
AC

42
country

70
R&B

as Billy Vera & the Beaters
[R]
[live]
[Rhino 74403]
written by Billy Vera

57.

08/1986

Typical Male by Tina Turner

from Break Every Rule

228

2
US

23
AC

11
dance

3
R&B

33
UK

charted as Typical Male / Don't Turn Around in US dance charts
[Capitol 5615]
written by Terry Britten & Graham Lyle

58.

03/1986

Harlem Shuffle by The Rolling Stones

from Dirty Work

227

5
US

4
dance

2
rock

13
UK

[Columbia 05802 (Rolling Stone)]
written by Bob Relf (as Bobby Relf) & Earl Nelson

59.

07/1986

In Too Deep by Genesis

from Invisible Touch

224

3
US

✫1
AC

25
rock

19
UK

[Atlantic 89316]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

60.

03/1986

No One Is to Blame by Howard Jones

from Dream into Action

224

4
US

✫1
AC

20
rock

16
UK

[Elektra 69549]
written by Howard Jones

61.

07/1986

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight by Genesis

from Invisible Touch

218

3
US

8
AC

9
rock

18
UK

[Atlantic 89290]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

62.

09/1986

Jacob's Ladder by Huey Lewis & the News

from Fore!

216

✫1
US

17
AC

10
rock

[Chrysalis 43097]
written by Bruce Hornsby & John Hornsby

63.

04/1986

Lessons in Love by Level 42

from Running in the Family

215

12
US

12
dance

3
UK

[Polydor 883 956-7]
written by Wally Badarou, Boon Gould & Mark King

64.

07/1986

Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) by Glass Tiger

from The Thin Red Line

210

2
US

30
AC

17
rock

29
UK

[Manhattan 50037]
written by Alan Frew, Al Connelly, Sam Reid, Wayne Parker, Michael Hanson & Jim Vallance

65.

04/1986

Rumors by Timex Social Club

from Vicious Rumors

208

8
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

13
UK

charted as Rumors / Vicious Rumors in US dance charts
[Jay 7001]
written by Marcus Thompson, Michael Marshall & Alex Hill

66.

06/1986

Sweet Freedom by Michael McDonald

from Running Scared: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

207

7
US

4
AC

8
dance

17
R&B

12
UK

[MCA 52857]
written by Rod Temperton

67.

06/1986

Land of Confusion by Genesis

from Invisible Touch

206

4
US

11
rock

14
UK

[Atlantic 89336]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

68.

10/1986

Everybody Have Fun Tonight (Everybody Wang Chung Tonight) by Wang Chung

from Mosaic

202

2
US

4
dance

25
rock

76
UK

written by Nick Feldman & Jack Hues

69.

05/1986

Spirit in the Sky by Doctor and the Medics

from Laughing at the Pieces

202

69
US

27
dance

✫1
UK

written by Norman Greenbaum

70.

11/1986

You Got It All by The Jets [pop band]

from The Jets

200

3
US

✫1
AC

2
R&B

79
UK

[MCA 52968]
written by Rupert Holmes

71.

07/1986

Friends and Lovers by Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson

from Carl Anderson/Gloria Loring

200

2
US

✫1
AC

54
R&B

[USA Carrere 06122]
written by Jay Gruska & Paul Gordon

72.

06/1986

Sweet Love by Anita Baker

from Rapture

199

8
US

3
AC

2
R&B

13
UK

[Elektra 69557]
written by Anita Baker, Gary Bias & Louis Johnson

73.

05/1986

Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins

from Top Gun: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

199

2
US

7
rock

45
UK

produced by Giorgio Moroder
[Columbia 38-05893]
written by Giorgio Moroder & Tom Whitlock

74.

09/1986

Hip to Be Square by Huey Lewis & the News

from Fore!

195

3
US

20
AC

✫1
rock

41
UK

[Chrysalis 43065]
written by Bill Gibson, Sean Hopper & Huey Lewis

75.

12/1986

Ballerina Girl by Lionel Richie

from Dancing on the Ceiling

195

7
US

✫1
AC

5
R&B

17
UK

[Motown 1873]
written by Lionel Richie

76.

10/1986

Keep Your Hands to Yourself by The Georgia Satellites

from Georgia Satellites

194

2
US

2
rock

[Elektra 69502]
written by Dan Baird

77.

03/1986

Move Away by Culture Club

from From Luxury to Heartache

194

12
US

11
AC

4
dance

87
R&B

7
UK

charted as Move Away / Sexuality in US dance charts
[Virgin/Epic 05847]
written by Boy George, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss & Phil Pickett

78.

11/1986

Control by Janet Jackson

from Control

192

5
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

42
UK

[A&M 2877]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis & Janet Jackson

79.

04/1986

Who's Johnny by El DeBarge

from El DeBarge

188

3
US

18
AC

10
dance

✫1
R&B

[Gordy 1842]
written by Ina Wolf

80.

11/1986

Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town) by Jackie Wilson

188

✫1
UK

[R]
[re-entered UK charts after appearing in the BBC Two documentary series Arena]
written by Berry Gordy & Billy Davis [Roquel Davis] (as Tyran Carlo)

81.

05/1986

The Chicken Song by Spitting Image

188

✫1
UK

written by Philip Pope, Robert Grant & Doug Naylor

82.

03/1986

Living Doll by Cliff Richard and the Young Ones

188

✫1
UK

featuring Hank Marvin
[Comic Relief single]
written by Lionel Bart

83.

07/1986

I Wanna Wake Up with You by Boris Gardiner

from Everything to Me

188

✫1
UK

written by Ben Peters

84.

10/1986

Every Loser Wins by Nick Berry

from Nick Berry [1986 album]

188

✫1
UK

written by Simon May, Stewart James & Bradley James

85.

12/1986

Caravan of Love by The Housemartins

187

✫1
UK

written by Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper & Marvin Isley

86.

06/1986

Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent by Gwen Guthrie

from Good to Go Lover

187

42
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

5
UK

[Polydor 885106]
written by Gwen Guthrie

87.

03/1986

Absolute Beginners by David Bowie

from Absolute Beginners

187

53
US

9
rock

2
UK

[EMI America 8308]
written by David Bowie

88.

10/1986

Don't Get Me Wrong by The Pretenders

from Get Close

184

10
US

28
AC

✫1
rock

10
UK

[Sire 28630]
written by Chrissie Hynde

89.

10/1986

Sometimes by Erasure

from The Circus

179

4
dance

2
UK

charted as Sometimes / It Doesn't Have to Be in US dance charts
written by Vince Clarke & Andy Bell

90.

09/1986

Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend) by Mel and Kim

from F.L.M.

176

78
US

✫1
dance

23
R&B

3
UK

produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman ; charted as Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend) / System in US dance charts
[Atlantic 89329]
written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken & Pete Waterman