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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 R&B Songs of 1987

1986 <-

1987

-> 1988

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

05/1987

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston

from Whitney

424

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
dance

2
R&B

✫1
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9598]
written by George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam

08/1987

I Just Can't Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson

from Bad

401

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

with Siedah Garrett
[Epic 07253]
written by Michael Jackson

01/1987

I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin & George Michael

from Aretha [1986 album]

399

✫1
US

2
AC

12
dance

5
R&B

✫1
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9559]
written by Simon Climie & Dennis Morgan

07/1987

Who's That Girl by Madonna

from Who's That Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

370

✫1
US

5
AC

44
dance

78
R&B

✫1
UK

[Sire 28341]
written by Madonna & Patrick Leonard

11/1987

The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson

from Bad

364

✫1
US

9
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Epic 07645]
written by Michael Jackson

09/1987

Bad by Michael Jackson

from Bad

357

✫1
US

33
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Epic 07418]
written by Michael Jackson

03/1987

Always by Atlantic Starr

from All in the Name of Love

355

✫1
US

✫1
AC

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Warner 28455]
written by Jonathan Lewis, David Lewis & Wayne Lewis

02/1987

Lean on Me by Club Nouveau

from Life, Love & Pain

355

✫1
US

31
AC

✫1
dance

2
R&B

3
UK

[King Jay 28430]
written by Bill Withers

10/1987

Need You Tonight by INXS

from Kick

352

✫1
US

7
dance

73
R&B

12
rock

2
UK

charted as Need You Tonight / Mediate in US dance charts
[Atlantic 89188]
written by Andrew Farriss & Michael Hutchence

10.

10/1987

So Emotional by Whitney Houston

from Whitney

339

✫1
US

8
AC

✫1
dance

5
R&B

5
UK

produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9642]
written by Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg

11.

06/1987

Wishing Well by Terence Trent D'Arby

from Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

338

✫1
US

44
AC

7
dance

✫1
R&B

4
UK

[Columbia 07675]
written by Terence Trent D'Arby & Sean Oliver

12.

01/1987

Let's Wait Awhile by Janet Jackson

from Control

326

2
US

2
AC

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[A&M 2906]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson & Melanie Andrews

13.

06/1987

I Want Your Sex by George Michael

from Faith

306

2
US

2
dance

43
R&B

3
UK

[Columbia 07164]
written by George Michael

14.

08/1987

Didn't We Almost Have It All by Whitney Houston

from Whitney

282

✫1
US

✫1
AC

2
R&B

14
UK

[Arista 9616]
written by Will Jennings & Michael Masser

15.

09/1987

Pump Up the Volume by M/A/R/R/S

269

13
US

✫1
dance

8
R&B

✫1
UK

[4th & Broadway 7452]
written by Steven Young (as Steve Young) & Martyn Young

16.

01/1987

Looking for a New Love by Jody Watley

from Jody Watley

262

2
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

13
UK

[MCA 52956]
written by André Cymone & Jody Watley

17.

03/1987

Sign o' the Times by Prince

from Sign of the Times

246

3
US

2
dance

✫1
R&B

10
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #299]
[Paisley Park 28399]
written by Prince

18.

04/1987

Head to Toe by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

from Spanish Fly

237

✫1
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

82
UK

[Columbia 07008]
written by Full Force

19.

08/1987

Lost in Emotion by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

from Spanish Fly

233

✫1
US

27
AC

8
dance

✫1
R&B

58
UK

[Columbia 07267]
written by Full Force

20.

08/1987

U Got the Look by Prince

from Sign of the Times

231

2
US

11
R&B

11
UK

with Sheena Easton
[Paisley Park 28289]
written by Prince

21.

07/1987

Wipe Out by The Fat Boys

from Crushin'

225

12
US

42
dance

10
R&B

2
UK

with The Beach Boys
[Tin Pan Apple 885960]
written by Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller & Ron Wilson

22.

11/1987

Girlfriend by Pebbles

from Pebbles

221

5
US

24
dance

✫1
R&B

8
UK

produced by Babyface
[MCA 53185]
written by L.A. Reid & Babyface

23.

07/1987

Casanova by Levert

from The Big Throwdown

214

5
US

27
dance

✫1
R&B

9
UK

[Atlantic 89217]
written by Reggie Calloway

24.

11/1987

Seasons Change by Exposé

from Exposure

213

✫1
US

✫1
AC

27
R&B

97
UK

[Arista 9640]
written by Lewis Martineé

25.

01/1987

Respect Yourself by Bruce Willis

from The Return of Bruno

212

5
US

22
AC

20
R&B

7
UK

[Motown 1876]
written by Luther Ingram & Mack Rice

26.

10/1987

Push It by Salt-N-Pepa

from Hot, Cool & Vicious

206

19
US

18
dance

28
R&B

2
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #440]
charted as Tramp / Push It in US dance charts : charted as Push It / Tramp in UK charts
[Next Plateau 315]
written by Hurby Azor & Ray Davies (as Raymond Douglas Davies)

27.

04/1987

Diamonds by Herb Alpert

from Keep Your Eye on Me

192

5
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

27
UK

with Janet Jackson
[R]
backing vocals by Lisa Keith
[A&M 2929]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III) & Terry Lewis

28.

04/1987

Songbird by Kenny G

from Duotones

186

4
US

3
AC

23
R&B

22
UK

[instrumental]
[Arista 9588]
written by Kenny G

29.

11/1987

I Want Her by Keith Sweat

from Make It Last Forever

171

5
US

38
dance

✫1
R&B

26
UK

[Vintertainment 69431]
written by Keith Sweat & Teddy Riley

30.

04/1987

Living in a Box by Living in a Box

from Living in a Box

170

17
US

6
dance

74
R&B

5
UK

[Chrysalis 43104]
written by Marcus Vere & Steve Pigott

31.

05/1987

Under the Boardwalk by Bruce Willis

from The Return of Bruno

166

59
US

20
AC

72
R&B

2
UK

[Motown 1896]
written by Kenny Young & Arthur Resnick

32.

10/1987

I Want to Be Your Man by Roger

from Unlimited!

163

3
US

22
AC

✫1
R&B

[Reprise 28229]
written by Larry Troutman

33.

08/1987

I Need Love by LL Cool J

from Bigger and Deffer

161

14
US

✫1
R&B

8
UK

[Def Jam 07350]
written by LL Cool J (as James Todd Smith), DJ Bobcat (as Bobby Erving), Darryl Pierce, Dwayne Simon & Steven Ett

34.

07/1987

Tramp by Salt-N-Pepa

from Hot, Cool & Vicious

160

18
dance

21
R&B

2
UK

charted as Tramp / Push It in US dance charts : charted as Push It / Tramp in UK charts
[Next Plateau 50063]
written by Lowell Fulson (as Lowell Fulsom) & Jimmy McCracklin

35.

08/1987

Don't You Want Me by Jody Watley

from Jody Watley

157

6
US

✫1
dance

3
R&B

55
UK

produced by Bernard Edwards
[MCA 53162]
written by Franne Golde, David Paul Bryant (as D.P. Bryant) & Jody Watley

36.

02/1987

Don't Disturb This Groove by The System

from Don't Disturb This Groove

151

4
US

35
AC

✫1
R&B

[Atlantic 89320]
written by David Frank & Mic Murphy

37.

09/1987

Criticize by Alexander O'Neal

from Hearsay

148

70
US

21
dance

4
R&B

4
UK

[Tabu 07600]
written by Garry Johnson & Alexander O'Neal

38.

03/1987

Moonlighting Theme by Al Jarreau

from Moonlighting: The Television Soundtrack Album

145

23
US

✫1
AC

32
R&B

8
UK

produced by Nile Rodgers
[MCA 53124]
written by Al Jarreau & Lee Holdridge

39.

02/1987

Just to See Her by Smokey Robinson

from One Heartbeat

144

8
US

✫1
AC

2
R&B

52
UK

[Motown 1877]
written by Jimmy George & Lou Pardini

40.

05/1987

The Pleasure Principle by Janet Jackson

from Control

141

14
US

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

24
UK

[A&M 2927]
written by Monte Moir

41.

04/1987

Rock Steady by The Whispers

from Just Gets Better with Time

139

7
US

49
AC

✫1
R&B

38
UK

produced by Babyface
[Solar 70006]
written by L.A. Reid & Babyface (as Kenneth Edmonds)

42.

08/1987

Let Me Be the One by Exposé

from Exposure

125

7
US

2
dance

29
R&B

76
UK

[Arista 9617]
written by Lewis Martineé

43.

10/1987

We'll Be Together by Sting

from …Nothing Like the Sun

124

7
US

17
dance

39
R&B

20
rock

41
UK

[A&M 2983]
written by Sting

44.

11/1987

Love Overboard by Gladys Knight & the Pips

from All Our Love

120

13
US

45
AC

4
dance

✫1
R&B

42
UK

[MCA 53210]
written by Reggie Calloway

45.

03/1987

Right on Track by Breakfast Club

from Breakfast Club

120

7
US

7
dance

64
R&B

54
UK

[MCA 52954]
written by Dan Gilroy & Stephen Bray (as Steve Bray)

46.

12/1987

Some Kind of Lover by Jody Watley

from Jody Watley

120

10
US

✫1
dance

3
R&B

81
UK

[MCA 53235]
written by André Cymone & Jody Watley

47.

07/1987

Catch Me (I'm Falling) by Pretty Poison

from Catch Me I'm Falling

119

8
US

✫1
dance

13
R&B

[Virgin 99416]
written by Jade Starling & Whey Cooler

48.

03/1987

(Something Inside) So Strong by Labi Siffre

from So Strong

119

49
R&B

4
UK

[China 43102]
written by Labi Siffre

49.

01/1987

Stone Love by Kool & The Gang

from Forever

116

10
US

11
AC

41
dance

4
R&B

45
UK

[Mercury 888292]
written by Claydes Charles Smith, Kool & The Gang & James "J.T." Taylor

50.

06/1987

Cross My Broken Heart by The Jets [pop band]

from Magic

113

7
US

8
dance

11
R&B

[MCA 53123]
written by Stephen Bray & Michael Verdick

51.

06/1987

One Heartbeat by Smokey Robinson

from One Heartbeat

112

10
US

2
AC

3
R&B

[Motown 1897]
written by Brian Ray & Steve LeGassick

52.

03/1987

Back and Forth by Cameo

from Word Up!

109

50
US

6
dance

3
R&B

11
UK

[Atlanta Artists 888385 ]
written by Kevin Kendrick, Nathan Leftenant, Larry Blackmon & Tomi Jenkins

53.

03/1987

If You Let Me Stay by Terence Trent D'Arby

from Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

105

68
US

47
dance

19
R&B

7
UK

[Columbia 07398]
written by Terence Trent D'Arby

54.

10/1987

I Live for Your Love by Natalie Cole

from Everlasting

105

13
US

2
AC

4
R&B

86
UK

[Manhattan 50094]
written by Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel & Allan Rich

55.

07/1987

Love Power by Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osborne

from Reservations for Two

104

12
US

✫1
AC

5
R&B

produced by Carole Bayer Sager & Burt Bacharach
[Arista 9567]
written by Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

56.

09/1987

Love Is Contagious by Taja Sevelle

from Taja Sevelle

102

62
US

48
AC

58
R&B

7
UK

[Reprise 28257]
written by Taja Sevelle

57.

06/1987

Jump Start by Natalie Cole

from Everlasting

101

13
US

28
dance

2
R&B

44
UK

[Manhattan 50073]
written by Reggie Calloway & Vincent Calloway

58.

04/1987

Lies by Jonathan Butler

from Jonathan Butler

27
US

16
AC

5
R&B

18
UK

[Jive 1038]
written by Jonathan Butler & Jolyon Skinner

59.

11/1987

Come into My Life by Joyce Sims

from Come into My Life

48
dance

10
R&B

7
UK

[Sleeping Bag 28]
written by Joyce Sims

60.

05/1987

Wot's It to Ya by Robbie Nevil

from Robbie Nevil

10
US

10
dance

69
R&B

43
UK

[EMI 50075]
written by Robbie Nevil & Brock Walsh

61.

11/1987

Two Occasions by The Deele

from Eyes of a Stranger

10
US

21
AC

4
R&B

produced by Babyface
[Solar 70015]
written by Babyface (as Kenneth Edmonds), Darnell Bristol (as Darnell "Dee" Bristol) & Sid Johnson

62.

02/1987

Keep Your Eye on Me by Herb Alpert

from Keep Your Eye on Me

46
US

3
dance

3
R&B

19
UK

backing vocals by Lisa Keith
[A&M 2915]
written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

63.

05/1987

Fake by Alexander O'Neal

from Hearsay

25
US

7
dance

✫1
R&B

33
UK

[Tabu 07100]
written by Jimmy Jam (as James Harris) & Terry Lewis

64.

08/1987

Dinner with Gershwin by Donna Summer

from All Systems Go

48
US

38
AC

13
dance

10
R&B

13
UK

[Geffen 28418]
written by Brenda Russell

65.

12/1987

(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay by Michael Bolton

from The Hunger

11
US

19
AC

58
R&B

12
rock

77
UK

[Columbia 07680]
written by Otis Redding & Steve Cropper

66.

09/1987

The Real Thing by Jellybean

from Just Visiting This Planet

82
US

✫1
dance

49
R&B

13
UK

featuring Steven Dante
[Chrysalis 43167]
written by Arnie Roman & Toni C. (as Toni C)

67.

10/1987

Dance Little Sister by Terence Trent D'Arby

from Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

30
US

7
dance

9
R&B

20
UK

[Columbia 08023]
written by Terence Trent D'Arby

68.

10/1987

Skeletons by Stevie Wonder

from Characters

19
US

20
dance

✫1
R&B

59
UK

[Motown 1907]
written by Stevie Wonder

69.

08/1987

I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone by Ray Parker Jr

from After Dark

68
US

42
AC

5
R&B

13
UK

[Geffen 28417]
written by Ray Parker Jr

70.

08/1987

Don't Make Me Wait for Love by Kenny G

from Duotones

15
US

2
AC

17
R&B

vocals by Lenny Williams
[Arista 9625]
written by Walter Afanasieff, Preston Glass & Narada Michael Walden

71.

03/1987

Se La by Lionel Richie

from Dancing on the Ceiling

20
US

5
AC

12
R&B

43
UK

[Motown 1883]
written by Greg Phillinganes & Lionel Richie

72.

02/1987

Happy by Surface

from Surface

20
US

24
AC

2
R&B

56
UK

[Columbia 06611]
written by Bernard Jackson, David Townsend & David Conley

73.

11/1987

Paid in Full by Eric B. & Rakim

from Paid in Full

3
dance

65
R&B

15
UK

[novelty]
charted as Move the Crowd / Paid in Full in US dance charts
[4th & B'way 7456]
written by Eric B. (as Eric Barrier) & Rakim (as William Griffin Jr.)