1987 in British music explained

This is a summary of 1987 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

Summary

The start of the year saw an important milestone in electronic dance music, when Steve "Silk" Hurley's song "Jack Your Body" became the first house music track to reach number 1 in the UK charts. This was despite Hurley refusing to promote the song, and the 12-inch single technically breaking chart rules as it was longer than the allowed 25-minute play time. House music had been steadily growing in popularity since it started underground in the early 1980s, and another number 1 would follow in September, the huge selling "Pump Up The Volume" by British act M|A|R|R|S which was one of the top ten biggest selling songs of the year.

For most of the 1980s, the main musical format in the charts was the gramophone record, with songs being released on both 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl singles. However, in 1987 two new formats started to appear. The first was the digital CD single, where songs are put on a Compact Disc. These were first made eligible for the UK Singles Chart this year, and the first number 1 to be released as a CD single was Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" released in May. The second was the cassette single where the song is released on an audio tape - the BPI began recording their sales this year, but they would not become eligible until 1989. Both formats would dominate the chart throughout the 1990s.

Synthpop bands Pet Shop Boys and Erasure continued their success from their breakthrough year in 1986, with the Pet Shop Boys achieving their second number 1 single ("It's a Sin") in the summer, and two more top ten singles with "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", a collaboration with Dusty Springfield, which peaked at number 2, and "Rent", which peaked at number 8. Their album "Actually" also sold well and peaked at number 2. Erasure's album The Circus was their first charting album and peaked at number 6, and had two top 10 hits this year with the eponymous title track and "Victim of Love", as well as the number 12 charting "It Doesn't Have to Be" and their big hit from the previous year, "Sometimes". Both bands would continue to have huge success into the early 1990s.

The sound of producers Stock Aitken Waterman continued to grow in popularity, as they moved from their previous Hi-NRG sound to one more pop-based. It gave them big hits with girl group Bananarama, with their song "Love in the First Degree" becoming their biggest hit ever when it peaked at number 3, and American singer Sinitta with "Toy Boy", the successful No.4 followup to the big selling song "So Macho" from 1986. They also achieved two number one's, one being girl duo Mel and Kim's "Respectable", and created a huge star with the baritone-voiced singer Rick Astley. In 1987 he had a number one album with "Whenever You Need Somebody", and several high charting singles including the title track and the biggest selling single of the year, his number 1 breakthrough song "Never Gonna Give You Up".

Madonna continued her long run of Top Ten hits throughout the year, scoring two number one's, "La Isla Bonita" in April and "Who's That Girl" in July; the former was her third number one single from the multi-million selling album True Blue and the latter was taken from the film of the same name in which Madonna herself starred. Although the film was critically panned, the soundtrack album hit a respectable No.4 and generated two more Top 10 hits for Madonna; "Causing a Commotion" (No.4, September) and "The Look of Love" (No.9, December).

Soul singer Ben E. King got a surprise number 1 with a re-release of 1961's "Stand by Me", which was used in an advert for Levi Jeans. Long running band The Bee Gees also got their first number 1 of the decade with "You Win Again", their fifth overall in a 20-year career, and Michael Jackson released the multi-million selling "Bad" one of the highest selling albums in UK chart history. It spawned the number 1 single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (a duet with Siedah Garrett), the number 3 title track and the number 3 "The Way You Make Me Feel". The year also saw George Michael launch his solo career post-Wham! with the album "Faith" and its title track, which reached number 2.

The race for the Christmas number one single had many contenders this year. Rick Astley released a cover of "When I Fall In Love", and the 1956 Nat King Cole version was re-released at the same time, while 'Mel & Kim' released a cover of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - however, this referred to comedian Mel Smith and singer Kim Wilde rather than the girl group of the same name; proceeds went to the charity Comic Relief. A very popular Christmas song released this year was a collaboration with Irish band The Pogues and singer Kirsty MacColl, with the song "Fairytale of New York". With its bitter tale about the breakup of two lovers, it was very different from other Christmas songs around.

In the end, it was the Pet Shop Boys who had the Christmas number one of 1987, with their cover of Elvis Presley's "Always on My Mind". The Pogues peaked at number 2 and has been re-issued several times since, reaching the top 10 in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

In the world of classical music Nicholas Maw's new work Odyssey made an impact, and veteran composer Malcolm Arnold produced his Salute to Thomas Merritt, Op. 98, whilst Michael Nyman and Judith Weir both brought new operas to the stage. The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition was won by Italian soprano Valeria Esposito, and the Lieder prize was introduced into the competition for the first time.

Events

Charts

Number one singles

[4]

Chart date
(week ending)
Song Artist(s) Weeks
3 January"Reet Petite"3
10 January
17 January
24 January"Jack Your Body"2
31 January
7 February"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"2
14 February
21 February"Stand by Me"3
28 February
7 March
14 March"Everything I Own"2
21 March
28 March"Respectable"1
4 April"Let It Be"3
11 April
18 April
25 April"La Isla Bonita"2
2 May
9 May"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"4
16 May
23 May
30 May
6 June"I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"2
13 June
20 June"Star Trekkin'"2
27 June
4 July"It's a Sin"3
11 July
18 July
25 July"Who's That Girl"Madonna 1
1 August"La Bamba"2
8 August
15 August"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"2
22 August
29 August"Never Gonna Give You Up"5
5 September
12 September
19 September
26 September
3 October"Pump Up the Volume"/"Anitiиa (The First Time I See She Dance)" 2
10 October
17 October"You Win Again"4
24 October
31 October
7 November
14 November"China in Your Hand"5
21 November
28 November
5 December
12 December
19 December"Always on My Mind"Pet Shop Boys 2
26 December

Number one albums

[5]

Chart date
(week ending)
Album Artist(s) Weeks
3 January Now 8 Various Artists 2
10 January
17 January The Whole Story 2
24 January
31 January Graceland 3
7 February
14 February
21 February The Phantom of the Opera Original London Cast 3
28 February
7 March
14 March The Very Best of Hot Chocolate 1
21 March The Joshua Tree 2
28 March
4 April Now 9 Various Artists 5
11 April
18 April
25 April
2 May
9 May Keep Your Distance 2
16 May
23 May It's Better to Travel 2
30 May
6 June Live in the City of Light 1
13 June Whitney 6
20 June
27 June
4 July
11 July
18 July
25 July Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby 1
1 August Hits 6 Various Artists 4
8 August
15 August
22 August
29 August Hysteria 1
5 September Hits 6 Various Artists 1
12 September Bad 5
19 September
26 September
3 October
10 October
17 October Tunnel of Love 1
24 October ...Nothing Like the Sun 1
31 October Tango in the Night 2
7 November
14 November Faith 1
21 November Bridge of Spies 1
28 November Whenever You Need Somebody 1
5 December Now 10 Various Artists 4
12 December
19 December
26 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

[6]

scope=colscope=colTitlescope=colArtistscope=colPeak
position
scope=colEstimated
sales[7]
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 1"Never Gonna Give You Up"1810,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 2"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"Starship1740,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 3"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"1640,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 4"You Win Again"Bee Gees1590,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 5"China in Your Hand"T'Pau1570,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 6"Respectable"Mel and Kim1570,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 7"Stand by Me"1530,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 8"It's a Sin"Pet Shop Boys1475,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 9"Star Trekkin'"1470,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 10"Pump Up the Volume"/"Anitiиa (The First Time I See She Dance)" M|A|R|R|S1450,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 11"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" and Aretha Franklin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 12"Under the Boardwalk"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 13"Let It Be"Ferry Aid1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 14"Always on My Mind"Pet Shop Boys1430,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 15"Got My Mind Set on You"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 16"Can't Be with You Tonight"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 17"La Isla Bonita"Madonna1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 18"La Bamba"Los Lobos1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 19"Hold Me Now"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 20"Who's That Girl"Madonna1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 21"Everything I Own"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 22"Down to Earth"Curiosity Killed the Cat3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 23"When a Man Loves a Woman"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 24"Heartache"Pepsi & Shirlie2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 25"Always"Atlantic Starr3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 26"Whenever You Need Somebody"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 27"Toy Boy"Sinitta4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 28"I Get the Sweetest Feeling"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 29"Faith"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 30"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" featuring Siedah Garrett1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 31"Live It Up"Mental As Anything3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 32"Love in the First Degree"Bananarama3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 33"Crockett's Theme2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 34"Alone"Heart3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 35"Wipe Out" and The Beach Boys2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 36"Call Me"Spagna2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 37"Let's Wait Awhile"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 38"Jack Your Body"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 39"The Great Pretender"4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 40"Male Stripper"Man 2 Man meets Man Parrish4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 41"Lean on Me"Club Nouveau3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 42"What Have I Done to Deserve This?"Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 43"Some People"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 44"A Boy from Nowhere"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 45"With or Without You"U24
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 46"Wishing Well"4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 47"Heart and Soul"T'Pau4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 48"Fairytale of New York" featuring Kirsty MacColl2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 49"Full Metal Jacket (I Wanna Be Your Drill Instructor)" and Nigel Goulding2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 50"When I Fall in Love"/"My Arms Keep Missing You"2

Best-selling albums

[8]

scope=colscope=colTitlescope=colArtistscope=colPeak
position
scope=colEstimated
sales
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 1Bad11,650,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 2The Joshua TreeU211,450,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 3Whitney11,280,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 4Now 10Various Artists11,075,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 5Hits 6Various Artists11,050,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 6Tango in the NightFleetwood Mac1920,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 7Whenever You Need Somebody1850,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 8Bridge of SpiesT'Pau1780,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 9The Phantom of the OperaOriginal London Cast1735,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 10Hits 7Various Artists2695,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 11Running in the FamilyLevel 422
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 12Now 9Various Artists1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 13Raindancing2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 14Graceland1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 15ActuallyPet Shop Boys2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 16Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 17All the Best!2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 18Invisible TouchGenesis2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 19Men and WomenSimply Red2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 20The Best of UB40 – Volume OneUB403
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 21True BlueMadonna2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 22Live in the City of LightSimple Minds1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 23The Singles6
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 24Keep Your DistanceCuriosity Killed the Cat1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 25Faith1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 26The Cream of Eric Clapton3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 27Solitude Standing2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 28Always Guaranteed5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 29The Very Best of Hot ChocolateHot Chocolate1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 30Sixties MixVarious Artists3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 31The CircusErasure6
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 32Give Me the Reason9
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 33Silk & SteelFive Star5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 34HysteriaDef Leppard1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 35F.L.M.Mel and Kim3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 36Brothers in ArmsDire Straits11
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 37Popped In Souled OutWet Wet Wet2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 38So6
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 39Whitesnake 1987Whitesnake8
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 40It's Better to TravelSwing Out Sister1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 41Who's That GirlOriginal Soundtrack4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 42Simply Shadows7
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 43You Can DanceMadonna5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 44Dancing with Strangers2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 45The Return of Bruno4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 46Bad AnimalsHeart7
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 47Hearsay10
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 48Move CloserVarious Artists4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 49Tunnel of Love1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 50Licensed to IllBeastie Boys7

Notes:

Classical music

Opera

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1987 BRIT Awards winners were:

Ivor Novello Awards

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: That time Elton John underwent voice-altering throat surgery. Ultimate Classic Rock. Jeff Giles. 5 January 2017.
  2. Web site: Richard Rodney Bennett: Symphony No. 3. Sheet Music Plus. 8 July 2024.
  3. Web site: How Roger Waters' Split From Pink Floyd Was Eventually Finalized. Jeff. Giles. Ultimate Classic Rock. December 23, 2015 .
  4. Web site: 1987 The Number One Singles . .
  5. Web site: 1987 The Number One Albums . Official Charts Company .
  6. Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles . . Spotlight Publications . London, England . 36 . 23 January 1988.
  7. Alan . Jones . Chart File . Record Mirror . 28 . 9 January 1988.
  8. Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Albums . Record Mirror . 37 . 23 January 1988.
  9. Judith Weir, "A Note on a Chinese Opera". The Musical Times, 128(1733), 373-375 (1987).
  10. David Wright, "Weir to Now?". The Musical Times, 134(1806), 432-437 (1993).
  11. News: Philby . Charlotte . My Secret Life: Paolo Nutini, singer-songwriter, 22 . . 18 July 2009. 5 March 2011.
  12. Web site: Songwriter/Composer: Mumford Marcus Oliver Johnstone. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). 25 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160131233201/http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=PRS&cae=558912024&keyID=1244026&keyname=MUMFORD%20MARCUS%20OLIVER%20JOHNSTONE&querytype=WriterID. 31 January 2016. dead.
  13. Web site: Dover's Soul Sensation Joss Stone . 5 February 2008 . 16 October 2004 . Devon Soul . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070731013102/http://doversoul.tripod.com/id64.html . 31 July 2007 .
  14. Web site: On This Day 20 July: Nicola Benedetti Was Born. 20 July 2022. Georg Predota . Interlude. 8 July 2024.
  15. Web site: Amy Macdonald . Deezer . 17 March 2024.
  16. Book: Mick Houghton. I've Always Kept a Unicorn: The Biography of Sandy Denny. Faber & Faber. 2015. 9780571278923. 1957.
  17. Web site: David Stone. Marjorie Eyre. Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. 8 July 2024.
  18. News: Anon . Obituaries : PASSINGS : Manoug Parikian; Violinist . . 1987-12-25 . 2011-12-05.
  19. http://apollo.ram.ac.uk/emuweb/pages/ram/display.php?irn=17469 Royal Academy of Music: Museum & Collections - Ivor Novello Award
  20. https://books.google.com/books?id=rwkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=1987+ivor+novello+awards&pg=PA50 Billboard, 1 June 1996, p 50