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8EEZ Playlist: Hits of 1987 (30 Years Ago)

A Recollection of the Best Hits and Faves from 30 Years Ago

By Carlos GonzalezPublished 7 years ago 8 min read
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Hello and howdy do!

So, I've given my buddy Oates a vacay on this 'list as it's actually a reminiscence piece/playlist for me as I go back in my mental time machine and take you all back to when I was a mere boy of 15; a skinny, hairy, gawky and shy kid with acne, Elton John-style glasses and going to the "Fame" high school in New York City. No, I didn't dance up the street, nor did I get that stirring Debbie Allan speech, but it being my sophomore year, all I remember was being quite the wallflower and learning all too fast what anything that was considered hip and cool — wasn't me.

That being said, I couldn't care either way. I got to ride the NY Subway to my school alone and had a favorite afterschool hangout! A Tower Records conveniently located on the corner of Broadway and 78th (I think, I'm fuzzy on the actual details). High school was a new and frightening experience for me, but a pair of friends of mine, both art majors at my school, made the fears and insecurities more bearable.

It's a little hard to remember exact details of that year, but here's a funny little story. Not having reached 17 yet, I got to see my first ever R-rated film that year in NYC. The film? Fatal Attraction. A film that taught me the value of never crossing a pissed-off blond who I made it with near the kitchen sink and to always hide my pet rabbit when I left home.

All kidding aside — 1987 had many pluses musically; even though I still the feel the best of the 1980s peaked at 1986 and it all kind of went downhill from there. But, the strong mainstreaming of Heavy Metal on radio, the ever presence of Madonna and Gloria Estefan, the radio shifting more to freestyle dance and the ultimate comeback king: Michael Jackson had his Bad album released as his younger sister, Janet was savoring success in her own right. U2 finally became overnight sensations despite having been a much-loved band in their native Ireland and the UK and staples in the concert arena. Smash soundtrack album in the sleeper summer movie hit, Dirty Dancing. And the year ended with a "Wham!-er" going solo and giving us a killer album where his title song found him shaking his tight-butt-in-denim-jeans in front a jukebox. Teen queens Debbie Gibson and Tiffany ruling the airwaves. Los Lobos would score a Number 1 (their only) with the Spanish-traditional cover of the Ritchie Valens song "La Bamba" (a feat that took 30 years to break with the current Number 1 in the country; the remixed Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber hit, "Despacito." Finally, Def Leppard's defining album, Hysteria released.

A few brief facts about the year, MCMLXXXVII: Nineteen-hundred, eighty-seven.

The PSA of the "Egg in the frying pan—your brain on drugs" debuted.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the President of Russia, was TIME magazine's "Man of the Year"

Televangelist Jim Bakker had to resign from his PTL ministries over a sex scandal involving his secretary, Jessica Hahn.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had their own TV show. Sheesh!

Wall Street stock crashed, just as Michael Douglas' movie was released; netting him an Oscar — and a boiled bunny by Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction.

Favorite movies of mine from that year:

The Princess Bride

Can't Buy Me Love

The Lost Boys

Fatal Attraction

Moonstruck

The Witches of Eastwick

Innerspace

Beverly Hills Cop II

Best album of that year: TIE

Def Leppard – Hysteria

U2 – The Joshua Tree

Second best:

Whitney Houston – Whitney

Here's the list of 1987 hits that were a staple in my repertoire and have been ever since:

10. "Nobody's Fool" – Cinderella

Pittsburgh-based hair Metal band scored their first top 20 hit with this dark, power ballad. After "Don't Know What You Got" in 1988, they pretty much vanished.

9. "Wanted Dead or Alive" – Bon Jovi

Slippery When Wet was pretty much the Frampton Comes Alive of the 80s. Despite two Number 1 singles in "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' On a Prayer," this southern-goth arena rock record was always my favorite. Why was it NOT their third Number 1 still remains a mystery to me.

8. "Luka" – Suzanne Vega

A peppy, folksy tune told from the POV of a child who lived on the second floor and was the sad victim of child abuse. The song's deceptive, almost child-like use of up-tempo makes it all the more tragic when you soak up the lyrics.

7. "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" – Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine

Guilty pleasure, anyone? Loved it from the first time I heard it and it's still a powerhouse dance jam that keeps my blood pumping and my hips swaying. Fun fact, it was initially the Miami Sound Machine only. Her name finally came over the band's to give her more recognition.

6. "Lean On Me" – Club Nouveau

A R&B/funk/freestyle outfit that scored a Number 1 with this reggae cover of Bill Withers' 1972 soul ballad. They were almost a one-hit wonder until they released "Why You Treat Me So Bad" a month later. It did better on the R&B charts than on the pop.

5. "Heart and Soul" – T'Pau

A rock ballad by a UK group that took its name from a Star Trek character. The lead vocals by Carol Decker finds her "speaking" (or even rapping) the verses, then adding her powerful singing vocals on the chorus and the bridge. Made for a memorable hit, that sadly, here in the US, branded them a One-Hit Wonder.

4. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" – Whitney Houston

The late diva queen of pop with the golden pipes was known primarily for tearing into heart-wrenching ballads such as "You Give Good Love" and "The Greatest Love of All", showed us all her fun side. Off her second album, Whitney, this was the song that ushered me into my sophomore year in high school. It's my absolute favorite of hers and how sad that this bubbly track might've been the only song that gave us the more joyful side of this enigmatic icon.

3. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" – Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett

The first cut off his Bad album was a tender ballad and his first duet with a female. Word was that Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand were scouted to sing the duet, but declined for reasons we'll never really know. Siedah Garrett, a session singer walked into the studio thinking she was going to sing background vocals for a track he was working on — until the session began and it dawned on her. She was singing with the King of Pop himself!

2. "Looking For a New Love" – Jody Watley

Onetime "Soul Train" dancer and member of Shalamar found her tasting real fame on her solo album with this funky, Prince-inspired dance/funk track about turning the tables on her ex. The track was produced by her then-husband Andre Cymone (a one-time member of Prince's band The Revolution) and signaled the arrival of another super pop/R&B diva. She even won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1988.

1. "With or Without You" – U2

The Dublin, Ireland band scored a home run out of the park with this dichotomous rock ballad about not being able to with or without [you]. After years of rock arena success and many hits in their native homeland, The Joshua Tree gave them worldwide success and at least, one more Number 1 with their spiritual rock hit, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Bono, the band's lead singer would even become a sex symbol in the tight sleeveless leather vest he wore in the video.

1987 Honorable Mentions:

5. "I Want Your Sex" – George Michael

Used the Beverly Hills Cop II soundtrack and caused a stir over its very racy and forward lyrics. Airplay was minimal, but the track sold like hotcakes.

4. "You Keep Me Hangin' On" – Kim Wilde

Dance-y new wave cover of the Supremes classic went to Number 1 for this sexy UK singer.

3. "I Think We're Alone Now" – Tiffany

Teen mall queen scored with this fun Tommy James cover. It went to Number 1 and sparked the imaginary rivalry between her and teen pop princess Deborah (Debbie) Gibson.

2. "Head To Toe" – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

Freestyle dance and 60s girl-group grooves gave this club queen and her group their first Number 1 – and that wasn't all! "Lost In Emotion" was their second and last.

1. "Animal" – Def Leppard

It fared better in their native UK, but, this hard-living Metal band with the incredible one-arm drummer story gave us the first track from their Hysteria that gave way to more smash hits, like the title track and "Pour Some Sugar On Me" in 1988.

1987 vs. 2017. God, did the time fly!

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About the Creator

Carlos Gonzalez

A passionate writer and graphic artist looking to break into the BIG TIME! Short stories, scripts and graphic art are my forte! Brooklyn N.Y. born and raised. Living in Manchester, Connecticut! Working on two novels now!

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