- 1987 in British music
This is a summary of
1987 in music in theUnited Kingdom , including the official charts from that year.ummary
The start of the year saw an important milestone in
electronic dance music , whenSteve "Silk" Hurley 's song "Jack Your Body " became the firsthouse 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 digitalCD single , where songs are put on aCompact 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 wasWhitney Houston 's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) " released in May. The second was thecassette 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 bandsPet Shop Boys andErasure 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 number 2 singles with "Rent" and "What Have I Done To Deserve This? ", a collaboration withDusty Springfield . 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 previousHi-NRG sound to one more pop-based. It gave them big hits from girl groupBananarama , with their song "Love in the First Degree " becoming their biggest hit ever when it peaked at number 3, and American singerSinitta with "Toy Boy", the successful followup to the big selling song "So Macho" from 1986. They also acheived two number 1s, one being girl duoMel and Kim 's "Respectable ", and created a huge star with the baritone-voiced singerRick Astley . In 1987 he had a number 1 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 ".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 bandThe Bee Gees also got their first number 1 of the decade with "You Win Again", their fifth overall in a 20-year career, andMichael Jackson released the multi-million selling "Bad" which as of 2008 is one of the top ten highest selling albums in UK chart history. It spawned the number 1 single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You " (a duet withSiedah Garrett ), the number 3 title track and the number 3 "The Way You Make Me Feel ". The year also sawGeorge 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 1956Nat King Cole version was re-released at the same time, while 'Mel & Kim' released a cover of "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree" - however, this referred to comedianMel Smith and singerKim Wilde rather than the girl group of the same name, proceeds went to the charityComic Relief . A very popular Christmas song released this year was a collaboration with Irish bandThe Pogues and singerKirsty MacColl , with the song "Fairytale of New York ". With its bitter tale about the breakup of two lovers, it was very different to 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.Charts
Number One Singles
Top 40 Singles of 1987
Music awards
BRIT Awards
The
1987 BRIT Awards winners were:*Best British producer: Dave Stewart
*Best classical recording:Julian Lloyd Webber /Royal Philharmonic Orchestra "Elgar Cello Concerto "
*Best international solo artist –Paul Simon
*Best soundtrack: "Top Gun"
*British album:Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms"
*British breakthrough act:The Housemartins
*British female solo artist:Kate Bush
*British group:Five Star
*British male solo artist:Peter Gabriel
*British single:Pet Shop Boys - "West End Girls "
*British Video:Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"
*International group:The Bangles
*Outstanding contribution:Eric Clapton External links
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/ BBC Radio 1's Chart Show]
* [http://www.theofficialcharts.com/ The Official United Kingdom Charts Company]
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