The Top 100 Songs of 1986*: #30-21

In 1986, the United States celebrated the 100th birthday of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor while Prince Andrew, Duke of York, married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in London.  Also that year, Kurt Waldheim, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, was elected president of Austria and actors James Cagney and Ted Knight and famous songwriter Howard Greenfield died.

These 10 songs were among the heavyweights of the year:

#30:

Walk Of Life

Dire Straits

British group Dire Straits, which first emerged on the scene in 1978 with their amazing debut album, grabs a spot in the Top 30.

#29:

Nasty

Janet Jackson

A superstar was born in 1986, as Janet Jackson placed "What Have You Done For Me Lately" at #42 and this song at #29.

#28:

Silent Running

Mike + the Mechanics

Mike Rutherford of Genesis with his side project the Mechanics also had a good year.

#27:

No One Is To Blame

Howard Jones

Phil Collins produced this song, adding drums and vocals to the track.  Howard Jones' great use of metaphors made the song click, giving him his biggest career hit at #4.

#26:

Amanda

Boston

This fantastic group loved to take their time.  They released their landmark debut album in 1976, then did not release their follow-up until three years later.  And, their album Third Stage did not arrive until seven years after that.

#25:

Something About You

Level 42

This song only reached #7 at the time but continues to grow in popularity.  The group featured several multi-instrumentalists with instruments used on their albums and in live shows interchangeable.  They had achieved a following in their native Great Britain, but their 1986 album World Machine truly spread their music around the world.

#24:

Danger Zone

Kenny Loggins

This superstar did so well with the theme to the movie Footloose in 1980 that he was invited to record a song on the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun.  Kenny did not disappoint, with a #2 smash that winds up #24 for the year.

#23:

Sara

 Starship

After the departure of Grace Slick and Marty Balin from Jefferson Starship in 1979, Mickey Thomas, the voice behind "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" by Elvin Bishop, was asked to join the group.  As Paul Kantner of Jefferson Starship retained the name when he left in 1984, the existing group had to choose a new one, so they renamed themselves simply Starship.

#22:

Kyrie

Mr. Mister

"Kyrie" means "Lord have mercy" in Greek.  Mr. Mister achieved a Top 10 hit in 10 countries, including a #1 in the U.S.  The group was nominated for two Grammy Awards:  Best New Artist of the Year and Best Pop Band.

#21:

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

Billy Ocean

This Trinidad-born star followed up the success of his breakthrough album Suddenly with this #1 smash, his fifth Top Five hit in three years, which continues to be strong 30 years later.