The Top 100 Songs of 1986*: #50-41

In 1986, Halley's Comet became visible to Earth for the first time since 1910, IBM unveiled the PC Convertible, the world's first laptop computer and Intel introduced the 386 series microprocessor.  Also, The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted on television, Out of Africa captured Best Picture honors at the Academy Awards and the New York Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox in seven games to win the World Series.

In music, you could turn on your radio and hear these great songs:

#50:

Why Can't This Be Love

Van Halen

By 1986, the members of Van Halen had had enough of David Lee Roth; the same could probably be said for music fans.  The group released the album 5150, the first with new lead singer Sammy Hagar.

#49:

Mad About You
Belinda Carlisle

In the early part of the decade, this artist was with the all-female group the Go-Go's.  She established herself as a successful solo artist as well.

#48:

My Hometown

Bruce Springsteen

Released in 1984, the Born in the U.S.A. album was still going strong in '86.  Springsteen generated a record seven Top 10 songs from the album.  That's more from that one album than he had for the rest of his career.

#47:

All I Need Is A Miracle

Mike + the Mechanics

As Phil Collins was off doing several solo projects, fellow Genesis member Mike Rutherford decided to form this group, which featured one of the premier vocalists of the time, Paul Carrack.  Carrack started out with the group Ace, which enjoyed the 1975 hit "How Long", then was lead singer of Squeeze ("Tempted) before enjoying some solo success and then singing lead for Mike + the Mechanics.

#46:

Human

Human League

Here's another song produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.  They wrote this one for British group the Human League and it went Top 10.

#45:

Throwing It All Away

Genesis

This great group came up with the album of their career in 1986.  Invisible Touch eventually generated five Top Five songs.  This one peaked at #4, but continues to get stronger through the years.

#44:

Rock Me Amadeus

Falco

There are organizations that claim this is the #1 song of 1986.  Don't believe them; it's the reason Inside The Rock Era was started--too much misinformation out there regarding the Rock Era.  It was a #1 song, no doubt, but hasn't even sold over one million copies nor been played one million times 30 years later.  The grand total for Falco's album sales?  A mere 500,000.  So no, it is NOT the #1 song of 1986--not even close.

#43:

Kiss

Prince

(No YouTube video available)

Here's another #1 song from 1986, hurt quite a bit by no presence at all on YouTube.  While YouTube views are not one of the main factors used in the Inside The Rock Era database, it's still important in the 21st century to have your material out there.

#42:

What Have You Done For Me Lately

Janet Jackson

At #42, a song from Janet Jackson's breakthrough album Control.  She whipped out no less than six Top 10 songs from the album.

#41:

Take Me Home Tonight

Eddie Money

This former policeman from New York City did alright for himself in the music business.  He continues to perform, and this no doubt is one of his most requested songs, his biggest career hit.