A new song reached Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100” forty years ago today, and it was there for a total of three weeks. On June 14, 1986 “On My Own” (video up top) a duet by American singers Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald reached Number One. The song was the lead single from LaBelle’s eighth studio album, Winner in You, which was released on April 28, 1986. It was written and produced by Burt Bacharach and his then-wife Carole Bayer Sager. It was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick for her 1985 album, Friends.
In the mid-1980s, there were a bunch of slower songs that were hits, but often not with me, and this song was one of them. However, I didn’t actively dislike the song, either—it was a sort of somewhat negative neutrality. In those days, the song’s pace was far too slow for me, and that was the main thing. However, a bigger issue for me was that I was never a fan of Michael McDonald and I didn’t like his sound. While I liked LaBelle’s sound, I never bought any of her records, so I guess it was a kind of a passive appreciation of her work. Actually, that’s something that’s always been true for me back as far as I can remember. So, consistency, I guess.
“On My Own” reached Number 12 in Australia, 2 in Canada, 4 in New Zealand, 2 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, “US Dance Singles Sales”, and “US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs{ charts. It was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” and “US Black Contemporary Singles” charts. The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The album Winner in You reached Number 72 in Australia, 10 in New Zealand, and 30 in the UK, as well as reaching Number One on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” and “US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” charts. It also reached Number 2 on the Cash Box “Top 100 Albums” chart, and was certified Platinum in the USA. The album didn’t chart in Canada, but it did achieve Platinum status.
This series will return in three weeks, on July 5, with the next new Number One from 1986. That song will begin a run of four one-week hits in a row.
Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1986” series:
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 1 – January 18, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 2 – February 15, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 3 – March 1, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 4 – March 15, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 5 – March 22, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 6 – March 29, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 7 – April 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 8 – May 3, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 9 – May 10, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 10 – May 17, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 11 – June 7, 2026
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