Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 22

The song that hit the top of the Billboard “Hot 100” this week in 1986 was the final Number one of that month—and the first of October 1986. On September 20, 1986, “Stuck with You” (video up top) by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News became the new Number One. The song was featured in the 1986 film Top Gun, which is evident in the video. The song was the first single from the band's fourth album, Fore!.

In my opinion, this song is a typical mainstream sort of pop music song from this era, though there plenty of other styles, too, of course. At the time, I thought his songs were pleasant enough, but I wasn’t fan, and I never bought any of this records—which, of course, wasn’t even remotely unusual for me. Even so, I do have three of his songs on compilation CDs, and that includes this song, which is fine (sometimes compilations have “WTF?” songs on them, but his weren’t of that sort for me).

As is also usually the case with the songs in these “Weekend Diversion” posts from the 1980s, this was a song that I remember hearing a lot at the time, and, again, I liked the sound well enough. This is a good thing: It’s hard to have much to say in these posts about songs that I don’t remember—but, is that true for every Number One song in the rest of 1986? Hm… On the other hand, In my mind the title of this song wa “Stuck on You”, though I have no idea why—maybe because I haven’t heard it in years?

“Stuck with You” reached Number 2 in Australia, 3 in Canada (Gold), 2 in New Zealand (Platinum), 4 in the UK, and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and “US Adult Contemporary” charts.

The album Fore! reached Number 3 in Australia, Number One in Canada (5x Platinum), Number One in New Zealand (Platinum), 8 in the UK (2x Platinum), as well as reaching Number One on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart. It was certified 3x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in three weeks, on October 11.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15 – July 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 16 – July 26, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 17 – August 2, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 18 – August 16, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 19 – August 30, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 20 – September 6, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 21 – September 13, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 21

On September 13, 1986, a new song reached the top of the Billboard “Hot 100”: “Take My Breath Away” (video up top) by American New Wave band Berlin became the new Number One. The song was featured in the 1986 film Top Gun, which is evident in the video. The song was released on the soundtrack album for the film, as well as Berlin’s fourth studio album, Count Three & Pray.

This is another song that I remember hearing a lot at the time, and I liked the sound well enough, though it definitely was the sound more than the substance. One of my childhood friends introduced me to Berlin several years earlier, and I liked that stuff more than than this particular song. However, I also liked a LOT of the music produced by Giorgio Moroder, who also produced this song, and that could be the reason I liked this particular song even thought it didn’t seem very Berlin-y to me.

At the risk of sounding like an—ahem—broken record, I never bought this song as a single, nor the soundtrack album, or the album by Berlin, either. In fact, the only Berlin album I bought wasBest of Berlin 1979–1988, which I bought on CD in the very early 1990s (shortly after I bought my first CD player…) and I brought it with me when I moved to New Zealand in 1995, and unusually, perhaps, I actually still have that album.

As I was saying last week, back in this era I liked a lot of New Wave (and New Wave-adjacent) songs (as well as other pop music styles, of course), so in this era there were quite a few songs that I liked, but not all of them made it to Number One—in fact most of the ones I liked the most didn’t. This is another one that did.

“Take My Breath Away” reached Number 2 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), 4 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), Number One in the UK (Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” as well as the CashBox “Top 100” charts. It was certified Gold in the USA.

The Top Gun soundtrack album reached Number 3 in Australia (5x Platinum), 2 in Canada (5x Platinum), 5 in New Zealand (Platinum), 4 in the UK (2x Platinum), as well as reaching Number One on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart. It was certified 9x Platinum in the USA.

Berlin’s Count Three & Pray album reached Number 38 in Australia, 85 in Canada, 20 in New Zealand, 32 in the UK (Silver), as well as reaching 61 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart.

This series will return next week, on September 20. That song will take us into October.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15 – July 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 16 – July 26, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 17 – August 2, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 18 – August 16, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 19 – August 30, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 20 – September 6, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 20

It’s a new month, and a new song hit Number One this week in 1986. On September 6, 1986, “Venus” (video up top) by English pop group Bananarama reached the top of the Billboard “Hot 100”. The song was a cover of the 1969 song by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue. Bananarama’s version was included on their third studio album, True Confessions.

I liked this song: It had a good beat—and a fairly high energy beat—and I thought it was fun. It was produced by the legendary trio of Stock Aitken Waterman, who were responsible for so much of the music I liked in the mid to late 1980s. Back in that era, I liked a lot of New Wave, and New Wave-adjacent music, including uptempo New Wave dance music, which, in my opinion, was the parent (grandparent?) of EDM (Electronic Dance Music). To me, “Venus” was one of several examples of that.

I was familiar with songs by Bananarama, beginning in 1984 with "Cruel Summer" and “Robert De Niro's Waiting...”. Not long after that, I heard their 1982 collaboration with Fun Boy Three, a New Wave version of a 1939 jazz song, "It Ain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)". So, I wasn’t surprised when “Venus” went to Number One, and I was probably predisposed to like it.

Bananarama’s cover of "Venus" reached Number One in Australia, Canada (Platinum), New Zealand, Number 8 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, “US Dance Club Songs”, and “US Dance Singles” charts, and it also reached Number 3 on the Cash Box “Top 100 Singles” chart.

The album True Confessions reached Number 19 in Australia, 10 in Canada (Platinum), 33 in New Zealand, 46 in the UK, as well as Number 15 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart (Gold).

This series will return next week, on September 13 with the next Number One of September 1986.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15 – July 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 16 – July 26, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 17 – August 2, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 18 – August 16, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 19 – August 30, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 19

40 years ago today, a song reached Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”, the final one for August. On August 30, 1986, “Higher Love” (video up top) by English singer Steve Winwood hit Number One, the first of Winwood’s songs to do so. The song was the first single from his fourth studio album, Back in the High Life.

I remember the song begin on the radio back in the day, and I liked it well enough, though I wasn’t a fan of Winwood. I never bought any of his singles or albums back in the day, though years later Nigel and I bought a compilation that included his 1980 Number 2 hit, “While You See a Chance”. I was also familiar with Winwood’s work with the 1960s band, The Spencer Davis Group, but arguably the main reason I knew about them was because Olivia Newton-John included a cover of SDG's “Gimme Some Lovin” on her 1978 album, Totally Hot, and because two years later, it was included in the soundtrack for the movie The Blues Brothers. And that’s pretty much the entire extent of my connection to Steve Winwood.

“Higher Love” reached Number 8 in Australia, Number One in Canada, 11 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), 13 in the UK (Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and “US Mainstream Rock” charts. It wasn’t certified in the USA.

The album Back in the High Life reached Number 11 in Australia, 6 in Canada, 19 in New Zealand (Gold), 8 in the UK (Gold), as well as reaching Number 3 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart. It was certified 3x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return next week, on September 6. Also, how is it September already?!

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15 – July 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 16 – July 26, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 17 – August 2, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 18 – August 16, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 18

Sorry, one week off and I nearly forgot that 40 years ago today there was another song that reached Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”. On August 16, 1986, “Papa Don't Preach” (video up top) by American singer Madonna hit the top of the charts. The song, which would be Number One for two weeks, was the second single from her third studio album, True Blue (the first single was “Live To Tell”, which was the subject of Part 11 of this series back in June).

I liked this song well enough at the time, but if I’m truly honest, that was at least in part because of the reactions of two different groups of people (I could be contrarian that way). The Wikipedia article linkd about describes it well:

The song sparked controversy upon release for its subject matter, drawing criticism from women's and family planning organizations, who accused Madonna of glamorizing teenage pregnancy. Conversely, pro-life groups praised it for seemingly endorsing motherhood over abortion.

I distinctly remember rolling my eyes at back then, snarling something like, “It’s just a fucking song, for fuck’s sake”. I had no more patience then for what I thought was over-reacation than I do now. Some things don’t change. Mind you, my snarl was only in my mind because I hardly ever swore back then—okay, some things DO change. Apparently.

I also well remember the music video, and part of the reason for that was the actor who played Madonna’s boyfriend, actor Alex McArthur, who I thought was quite pretty (he’s just under two years older than me). However, I also recognised Alexander from promotional materials from the 1985 lesbian film, Desert Hearts—even though I can’t remember actually seeing the film. None of that has anything to do with the song, really, but it was a thing back then. Watching the video now, I was struck by the times that the Twin Towers appeared in the background of the shots filmed in Staten Island. I doubt I paid any attention to that back in the day, but now it was the first thing that stuck out for me. Time can change some things.

“Papa Don't Preach” reached Number One in Australia and Canada, Number 3 in New Zealand (Gold), Number One in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and “US Dance Singles” charts, as well as Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart and the Radio & Records “CHR & Pop” charts. It was certified Platinum in the USA.

The album True Blue reached Number One in Australia (4x Platinum), Canada (Diamond), New Zealand (5x Platinum), and the UK (7x Platinum), as well as reaching Number One on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart and on the Cash Box “Top 100 Albums” chart. It was certified 7x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in two weeks, on August 30, with the final Number One for August. How will September go?

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15 – July 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 16 – July 26, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 17 – August 2, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 17

It’s a new month, and time for the song that reached Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100” on August 2, 1986: “Glory of Love” (video up top) by American musician Peter Cetera. It was Cetera’s first song after he left American “rock band with horns” Chicago, and it would be Number One for two weeks—the first song that wasn’t a one-week hit since the end of June. The song was the lead single from Cetera’s second solo studio album, Solitude/Solitaire. The was also on the soundtrack album for the film The Karate Kid Part II.

I liked this song well enough at the time, though the music video did nothing for me, in part because it included a lot (in my opinion) of scenes from The Karate Kid Part II, a movie I never saw, nor wanted to (or any other version, for that matter). I had nothing against the movie—it just wasn’t my sort of film. By the time this song came out, I’d been very familiar with Cetera for many years because of his work with Chicago. In fact, one of the first albums I ever bought was the band’s 1972 album, Chicago V. After that, Cetera continued to be part of Chicago up until Chicago 17, the final album he recorded with the band, a recod that is still the band’s best-selling album.

Having said all that, and even though I heard Chicago’s various singles on the radio (I’m an Illinois native who lived in the City of Chicago for a dozen years, after all…), I was probably more aware of Cetera as a solo artist, beginning with this week’s song. Unlike with Phil Collins, I never confused Cetera’s solo work with his work with Chicago, and while I don’t know for sure why that is, it’s probably because his Solitude/Solitaire album was released a bit more than two years after Chicago 17 was released. That’s unlike Phil Collins who had solo albums out contemporaneously with Genesis albums.

“Glory of Love” reached Number 9 in Australia, Number One in Canada, 25 in New Zealand, 3 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and “US Adult Contemporary” charts. I didn’t receive a certification in the USA.

The album Solitude/Solitaire reached Number 75 in Australia, 20 in Canada, 56 in the UK, and Number 23 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200”. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.

The The Karate Kid Part II soundtrack album reached Number 96 in Australia, 86 in Canada, and 30 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200”. The album didn’t chart in New Zealand or the UK, and wasn’t certified in any of the five countries I include in these posts.

This series will return in two weeks, on August 16, and it’s another two-week Number One. August will definitely be less work for me.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15 – July 19, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 16 – July 26, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 16

On July 26, 1986 “Sledgehammer” (video up top) by English rock musician Peter Gabriel became the month’s final one-week Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”. Released on April 16, 1986 it was the lead single from Gabriel’s fifth studio album, So. I first heard of Gabriel when he was a founding member of Genesis, where he would remain until 1975 when he began his solo career. I think it’s kind of, sort of, ironic that the subject of last week’s “Weekend Diversion” post was a Genesis song.

I was aware of Gabriel’s solo work, and it was impossible to miss “Sledgehammer”—especially its music video (above). That video! It was ground-breaking at the time, and went on to become the all-rime most-played music video on MTV. In fact, the story of the video is so expansive that I can’t do it justice with a brief discussion here, so instead I’d recommend Wikipedia’s section discussion of it in its article about “Sledgehammer” (the entire article is linked above). I was fascinated by the video. It reminded me of a lot of stop-motion animation I’d seen over the years—and yet is was nothing like any of those. As I remember it, it was the video that made me like the song though, as was so often the case, I never bought the song or the album—or any others by Gabriel, for that matter. I liked the video and song, though.

“Sledgehammer” reached Number 3 in Australia, Number One in Canada, 3 in New Zealand (Platinum), 4 in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, “US Album Rock Tracks”, and on their “US Dance/Disco Club Play” charts, as well as reaching Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart. I didn’t receive a certification in the USA.

The album So reached Number 5 in Australia (3x Platinum), Number One in Canada, New Zealand (5x Platinum), and the UK (3x Platinum), and Number 2 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200”. The album was certified 5x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in next week, on August 2, and it’s not a last one-week Number One song!. As I said last week, August will be less work for me.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15 – July 19, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 15

This week forty years ago, a former guest in these “Weekend Diversion” posts was back for another of 1986’s one-week Number One hits on the Billboard “Hot 100”. On July 19, 1986 “Invisible Touch” (video up top) by English rock band Genesis reached Number One. While this was the first Genesis song in my “Weekend Diversion” posts, lead singer Phil Collins has been included several times.

“Invisible Touch” was released on May 19, 1986, and was the first single from the band’s 1986 studio album of the same name, their thirteenth studio album. By the time this single-album was released, I thought that Phil Collins and Genesis were the same thing, probably because they mainly were. While I was familiar with Genisis before Collins became the lead, his era was when I first paid serious attention, and I even bought a couple of the band’s albums—but I never bought any of Phil Collins’ albums. That probably says something, but at the time it absolutely wasn’t a deliberate choice, except, maybe, that none of Collins’ albums enticed me to part with some of the few dollars I had at the time to buy one of them. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like his music, nor does the fact I bought Genesis albums mean I liked them better. Instead, it was the result of very specific times, and what I could afford at that time, and nothing more. Just so we’re clear.

Having said all that, 40 years ago, I liked this song well enough, and the fact that I didn’t see any real difference between Phil Collins and Genesis by that time didn’t make me like or dislike the song. The music video for the song wasn’t unique, or maybe even all that interesting, but seeing it again after all these years, I was struck by the opening in which Phil plays around with an 8mm film camera. These days, he’d be holding a smartphone, or maybe a vlogging camera, neither of which existed in 1986, and wouldn’t for more than two decades. Trendsetting?

“Invisible Touch” reached Number 3 in Australia, 6 in Canada, 8 in New Zealand (Platinum), 15 in the UK (Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, 3 of their “US Adult Contemporary” chart, and Number One on their “US Mainstream Rock” chart. I didn’t receive a certiciation in the USA.

The album Invisible Touch reached Number 3 in Australia (3x Platinum), Number One in Canada, New Zealand (4x Platinum), and the UK (4x Platinum), and Number 3 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200”. The album was certified 6x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in next week, on July 26, with the last one-week Number One song from July 1986. And, August? It’ll be less work for me.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14 – July 12, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 14­

This week forty years ago saw the second July 1986 one-week Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”. On July 12, 1986 “Holding Back the Years” (video up top) by English pop and soul band Simply Red reached Number One. Released on November 4, 1985, the song was the third of five singles from the band’s debut studio album, Picture Book, which was released on October 11, 1985. The song was written by Simply Red’s lead singer, Mick Hucknall, and Neil Reid.

I remember that when “Holding Back the Years” came out I thought it was one of the most interesting songs I’d heard in ages. I can’t remember for sure, but I think I may have had the album Picture Book, but since my albums didn’t make it to New Zealand when I moved here 30+ years ago, I can’t remember for sure (as I recall, I had a couple hundred vinyl albums when I left Chicago).

However, if I liked Simply Red, it was nothing compared to Nigel, who really liked them. While I don’t remember what he had before we met, I know that we ended up with five of their CDs (including Picture Book, which we got very inexpensively at discount store The Warehouse, where Nigel and I bought a lot of inexpensive CDs and some DVDs). We also bought the band’s 1998 DVD, Simply Red Live In London. I still have all of those, and Simply Red is still among the most-represented acts in our collection. There were times during which Nigel would play little else (something he did with plenty of other artists, too, like Nina Simone, for example). All of which means that, for me, “Holding Back the Years” was one of many Simply Red songs in the soundtrack of my life with Nigel.

“Holding Back the Years” reached Number 16 in Australia, 6 in Canada, 40 in New Zealand (Platinum), 2 in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, 4 of their “US Adult Contemporary” chart, and 29 on their “US Hot Black Singles” chart. It also reached Number 4 on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart.

The album Picture Book reached Number 6 in Australia (2x Platinum), 7 in Canada, 9 in New Zealand (Platinum), 2 in the UK (5x Platinum), and Number 16 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200”. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in next week, on July 19, with the next Number One song from July 1986.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13 – July 5, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 13

A new month and a new song reached Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100” forty years ago today. Today’s song was the first of four one-week Number One songs in July 1985—a new Number One every week that month. On July 5, 1986 “There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)” (video up top) by Trinidadian-British singer and songwriter Billy Ocean (the stage name of Leslie Sebastian Charles) reached Number One. Released on January 22, 1986, the song was the second of four singles from Ocean’s sixth studio album, Love Zone, which was released on May 6, 1986. It was written and produced by Wayne Brathwaite and Barry Eastmond, with Ocean also reciveing a co-writing credit. The song was also reportedly the 600 th song to reach Number One on the Billboard chart.

I liked “There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)”, but in researching this post I realised that I had a variety of reactions to his songs. The first of his songs that I was aware of was 1976’s "Love Really Hurts Without You”, a song that I liked because it had a classic-era Motown vibe to it. I don’t recall being aware of another of his songs until 1984’s "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)", a song I didn’t particularly like, though I also didn’t hate it. The following year, "Suddenly" was a hit, and I liked it. However, in 1986, the first single from Ocean’s album Love Zone was "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going", and I absolutely loathed that song, and I still don’t like it, even if my negative reaction has mellowed with time.

The thing is, my dislike of both "Caribbean Queen” and "When the Going Gets Tough” was at the front of my mind when I saw what this week’s Number One was. Even so, that was a memory of disliking two earlier songs, and I was aware that I liked this week’s song. I looked at his singles discography and saw that up to and including this week’s Number One, there were songs that I both liked and didn’t like, and that’s something that has happened often over the years: The fact I dislike one song by an artist doesn’t (usually) prevent me from liking a different song by that artist, or vice versa. I presume that’s true for most people, but this is the first time I ever noticed that pattern in my own pop music journey. Learning or understanding new things is one of my favourite things about these “Weekend Diversion” posts.

“There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)” reached Number 10 in Australia, Number One in Canada, 8 in New Zealand, 12 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, “US Adult Contemporary”, and “US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs” charts. It also reached Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart and Number 3 on their “US Black Contemporary Singles” chart. No information on certification for the single was included in the Wikipedia article liked above.

The album Love Zone reached Number 8 in Australia, 3 in Canada, 8 in New Zealand, and 2 in the UK (Gold), as well as reaching Number 6 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” and Number One on their “US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” charts. Love Zone was certified 2x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in next week, on July 12, with a new Number One song from July 1986. It’s a similar story for each of the following two weeks, but not for August.

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
Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12 – June 14, 2026

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 12

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

Weekend Diversion: 1986, Part 11

A new month and a new song reached Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”: On June 7, 1986 “Live to Tell” (video up top) by American singer Madonna went to Number One. The song was the first single from her third studio album, True Blue, which was released on June 30, 1986. The song was a re-working of what had been an instrumental to make something suitable for the film At Close Range, which starred her then-husband Sean Penn.

I liked Madonna in this era of her career, and I liked this particular song well-enough, even though it was a bit slower than I typically liked at the time, but I didn’t necessarily like it as much as some of her other songs in that era. However, I was never a super-fan: I never saw her in concert, and I never bought one of her albums, as far as I can remember, though I think I bought a single or two. However, when I arrived in New Zealand in 1995, I found that Nigel had her 1990 compilation album, The Immaculate Collection, which isn’t really relevant to this blog post except that this week’s song is on it. Of course.

As the years when on, I continued to like some of Madonna’s songs, and others not as much. Once again, something that’s not unusual for me. However, forty years ago it was stereotypical for young gay men to be presumed to be big fans of Madonna, and, like most stereotypes, it was exaggerated. Nevertheless, I was 27 when this song and its album were released, and that made me a bit too old to be included in the stereotype, but also, as it turned out, a bit too old to understand why the stereotype existed. Maybe it was my first “kids these days” moment?

“Live to Tell” reached Number 7 in Australia, Number One and Canada, Number 6 in New Zealand, 2 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and on their “Adult Contemporary” charts. It was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100”. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.

The album True Blue reached Number One in Australia (4x Platinum), Canada (Diamond), New Zealand (5x Platinum), and the UK (7x Platinum), as well as reaching Number One on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart and on the Cash Box “Top 100 Albums” chart. It was certified 7x Platinum in the USA.

Since I mentioned it, the 1990 album The Immaculate Collection reached Number One in Australia (14x Platinum) and Canada (7x Platinum), 3 in New Zealand (7x Platinum), Number One in the UK (13x Platinum), and also reached Number 2 on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart. It was certified 11x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in next week, on June 14, with the next new Number One from 1986. Unlike this week, that one wasn’t a one-week hit.

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 10

On May 17, 1986, a new song began a three week run at Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”: “Greatest Love of All” (video up top) by American singer Whitney Houston went to Number One this week forty years ago. The song, originally titled “The Greatest Love of All”, was first released as a single in 1977 by George Benson, and I think I may have heard his version somewhere around that time. However, I certainly know I heard Houston’s version—it was almost impossible to miss it at the time.

Houston’s version by released March 18, 1986, and was the seventh and last single from her eponymous debut album, Whitney Houston, which was released in February 1986. As was more common than not for me in 1986, I didn’t buy the single or the album.

Something else that’s not unusual for me is that I wasn’t particularly fond of this song—Houston’s performance was great (I’d already liked some of her earlier songs from that debut album), but I thought the song lyrics were too self-centred—even self-obsessed. Even all that time ago, I wasn’t a fan of the “you must love yourself” ethos—I didn’t even really understand what, precisely, gurus meant by that. So, I certainly didn’t consider love of self to be "the greatest love of all". But, hey, it was the 1980s, wasn’t it? Anyway, my dislike was the song, not the performance. That’s happened from time to time, but it is kinda rare for me.

Probably like a lot of people (maybe most people?), I thought Houston’s life was tragic, with so many “if only…” thoughts about her life. And yet, things were what they were, and she did produce some awesome music over the course of her career.

“Greatest Love of All” reached Number One in Australia, Number One and Canada (Platinum), Number 12 in New Zealand (Gold), 8 in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and on their “Adult Contemporary” charts. The song was certified 2x Platinum in the USA.

The album Whitney Houston reached Number One in Australia (5x Platinum) and Canada (Diamond), 3 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), 2 on the UK’s Albums and also Dance Albums charts (4x Platinum), and it was Number One on the USA’s ”Billboard 200” chart and their “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart. It was certified 14x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in three weeks, on June 7, with the next new Number One from 1986. It’s not a one-week hit.

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 9

Forty years ago this week, on May 10, 1986, “West End Girls” (video up top) by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys went to Number One. The song was originally released in April 1984, but it was re-recorded for their 1986 debut studio album, Please, which was released in March 1986. It was the first single from the album.

I was taken with the song from the beginning, and I thought the video was interesting because it was so different from other videos of the era. I htink, but I’m mot certain, that I may have bought the albumn Please, but I’m not certain about that, because if I did it was 40 years ago, and I left it behind 30 years ago, and I simply don’t remember. This is a recurring theme.

I didn’t know until I started researching this post that the lyrics were partly inspired by T. S. Eliot's 1922 poem The Waste Land (which I referred to in a blog post earlier today). I also read at the Wikipedia link about the song (above) the answer to a question I’d long wondered about, but never remembered to investigate: Who was the female back-up singer in the song? Her name is Helena Springs, and she worked extensively with Bob Dylan. Mystery (for me…) solved.

“West End Girls” (1986 version) reached Number 5 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number One in New Zealand (Platinum), Number One in the UK (Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and on their “Dance Club Songs” chart. It also hit Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.

The album Please reached Number 10 in Australia, Number 3 in Canada (Platinum), Number 2 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 3 in the UK (Platinum), and Number 7 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (Platinum).

This series will return next week, on May 17, with the next new Number One from 1986. It’s not a one-week hit.

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 8

Back again with another Number One from 1986: Forty years ago this week, on May 3, 1986, “Addicted to Love” (video up top) by English singer and songwriter Robert Palmer went to Number One. The song, released in January 1986, was the third single from Palmer’s eighth studio album, Riptide.

I was familiar with Palmer before this song came out because of the song “Some Like it Hot” [WATCH/LISTEN], which was the debut (and probably the best known single) by the project Palmer was part of for a time, The Power Station. I’ve since acquired the song on compilation CDs, but I’m sure I once either had the 12-inch single or their debut album, The Power Station. I can’t be sure, since I have neither now, but I know I had something.

At any rate, I liked “Addicted To Love” well enough, but, um, that video? I didn’t get it. It was visually interesting and different, but the whole “models looking like bored mannequins faking playing instruments” was a bit creepy, and even in 1986 it felt kind of exploitive. It’s possible, though, that my less than positive reaction to this video is because he had the same basic thing going for three more songs, including the fifth single from Riptide, Palmer’s cover of "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On". On the other hand, having grown tired of the schtick, I was glad to see the turnabout treatment in the video for Shania Twain’s 1999 single, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” [WATCH/LISTEN].

“Addicted To Love” reached Number 17 in Australia, 2 in Canada, 13 in New Zealand, 5 in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and on their “Top Rock Tracks” chart. It also hit Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart. The song was certified Gold in the USA.

The album Riptide reached Number 11 in Canada (3x Platinum), Number 7 in New Zealand, Number 4 in the UK (Gold), and Number 3 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (2x Platinum.

This series will return next week, on May 10, with the next new Number One from 1986. It's another one-week Number One hit, and it’s a song I still like as much as I did in 1986.

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 7

Time again for another Number One from 1986: Forty years ago this week, on April 19, 1986, “Kiss” (video up top) by American musician (etc…) Prince, became the new Number One. The song, released on February 5, 1985, was the Prince’s eighth studio album, Parade. That album was the third and final album credited to the band Prince created,The Revolution.

I’ve said before that I liked some of Prince’s songs, and not others, something that’s not even remotely unique for me, of course. I liked the very start of this particular song—but not a lot after that point. Sure I liked the structure and the rhythm, but I’m often not keen on men singing falsetto through most of a song, and, for me, this was one of those times I didn’t like it. It happens.

As it happens, I liked the 1988 version by The Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones [WATCH/LISTEN on YouTube]. However, I think the Art of Noise version sounds much more 80s than the original Prince version did, but maybe that’s just me.

“Kiss” reached Number 2 in Australia, 4 in Canada, 2 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), 6 in the UK (Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, and was their US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and remixes hit Number One on two Billboard dance charts. It also hit Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart. The song was certified Gold in the USA. Also, since I mentioned it above, the Art of Noise cover hit Number 6 in Australia, Number One in New Zealand, Number 5 in the UK, and 31 on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”

The album Parade reached Number 11 in Canada, Number 7 in New Zealand, Number 4 in the UK (Platinum), and Number 3 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”, as well as Number 2 on their “US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.

This series will return in two weeks, on May 3, with the next new Number One from 1986.

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 6

 Forty years ago this week, on March 29, 1986, the new Number One song was “Rock Me Amadeus” (video up top) by Austrian musician Falco, the stage name of Johann "Hans" Hölzel. The song was the first single from Falso’s third studio album, “Falco 3”. “Rock Me Amadeus” was Falco’s only Number One hit in the USA.

I have all sorts of trivia about this song, starting with the fact that it was the first—and so far only—German-language song to reach Number One on the Billboard “Hot 100”. The previous highest-charted German-language song hit Number Two in 1983: “99 Luftballons” by the West German band Nena. It was also the only of his songs to be Number One in both the UK and the USA, which I guess is something.

I have my own personal trivia about the song, which I loved because I loved Falco’s work. I first heard of him when I saw his 1982 debut album, Einzelhaft, in a Chicago record shop that had a lot of the New Wave, dance, and “alternative” music I loved. I bought the album and listened to it often. I was drawn to it because I’d studied German (poorly…) in high school, and was instantly fascinated by the album. The second single was “Der Kommissar”, which I liked. I have to add that I was irritated when British rock band After the Fire released an English-language cover of the song, and, predictably, their version did better on the US pop charts. Ganz natürlich.

So, because of my history, both attempting to learn the language of many of my ancestors, and my earlier discovery of Falco, I loved “Rock Me Amadeus” (and the follow-up single, “Vienna Calling”. I think I bought the album Falco 3, but I'm not sure because if I did, neither it nor Einzelhaft came to New Zealand with me. I know—because I still have it—that I bought a 12-inch version version of "Vienna Calling", which included the American Edit of “Rock Me Amadeus”.

I also liked the video (which, as I’ve made clear by now, isn’t always the case, even when I like the song). I particularly liked the surreality of the visuals, especially the folks in biker gear accompanying Falco dressed as Mozart, and mouthing, “Amadeus, Amadeus!, Amadeus, Amadeus!”

All of which means that this week’s song was unusual among the songs in these series of posts: I liked the song, the artist, and the video. That was rare even then,

“Rock Me Amadeus” reached Number 15 in Australia (Gold), 2 in Canada (Platinum), Number One in New Zealand (Gold), Number One in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100”, and was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart. The song was certified Platinum in the USA.

The album Falco 3 reached Number 9 in Canada (Platinum), Number 2 in New Zealand, Number 32 in the UK, and Number 3 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (Gold). The album didn’t chart in Australia.

This series will return in three weeks, on April 19, with the next new Number One from 1986.

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 5

Another week, and it’s another one-week Number One. Wait, another one-week Number One, the week after a different one-week hit? What is this, 1985? Just kidding—I’m actually glad the pace of the 1986 hits has been slower.

Be that as it may, on March 22, 1986 the new Number One song was “These Dreams” (video up top) by the American rock band Heart. The song was the third single from the group’s eighth studio album, “Heart”. “These Dreams” was also the band’s first Number One hit.

There’s an unusual bit of trivia about this song: This week’s song was wittern by Bernie Taupin and Martin Page, who also wrote the song in Part 23 of the 1985 series, “We Built This City” by Starship. They’re certainly very different songs.

Heart is group I really liked, and I liked this particular song, though it wasn't my favourite Heart song. I first became aware of the group because of a lot of TV commercials promoting their debut album, Dreamboat Annie. However, my connection with the band really started when their "Dog & Butterfly" tour (promoting the album of the same name) appeared at my university. There’s a little story about that.

My university’s arena, used mostly for basketball (go the Dawgs!—actually, I went to one game there), had a lot of concerts, too. However, in 1977, many weren’t exactly huge stars, but then they suddenly started programming bigger acts. In my first year at university, they hosted Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, neither of whom I was interested in (though, decades later, I wished I’d seen Springsteen…). The first group I saw was Bad Company, who were promoting their new album, Desolation Angels (which I bought, but no longer have). I went because they were the first group that I was kinda, sorta, familiar with. But when Heart was there, I was really excited to see them. They performed songs from their first four albums.

Back to 1986, I have to admit that the video for “These Dreams” didn’t grab me (apparently a common thing for me in 1986… or, always?). I mean, it was okay, I guess, but it wasn’t one I was excited to see replayed. I was similarly indifferent to this song, and to me it was a pleasant background song with lead vocals by a singer I enjoyed. But—and even I’m surprised I thought this way—where were the rocking vocals I’d come to know Ann Wilson for doing? However, I think that in those days I probably would’ve listened to her sing the phone book (not a literal fact). Let’s just say my tastes are, and always have been, varied, shall we? Yes, let’s. The larger point here is that I really liked heart, and I thought this song was okay. That’s very often good enough for me, and while I remember very little of it (it was a long time agao…), I know I enjoyed it.

“These Dreams” reached Number 27 in Australia, 6 in Canada, 62 in the UK, and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard Hot 100” and “Adult Contemporary” charts, and it reached Number 2 on their “Mainstream Rock” chart. It was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart. The song apparently didn’t chart in New Zealand, but it was nevertheless certified Gold, and the linked Wikipedia article doesn’t provide any sales certification information for any other country. No idea what that means.

The album Heart reached Number 37 in Australia, Number 3 in Canada (6x Platinum), Number 19 in the UK (Gold), and Number 1 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (5x Platinum). The album was certified Platinum in the USA. The album didn’t chart in New Zealand.

This series will return next week, on March 29, with the next new Number One from 1986, and it's NOT another one-week hit! But it IS one I liked a lot.

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