JANUARY
Top hit
Say You, Say Me · Lionel Richie
Top album
The Broadway Album · Barbra Streisand
Enter the Year
Year
1986
MTV and the Blockbuster Single
Video-ready stars and drum-machine dreams compete for the center of culture.
Voices of the year
Albums that mattered
The songs
Through the year
Tap a month to explore what people were playing.
FEBRUARY
Top hit
That's What Friends Are For · Dionne
Top album
The Broadway Album · Barbra Streisand
MARCH
Top hit
Kyrie · Mr. Mister
Top album
Welcome To The Real World · Mr. Mister
APRIL
Top hit
Rock Me Amadeus · Falco
Top album
Whitney Houston · Whitney Houston
MAY
Top hit
Addicted To Love · Robert Palmer
Top album
Whitney Houston · Whitney Houston
JUNE
Top hit
Live To Tell · Madonna
Top album
Whitney Houston · Whitney Houston
JULY
Top hit
There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) · Billy Ocean
Top album
Control · Janet Jackson
AUGUST
Top hit
Glory Of Love (Theme From "The Karate Kid Part II") · Peter Cetera
Top album
True Blue · Madonna
SEPTEMBER
Top hit
Venus · Bananarama
Top album
True Blue · Madonna
OCTOBER
Top hit
Stuck With You · Huey Lewis
Top album
Dancing On The Ceiling · Lionel Richie
NOVEMBER
Top hit
True Colors · Cyndi Lauper
Top album
Third Stage · Boston
DECEMBER
Top hit
The Next Time I Fall · Peter Cetera
Top album
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 1975-1985 · Bruce Springsteen