1986 Number One Songs UK

So how many 1986 number one songs in the UK were there, and who were the artists and bands who recorded them? Some of the number one singles in 1986 are nowlong forgotten, while others are still played regularly.

My first proper celebrity crush had a number one song in 1986, and he was one of a few 1986 one hit wonders. This year of the 80s was lucky for acts from Norway, Jamaica, Austria and Sweden as well as the US and the UK.

There were 21 UK number ones in 1986, which is quite a high amount compared to previous years. Five of these 1986 hit songs stayed at the top for only a week, while the longest spell in pole position was four weeks. Three of the best songs of 1986 managed that.

Here they are – all the number one hits of 1986 here in the UK.

The 21 1986 number one songs in the UK

Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone

1 week at number one in January 1986

Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls

2 weeks at number one in January 1986

A-Ha – The Sun Always Shines On TV

2 weeks at number one in January & February 1986

Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

4 weeks at number one in February & March 1986

Diana Ross – Chain Reaction

3 weeks at number one in March 1986

Cliff Richard & The Young Ones – Living Doll

3 weeks at number one in March & April 1986

George Michael – A Different Corner

3 weeks at number one in April & May 1986

Falco – Rock Me Amadeus

1 week at number one in May 1986

Spitting Image – The Chicken Song

3 weeks at number one in May & June 1986

Doctor & The Medics – Spirit In The Sky

3 weeks at number one in June 1986

Wham – The Edge of Heaven

2 weeks at number one in June & July 1986

Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach

3 weeks at number one in July & August 1986

Chris de Burgh – The Lady In Red

3 weeks at number one in August 1986

Boris Gardiner – I Want To Wake Up With You

3 weeks at number one in August & September 1986

The Communards – Don’t Leave Me This Way

4 weeks at number one in September & October 1986

Madonna – True Blue

1 week at number one in October 1986

Nick Berry – Every Loser Wins

3 weeks at number one in October & November 1986

Berlin – Take My Breath Away

4 weeks at number one in November & December 1986

Europe – The Final Countdown

2 weeks at number one in December 1986

The Housemartins – Caravan of Love

1 week at number one in December 1986

Jackie Wilson – Reet Petite

1 week at number one in December 1986

What do you think of the 1986 number one songs?

So what do you make of these songs from 1986? The tracks I still play from this list include hits by Madonna, and I had the True Blue album her two biggest 1986 songs came from. The same goes for Wham.

As for the crush… that was Nick Berry, who played Simon Wicks in Eastenders then. And the title of my current favourite from this list goes to none other than the Pet Shop Boys – I adore that song even more now than I did back then.

Marcy x

Discover all the number one singles from the rest of the 80s here:

• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989

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