1989 in British music
Encyclopedia
This is a summary of 1989 in music
in the United Kingdom
, including the official charts from that year.
s excluded from the UK Albums Chart
, and spun off into the new UK Compilations Chart from the week ending 14 January 1989. Albums such as the Now That's What I Call Music!
series had regularly dominated the chart since 1983, with often up to 4 of the Number 1's each year being hit compilations. Now That's What I Call Music! 13 was knocked off the top spot of the albums chart as a result of this new implementation.
House music was still going strong in 1989. Inner City released numerous house hits in 1989 which all entered the top 40, the biggest being "Good Life", which reached No.4 in January 1989. Coldcut introduced Lisa Stansfield
with her debut single "People Hold On
", which reached No.13 in May 1989 and stayed in the Top 75 for 9 weeks. The Rebel MC created a second wave house craze in October 1989 with his No.2 hit "Street Tuff
".
In the UK Singles Chart
, eighteen singles reached number one. The first was a duet between teen idol
s Kylie Minogue
and Jason Donovan
, "Especially for You
", which had narrowly missed out on being 1988
's Christmas number one single. The two would continue their success throughout the year, with Minogue getting her third number one single; "Hand on Your Heart
" in May followed by "Wouldn't Change a Thing
" which peaked at No.2 in August, and her second number one album, Enjoy Yourself
in November. Donovan fared even better getting two number one singles ("Too Many Broken Hearts
" in March, and "Sealed With a Kiss
" in June) and one album (Ten Good Reasons
in May, the biggest-selling album of 1989). The two enjoyed a highly publicised romance throughout the year until Minogue ended the relationship and began dating Michael Hutchence
from the band INXS
. Like many artists this year, Minogue and Donovan were produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
, who were at the peak of their popularity. This year saw the production team re-launch Donna Summer
's ailing career, and she scored her first Top 10 hit for 10 years with "This Time I Know it's For Real" which made Number 3 and followed it up with two more Top 20 hits ("I Don't Wanna Get Hurt
and "Love's About To Change My Heart") all from her album "Another Place and Time
", written and produced entirely by the trio. Also, The Reynolds Girls and Sonia both got the Stock Aitken Waterman
treatment with their top 10 singles "I'd Rather Jack" (The Reynolds Girls, reached No.8 in March) and "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" (Sonia, reached No.1 in July) and Big Fun kick-started their short-lived pop career with a Stock Aitken Waterman produced cover of "Blame it on the Boogie" which got to No.5.
After a break the previous year, Madonna
returned to Number 1 for the sixth time in March with "Like a Prayer", though the music video
caused controversy. Her album, from which this was the title track, also topped the charts and became one of her most critically acclaimed worldwide. The single was followed by 3 further Top 5 hits in 1989; "Express Yourself" (No.5), "Cherish" (No.3) and "Dear Jessie" which peaked at No.5 over the Christmas period, becoming a big seller, selling over 250,000 copies.
May saw The Christians, Holly Johnson
, Paul McCartney
, Gerry Marsden
and producers Stock Aitken Waterman reach #1 with a charity cover of the Gerry & The Pacemakers
song "Ferry Cross the Mersey", released in aid of the Hillsborough disaster
the previous month. The original reached number 8 in 1964
.
Two sounds dominated the Summer and Autumn. The first came from Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
, where several old songs from the 1940s to 1960s were joined together to create a megamix
, with 'Jive Bunny' (an animated rabbit) featuring in the music videos. "Swing the Mood" topped the charts for five weeks from July, "That's What I Like" for three weeks in October, and "Let's Party" for one week in December. Unlike the first two, the latter sampled Christmas
songs from the 1970s and 1980s. Jive Bunny became the third artist ever to have their first three singles reach number one, after Gerry & The Pacemakers
and Frankie Goes to Hollywood
.
The second was the italio house sound of Black Box
, whose "Ride on Time" was the biggest-selling single of the year, and, at six weeks, spent the longest time at number one. Though the song heavily sampled Loleatta Holloway
's "Love Sensation" from 1980, the music video featured a different singer miming to Holloway's vocals. This prompted legal action, so later pressings of the single featured a different singer - the then little-known Heather Small
, who later went onto to massive fame as the lead single of M People
in the 1990s. The same production team behind Black Box also reached No.9 under the group name Starlight with the hit single "Numero Uno". The italio house sound continued with Top 10's from Mixmaster "Grand Piano" and FPI Project went to No.9 with their version of "Going Back To My Roots/Rich in Paradise".
Another song prominent in the later months of 1989, was "You Got It (The Right Stuff)
" the debut single from boyband pioneers New Kids on the Block
going straight in at #1. It would stay there for three weeks.
The year's Christmas number 1 single, and, indeed, the final number 1 of the 1980s, went to a new version of 1984's Christmas number 1 "Do They Know It's Christmas?
". Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, Band Aid II
, like the original Band Aid, featured numerous famous music stars of the day, including both Kylie Minogue
and Jason Donovan
giving them the credit as appearing on both the first and last number one singles of the year.
One of the highlights of the Proms
was the première of John Tavener
's The Protecting Veil, performed by Steven Isserlis
and the London Symphony Orchestra
. Two new works by John McCabe
were also premièred during the year: Sam Variations for violin, viola, cello, doublebass and piano, commissioned and performed by the Schubert Ensemble of London, and String Quartet No 5, performed by the Gabrieli Quartet
at the Fishguard Festival. A choral work by McCabe's, Proud Songsters, was written to celebrate the 70th birthday of Stephen Wilkinson
.
winners were:
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, including the official charts from that year.
Summary
The very beginning of the year saw compilation albumCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s excluded from the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, and spun off into the new UK Compilations Chart from the week ending 14 January 1989. Albums such as the Now That's What I Call Music!
Now That's What I Call Music!
Now That's What I Call Music! is a series of various artists compilation albums released in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Polygram /EMI/Sony Music/Virgin Records ; spinoff series were later introduced in South Africa and many other countries worldwide, including the United States...
series had regularly dominated the chart since 1983, with often up to 4 of the Number 1's each year being hit compilations. Now That's What I Call Music! 13 was knocked off the top spot of the albums chart as a result of this new implementation.
House music was still going strong in 1989. Inner City released numerous house hits in 1989 which all entered the top 40, the biggest being "Good Life", which reached No.4 in January 1989. Coldcut introduced Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Stansfield
Lisa Stansfield is an English singer and songwriter.-Early years:Stansfield was born to Marion and Keith Stansfield in Heywood, Lancashire, in England, where she attended Redbrook School, Rochdale. Her first television appearance was on a talent programme in the Granada TV area in 1982...
with her debut single "People Hold On
People Hold On
"People Hold On" is the title of a song performed by the British singer Lisa Stansfield. Stansfield co-wrote the track in the late 1980s with the members of the dance music outfit known as Coldcut, Jonathan More and Matt Black.-1989 version:...
", which reached No.13 in May 1989 and stayed in the Top 75 for 9 weeks. The Rebel MC created a second wave house craze in October 1989 with his No.2 hit "Street Tuff
Street Tuff
"Street Tuff" is a hit single by Rebel MC & Double Trouble. It became the biggest hit of both performers' careers, peaking at #3 on the UK Singles Chart. It is the follow-up to their first hit, "Just Keep Rockin'", which made it into the UK Top 20...
".
In the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, eighteen singles reached number one. The first was a duet between teen idol
Teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
s Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
and Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
, "Especially for You
Especially for You
"Especially for You" was the fifth international single released from singer Kylie Minogue in time for the Christmas 1988 market and is a duet with Jason Donovan. It did not appear on her debut album but was included on Jason Donovan's 1989 debut album Ten Good Reasons. The track did appear on the...
", which had narrowly missed out on being 1988
1988 in British music
This is a summary of 1988 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.-Summary:The growing popularity of House Music was evident in the charts by the start of 1988, with many songs of this genre becoming big hits, such as "House Arrest" by Krush, "Beat Dis" by Bomb...
's Christmas number one single. The two would continue their success throughout the year, with Minogue getting her third number one single; "Hand on Your Heart
Hand on Your Heart
"Hand on Your Heart" is a dance-pop song performed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue and written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman...
" in May followed by "Wouldn't Change a Thing
Wouldn't Change a Thing
"Wouldn't Change a Thing" was the second single released from Australian singer Kylie Minogue's second album Enjoy Yourself. The single was released on 24 July 1989 and was written by Stock Aitken Waterman.-Song information:...
" which peaked at No.2 in August, and her second number one album, Enjoy Yourself
Enjoy Yourself (Kylie Minogue album)
Enjoy Yourself is the second album by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. It was released by PWL on 9 October 1989. The album was mostly just produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, who had written and produced the whole album . The album was also mostly similar to its debut album as well.Minogue had...
in November. Donovan fared even better getting two number one singles ("Too Many Broken Hearts
Too Many Broken Hearts
"Too Many Broken Hearts" is a popular song by Australian singer Jason Donovan.Written and produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman it was Donovan's first solo number one single for two weeks in March 1989, though he had made number one with his duet with Kylie Minogue "Especially for You" in January...
" in March, and "Sealed With a Kiss
Sealed with a Kiss
"Sealed with a Kiss" is the title of a song written by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. It was first recorded by The Four Voices in 1960 as a single, but their recording was not a hit....
" in June) and one album (Ten Good Reasons
Ten Good Reasons
Ten Good Reasons is the debut album by Australian pop star and actor Jason Donovan. Released in 1989, it became one of the biggest selling albums in the UK that year, and yielded two solo #1 singles and also featured a duet with Kylie Minogue, "Especially for You", which had reached #1 in January...
in May, the biggest-selling album of 1989). The two enjoyed a highly publicised romance throughout the year until Minogue ended the relationship and began dating Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
from the band INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
. Like many artists this year, Minogue and Donovan were produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
, who were at the peak of their popularity. This year saw the production team re-launch Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
's ailing career, and she scored her first Top 10 hit for 10 years with "This Time I Know it's For Real" which made Number 3 and followed it up with two more Top 20 hits ("I Don't Wanna Get Hurt
I Don't Wanna Get Hurt
"I Don't Wanna Get Hurt" is the second single from the album Another Place and Time by Donna Summer. The whole album was written and produced by British team Stock Aitken & Waterman and was mainly in the style of their "hit factory" sound...
and "Love's About To Change My Heart") all from her album "Another Place and Time
Another Place and Time
- Charts :AlbumSingle- Certifications :...
", written and produced entirely by the trio. Also, The Reynolds Girls and Sonia both got the Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
treatment with their top 10 singles "I'd Rather Jack" (The Reynolds Girls, reached No.8 in March) and "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" (Sonia, reached No.1 in July) and Big Fun kick-started their short-lived pop career with a Stock Aitken Waterman produced cover of "Blame it on the Boogie" which got to No.5.
After a break the previous year, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
returned to Number 1 for the sixth time in March with "Like a Prayer", though the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
caused controversy. Her album, from which this was the title track, also topped the charts and became one of her most critically acclaimed worldwide. The single was followed by 3 further Top 5 hits in 1989; "Express Yourself" (No.5), "Cherish" (No.3) and "Dear Jessie" which peaked at No.5 over the Christmas period, becoming a big seller, selling over 250,000 copies.
May saw The Christians, Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Gerry Marsden
Gerry Marsden
Gerard "Gerry" Marsden is an English musician and television personality, best known for being leader of the British band Gerry & the Pacemakers.-Biography:...
and producers Stock Aitken Waterman reach #1 with a charity cover of the Gerry & The Pacemakers
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat music group prominent during the 1960s. In common with The Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin. They are most remembered for being the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with...
song "Ferry Cross the Mersey", released in aid of the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
the previous month. The original reached number 8 in 1964
1964 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Top of the Pops is broadcast for the first time, on BBC television.*January 3 – Footage of the Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show....
.
Two sounds dominated the Summer and Autumn. The first came from Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers were a 1980s and early 1990s novelty pop music act from Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. The face of the group was Jive Bunny, a cartoon rabbit who appeared in the videos, and also did promotional appearances for them...
, where several old songs from the 1940s to 1960s were joined together to create a megamix
Megamix
A megamix is a medley remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. There may also be some elements of bastard pop in some, though not as much as a mashup...
, with 'Jive Bunny' (an animated rabbit) featuring in the music videos. "Swing the Mood" topped the charts for five weeks from July, "That's What I Like" for three weeks in October, and "Let's Party" for one week in December. Unlike the first two, the latter sampled Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
songs from the 1970s and 1980s. Jive Bunny became the third artist ever to have their first three singles reach number one, after Gerry & The Pacemakers
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat music group prominent during the 1960s. In common with The Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin. They are most remembered for being the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with...
and Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
.
The second was the italio house sound of Black Box
Black Box (band)
Black Box was an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of a club DJ , a classically trained clarinet teacher , and a keyboard and electronic music "wiz"...
, whose "Ride on Time" was the biggest-selling single of the year, and, at six weeks, spent the longest time at number one. Though the song heavily sampled Loleatta Holloway
Loleatta Holloway
Loleatta Holloway was an American singer, mainly known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation", both of which have been sampled extensively.-Biography:...
's "Love Sensation" from 1980, the music video featured a different singer miming to Holloway's vocals. This prompted legal action, so later pressings of the single featured a different singer - the then little-known Heather Small
Heather Small
Heather Small is a British soul singer, best known for being the lead singer in the Manchester based band M People. Her debut solo album was Proud in 2000...
, who later went onto to massive fame as the lead single of M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
in the 1990s. The same production team behind Black Box also reached No.9 under the group name Starlight with the hit single "Numero Uno". The italio house sound continued with Top 10's from Mixmaster "Grand Piano" and FPI Project went to No.9 with their version of "Going Back To My Roots/Rich in Paradise".
Another song prominent in the later months of 1989, was "You Got It (The Right Stuff)
You Got It (The Right Stuff)
"You Got It " is a 1988 single from New Kids on the Block. The lead vocals were sung by Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg. The second single from the group's second album Hangin' Tough, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in early 1989, while topping the UK charts in November 1989...
" the debut single from boyband pioneers New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
going straight in at #1. It would stay there for three weeks.
The year's Christmas number 1 single, and, indeed, the final number 1 of the 1980s, went to a new version of 1984's Christmas number 1 "Do They Know It's Christmas?
Do They Know It's Christmas?
"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 to raise money for relief of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and released by Band Aid on 29 November 1984....
". Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, Band Aid II
Band Aid (band)
Band Aid was a charity supergroup featuring British and Irish musicians and recording artists. It was founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Christmas market that year. The single...
, like the original Band Aid, featured numerous famous music stars of the day, including both Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
and Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
giving them the credit as appearing on both the first and last number one singles of the year.
One of the highlights of the Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
was the première of John Tavener
John Tavener
Sir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
's The Protecting Veil, performed by Steven Isserlis
Steven Isserlis
Steven Isserlis CBE is a British cellist. He is distinguished for his diverse repertoire, distinctive sound and total command of phrasing. He studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and was much influenced by the great iconoclast of Russian cello playing, Daniil Shafran...
and the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
. Two new works by John McCabe
John McCabe (composer)
John McCabe CBE is an English composer and pianist.- Biography :John McCabe was born in Huyton, Liverpool, Merseyside. A prolific composer from an early age, he had written thirteen symphonies by the time he was eleven...
were also premièred during the year: Sam Variations for violin, viola, cello, doublebass and piano, commissioned and performed by the Schubert Ensemble of London, and String Quartet No 5, performed by the Gabrieli Quartet
Gabrieli Quartet
The Gabrieli Quartet is a well-known string quartet musical ensemble founded in 1966. It has a long residency association with Essex University, UK.- Personnel :1st violin:*Kenneth Sillito *John Georgiadis 2nd violin...
at the Fishguard Festival. A choral work by McCabe's, Proud Songsters, was written to celebrate the 70th birthday of Stephen Wilkinson
Stephen Wilkinson (musician)
Stephen Wilkinson, MBE is an English choral conductor.As a boy, he was a chorister at Christ Church, Oxford, and studied English and music at the University of Cambridge. He was organ scholar of Queens' College, and studied the harpsichord with Boris Ord and singing with George Parker...
.
Number-one singles
| Issue date | Song | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | "Especially for You Especially for You "Especially for You" was the fifth international single released from singer Kylie Minogue in time for the Christmas 1988 market and is a duet with Jason Donovan. It did not appear on her debut album but was included on Jason Donovan's 1989 debut album Ten Good Reasons. The track did appear on the... " | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... and Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
| 8 January | ||
| 15 January | ||
| 22 January | "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" is a popular song written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook.Originally recorded by David and Jonathan, and then Gene Pitney in 1967, the song reached #5 on the UK singles chart but failed to chart in the USA... " | Marc Almond Marc Almond Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell... with Gene Pitney Gene Pitney Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the... |
| 29 January | ||
| 5 February | ||
| 12 February | ||
| 19 February | "Belfast Child Belfast Child "Belfast Child" is a 1989 Number 1 UK Charts hit single by Simple Minds from their album Street Fighting Years. The single is also known as the "Ballad of the Streets" EP, highlighting both "Belfast Child" and "Mandela Day" .... " | Simple Minds Simple Minds Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the... |
| 26 February | ||
| 5 March | "Too Many Broken Hearts Too Many Broken Hearts "Too Many Broken Hearts" is a popular song by Australian singer Jason Donovan.Written and produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman it was Donovan's first solo number one single for two weeks in March 1989, though he had made number one with his duet with Kylie Minogue "Especially for You" in January... " | Jason Donovan |
| 12 March | ||
| 19 March | "Like a Prayer Like a Prayer (song) "Like a Prayer" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna on her fourth studio album of the same name . It was released on March 21, 1989, by Sire Records as the album's lead single... " | Madonna Madonna (entertainer) Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983... |
| 26 March | ||
| 2 April | ||
| 9 April | "Eternal Flame Eternal Flame (song) "Eternal Flame" is a song by The Bangles from their 1988 album Everything. It became a hit single, when released in 1989, peaking at number one in the charts in nine countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was written by popular songwriters Billy Steinberg and... " | The Bangles The Bangles The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :... |
| 16 April | ||
| 23 April | ||
| 30 April | ||
| 7 May | "Hand on Your Heart Hand on Your Heart "Hand on Your Heart" is a dance-pop song performed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue and written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman... " | Kylie Minogue |
| 14 May | "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" | The Christians, Holly Johnson Holly Johnson Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :... , Paul McCartney Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100... , Gerry Marsden Gerry Marsden Gerard "Gerry" Marsden is an English musician and television personality, best known for being leader of the British band Gerry & the Pacemakers.-Biography:... and Stock Aitken Waterman Stock Aitken Waterman Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s... |
| 21 May | ||
| 28 May | ||
| 4 June | "Sealed With a Kiss Sealed with a Kiss "Sealed with a Kiss" is the title of a song written by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. It was first recorded by The Four Voices in 1960 as a single, but their recording was not a hit.... " | Jason Donovan |
| 11 June | ||
| 18 June | "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" | Soul II Soul Soul II Soul Soul II Soul are a British group that was created in London in 1988. They are best known for their 1989 UK chart-topper and U.S. Top 5 hit, "Back to Life ".-Career:... featuring Caron Wheeler Caron Wheeler Caron Wheeler is a two-time Grammy Award winning British R&B/soul singer, who gained fame by writing and singing the lead vocals on the two biggest hits for Soul II Soul Caron Wheeler (19 January 1963) is a two-time Grammy Award winning British R&B/soul singer, who gained fame by writing and... |
| 25 June | ||
| 2 July | ||
| 9 July | ||
| 16 July | "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You You'll Never Stop Me Loving You "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" is a debut single by Sonia.Written and produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, it was the first and only number one single for the Liverpudlian singer. The song reached number one on the Billboard Dance/Disco Chart... " | Sonia |
| 23 July | ||
| 30 July | "Swing the Mood Swing the Mood "Swing the Mood" is a song by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers from their debut album The Album.Produced by the father and son DJ team of Andy and John Pickles, "Swing the Mood" was a cut and paste record which fused a number of early rock and roll records with liberal use of Glenn Miller's "In the... " | Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers were a 1980s and early 1990s novelty pop music act from Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. The face of the group was Jive Bunny, a cartoon rabbit who appeared in the videos, and also did promotional appearances for them... |
| 6 August | ||
| 13 August | ||
| 20 August | ||
| 27 August | ||
| 3 September | "Ride on Time Ride on Time "Ride on Time" is a 1989 song recorded by band Black Box. It was later released on their debut LP Dreamland. The song was a chart success in many countries and a number-one hit in the UKand Ireland.-Music and lyrics:... " | Black Box Black Box (band) Black Box was an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of a club DJ , a classically trained clarinet teacher , and a keyboard and electronic music "wiz"... |
| 10 September | ||
| 17 September | ||
| 24 September | ||
| 1 October | ||
| 8 October | ||
| 15 October | "That's What I Like That's What I Like "That's What I Like" is a song by Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers. It was the second single from the album just entitled The Album and was released in late 1989... " | Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers |
| 22 October | ||
| 29 October | ||
| 5 November | "All Around the World All Around the World (Lisa Stansfield song) "All Around the World" is a song by Lisa Stansfield released in late 1989 for her album Affection. It is her biggest hit to date. Written and produced by Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, the debut solo single by Stansfield became a massive international hit.-Chart performances:It spent... " | Lisa Stansfield Lisa Stansfield Lisa Stansfield is an English singer and songwriter.-Early years:Stansfield was born to Marion and Keith Stansfield in Heywood, Lancashire, in England, where she attended Redbrook School, Rochdale. Her first television appearance was on a talent programme in the Granada TV area in 1982... |
| 12 November | ||
| 19 November | "You Got It (The Right Stuff) You Got It (The Right Stuff) "You Got It " is a 1988 single from New Kids on the Block. The lead vocals were sung by Jordan Knight and Donnie Wahlberg. The second single from the group's second album Hangin' Tough, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in early 1989, while topping the UK charts in November 1989... " | New Kids on the Block New Kids on the Block New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and... |
| 26 November | ||
| 3 December | 10 December | "Let's Party Let's Party (song) Let's Party was a popular single by Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers.The third single by the father and son DJ team Andy and John Pickles it reached the top of the UK singles chart for a single week in December 1989... " | Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers |
| 17 December | "Do They Know It's Christmas? Do They Know It's Christmas? "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 to raise money for relief of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and released by Band Aid on 29 November 1984.... " | Band Aid II Band Aid (band) Band Aid was a charity supergroup featuring British and Irish musicians and recording artists. It was founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Christmas market that year. The single... |
| 24 December | ||
| 31 December |
Number-one albums
| Issue date | Song | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | The Innocents The Innocents (album) After releasing The Two Ring Circus, a remix album in 1987, The Innocents was the third proper studio release from Erasure, released in 1988... | Erasure Erasure Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"... |
| 8 January | ||
| 15 January | The Legendary Roy Orbison | Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis... |
| 22 January | ||
| 29 January | ||
| 5 February | Technique Technique (album) Technique is the fifth studio album by New Order, released in 1989 via Factory Records. Partly recorded on the island of Ibiza, it incorporates Balearic beat and acid house influences into the group's electro/rock sound... | New Order New Order New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris... |
| 12 February | The Raw and the Cooked The Raw and the Cooked (album) The Raw & the Cooked is the second and final album by Fine Young Cannibals. A remixed version was also released as The Raw and the Remix. Selling over two million copies, The Raw & the Cooked included two US number one songs "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing"... | Fine Young Cannibals Fine Young Cannibals Fine Young Cannibals were a British band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, by bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox , and singer Roland Gift... |
| 19 February | A New Flame A New Flame A New Flame is the third album released by British pop group Simply Red in 1989. The album was a huge success worldwide becoming the bands first UK number one album and was certified 7x Platinum by the BPI for sales of 2,100,000 copies in the UK alone... | Simply Red Simply Red Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz... |
| 26 February | ||
| 5 March | ||
| 12 March | ||
| 19 March | Anything for You Let It Loose (Miami Sound Machine album) Let It Loose is the 10th studio album by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, released in 1987. The album was retitled Anything for You for its European release in 1988 with a different cover design... | Gloria Estefan Gloria Estefan Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those... and Miami Sound Machine |
| 26 March | Like a Prayer Like a Prayer Like a Prayer is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on March 21, 1989 by Sire Records, three years after her previous studio album. Madonna worked with Stephen Bray, Patrick Leonard, and fellow icon Prince on the album while co-writing and co-producing all the... | Madonna Madonna (entertainer) Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983... |
| 2 April | ||
| 9 April | When the World Knows Your Name When the World Knows Your Name When The World Knows Your Name is the second album from the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It was released in 1989 and attained the number 1 chart position in the United Kingdom.... | Deacon Blue Deacon Blue Deacon Blue are a Scottish pop band formed in Glasgow during 1985. Their name was taken from the title of the Steely Dan song "Deacon Blues". The band consists of vocalist Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, keyboard player James Prime and drummer Dougie Vipond.... |
| 16 April | ||
| 23 April | A New Flame | Simply Red |
| 30 April | Blast! | Holly Johnson Holly Johnson Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :... |
| 7 May | Street Fighting Years Street Fighting Years Street Fighting Years is the eighth studio album by Simple Minds, released in 1989.Produced by Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson, the album was a major stylistic departure from the previous album, 1985's Once Upon A Time, While still maintaining the epic arena-rock sense of scale and drama which the... | Simple Minds Simple Minds Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the... |
| 14 May | Ten Good Reasons Ten Good Reasons Ten Good Reasons is the debut album by Australian pop star and actor Jason Donovan. Released in 1989, it became one of the biggest selling albums in the UK that year, and yielded two solo #1 singles and also featured a duet with Kylie Minogue, "Especially for You", which had reached #1 in January... | Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
| 21 May | ||
| 28 May | The Miracle | Queen Queen (band) Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor... |
| 4 June | Ten Good Reasons | Jason Donovan |
| 11 June | ||
| 18 June | Flowers in the Dirt Flowers in the Dirt -Additional tracks:-Special Package :Following tracks are included on bonus disc.#"Message" - 0:28#* A environmental message from Paul to the Japanese fans.#"The Long and Winding Road" - 3:51... | Paul McCartney Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100... |
| 25 June | Batman Batman (album) Batman is the eleventh studio album by musician Prince and the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. As a Warner Bros. stablemate, Prince's involvement in the soundtrack was designed to leverage the media company's contract-bound talent as well as fulfill the artist's need for a commercial revival... | Prince |
| 2 July | Velveteen Velveteen (album) Velveteen is the second album from UK pop/rock band Transvision Vamp. The album was released in 1989, a year after their debut album Pop Art. Velveteen produced such hits as "Baby I Don't Care" which reached number 3 in the UK and Australia... | Transvision Vamp Transvision Vamp Transvision Vamp were a British alternative rock group. Formed in 1986 by Nick Christian Sayer and Wendy James the band enjoyed chart success in the late 1980s... |
| 9 July | Club Classics Vol. One | Soul II Soul Soul II Soul Soul II Soul are a British group that was created in London in 1988. They are best known for their 1989 UK chart-topper and U.S. Top 5 hit, "Back to Life ".-Career:... |
| 16 July | A New Flame | Simply Red |
| 23 July | ||
| 30 July | Cuts Both Ways Cuts Both Ways Cuts Both Ways is a 1989 album by Gloria Estefan. It was the first studio album credited to Estefan as a solo artist, but is her 11th album overall including her work with the band the Miami Sound Machine... | Gloria Estefan |
| 6 August | ||
| 13 August | ||
| 20 August | ||
| 27 August | ||
| 3 September | ||
| 10 September | Aspects of Love Aspects of Love Aspects of Love is a musical/chamber opera with a book and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart. It is famous for the song "Love Changes Everything."... | London Stage Cast |
| 17 September | We Too Are One We Too Are One -Personnel:Eurythmics*Annie Lennox - vocals*Dave Stewart - guitar, vocalsAdditional personnel*Olle Romo - drums*Pat Seymour - keyboard*Charlie Wilson - background vocals*Chucho Merchan - bass-Production:*Producers: Dave Stewart, Jimmy Iovine... | Eurythmics Eurythmics Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A... |
| 24 September | Foreign Affair Foreign Affair -B-sides:-Personnel:* Tina Turner - lead vocals* Tony Joe White - guitar, harmonica, synthesizers* Dan Hartman - guitar, keyboards* Eddie Martinez - guitar* Neil Taylor - guitar* James Ralston - guitar* Gene Black - guitar* Pat Thrall - guitar... | Tina Turner Tina Turner Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the... |
| 1 October | The Seeds of Love The Seeds of Love -Bonus tracks:Note: A remix of "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" was also released as a separate single in the UK and reached #70 on the charts.-Personnel:* Drums - Manu Katché, Chris Hughes, Phil Collins, Simon Phillips* Bass - Pino Palladino, Curt Smith... | Tears for Fears Tears for Fears Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into... |
| 8 October | Crossroads | Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,... |
| 15 October | Enjoy Yourself Enjoy Yourself (Kylie Minogue album) Enjoy Yourself is the second album by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. It was released by PWL on 9 October 1989. The album was mostly just produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, who had written and produced the whole album . The album was also mostly similar to its debut album as well.Minogue had... | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
| 22 October | ||
| 29 October | Wild! Wild! Wild! is the fourth studio album by British band Erasure. Released in 1989, it was the follow-up album to their 1988 breakthrough The Innocents... | Erasure |
| 5 November | ||
| 12 November | The Road to Hell The Road to Hell The Road to Hell is a 1989 album by Chris Rea, and is one of Rea's most famous albums. The second part of the two part title track, "The Road to Hell ," is also one of Rea's most famous songs... | Chris Rea Chris Rea Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally... |
| 19 November | ||
| 26 November | ||
| 3 December | ...But Seriously ...But Seriously -Instrumental contributions:*Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, percussion, tambourine, vocals*Nathan East — bass guitar*Daryl Stuermer — guitar*Dominic Miller — guitar*The Phoenix Horns:**Don Myrick — saxophone... | Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.... |
| 10 December | ||
| 17 December | ||
| 24 December | ||
| 31 December |
Top 50 singles of 1989
| Position | Title | Artist | Sales | Highest position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ride On Time | Black Box Black box A black box is a device, object, or system whose inner workings are unknown; only the input, transfer, and output are known characteristics.The term black box can also refer to:-In science and technology:*Black box theory, a philosophical theory... |
1 | |
| 2 | Swing The Mood | Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers | 1 | |
| 3 | Eternal Flame | The Bangles The Bangles The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :... |
1 | |
| 4 | Too Many Broken Hearts | Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
1 | |
| 5 | Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart | Marc Almond Marc Almond Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell... featuring Gene Pitney Gene Pitney Eugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the... |
1 | |
| 6 | Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) | Soul II Soul Soul II Soul Soul II Soul are a British group that was created in London in 1988. They are best known for their 1989 UK chart-topper and U.S. Top 5 hit, "Back to Life ".-Career:... |
1 | |
| 7 | That's What I Like | Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers | 1 | |
| 8 | Pump Up the Jam Pump Up the Jam "Pump Up the Jam" is the opening track on Technotronic's album Pump Up the Jam: The Album. The song was a worldwide hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom in 1989. The song was also a landmark release for the Belgian EBM – and New Beat – influenced house music. It was able to tackle the... |
Technotronic Technotronic Technotronic is a Belgian studio-based music project formed in 1988 by Jo Bogaert , who had already made his musical mark in the beginning of the 1980s as a part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various New Beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo... featuring Felly |
2 | |
| 9 | Hand on Your Heart | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
2 | |
| 10 | Like A Prayer | Madonna Madonna (entertainer) Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983... |
1 | |
| 11 | If Only I Could If Only I Could If Only I Could is the debut single from artist Sydney Youngblood and became his biggest hit. Released as a single from his album Feeling Free in 1989, the song was composed by Claus Zundel, a producer of multi-million selling projects Sacred Spirit and B-Tribe. It is now considered Youngblood's... |
Sydney Youngblood Sydney Youngblood Sydney Youngblood is an American born German singer, who had several successful dance/funk hits during the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Career:... |
3 | |
| 12 | All Around The World | Lisa Stansfield Lisa Stansfield Lisa Stansfield is an English singer and songwriter.-Early years:Stansfield was born to Marion and Keith Stansfield in Heywood, Lancashire, in England, where she attended Redbrook School, Rochdale. Her first television appearance was on a talent programme in the Granada TV area in 1982... |
1 | |
| 13 | Do They Know It's Christmas? | Band Aid II | 1 | |
| 14 | Love Changes Everything Aspects of Love Aspects of Love is a musical/chamber opera with a book and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart. It is famous for the song "Love Changes Everything."... |
Michael Ball Michael Ball (singer) Michael Ashley Ball, born 27 June 1962) is a British actor, singer, and radio and TV presenter who is best known for the song "Love Changes Everything" and musical theatre roles such as Marius in Les Misérables, Alex in Aspects of Love, Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Edna Turnblad... |
2 | |
| 15 | Girl I'm Gonna Miss You Girl I'm Gonna Miss You "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You" is a song recorded by Milli Vanilli which was released as a single in the middle of 1989 off the album Girl You Know It's True... |
Milli Vanilli Milli Vanilli Milli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most... |
2 | |
| 16 | You'll Never Stop Me Loving You | Sonia | 1 | |
| 17 | You Got It (The Right Stuff) | New Kids on the Block New Kids on the Block New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and... |
1 | |
| 18 | The Living Years The Living Years (song) "The Living Years" was written by Mike Rutherford and B. A. Robertson, and recorded by Rutherford's English rock band Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in January 1989 as the second single from their album, Living Years. The song was a top ten chart hit around the world. It peaked at number one... |
Mike & the Mechanics Mike & the Mechanics Mike + The Mechanics are an English rock/pop supergroup formed in 1985 as a side project of Mike Rutherford, one of the founding members of the band Genesis... |
2 | |
| 19 | Ferry 'cross The Mersey | The Christians, Holly Johnson Holly Johnson Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :... , Paul McCartney Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100... , Gerry Marsden Gerry Marsden Gerard "Gerry" Marsden is an English musician and television personality, best known for being leader of the British band Gerry & the Pacemakers.-Biography:... and Stock, Aitken & Waterman |
1 | |
| 20 | Miss You Like Crazy Miss You Like Crazy "Miss You Like Crazy" is a song recorded by Natalie Cole and released in 1989 from her album Good to Be Back. It was a huge hit for Cole, becoming her fifth Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where the song peaked at #7. The song also topped both the R&B and adult contemporary charts in... |
Natalie Cole Natalie Cole Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"... |
2 | |
| 21 | Wouldn't Change a Thing Wouldn't Change a Thing "Wouldn't Change a Thing" was the second single released from Australian singer Kylie Minogue's second album Enjoy Yourself. The single was released on 24 July 1989 and was written by Stock Aitken Waterman.-Song information:... |
Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... |
2 | |
| 22 | This Time I Know It's For Real This Time I Know It's for Real "This Time I Know It's For Real" is a song originally recorded by Donna Summer, and released in 1989 as the first single from her album Another Place and Time... |
Donna Summer Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach... |
3 | |
| 23 | Belfast Child | Simple Minds Simple Minds Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the... |
1 | |
| 24 | Street Tuff Street Tuff "Street Tuff" is a hit single by Rebel MC & Double Trouble. It became the biggest hit of both performers' careers, peaking at #3 on the UK Singles Chart. It is the follow-up to their first hit, "Just Keep Rockin'", which made it into the UK Top 20... |
Rebel MC and Double Trouble | 3 | |
| 25 | Requiem | London Boys London Boys London Boys were a British/German dance pop duo composed of Edem Ephraim and Dennis Fuller... |
4 | |
| 26 | Don't Know Much Don't Know Much "Don't Know Much" is a song written by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow and made famous when performed as a duet by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville on Ronstadt's 1989 album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind... |
Linda Ronstadt Linda Ronstadt Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden... featuring Aaron Neville Aaron Neville Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums... |
2 | |
| 27 | French Kiss French Kiss (song) "French Kiss" is a 1989 house-music single that became a European and American hit for American artist Lil Louis. The song also was a hit in dance clubs around the world, and it spent two weeks at #1 on the American dance chart in October 1989. It was a crossover pop hit as well, peaking at number... |
Lil Louis Lil Louis Lil Louis is the stage name used by Chicago-born house-music producer and DJ Louis Sims. He scored a number of hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the 1980s and 1990s, three of which hit #1.... |
2 | |
| 28 | Sealed With A Kiss | Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
1 | |
| 29 | Right Here Waiting Right Here Waiting "Right Here Waiting" is a ballad recorded by Richard Marx on his second album, Repeat Offender. "Right Here Waiting" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the 700th song to do so. It also peaked at #2 in the United Kingdom.-Background and writing:... |
Richard Marx Richard Marx Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"... |
2 | |
| 30 | Straight Up | Paula Abdul Paula Abdul Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits... |
3 | |
| 31 | Especially for You | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... & Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
1 | |
| 32 | Let's Party | Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers | 1 | |
| 33 | You Got It You Got It "You Got It" is a song from Roy Orbison's album, Mystery Girl . The song reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the adult contemporary chart , returning Orbison to the Top 40 for the first time in 24 years. It also hit number three on the UK Singles Chart in the spring of 1989... |
Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis... |
4 | |
| 34 | Help! Help! (song) "Help!" is a song by The Beatles that served as the title song for both the 1965 film and its soundtrack album. It was also released as a single, and was number one for three weeks in both the United States and the United Kingdom.... |
Bananarama Bananarama Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular... / Lananeeneenoonoo French and Saunders French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act.... |
3 | |
| 35 | Stop! Stop! (Sam Brown song) "Stop!" is a song by English singer Sam Brown.The single was originally released in 1988, missing the UK top forty and peaking at number fifty-two. It was not until 1989, however, that the single became a hit, when it peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart. "Stop!" became her biggest hit to... |
Sam Brown | 4 | |
| 36 | If You Don't Know Me By Now If You Don't Know Me By Now "If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by the jersey soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which became their first hit after being released as a single in 1972 topping the R&B chart and peaking at number three on the Pop chart.The... |
Simply Red Simply Red Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz... |
2 | |
| 37 | Lambada | Kaoma Kaoma Kaoma was a pop group made up in France of former members of the band Touré Kunda: Chyco Dru , Jacky Arconte , Jean-Claude Bonaventure , Michel Abihssira , Fania , and Loalwa Braz , Chico and Roberta... |
4 | |
| 38 | London Nights | London Boys London Boys London Boys were a British/German dance pop duo composed of Edem Ephraim and Dennis Fuller... |
2 | |
| 39 | Poison Poison (Alice Cooper song) "Poison" is a song by artist Alice Cooper co-written and produced by Desmond Child, released worldwide as a single in 1989 and is featured on his 18th studio album Trash... |
Alice Cooper Alice Cooper Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades... |
2 | |
| 40 | The Best The Best (song) "The Best" is a song written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight, originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler on her 1988 release Hide Your Heart, in reference to Tom Mason. The single reached reaching #10 in Norway and Portugal, #34 in Spain and #95 in the UK.... |
Tina Turner Tina Turner Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the... |
5 | |
| 41 | Love Train Love Train "Love Train" is a hit single by the O'Jays, written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Released in 1972, it reached number one on both the R&B Singles and the Hot 100, in February and March 1973 respectively, and was certified gold by the RIAA. It was The O'Jays' first and only number-one record on... |
Holly Johnson Holly Johnson Holly Johnson is an English artist, writer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and former bassist for Big in Japan.- Big in Japan :... |
4 | |
| 42 | If I Could Turn Back Time If I Could Turn Back Time "If I Could Turn Back Time" is a song written by Diane Warren and was released on June 1, 1989 as the second North American and first European single release from American singer/actress Cher's twentieth album Heart of Stone by Geffen Records.... |
Cher Cher Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in... |
6 | |
| 43 | When You Come Back To Me When You Come Back To Me "When You Come Back To Me" is the first single from Edyta Górniak's second album Edyta.-Background:The song was written by Christopher Paul Pelcer, Nicol Smith and Robert White Johnson and produced by Christopher Neil.... |
Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
2 | |
| 44 | Leave Me Alone | Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... |
2 | |
| 45 | Room In Your Heart Room in Your Heart "Room in Your Heart" is the third single from British group Living in a Box's 1989 album Gatecrashing. It ties with the band's epomynous 1987 single "Living in a Box" as the band's highest charting song. Both peaked at #5 on the UK singles chart... |
Living In A Box Living in a Box Living in a Box were a British band from the 1980s and early 1990s. They are best known for their eponymous debut single, produced by Richard James Burgess.-Formation and split up:... |
5 | |
| 46 | Song For Whoever Song For Whoever "Song for Whoever" is a song by The Beautiful South, written by band members Paul Heaton and David Rotheray. The first and highest-charting single from their debut album, Welcome to the Beautiful South, it peaked at number 2 in the UK charts in 1989... |
The Beautiful South The Beautiful South The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout... |
2 | |
| 47 | Another Day in Paradise Another Day in Paradise "Another Day in Paradise" is a song by Phil Collins released as the first single from his number-one album But Seriously . As with his song from Genesis, "Man on the Corner" "Another Day in Paradise" was written to bring attention to the problem of homelessness; as such, the song was a substantial... |
Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.... |
2 | |
| 48 | Baby I Don't Care Baby I Don't Care "Baby I Don't Care" was the sixth single from UK pop rock band Transvision Vamp and the first to be taken from their second album Velveteen. It was released in 1989 and remains their highest selling and charting single... |
Transvision Vamp Transvision Vamp Transvision Vamp were a British alternative rock group. Formed in 1986 by Nick Christian Sayer and Wendy James the band enjoyed chart success in the late 1980s... |
3 | |
| 49 | Leave A Light On Leave a Light On "Leave a Light On" is a pop song written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, produced by Nowels for Belinda Carlisle's third solo album Runaway Horses... |
Belinda Carlisle Belinda Carlisle Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments... |
4 | |
| 50 | Blame It On The Boogie Blame It on the Boogie "Blame It on the Boogie" is a disco song, originally released in 1978 both by English singer-songwriter Mick Jackson as well as by The Jacksons , and was later also covered by numerous other artists.-Background:... |
Big Fun | 4 |
BRIT Awards
The 1989 BRIT AwardsBrit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
winners were:
- Best classical recording: George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
’s - "The MessiahMessiah (Handel)Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
" - Best Music Video: Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
- "Smooth CriminalSmooth Criminal"Smooth Criminal" is the seventh single from Michael Jackson's 1987 Bad album. The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by a "smooth" assailant. It was released as a single on October 24, 1988 and peaked...
" - Best soundtrack: "BusterBuster (film)Buster is a 1988 comedy-drama film starring musician Phil Collins, Julie Walters, Larry Lamb and Sheila Hancock. The soundtrack featured two Phil Collins singles which eventually topped the Billboard 100 singles chart.-Plot:...
" - British album: Fairground AttractionFairground AttractionFairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:...
- "The First of a Million KissesThe First of a Million KissesThe First of a Million Kisses was the first album by Fairground Attraction, released in 1988.The album was a characteristic blend of folk, jazz, country, and Cajun elements . Released in May 1988, it followed the success of the band's first single, "Perfect," by entering the album chart at number...
" - British breakthrough act: BrosBrosBros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan...
- British female solo artist: Annie LennoxAnnie LennoxAnnie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
- British group: ErasureErasureErasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
- British male solo artist: Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
- British single: Fairground AttractionFairground AttractionFairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:...
- "PerfectPerfect (Fairground Attraction song)"Perfect" is the title to Fairground Attraction's first single, released in March 1988.The single reached number one on the 9 May 1988 UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for one week, and stayed in the chart for thirteen weeks. It also reached number one in South Africa as well as in Australia for...
" - International breakthrough act: Tracy ChapmanTracy ChapmanTracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
- International female: Tracy ChapmanTracy ChapmanTracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
- International group: U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
- International male: Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
- Outstanding contribution: Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....