This Week . . . 33 Years Ago: Week Six, February 2 – 8

Every week, we’ll take a step back to this week 33 years ago to remember just how great it was as we review the top music and movie charts, as well as anything else that happened in TV, sports, the news, you name it.

We roll into the first full week of February and what’s that on the Album Charts? Hold It Now . . . Hit This Week . . . 33 Years Ago.

Music

Singles Chart – Top 10

This week, Madonna overtakes Billy Vera with “Open Your Heart.” It’ll be a short stay, but will give Madonna her 5th career #1 single. After strong runs, Gregory Abbott, Robbie Nevil and Janet Jackson exit the Top 10. Only Ms. Jackson would ever make it back – and she’d do it plenty of times. In their places come two long-standing bands continuing their chart-topping success and a one-hit-wonder (ok, kind of two if you like Cocktail). Meanwhile, “Land of Confusion” peaked last week at #4 and starts its decline – the song may not have been a #1 hit, but it’s video certainly was.

1. Open Your Heart – Madonna – ⬆ 1
2. At This Moment – Billy Vera and the Beaters – ⬇ 1
3. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi – ⬆ 6
   • Up another 6 spots this week, “Livin’ On A Prayer” is on the hotshot up the chart. And y’all know where it ends. In the meantime, last week the song got a little viral in 2020 – 33 years after it was killing the charts. It remains near the top of the sing-along charts too! Take a few seconds and listen to this.

4. Change of Heart – Cyndi Lauper – ⬆ 1
5. Touch Me (I Want Your Body) – Samantha Fox – ⬆ 5
6. Land of Confusion – Genesis – ⬇ 2
7. Keep Your Hands to Yourself – The Georgia Satellites – ⬆ 4
   • Also in the sing-along category, the Georgia Satellites hit the Top 10 for the first and only time with “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.” The song will eventually peak at #2 and likely would have found it’s way to #1 if not for some very bad timing (see current #3 above).

8. Some Day – Glass Tiger – ⬇ 1
9. Will You Still Love Me? – Chicago – ⬆ 4
   • You want to talk about a dynasty – Chicago had Top 10 songs in almost every year of the ’70s, and 5 consecutive #1 records. After a bit of a lull as the ’70s ended and the ’80s began, they started to have renewed success in ’82 with “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” which went to #1, and “Hard Habit to Break” and “You’re the Inspiration,” both of which went to #3 in ’84. And here they are yet again in ’87 with their 17th Top-10 hit, “Will You Still Love Me?” When it’s all said and done, Chicago will have 20 total Top-10 hits. And oh so many high school prom lead-out songs. The song was also the 1st Top-10 hit for Chicago since Peter Cetera’s departure in ’85. In the meantime, Cetera found solo success last year with a couple of songs you might remember – “Glory of Love” (Karate Kid II) and a duet with Amy Grant, “The Next Time I Fall.” Last little bit – Netflix has a fantastic documentary on the band, Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago, that is fantastic. Check it out.

10. We’re Ready – Boston – ⬆ 2
    • After getting it’s only #1 last year with “Amanda,” Boston gets into the Top 10 for the 4th and final time with “We’re Ready.” Their previous two Top 10’s was perhaps their most long-standing popular song “More Than a Feeling” (peaked at #5 in ’76) and “Don’t Look Back” (#4 in ’78).

Albums Chart – Top 5

And business just picked up on the Albums Chart. Out goes Boston. And who’s that coming in? Ah mom, you’re just jealous. It’s the Bea. Stie. Boys! Fun story: in the Spring of ’87, I went with my Mom, my Papa Frank and Grannie Jean (Dad’s parents), and my Uncle Craig (Dad’s brother) up to DC for a week. For whatever reason, my brother couldn’t go. As a consolation prize, he got to pick an album out – I believe it was at the first Walmart in Tuscaloosa at the end of Bama Mall (real Tuscaloosa folks know what I’m talking about). His choice: Licensed to Ill. Hero.

1. Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi
2. Different Light – The Bangles
3. Night Songs – Cinderella – ⬆ 1
4. Licensed to Ill – Beastie Boys – ⬆ 3
   • Formed in ’81, the Beastie Boys originally started as a punk band with four members. By the next year though, two of the four members left, Adam Horovitz joined up with Michael Diamond and Adam Yauch, the group transitioned to hip hop, and you know the rest. In ’83 and ’84, the group hired a DJ for their shows, a guy named Rick Rubin, who formed Def Jams with Russell Simmons. By ’85, the Boys were touring with Madonna and then joined the Raising Hell tour with Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and the Timex Social Club. Read that line up again. Sweet Jesus. Then during ’86, Licensed to Ill was recorded. And just look at this tracklist: “Rhymin & Stealin,” “The New Style,” “She’s Crafty,” “Posse in Effect,” “Slow Ride,” “Girls,” “Fight For Your Right,” “No Sleep Til Brooklyn,” “Paul Revere,” “Hold It Now, Hit It,” “Brass Monkey,” “Slow and Low,” and “Time to Get Ill.” Of the 13 cuts, 7 would be released as singles. Only one though, “Fight For Your Right,” will make the Top 10. In fact, it is their only Top 10 hit ever. We’ll talk about that one when it the charts above later this year. In the meantime, since this record isn’t leaving this chart any time soon, we’ll slow roll the other six singles. First up, the initial release from Licensed to Ill, “Hold It Now, Hit It.” Cause when I get my fill, I’m chilly chill.

5. The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby & The Range

Movies

Box Office Top 10

After the random influx of cartoons last week and An American Tail holding the #1 spot, the top spot this week gets a little . . . um . . . darker.

1. Platoon – ⬆ 2
   • Though it had been out for six weeks prior, this 7th week saw Platoon get a much wider release – it’s theatre count almost tripled – and straight to #1 it went. It’ll stay here for the next four weeks. The movie will later be nominated for 8 Academy Awards and win 4, including Best Picture and Best Director for Oliver Stone. It’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime. If you’ve never seen it or it’s been a while, go check it out. My 9-year-old self obviously was not allowed to see it at the time, but I remember this poster vividly. Watch the trailer too, if only for the Smokey soundtrack.

2. A Room With a View – New Release
   • I seem to remember this poster, but that’s about it. This’ll be the last time we see it in the Top 10 until around April when it again hits #2 thanks to its nomination for Best Picture and 7 other Academy Awards.

3. Outrageous Fortune – New Release
   • Bette Midler. Shelly Long. Both dating the same man who then fakes his death and they decide to chase him down. Who says no?

4. Three Amigos – ⬆ 13
5. Crocodile Dundee
6. The Morning After – ⬆
7. Critical Condition – ⬇ 3
8. The Golden Child – ⬇ 1
9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – ⬇ 3
10. Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold – New Release
    • Never saw it, but remember the poster. It’s a sequel to King Solomon’s Mines.

Television

This week, we start our quick look at the Spring ’87 network television schedules, starting with Sunday Night (all times central of course):

• 6pm – 7pm
  • ABC: Disney Sunday Night Movie
  • CBS: 60 Minutes
  • NBC: Our House
• 7pm – 8pm
  • ABC: Disney Sunday Night Movie (cont.)
  • CBS: Murder, She Wrote
  • NBC: Rags to Riches
• 8pm – 10pm
  • ABC: The ABC Sunday Night Movie
  • CBS: CBS Sunday Movie
  • NBC: NBC Sunday Night at the Movies

Alright, so not much variety on Sunday night. Angela Lansbury and movies. The weeknights will be better. Promise.

That’ll do for this week. Next week, the music charts get a little stagnant (spoiler), so we’ll take a quick dive into the current state of the country and R&B charts. So stay tuned for next week where we continue our look at music, movies, and more during This Week . . . 33 Years Ago.

If you missed any of the past weeks in review, click below and catch up. And if you’re liking them, be sure to share through the social media of your choice below or to the side.

Past This Week . . . 30 Years Ago Reviews:

1987: Week One | Week Two | Week Three | Week Four | Week Five |