Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1987, 50 different songs topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 issues of the magazine, based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]
At the start of the year, the song at the top of the charts was "Mind Your Own Business" by Hank Williams Jr. The single had moved into the number one position in the issue of Billboard dated December 27, 1986 and remained in place for a second week in the issue dated January 3.[2][3] The final number one of the year was "Somewhere Tonight" by Highway 101, which began a two-week run at the top in the issue dated December 26, 1987.[4][5] Between those two chart-toppers, the only song to spend more than one week at number one was "Forever and Ever, Amen" by Randy Travis, which had a three-week run in the peak position during the summer. The song won both the Grammy Award for Best Country Song and the Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year.[6][7]
Seven artists each achieved three number ones in 1987: Reba McEntire, Dan Seals, Earl Thomas Conley, George Strait, Steve Wariner, the Judds, and Ronnie Milsap, one of whose chart-toppers was a collaboration with Kenny Rogers. In addition to her three credited number ones, McEntire was also one of four featured vocalists on Hank Williams Jr's "Mind Your Own Business",[8] none of whom were listed on the chart. Acts to reach number one for the first time included S-K-O and the O'Kanes, both of whom topped the chart for the first and only time in 1987.[9][10] Michael Johnson had two number ones in the first half of the year, the first of which, "Give Me Wings", was named by Billboard as the top country single of the year.[11] These would prove to be his only appearances at the top of the chart, however.[12] At the other end of the scale, Milsap took his count of Hot Country number ones past 30, as he continued a run of ten number ones achieved between 1985 and 1989.[13][14] Only Merle Haggard (38), Conway Twitty (40) and George Strait (44) have taken more songs to the top of the Hot Country chart than Milsap since Billboard began compiling sales and airplay into a single listing in 1958.[15] Other veteran acts to appear at the top of the chart in 1987 included the Oak Ridge Boys, who achieved their fourteenth and fifteenth number ones, but their last to feature vocalist William Lee Golden, who was expelled from the group after more than 20 years during 1987.[16] Crystal Gayle, one of the most successful chart acts of the preceding ten years,[17] reached number one for the eighteenth and final time with "Straight to the Heart".[18]
Chart history
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944−2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN 978-0-89820-165-9.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 27, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ a b "Hot Country Songs chart for January 3, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ a b "Hot Country Songs chart for December 26, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 2, 1988". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ Whitaker, Sterling (May 4, 2017). "Top 10 Randy Travis Songs". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ "30th Annual Grammy Awards (1987)". grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ Hodge, Will (December 27, 2016). "Flashback: Hear Hank Williams Jr.'s 'Own Business' With Tom Petty". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ "S-K-O Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ Davis, Hank. "The O'Kanes Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ "Top Country Singles". Billboard. December 26, 1987. p. Y-38.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Michael Johnson Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ "Ronnie Milsap Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Ronnie Milsap Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ Trust, Gary (April 6, 2016). "Merle Haggard Notched 38 No. 1s on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "The Oak Ridge Boys Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Crystal Gayle Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ "Crystal Gayle Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 10, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 17, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 24, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 31, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 7, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 14, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 21, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 28, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 7, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 14, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 21, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 28, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 4, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 11, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 18, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 25, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 2, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 9, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 16, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 23, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 30, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 6, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 13, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 20, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 27, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 4, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 11, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 18, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 25, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 1, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 8, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 15, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 22, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 29, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 5, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 12, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 19, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 26, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 3, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 10, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 17, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 24, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 31, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 7, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 14, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 21, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 28, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 5, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 12, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 19, 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.