Retro Spins: Dire Straits - Making Movies

Brother Mark and David Knopfler formed Dire Straits with friends John Illsley and Pick Withers in 1977. Despite early success, and Grammy nominations, feuding between the two siblings would ultimately lead to a departure, but greater success.

The group recorded a five-song demo tape which included their future hit single, Sultans Of Swing, as well as Water Of Love, and Down To The Waterline. However, when it was presented to MCA, the label passed on them.

Though they would go to DJ Charlie Gillett, presenter of Honky Tonk on BBC Radio London seeking advice, the host liked the music so much that he played Sultans of Swing on his show. Shortly thereafter,  the Vertigo division of Phonogram Inc. would sign them.

Their self titled debut was released in 1978, and led by Sultan's Of Swing, got the attention of Karin Berg of Warner Bros. Records. She felt the music was perfect for a US audience. While many weren't in agreement with her, a tour that same year with Talking Heads, and the re-release of singles which went to number one in the UK convinced them otherwise. By 1978, Dire Straits had released their debut album worldwide.

The band released their 1979 follow up, Communiqué to great success. It went to number one in Germany, and number three in the UK. They would not only be nominated for a Grammy in for best new artist in 1980, but begin work on their third album, Making Movies. It would be during these sessions that tensions would mount between the brothers, and David would leave the band.

Despite the absence of David, the trio would press on with session musicians releasing the album in October 1980 to critical praise. Making Movies would stay in the UK charts for five years, peaking at number four.

So let's stop here, and fire it up!

Tunnel Of Love sets a nice tone with its organ style intro, which blasts into some of the finest guitar work from Knopfler. It elevates further with Rome And Juliet, and my personal favorite, Expresso Love. However, in between those, while it doesn't necessarily offer a poor experience, the remaining tracks just don't reach the heights of the aforementioned ones.

I actually had to take a break from typing for a while, because while I wanted to say more than the above about my listening experience, I honestly couldn't come up with anything.

While I may not have anything further to say, Dire Straits did. They went on to release 1982's Lover Over Gold, and then their biggest album to date, 1985's Brothers In Arms. The latter was heavily supported through music videos which were featured on MTV quite frequently. Ironic, as Knopfler was against the whole idea of videos. In fact, it would take MTV reaching out to Warner Bros. pleading with them to convince the artist to create a concept video for them to play.

Knopfler would take a break in 1987, but in 1988 would announce the group had disbanded. He would state in a later article, "A lot of press reports were saying we were the biggest band in the world. There's not an accent then on the music, there's an accent on popularity. I needed a rest."

Dire Straits would reunite in 1990, and release one final album, 1991's On Every Street. Perhaps it was because times had changed, or that their departure from the spotlight gave people time to forget, but the album received only moderate success, and mixed reviews. After a contractually obligated live album in 1995, Knopfler quietly disbanded the group again. Though they have reunited periodically for one off shows, the band has yet to release any further studio albums.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
April 2, 1983

 

THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
April 2, 1988

Retro Spins: Falco - Einzelhaft

Johann "Hans" Hölzel knew at a kid that he wanted to be a pop star. He showed signs of being a musical prodigy incredibly early in his young life. As a toddler, he was able to keep drum beat time with music he heard, and by the age of four received a grand piano as a birthday gift. A year later he would receive his first record player, giving him the ability to play albums from The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Cliff Richard.

He would attend Vienna Conservatoire at the age of sixteen, but grow frustrated with the experience, and drop out. He would then take a job at the Austrian employee pension insurance institute. However, this too would be short lived.

In the late 70's, Hölzel would envelope himself in the Viennese nightlife. It would be here that he would play bass guitar for a number of bands. Though unlike his fellow band mates, would stand out for his clean cut appearance, and pressed suits. He would also adopt the stage name, Falco. After one particular performance of Ganz Wien in 1981, he would be approached by Markus Spiegel, who would sign him.

Falco would begin writing and composing his own music, presenting the single, Helden von heute as his first release. However, it would be the B-side, Der Kommissar, which his manager, Horst Bork, would be interested in. Rap was relatively rare in Western Europe at the time, and this made the singer hesitant. Despite this reluctance, the song would become a major hit in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan, reaching number one in each country, while charting high in several others.

Unfortunately, the track would fail to pique interest in the US and UK. That is until it was loosely covered and released in 1983 by band, After The Fire. That same year, Laura Branigan would change the lyrics, and release a none single cover entitled, Deep In The Dark.

While we won't be visiting the more popular cover version today, we will go back to where it all began. Of course, I'm talking about Falco's 1982 debut, Einzelhaft.

As I played through it, I found myself having mixed feelings. On one hand, it was nice to hear Falco's voice, and more so, something "new" from him. However, this didn't necessarily make for a good album. Overall, the tracks had a very slow pace, and dated sound to them. Early synthpop, which didn't necessarily stand the test of time.

Truthfully, while I like the Der Kommissar, I favor the remake from ATF. It's one of those rare occasions where the cover is better than the original.

The overall poor impact that Einzelhaft had on me was probably heavily due in part by it being strictly in German. Unlike future releases, where the singer had his breakout in English speaking territories, and thus incorporated that language, the fact that I couldn't understand anything deterred me from being able to get into it. I didn't understand anything, and since the music wasn't catchy, it all just kind of fell flat.

Hearing Helden von heute, I can understand why Bork favorder Der Kommissar as the lead single. However, this could be bias, as ATF kind of already cemented by love for that song. I can't say as it would have been as good if it were the first time I was hearing the tune in general.

It was a shame really. Falco 3 is one of my favorite albums from the 80's, and I really want to like the singer more than I do. Alas, that just doesn't seem to happen.

Falco returned to the studio in 1983 to record his follow up, 1984's Junge Roemer, but has stated very openly that the pressures were on from the label to deliver the same success of his debut. This unfortunately didn't happen with the release. Though it would reach number one in Austria, it failed everywhere else in the world.

Perhaps this was for the best, as this led to the singer parting ways with his original production team, and beginning to experiment with different musical styles, including the English language. Falco 3 was released in 1985, and led by Rock Me Amadeus gave him the success he was looking for across the globe. While this would have paved the way for further albums produced in the US, as well as collaborations with other artists, his personal additions to drugs and alcohol impeded this from occurring.

Instead, Falco released his 1986 follow up, Emotional. The album would fail to chart in the US, and start a steady decline of his worldwide popularity. Specifically in English speaking countries. Sales declined even further with his 1988 album, Wiener Blut.

Falco would release two additional albums in the 90's, 1990's Data de Groove, and 1992's Nachtflug, but continued his trend of declining popularity. It wouldn't be until 1995 that he would return to the studio to work on his comeback album, 1998's Out of the Dark (Into the Light). Sadly the album would be released posthumously, as Johann Hölzel would unfortunately die in a car crash on February 6, 1998, just thirteen days before his 41st birthday.

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THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS
April 1, 1989

 

Stalled At Two - The Billboard Hot 100

The charts were a brutal war zone throughout the 80's. The crème de la crème of the era clawed their way along the Billboard Hot 100, all with the same goal in mind, reaching the coveted number one spot. The battle was furious, and any given week could see a new number one hit.

However, sometimes the fates aren't kind, and a song which could have, and should have reached number one, stalls out at number two. Sadly, these songs, while not forgotten per se, do tend to be lost in the shuffle of the victors.

Today, we're taking a look at all of those great, but unfortunate tracks to stall out in second place throughout the decade.

1980 would kick off with K.C. And The Sunshine Band's Please Don't Go at number one, and be replaced by Rupert Holmes' Escape by January 12. However, when Michael Jackson's Rock With You hit January 19, it would hold the number one spot for the next four weeks. It was replaced by Do That To Me One More Time on February 16, but be dethroned by Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love on February 23. Teri De Sario's Yes, I'm Ready, was denied the number one spot on March 1 and 8, 1980 by Queen's hit.

It was replaced at number two by Dan Fogelberg's Longer. However, it too was held back from number one by Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love on March 15, 1980. It was leapt over by Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall, which hit number one the week of March 22, 1980.

The Spinner's Working My Way Back To You took the number two spot on March 29, 1980, but also remained blocked from number one by Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall.

Blondie's Call Me would replace Pink Floyd at the number one spot on April 19, 1980. It would then hold off Christopher Cross's Ride Like The Wind between April 26, and May 17, 1980.

Between May 31, and September 6, 1980, multiple songs would fight for, and reach number one. These included, Lipps, Inc.'s Funky Town, Olivia Newton-John's Magic, Billy Joel's It's Still Rock And Roll To Me, Paul McCartney's Coming Up, Christopher Cross's Sailing, and Diana Ross's Upside Down. It would be the latter which would deny Air Supply's All Out Of Love the number one spot from September 13, through September 27, 1980. It would then be further be denied by Queen's Another One Bites The Dust on October 4.

Barbra Streisand's Woman In Love would reach number one on October 25, 1980, and be replaced by Kenny Roger's Lady on November 15, 1980. Beginning December 6, 1980, it kept Leo Sayer's More Than I Can Say from reaching number one through December 20, 1980. John Lennon's Just Like Starting Over would keep it from number one during the last week of the year.

Lennon's Starting Over would remain in number one as 1981 kicked off, and hold Neil Diamond's Love On The Rocks from reaching first place.

Blondie's The Tide Is High would reach number one on January 31, 1981, but be replaced by Kool And The Gang's Celebration February 7, 1981. Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 would take over first place on February 21, 1981, and be kicked back to number two by Eddie Rabbitt's I Love A Rainy Night on February 28.

9 To 5 would take number one back on March 14, but be replaced on the 21st by REO Speedwagon's Keep On Loving You. The song would keep John Lennon's Woman from the number one spot this week, and Blondie's Rapture would slide into number one the following week, and remain until replaced by Hall And Oates' Kiss On My List on April 11, 1981.

Morning Train by Sheena Easton would reach number one on May 2, 1981, and keep Grover Washington Jr.'s Just The Two Of Us from the number one spot for two week, and this would continue to happen when Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes reached number one on May 16.

Kim Carnes would then block Smokey Robinson's Being With You from the spot for three weeks. Carnes would be replaced at number one on June 20 by Stars On 45 with their Medley: Intro / Venus / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want To Know A Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going To Lose That Girl / Stars On 45. However, Carnes would reclaim the number one spot a week later, staying there for four weeks.

It was during this period that George Harrison's All Those Years Ago would be blocked from reaching number one.

Air Supply's The One That You Love, and Rick Springfield's Jessie's Girl would hold number one from July 25 through August 8. However, by the 15th, the Lionel Richie and Diana Ross duet, Endless Love would take the spot. This song would keep Joey Scarbury's The Theme From The Greatest American Hero from reaching number one.

By August 29, it also halted Pointer Sister's Slow Hands from going any further.

Not relenting, the duet also kept Juice Newton's Queen Of Hearts out of the spotlight.

After nine weeks, Endless Love was finally kicked out of the spot by Christopher Cross's Arthur's Theme. During its run at the top, it would keep The Rolling Stone's Start Me Up from the top on October 31, 1981. However, this task would be taken over by Hall And Oates' Private Eyes on November 7.

Olivia Newton-John's Physical would take number one on November 21, 1981, and stay there for the remainder of the year. As of November 28, it would block Foreigner's Waiting For A Girl Like You, which stayed at number to throughout the year as well.

These two spots didn't change as 1982 kicked off. In fact, Foreigner's hit would remain in second place on January 30, 1982, when Hall And Oates' I Can't Go For That took number one. J. Geils Band's Centerfold would reach number one on February 6, and by the 27th was denying Journey's Open Arms the spot, which it did for three weeks. Joan Jett And The Blackhearts' I Love Rock And Roll would do the same for three weeks starting March 20.

Jett and her band would then hold off Go-Go's We Got The Beat as of April 10, through April 24.

Vangelis' Chariots Of Fire would reach number one on May 8, 1981, but be replaced by the Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder duet, Ebony And Ivory the following week. As of May 22, it would block Rick Springfield's Don't Talk To Strangers from reaching number one for six weeks.

The Human League's Don't You Want Me would come out of nowhere to reach number one by July 3, 1982, and this would block Toto's Rosanna from number one for three weeks before Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger would take up that role.

After blocking Toto through July 31, Survivor then stopped John Cougar's Hurts So Good for four weeks before The Steve Miller Band's Abracadabra took the job of goalie.

Chicago's Hard To Say I'm Sorry reached number one on September 11, 1982, but was replaced by Abracadabra on the 25th. However, by October 2, John Cougar finally made his way to number one with Jack And Diane. It was replaced by Rockwell's Who's Watching Me on October 30 but was quickly replaced the following week by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warne's duet, Up Where We Belong.

Lionel Richie's Truly would reach number one on November 27, and keep Laura Branigan's Gloria from reaching the top for two weeks. On December 11, Toni Basil's Mickey took over the job, but was replaced on December 18 by Hall And Oate's Maneater.

Maneater would remain at number one into the new year, and keep the Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney duet, The Girl Is Mine from number one. Men At Work's Down Under would do the same as of January 15, 1983.

Toto's Africa would take number one on February 5, 1983, but Down Under would take the spot back the following week. It was finally dethroned by Patti Austin's Come To Me on February 19. Patti would keep Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band's Shame On The Moon from number one, but this slack would be taken up by Michael Jackson's Billie Jean on March 5.

Billie Jean remained on the charts for the rest of eternity, and to this day keeps every other song known to man from reaching number one.

Seriously though, Billie Jean stayed at number one for seven weeks, keeping Culture Club's Do You Really Want To Hurt Me from reaching number one. It was finally pushed from number one by Dexy's Midnight Runners' Come On Eileen, of all things on April 23.

Michael Jackson's Beat It took number one on April 30, 1983, blocking The Greg Kihn Band's Jeopardy from hitting the top slot.

David Bowie's Let's Dance reached number one on May 21, 1983, but was replaced by Irene Cara's Flashdance...What A Feeling on the 28th. It blocked Culture Club's Time (Clock Of The Heart) as of June 18..

On July 2, Flashdance ran interference on Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue, keeping it from number one. However, by July 9, 1983, The Police's Every Breath You Take took over that function.

After eight weeks, Eurythmics Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) took over number one on September 3, 1983, but was replaced by Michael Sembello's Maniac the next. This was followed by Billy Joel's Tell Her About It, and Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse Of The Heart. It would be the latter that would stop Air Supply's Making Love Out Of Nothing At All from reaching number one on October 1st, continuing to do so for four weeks.

The Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet, Islands In The Streams, reached number one on October 29, 1983, and was replaced by Lionel Richie's All Night Long on November 12. This was followed by the Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson duet, Say Say Say on December 10. This song would stop Hall And Oates' Say It Isn't So from number one on December 17 for the remainder of the year.

Say Say Say remained at number one in the beginning of 1984 until it was replaced by Yes's Owner Of A Lonely Heart on January 21, 1984. This in turn was replaced by Culture Club's Karma Chameleon on February 2. It would be this song that would keep Kool And The Gang's Joanna from number one on February 11.

Van Halen's Jump moved in to the number one spot on February 25, and by March 3rd was blocking Nena's 99 Luftballons from number one.

It then blocked Cyndi Laupper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun March 10 through 17...

...and Rockwell's Somebody's Watching Me on March 24. Footloose took over defense on March 31, but was replaced by Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) by Phil Collins.

Lionel Richie's Hello would take number one on May 12, 1984, but be replaced by Deniece Williams Let's Hear It For The Boy on May 26. This was replaced by Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time on June 9, and Duran Duran's The Refelx on the 23rd. This song would keep Bruce Springsteen's Dancing In The Dark from number one on June 30. However, Prince And The Revolution's When Doves Cry would take over on July 7, 1984.

When Doves Cry traded places with Ray Parker Jr.'s Ghostbusters on August 11, 1984, and was replaced by Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It, followed by John Waite's Missing You. Prince And The Revolution would return to the number one spot on September 29 with Let's Go Crazy. It was replaced on October 13 by Stevie Wonder's I Just Called To Say I Love You. Billy Ocean's Caribbean Queen would reach number one on November 3, but be replaced by Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go Go on November 17. This latter song would prevent Prince from returning to the number one spot with Purple Rain.

Hall And Oates' Out Of Touch would land at number one on September 8, 1984, and block Duran Duran's Wild Boys the following week. Madonna's Like A Virgin then took the number one spot, keeping Duran Duran at bay on December 22. 1985 would pick up where 1984 left off.

Madonna would continue to remain in the number one spot, holding back Jack Wagner's All I Need for two weeks.

The Queen of Pop was eventually knocked out of the lead by Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is on February 2, 1985. This would keep the Philip Bailey and Phil Collin's duet, Easy Lover from reaching the lead.

Wham's Careless Whisper would switch places with Foreigner on February 16, and keep Billy Ocean's Loverboy from number one on the 23rd.

Wham yielded to REO Speedwagon's Can't Fight This Feeling on March 9, and by March 16 it was blocking Glenn Frey's The Heat Is On from reaching number one.

It then stopped Madonna's Material Girl from reaching number one on March 23. Madonna was them leapt over by Phil Collin's One More Night, which took number one on March 30.

We Are The World would reach number one on April 13, and be knocked out of the spot by Madonna's Crazy For You on May 11. However, this was quickly replaced the following week by Simple Mind's Don't You (Forget About Me). This too was knocked out of place the following week by Wham's Everything She Wants.

Things got brutal for the weeks to come with number one artists coming and going. These included Tears For Fear's Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Bryan Adam's Heaven, Phil Collin's Sussudio, and Duran Duran's A View To A Kill. This latter song would block Prince And The Revolution's Raspberry Beret from reaching number one on July 20, 1985.

The shuffling continued as Paul Young's Everytime You Go Away, Tears For Fear's Shout, Huey Lewis And The News' Power Of Love, and John Parr's St. Elmo's Fire all reached number one. Parr would block Tina Turner's We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) from reaching number one on September 14, 1985.

By September 21, 1985, a new victor emerged, Dire Strait's Money For Nothing. This would block Kool And The Gang's Cherish from reaching number one for three weeks before being replaced by Ready For The World's Oh Sheila.

A-Ha's Take On Me would reach number one on October 19, but be replaced the following week by Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love For You. This was quickly replaced by Stevie Wonder's Part Time Lover, followed by Jan Hammer's Miami Vice Theme, and then Starship's We Built This City on November 16. Starship would keep Glenn Frey's You Belong To The City from number one for two weeks in a row.

The Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin duet, Separate Lives would take the number one spot on November 30, but be knocked out the following week by Mr. Mister's Broken Wings. Lionel Richie's Say You, Say Me would score a number one on December 21, and close out the year keeping Eddie Murphy's Party All The Time at bay at number two.

1986 picked up where 1985 left off, with Richie holding Murphy back. Dionne and Friends' That's What Friends Are For crept up to the number one spot on January 18, 1986, and kept Survivor's Burning Heart from number one on February 1 through 8.

Both the first and second place spots changed on February 15, when Whitney Houston's How Will I know took number one, keeping Billy Ocean's When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going) at number two.

Mr. Mister took number one with Kyrie on March 1, 1986, but was followed by Starship's Sara the following week, and then Heart's These Dreams on March 22. Falco's Rock Me Amadeus slid into number one on March 29, and by April 5 was blocking John Cougar Mellencamp's R.O.C.K. In The USA from reaching number one.

Prince And The Revolution's Kiss took Falco's place on April 19, and blocked another Prince penned song, Bangles' Manic Monday from reaching number one.

The number one spot shifted frantically over the following weeks with Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love, Pet Shop Boy's West End Girls, Whitney Houston's Greatest Love Of All, Madonna's Live To Tell, the Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald duet, On My Own, Billy Ocean's There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry), Simply Red's Holding Back The Years. Genesis' Invisible Touch, and Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer. The latter would lock Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone out at number two.

Things went back into steady rotation on August 2, 1986, kicking off with Peter Cetera's Glory Of Love, followed by Madonna's Papa Don't Preach, Steve Winwood's Higher Love, Bananarama's Venus, and Berlin's Take My Breath Away. Berlin would stop Lionel Richie's Dancing On The Ceiling from going any higher than number two on September 13, 1986. It would be kept there the following week by Huey Lewis And The News' Stuck With You.

The boys would then keep the duet from Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson, Friends And Lover at number two the next two weeks.

Janet Jackson would get her first number one with When I Think Of You on October 11, 1986, keeping Glass Tiger's Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) at number two.

During her second week at number one, she's prevent Tina Turner's Typical Male from going past number two. Cyndi Lauper's True Colors would take over the task on October 25 for an additional two weeks.

Boston's Amanda would race up the charts to number one on November 6, 1986, and block Robert Palmer's I Didn't Mean To Turn You On.

The rotations would kick off again on November 22, 1986 with The Human League's Human, and be followed by Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name, the Peter Cetera and Amy Grant duet, The Next Time I Fall In Love, Bruce Hornsby And The Range's The Way It Is, and finally, Bangles' Walk Like An Egyptian. It would be the girls who would stop the momentum of Wang Chung's Everybody Have Fun Tonight on December 27.

1987 kicked off with Bangles still in the number one spot, holding back Duran Duran's Notorious.

By January 17, 1987, Gregory Abbott's Shake You Down slid into number one, keeping Robbie Nevil's C'est La Vie at number two. Billy Vera And The Beaters' At This Moment would then take number one  on the 24th.

Madonna's Open Your Heart reached number one on February 7, and was replaced by Bon Jovi's Livin' On A Prayer the following week. The boys from New Jersey kept Georgia Satellites Keep Your Hands To Yourselef in number two on February 21, and remained at number one until March 14, where it was replaced by Huey Lewis And The News' Jacob's Ladder.

The Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram duet, Somewhere Out There couldn't muster up the strength to take the number one spot from Huey and his newsies.

However, Club Nouveau managed to take not only number one on March 21, 1987, but also keep Janet Jackson's Let's Wait Awhile at number two.

Starship hit number one on April 4 with Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now, only to be replaced by the Aretha Franklin and George Michael duet, I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) on April 18. The song kept Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over at number two on the 25th.

Cutting Crew's (I Just) Died In Your Arms took number one on May 2, 1987, and with it came Jody Watley's Looking For A New Love, trapped at the number two spot.

With Or Without You by U2 gave the band it's first number one on May 16, 1987, and in the process it began the next wave of number one rotations. These included Kim Wilde's You Keep Me Hangin' On, Atlantic Starr's Always, Lisa Lisa And Cult Jam's Head To Toe, Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Heart's Alone, and Bob Seger's Shakedown.

U2 came back to number one on August 8, 1987 with I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, halting George Michael's I Want Your Sex at number two.

Madonna kicked off a new round of rotations starting on August 22, with Who's That Girl. This was followed by Los Lobos' La Bamba, Michael Jackson's I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Whitney Houston's Didn't We Almost Have It All, Whitesnake's Here I Go Again, and Lisa Lisa And Cult Jam's Lost In Emotion. The latter would keep Prince's U Got The Look at the number two spot on October 17.

Michael Jackson's Bad reached number one on October 24, 1987, and stopped the momentum of Madonna's Causing A Commotion. Tiffany's I Think We're Along Now took over that role on November 7.

Billy Idol hit the charts at number one on November 21, 1987 with Mony Mony, but was replaced by (Now I've) Had The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes on November 28. This was followed by Belinda Carlisle's Heaven Is A Place On Earth, and George Michael's Faith. Michael's stopped Whitesnake's Is This Love at number two on December 19. However, Whitney Houston was creeping up the charts behind him.

By January 9, 1988, Houston's So Emotional took number one. The rotations then kicked off with George Harrison's Got My Mind Set On You, INXS' Need You Tonight, and Tiffany's Could Have Been. The latter, which reached number one on February 6, 1988, halted the progress of Bangles' Hazy Shade Of Winter.

Exposes' Season's Change took number one on February 20, and in turn prevented Pet Shop Boys' What Have I Done To Deserve This from advancing past number two. Father Figure, by George Michael, took over the number one spot on the 27th, and remained there until Rick Astly's Never Gonna Give You Up gave it the boot on March 12, 1988.

The latter kept Belinda Carlisle's I Get Week from going further than number two.

Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror helped itself to number one on March 26, 1988, and in doing so, prevented Richard Marx Endless Summer Nights with a deuce for two straight weeks.

Billy Ocean's Get Out Of My Dreams, Get Into My Car stayed at number one for two weeks as of April 9, 1988, and during its second week blocked INXS' Devil Inside from going beyond second place. Whitney Houston's Where Do Broken Hearts also denied it when she took number one on April 23.

Terrence Trent D'Arby snuck up to number one on May 7, 1988 with Wishing Well, but was replaced by Gloria Estefan And Miami Sound Machine's Anything For You on May 14. She and her band would keep Johnny Hates Jazz's Shattered Dreams at bay at number two. George Michael's One More Try would take number one, leaving Johnny at two on May 28 until Rick Astley returned to number one with Together Forever on June 18.

Then the rotations fired up again with Debbie Gibson's Foolish Beat, Michael Jackson's Dirty Diana, and Cheap Trick's The Flame. The latter would stop Pebbles' Mercedes Boy at number two on July 9, 1988.

However, when Cheap Trick was knocked out of number one by Richard Marx's Hold On To The Nights, Marx would keep Def Leppard at number two with their song, Pour Some Sugar On Me.

Steve Winwood's Roll With It would reach number one on July 30, 1988, and block Breathe's Hands To Heaven at two.

George Michael's Monkey would take the lead on August 27, 1988, and stop Elton John's I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That from going beyond number two.

Guns N' Roses would get their chance at number one with Sweet Child O' Mine on September 10, and in the process halt the progress of Robert Palmer's Simply Irresistible.

The remainder of the year would be filled out by a steady rotation of new number one's which included Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry Be Happy, Def Leppard's Love Bites, UB40's Red Red Wine, Phil Collin's Groovy Kind Of Love, The Beach Boy's Kokomo, The Escape Club's Wild, Wild West, Bon Jovi's Bad Medicine, Will To Power's Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird Medley, Chicago's Look Away, and Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn.

Poison kicked off 1989, remaining in the number one spot for a week before being usurped by Bobby Brown's My Prerogative the second week. Week three saw Phil Collins' Two Hearts take number one, and in the process block Taylor Dayne's Dont Rush Me.

Sheriff's When I'm With You reached number one on February 4, 1989, an impressive feat considering it originally came out in 1982. It was replaced by Paula Abdul's Straight Up the following week. Abdul would stay on the chats for multiple weeks, blocking Tone Loc's Wild Thing at number two on February 18.

Debbie Gibson's Lost In Your Eyes took number one on March 4, 1989, leaving Sheena Easton's The Lover In Me to contend with number two.

Gibson was replaced by Mike + The Mechanics' The Living Years on March 25, and this was replaced by Bangles Eternal Flame the following week. In addition to Sheena, Bangles would also keep Milli Vanilli's Girl You Know It's True from going beyond number two on April 1.

A few artists came and went in the number one spot from there, including Roxette's The Look, Fine Young Cannibals' She Drives Me Crazy, Madonna's Like A Prayer, Bon Jovi's I'll Be There For You, and Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl. It would be Abdul again who would keep someone from the number two spot, this time Jody Watley's Real Love.

On June 2, 1989, Michael Damian's Rock On reached number one, keeping Donny Osmond's Soldier Of Love from the top spot.

The rotations began again on June 10, 1989 with the number ones. These included Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings, New Kids On The Block's I'll Be Loving You (Forever), Richard Marx's Satisfied, Milli Vanilli's Baby Don't Forget My Number, Fine Young Cannibal's Good Thing, and Simply Red's If You Don't Know Me By Now. This last one would keep Madonna's Express Yourself from advancing beyond number two. As did Martika's Toy Soldier's the following week.

By August 5, 1989, Prince was back at number one with Batdance, which kept another soundtrack song at number two, Bobby Brown's On Our Own. Richard Marx's Right Her Waiting took number one on August 12, keeping Brown at number two.

Then the rotations started again with Paula Abdul's Cold Hearted, New Kids On The Block's Hangin' Tough, and Gloria Estefan's Don't Wanna Lose You. However, it wold be Milli Vanilli's Girl I'm Gonna Miss You on September 23, 1989, which would stop Warrant's Heaven from going beyond number two.

Janet Jackson's Miss You Much reached number one on October 7, 1989, and blocked Madonna's Cherish at number two for two weeks.

Jackson would then stop The Cure's Lovesong from going beyond number two on October 21, 1989.

Not wanting to relent, she then stopped Tears For Fears' Sowing The Seeds Of Love at the number two spot.

It would take Roxette's Listen To Your Heart to dethrone Janet on November 4, 1989, and in doing so stopped New Kids On The Block's Cover Girl from going beyond the number two spot.

The rotations started up again with Bad English's When I See You Smile, Milli Vanilli's Blame It On The Rain, Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire, Phil Collin's Another Day In Paradise. The latter would play blocker to Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville's duet, Don't Know Much.

All of this closed out the decade, and there you have it. All the songs that stumbled and stalled at number two, and the songs that kept them there.

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