1986 UU-BRU Radio Playlist Archives

For the second year in a row Madonna earned enough points to become the top female artist and top act overall on UU-BRU Radio Playlist. Whitney Houston was a very close second to Madonna in both categories, but she emerged with year's biggest single, "How Will I Know". The race for the top single was close with only 57 points separating the top seven hits. Whitney Houston's debut album spawned nine Top 40 hits. The remaining track, "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do", was a #27 hit for Anne Murray and Dave Loggins in early 1985. A couple of veterans from the sixties returned in high form in 1986. The Monkees returned with a number one single, "That Was Then, This Is Now" while Ronnie Spector guest starred on Eddie Money's number two smash, "Take Me Home Tonight". The biggest hit of the year that did not reach number one was a duet by Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald. "On My Own" spent a week at number two behind 38 Special, but remained in the top five for ten weeks, earning them the #4 spot on the year end ranking. Michael McDonald made it to #1 in August on his own with "Sweet Freedom". Seattle's Heart failed to reach number one during 1986, yet they scored a pair of year end Top 20 hits ("These Dreams" and "Nothing At All") making them the top group of the year.