List of years in music (table)
In radio
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
In television
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
+...

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–February

March–April

May–August

September–October

November–December

Also in 1987

Bands formed

  • See Musical groups established in 1987

Bands disbanded

  • See Musical groups disestablished in 1987

Bands reformed

Albums released

January–March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
1 Best of the WestRiders in the SkyCompilation
14 Don't Disturb This GrooveThe System-
16 The House of Blue LightDeep Purple-
Carne HumanaZero-
19 Warehouse: Songs and StoriesHüsker Düdouble album
20 EchelonsFor Against-
The Return of BrunoBruce WillisDebut
26 Control: The RemixesJanet JacksonEurope; Remix
? Blame the MessengerDavid Thomas
& The Wooden Birds
-
The First ChapterThe MissionCompilation
GaudiThe Alan Parsons Project-
I Hear You RockinDave EdmundsLive
Up for a Bit with The PastelsThe Pastels-
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
10 Yo! Bum Rush the ShowPublic Enemy-
13 All in the Name of LoveAtlantic Starr-
17 Fighting the WorldManowar-
Lee AaronLee Aaron-
23 Jody WatleyJody Watley-
The World Won't ListenThe SmithsCompilation
? The Cost of LovingThe Style CouncilUK
FreedomSantana-
Life as We Know ItREO Speedwagon-
Midnight to MidnightThe Psychedelic Furs-
Ready or NotLou Gramm-
M
A
R
C
H
2 Boi-ngoOingo Boingo-
ExposureExposé-
Saint JulianJulian Cope-
Through the Looking GlassSiouxsie and the Banshees-
TrioLinda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton-
3 Criminal MindedBoogie Down Productions-
9 The Joshua TreeU2-
Men and WomenSimply Red-
Wild FrontierGary Moore-
16 Running in the FamilyLevel 42-
Among the LivingAnthrax-
Smooth Sailin'The Isley Brothers-
23 Whitesnake (1987)Whitesnake-
Big LifeNight Ranger-
Now That's What I Call Music 9 (UK series)Various ArtistsCompilation
28 Even If and Especially WhenScreaming Trees-
30 The CircusErasureUK
Into the FireBryan Adams-
Louder Than BombsThe SmithsUS, compilation
Sign o' the TimesPrincedouble album
? Breakfast ClubBreakfast Club-
Come as You ArePeter Wolf-
Locust Abortion TechnicianButthole Surfers-
Taking OverOverkill-

April–June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
1 Solitude StandingSuzanne Vega-
2 IncognitoCéline Dion-
6 ElectricThe Cult-
Close to the BoneThompson Twins-
Meet Danny WilsonDanny Wilson-
RaindancingAlison Moyet-
7 Rock the HouseDJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-
13 F.L.M.Mel and KimUK & Canada
Johnny Cash Is Coming to TownJohnny Cash-
Tango in the NightFleetwood Mac-
Tell No TalesTNT-
15 Death Before DishonourThe Exploited-
21 Never Let Me DownDavid Bowie-
The LegacyTestament-
23 Introduce YourselfFaith No More-
The Ultra-ViolenceDeath Angel-
27 Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers-
Dead Letter OfficeR.E.M.Compilation
You Boyz Make Big NoizeSlade-
? TributeOzzy Osbourne and Randy RhoadsLive 1981
Coming Around AgainCarly Simon-
The Ideal CopyWire-
One VoiceBarbra StreisandLive
Out & IntakeHawkwindCompilation
Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People
Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)
Happy Mondays-
UptownThe Neville Brothers-
Will PowerJoe Jackson-
The Young GodsThe Young Gods-
M
A
Y
1 Never Mind the BallotsChumbawamba-
RaintownDeacon Bluedebut
4 Always & ForeverRandy Travis-
DawnrazorFields of the Nephilimdebut
8 Red Hot Rhythm & BluesDiana Ross-
11 It's Better to TravelSwing Out Sister-
Under the Sign of the Black MarkBathory-
15 Girls, Girls, GirlsMötley Crüe-
Jane's AddictionJane's AddictionLive
18 Exit 0Steve Earle-
20 Beverly Hills Cop IIVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Open SesameWhodini-
21 SandboxGuided By Voices-
Strength of SteelAnvil-
22 Dana Dane with FameDana Dane-
23 Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1Helloween-
25 Scream Bloody GoreDeath-
26 Live in the City of LightSimple MindsLive
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss MeThe CureDouble album
29 Bring the FamilyJohn Hiatt-
? Bad AnimalsHeart-
Blow Your Cool!Hoodoo Gurus-
ChayanneChayanne-
Greatest HitsSteve Harley and Cockney RebelCompilation
Living in a BoxLiving in a Box-
J
U
N
E
1 Into the PandemoniumCeltic Frost-
R.I.P.CoronerDebut
2 WhitneyWhitney Houston-
8 Priest...Live!Judas PriestLive
9 Join the ArmySuicidal Tendencies-
11 Bigger and DefferLL Cool J-
15 First HandSteven Curtis Chapman-
Radio K.A.O.S.Roger Waters-
Richard MarxRichard Marx-
AbigailKing Diamond-
22 PrideWhite Lion-
Clutching at StrawsMarillion
23 Bangin'The Outfield-
I Never Said GoodbyeSammy Hagarlater re-titled I Never Said Goodbye
25 Cleanse Fold and ManipulateSkinny Puppy-
26 King's Record ShopRosanne Cash-
29 Pop Goes the WorldMen Without Hats-
30 La BambaLos Lobos et al.Soundtrack
? KeelKeel-
Wild in the StreetsHelix-
1987 (What the Fuck Is Going On?)The Justified Ancients of Mu Murecalled over copyright violation claim
Dry As a BoneGreen RiverExtended play
Female TroubleNona Hendryx-
Let It LooseGloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine-
Pleased to Meet MeThe Replacements-
SisterSonic Youth-
SoldBoy George-
TallulahThe Go-Betweens-

July–September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
1 ScumNapalm Death-
Neo GeoRyuichi Sakamoto-
6 Echo & the BunnymenEcho & the Bunnymen-
In the DarkThe Grateful Dead-
LifeNeil Young & Crazy Horse-
Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony OrchestraElton JohnLive
7 Buster PoindexterBuster Poindexter-
Faster PussycatFaster Pussycat-
Frehley's CometAce Frehley-
Hold OnNitty Gritty Dirt Band-
Paid in FullEric B. & Rakim-
TouchLaura Branigan-
13 Introducing the Hardline According to...Terence Trent D'ArbyUK
15 Soy Como Quiero SerLuis Miguel-
20 Born to MackToo ShortDebut
21 Appetite for DestructionGuns N' RosesDebut
Dangerous AttractionLion-
Dream EvilDio-
Who's That GirlMadonna et al.Soundtrack
27 In My Tribe10,000 Maniacs-
No ProtectionStarship-
SurveillanceTriumph-
Within the Realm of a Dying SunDead Can Dance-
30 Reservations for TwoDionne Warwick-
? Missing LinksThe MonkeesCompilation
One Way HomeThe Hooters-
Once BittenGreat White-
The Poison BoyfriendMomus-
RecentlyJoan Baez-
Sheila E.Sheila E.-
Strange WeatherMarianne Faithfull-
A
U
G
U
S
T
3 HysteriaDef Leppard-
4 Dirty DancingVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
7 Hurricane EyesLoudnessJapan
10 Between the LinesFive Star-
13 Love Is for SuckersTwisted Sister-
14 Crushin'Fat Boys-
17 Substance 1987New Order-
Franks Wild YearsTom Waits-
18 Out of the BlueDebbie Gibson-
19 Yo Te AviseLos Fabulosos Cadillacs-
21 The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-RevisitedMetallicaCovers EP
24 The Lonesome JubileeJohn Mellencamp-
Wendy and LisaWendy & Lisa-
25 Door to DoorThe Cars-
31 BadMichael Jackson-
DocumentR.E.M.-
Move Somethin'2 Live Crew-
Permanent VacationAerosmith-
? DarklandsThe Jesus and Mary Chain-
Rock 'n' RollMotörhead-
DeathcrushMayhemEP
Sentimental HygieneWarren Zevon-
Diesel and DustMidnight Oil-
HearsayAlexander O'Neal-
Psonic PsunspotThe Dukes of StratosphearPseudonym of XTC
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
7 ActuallyPet Shop Boys-
IslandsMike Oldfield-
The Last One to KnowReba McEntire-
A Momentary Lapse of ReasonPink FloydUK
8 Go On...Mr. Mister-
Hold Your FireRush-
9 Earth, Sun, MoonLove and Rockets-
10 Songs About FuckingBig BlackFinal album
11 Crest of a KnaveJethro Tull-
Together AgainThe Temptations-
14 Always GuaranteedCliff Richard-
Bridge of SpiesT'Pau-
Happy?Public Image Ltd-
Primitive CoolMick Jagger-
15 All Systems GoDonna Summer-
Halfway to SanityRamones-
TiffanyTiffany-
16 Visual LiesLizzy Borden-
17 London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. IIFrank Zappa-
18 Wonderful LifeBlack-
21 Big GeneratorYes-
Crazy NightsKiss-
E.S.P.Bee Gees-
Man of ColoursIcehouseAustralia
Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2World Wrestling FederationSoundtrack
22 The HungerMichael Bolton-
24 The Right Night & Barry WhiteBarry White-
28 Come On PilgrimPixiesEP
Hall of the Mountain KingSavatage-
Music for the MassesDepeche Mode-
Popped In Souled OutWet Wet WetUK
Strangeways, Here We ComeThe Smiths-
29 The Uplift Mofo Party PlanRed Hot Chili Peppers-
Triumph and AgonyWarlockFinal album
? ContagiousY&T-
Raising FearArmored Saint-
Rock You to HellGrim ReaperFinal album
Babylon and OnSqueeze-
Vital IdolBilly IdolRemix
Honor Among ThievesThe Brandos-
Just UsAlabama-
NeighborsThe Reels-
The People Who Grinned Themselves to DeathHousemartins-
The Perfect PrescriptionSpacemen 3-
Poetic Champions ComposeVan Morrison-
WildsideLoverboy-
Wow!Bananarama-

October–December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
5 ...Nothing Like the SunSting-
The Lion and the CobraSinéad O'Connor-
Heaven on EarthBelinda Carlisle-
RedThe Communards-
7 Pleasures of the FleshExodus-
9 Tunnel of LoveBruce Springsteen-
Unchain My HeartJoe Cocker-
12 KickINXS-
Alphabet CityABC-
George BestThe Wedding Present-
Perfect TimingMcAuley Schenker Group-
A Very Special ChristmasVarious ArtistsChristmas
13 Free as a BirdSupertramp-
Touch the WorldEarth, Wind & Fire-
15 Surfing with the AlienJoe Satriani-
16 MasqueManfred Mann's Earth Band-
1987: The JAMs 45 EditsJustified Ancients of Mu-MuRe-release of 1987 without the uncleared samples
19 Secrets of the BeehiveDavid Sylvian-
26 Best ShotsPat BenatarGreatest Hits
Box FrenzyPop Will Eat Itself-
Live at WembleyMeat LoafUK; Live
MainstreamLloyd Cole and the Commotions-
27 Robbie RobertsonRobbie Robertson-
29 Got Any Gum?Joe Walsh-
30 FaithGeorge Michael-
SchizophreniaSepultura-
? Screaming LifeSoundgardenEP
Raise Your Fist and YellAlice Cooper-
Blues for SalvadorCarlos Santana-
The ChristiansThe Christians-
Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' RollChuck BerrySoundtrack
Outside Looking InBoDeans-
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
2 All the Best!Paul McCartneyCompilation
Back for the attackDokken-
Bête NoireBryan Ferry-
Cloud NineGeorge Harrison-
Don't Let's StartThey Might Be GiantsEP
3 How Ya Like Me NowKool Moe Dee-
4 Master-DikSonic YouthEP
Rhyme PaysIce-T-
6 CharactersStevie Wonder-
Less than ZeroVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
N.W.A and the PosseN.W.ACompilation "debut"
9 NightfallCandlemass-
SavageEurythmicsUK
10 CherCher-
Hot August Night IINeil DiamondLive
13 FloodlandThe Sisters of Mercy-
16 Whenever You Need SomebodyRick Astley-
17 You Can DanceMadonnaRemix
23 Now That's What I Call Music 10 (UK series)Various ArtistsCompilation
24 Canciones de Mi PadreLinda Ronstadt-
Make It Last ForeverKeith Sweat-
27 Live... in the RawW.A.S.P.Live
? The Eternal IdolBlack Sabbath-
Calm Before the StormVenom-
CalentureThe Triffids-
LoveAztec Camera-
The Princess BrideMark KnopflerSoundtrack
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
1 Persecution ManiaSodom-
7 Inside InformationForeigner-
8 I'm the ManAnthraxEP
14 You're Living All Over MeDinosaur Jr.-
? The Initial CommandFront Line AssemblyDebut
The Old Masters BoxFrank Zappa | Box Set
One Lord, One Faith, One BaptismAretha FranklinLive
Sinitta!SinittaUK
Thunder UpThe SoundFinal Album

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1987.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1Los LobosLa Bamba1987United StatesUK 1 – Jul 1987, US BB 1 – Jul 1987, Switzerland 1 – Aug 1987, Italy 1 of 1987, Republic of Ireland 1 – Jul 1987, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks Aug 1987, Australia 1 for 7 weeks Apr 1988, Netherlands 2 – Aug 1987, Australia 2 of 1987, Austria 4 – Oct 1987, Norway 4 – Aug 1987, US BB 8 of 1987, POP 8 of 1987, Germany 9 – Aug 1987, US CashBox 11 of 1987, Sweden 12 – Aug 1987, Poland 17 – Sep 1987, South Africa 17 of 1987, Scrobulate 75 of Latin, KROQ 81 of 1987, RYM 116 of 1987, Party 227 of 1999, Acclaimed 2050
2Rick AstleyNever Gonna Give You Up1987United KingdomUK 1 – Aug 1987, US BB 1 – Jan 1988, Netherlands 1 – Sept 1987, France 1 – Aug 1987, Norway 1 – Oct 1987, Germany 1 – Sept 1987, New Zealand 1 for 1 weeks Feb 1988, Australia 1 for 7 weeks Jun 1988, South Africa 1 of 1988, US CashBox 2 of 1988, Switzerland 2 – Sept 1987, Sweden 3 – Sept 1987, Austria 4 – Nov 1987, Australia 5 of 1988, Italy 13 of 1987, US BB 34 of 1988, POP 61 of 1988, Germany 140 of the 1980s, OzNet 765
3Whitney HoustonI Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me1987United StatesUK 1 – May 1987, US BB 1 – May 1987, Netherlands 1 – May 1987, Switzerland 1 – May 1987, Norway 1 – May 1987, Germany 1 – May 1987, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks Jun 1987, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Jan 1988, US CashBox 2 of 1987, Sweden 2 – May 1987, Austria 3 – Jun 1987, Poland 4 – Jun 1987, South Africa 4 of 1987, France 10 – Jun 1987, Italy 10 of 1987, Australia 11 of 1987, POP 22 of 1987, Germany 67 of the 1980s
4Pet Shop BoysIt's a Sin1987United KingdomSweden 1 – Oct 1987, Austria 1 – Oct 1987, Switzerland 1 – Nov 1987, Norway 1 – Nov 1987, Poland 1 – Nov 1987, Germany 1 – Dic 1987, Republic of Ireland 1 – Dic 1987, Netherlands 3 – Dic 1987, France 5 – Jan 1988, US BB 9 – Jan 1988, South Africa 18 of 1987, Italy 21 of 1987, KROQ 27 of 1987, RYM 34 of 1987, Germany 94 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 1308
5MadonnaWho's That Girl1987United StatesUS BB 1 – Apr 1987, Poland 1 – Mar 1987, Republic of Ireland 1 – Apr 1987, Netherlands 2 – Mar 1987, UK 4 – Mar 1987, Sweden 5 – Apr 1987, Europe 5 of the 1980s, RYM 6 of 1987, Germany 7 – Apr 1987, KROQ 9 of 1987, Switzerland 10 – Apr 1987, POP 10 of 1987, US CashBox 12 of 1987, US BB 14 of 1987, Poland 14 of all time, Austria 15 – Jun 1987, Belgium 24 of all time, OzNet 44, TheQ 47, Scrobulate 93 of rock, WXPN 116, Rolling Stone 131, Party 168 of 2007, Acclaimed 309

Top 40 Chart hit singles

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"Alone"HeartMay 1987131 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry
"Always"Atlantic StarrMay 1987131 (Canada, United States)1 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 1 (U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) - 1 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 2 (Canada Adult Contemporary) - 6 (South Africa) - 7 (New Zealand) - 66 (Australia)
"Always on My Mind"Pet Shop BoysNovember 1987411 (8 countries)See chart performance entry
"Animal"Def LeppardMay 19871963 (Ireland)See chart performance entry
"Another Step (Closer to You)"Kim Wilde & JuniorMarch 1987n/a66 (United Kingdom)88 (Australia) - 95 (Netherlands [Single Top 100])
"Anyone Can Do the Heartbreak"Anne MurraySeptember 198727n/a27 (United States)4 (Canada Adult Contemporary)
"Are You Still in Love with Me"Anne MurrayMay 1987n/an/an/a8 (Canada Adult Contemporary) - 10 (Canada Country Tracks) - 20 (U.S. Hot Country Songs) - 33 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary)
"At This Moment"Billy Vera and the BeatersJanuary 19871971 (Canada, United States)See chart performance entry

Other Chart hit singles

Notable singles

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Alex Chilton"The ReplacementsJune 1987n/a
"April Skies"The Jesus and Mary ChainJuly 19876 (Ireland) - 8 (UK Singles Chart) - 16 (New Zealand) - 44 (Europe)
"Beds Are Burning"Midnight OilAugust 1987See chart performance entry
"Behind the Wheel"Depeche ModeDecember 1987See chart performance entry
"Birthday" (Icelandic)The SugarcubesAugust 1987n/a English version would chart the following year
"Bury Me Deep in Love"The TriffidsOctober 198748 (Australia)
"Don't Let's Start"They Might Be GiantsNovember 198794 (Australia)
"Fairytale of New York"The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacCollNovember 19871 (Ireland) - 2 (UK Singles Chart)
"Just Like Heaven"The CureOctober 1987See chart performance entry
"Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me"The SmithsDecember 19872 (UK Indie Singles Chart) - 17 (New Zealand) - 30 (UK Singles Chart)
"Mandinka"Sinéad O'ConnorDecember 1987See chart performance entry
"Never Let Me Down Again"Depeche ModeAugust 1987See chart performance entry
"The One I Love"R.E.M.August 1987See chart performance entry
"Paid in Full"Eric B. & RakimOctober 1987See chart performance entry
"True Faith"New OrderJuly 1987See chart performance entry
"What's My Scene?"Hoodoo GurusMarch 19873 (Australia) - 35 (New Zealand)

Other Notable singles

Classical music

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Glenn Gould Prize

Charts

See also

  • Record labels established in 1987

References

  1. Giles, Jeff (December 23, 2015). "How Roger Waters' Split From Pink Floyd Was Eventually Finalized". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  2. Hearsay Fake was R&B big hit in 1987. Retrieved 23 July 2022
  3. Holmes, Ann (October 18, 1987). "Nixon in China/HGO presents world premiere of unusual opera". Houston Chronicle. p. Zest 15. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  4. Jay Robert Nash (April 1, 1997). The Motion Picture Guide 1988 Annual: The Films of 1987. Cinebooks. p. 371. ISBN 978-0-933997-16-5.
  5. Roger D. Kinkle (1997). Leading musical performers (popular music and jazz) 1900-1950: 2150 biographies updated to 1996 with additions and corrections. Windmill Publications. p. 159.
  6. Anthony Slide (March 12, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-61703-250-9.
  7. Colin Larkin (2004). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin. p. 429. ISBN 978-1-85227-183-1.
  8. Richard Cook (2004). Blue Note Records: The Biography. Justin, Charles & Co. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-932112-27-6.
  9. Wisconsin Magazine of History. State Historical Society of Wisconsin. 2008. p. 27.
  10. Year Book Covering the Year ... Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation. 1987. p. 413.
  11. Dalida's Official Website, Biography Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved December 29, 2009
  12. "Dalida". The New York Times. May 5, 1987. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  13. Bar-Kays: Bio. Accessed 22 July 2014
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