1987 in music

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

List of years in music (table)

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
I'm the ManAnthraxEP
12 The House of Blue LightDeep Purple-
14 Don't Disturb This GrooveThe System-
19 Warehouse: Songs and StoriesHüsker Düdouble album
20 EchelonsFor Against-
The Return of BrunoBruce WillisDebut
26 Control: The RemixesJanet JacksonEurope; Remix
? Famous Blue RaincoatJennifer WarnesCanada
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
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-
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to KnowDead or Alive-
Midnight to MidnightThe Psychedelic Furs-
Ready or NotLou Gramm-
M
A
R
C
H
2 Boi-ngoOingo Boingo-
Saint JulianJulian Cope-
ExposureExposé-
Through the Looking GlassSiouxsie and the Banshees-
TrioLinda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton-
3 Criminal MindedBoogie Down Productions-
9 The Joshua TreeU2-
Wild FrontierGary Moore-
14 Smooth Sailin'The Isley Brothers-
19 Rock the HouseDJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-
TributeOzzy Osbourne and Randy RhoadsLive 1981
22 Among the LivingAnthrax-
23 Now That's What I Call Music 9 (UK series)Various ArtistsCompilation
30 The CircusErasureUK
Into the FireBryan Adams-
Louder Than BombsThe SmithsUS, compilation
31 Close to the BoneThompson Twins-
Sign o' the TimesPrincedouble album
? Big LifeNight Ranger-
Breakfast ClubBreakfast Club-
Come as You ArePeter Wolf-
Locust Abortion TechnicianButthole Surfers-
Men and WomenSimply Red-
Running in the FamilyLevel 42-
Taking OverOverkill-

April–June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
1 Solitude StandingSuzanne Vega-
2 IncognitoCéline Dion-
4 Always & ForeverRandy Travis-
6 ElectricThe Cult-
Meet Danny WilsonDanny Wilson-
7 WhitesnakeWhitesnakeUS
13 F.L.M.Mel and KimUK & Canada
Johnny Cash Is Coming to TownJohnny Cash-
Tango in the NightFleetwood Mac-
15 Death Before DishonourThe Exploited-
21 The LegacyTestament-
Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers-
23 Introduce YourselfFaith No More-
The Ultra-ViolenceDeath Angel-
27 Never Let Me DownDavid Bowie-
You Boyz Make Big NoizeSlade-
? Coming Around AgainCarly Simon-
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-
Yo! Bum Rush the ShowPublic Enemy-
The Young GodsThe Young Gods-
M
A
Y
1 Never Mind the BallotsChumbawamba-
RaintownDeacon Bluedebut
4 DawnrazorFields of the Nephilimdebut
5 Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss MeThe Curedouble album
8 Red Hot Rhythm & BluesDiana Ross-
11 It's Better to TravelSwing Out Sister-
Live in the City of LightSimple MindsLive
Under the Sign of the Black MarkBathory-
15 Girls, Girls, GirlsMötley Crüe-
Jane's AddictionJane's AddictionLive
Richard MarxRichard Marx-
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-
29 Bring the FamilyJohn Hiatt-
? 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-
6 Bad AnimalsHeart-
9 Join the ArmySuicidal Tendencies-
11 Bigger and DefferLL Cool J-
12 Clutching at StrawsMarillion-
15 Radio K.A.O.S.Roger Waters-
21 KeelKeel-
PrideWhite Lion-
Priest...Live!Judas PriestLive
Wild in the StreetsHelix-
23 Bangin'The Outfield-
Sammy HagarSammy 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
? 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-
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-
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-
7 Hurricane EyesLoudnessJapan
10 Between the LinesFive Star-
13 Love Is for SuckersTwisted Sister-
14 Crushin'Fat Boys-
16 DeathcrushMayhemEP
17 Franks Wild YearsTom Waits-
18 Out of the BlueDebbie Gibson-
21 The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-RevisitedMetallicaCovers EP
Dirty DancingVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
24 The Lonesome JubileeJohn Mellencamp-
25 Door to DoorThe Cars-
29 Sentimental HygieneWarren Zevon-
31 BadMichael Jackson-
DarklandsThe Jesus and Mary Chain-
Move Somethin'2 Live Crew-
Permanent VacationAerosmith-
Wonderful LifeBlack-
? Diesel and DustMidnight Oil-
HearsayAlexander O'Neal-
Psonic PsunspotThe Dukes of StratosphearPseudonym of XTC
Substance 1987New Order-
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
1 DocumentR.E.M.-
5 ContagiousY&T-
Raising FearArmored Saint-
Rock 'n' RollMotörhead-
Rock You to HellGrim ReaperFinal album
Triumph and AgonyWarlockFinal album
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 Fucking Big Black Final 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 Big GeneratorYes-
London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. IIFrank Zappa-
18 Crazy NightsKiss-
21 Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2World Wrestling FederationSoundtrack
22 The HungerMichael Bolton-
Man of ColoursIcehouseAustralia
24 Wendy and LisaWendy & Lisa-
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
Raise Your Fist and YellAlice Cooper-
Strangeways, Here We ComeThe Smiths-
29 The Uplift Mofo Party PlanRed Hot Chili Peppers-
? Babylon and OnSqueeze-
Vital IdolBilly IdolRemix
E.S.P.Bee Gees-
Honor Among ThievesThe Brandos-
Just UsAlabama-
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 Heaven on Earth Belinda Carlisle
7 Pleasures of the Flesh Exodus
9 Tunnel of Love Bruce Springsteen
12 Perfect Timing McAuley Schenker Group
A Very Special Christmas Various Artists Christmas
Alphabet City ABC
George Best The Wedding Present
13 Free as a Bird Supertramp
...Nothing Like the Sun Sting
Touch the World Earth, Wind & Fire
15 Surfing with the Alien Joe Satriani
16 Masque Manfred Mann's Earth Band
19 Kick INXS
21 Abigail King Diamond
26 Live at Wembley Meat Loaf UK; Live
Box Frenzy Pop Will Eat Itself
Mainstream Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
27 Robbie Robertson Robbie Robertson
29 Got Any Gum? Joe Walsh
30 Faith George Michael
Schizophrenia Sepultura
? The Christians The Christians
Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll Chuck Berry Soundtrack
Outside Looking In BoDeans
Red The Communards
Screaming Life Soundgarden Extended play
Unchain My Heart Joe Cocker
Blues for Salvador Carlos Santana
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
2 All the Best! Paul McCartney Compilation
Back for the attack Dokken
Bête Noire Bryan Ferry
Cloud Nine George Harrison
Don't Let's Start They Might Be Giants EP
3 How Ya Like Me Now Kool Moe Dee
4 The Lion and the Cobra Sinéad O'Connor
Rhyme Pays Ice-T
6 Characters Stevie Wonder
Less Than Zero Various Artists Soundtrack
N.W.A and the Posse N.W.A Compilation "debut"
7 Calm Before the Storm Venom
Secrets of the Beehive David Sylvian
9 Nightfall Candlemass
Savage Eurythmics UK
10 Cher Cher
Hot August Night II Neil Diamond Live
13 Floodland The Sisters of Mercy
16 Whenever You Need Somebody Rick Astley
17 You Can Dance Madonna Remix
23 The Eternal Idol Black Sabbath
Now That's What I Call Music 10 (UK series) Various Artists Compilation
24 Canciones de Mi Padre Linda Ronstadt
Make It Last Forever Keith Sweat
27 Live...In the Raw W.A.S.P. Live
? Calenture The Triffids
Love Aztec Camera
The Princess Bride Mark Knopfler Soundtrack
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
1 Persecution Mania Sodom
8 Inside Information Foreigner
14 You're Living All Over Me Dinosaur Jr.
? The Initial Command Front Line Assembly Debut
The Old Masters Box Frank Zappa Box Set
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism Aretha Franklin Live
Sinitta! Sinitta UK

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 Bamba1987UK 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 Up1987UK 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 Me1987UK 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 Sin1987Sweden 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 Girl1987US 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

Significant songs

Other notable singles (worldwide)

Classical music

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Country Music Association Awards

Gary P. Blueyes Walker – CMA Air Personality of the Year / KYKX

Eurovision Song Contest

Glenn Gould Prize

Charts

  • List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1987 (U.S.)

See also

  • Record labels established in 1987

References

  1. Giles, Jeff. "How Roger Waters' Split From Pink Floyd Was Eventually Finalized". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Anthony Slide (March 12, 2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-61703-250-9.
  5. Colin Larkin (2004). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin. p. 429. ISBN 978-1-85227-183-1.
  6. Richard Cook (2004). Blue Note Records: The Biography. Justin, Charles & Co. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-932112-27-6.
  7. Wisconsin Magazine of History. State Historical Society of Wisconsin. 2008. p. 27.
  8. Dalida's Official Website, Biography Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved December 29, 2009
  9. "Dalida". The New York Times. May 5, 1987. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  10. Bar-Kays: Bio. Accessed 22 July 2014
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