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In 1986, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. The chart, which in 1986 was published under the title Hot Adult Contemporary, has undergone various name changes during its history but has again been published as Adult Contemporary since 1996. In 1986, 25 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by radio stations.

In the year's first issue of Billboard the number one song was "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, which was in its fifth week at number one. It held the top spot for a single week in 1986 before being replaced by "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne & Friends. A charity single intended to raise funds for HIV/AIDS-related causes, the song was performed by Dionne Warwick with Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder. After two weeks in the top spot, it was replaced by Wonder's solo single "Go Home". Three months later, Wonder returned to number one with "Overjoyed", making him the only artist to achieve three AC chart-toppers in 1986. Among the acts to top the chart for the first time during the year was the duo of Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson. Loring portrayed the character Liz Chandler on the soap opera Days of Our Lives and in her role as a singer performed the song "Friends and Lovers" with guest star Anderson in 1985. The song was not initially released commercially, but after a version by Juice Newton and Eddie Rabbitt entered the country charts, Loring and Anderson's recording was released and topped the AC chart in September 1986. Rabbitt and Newton's version of the song topped Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart in October, meaning that versions of the same song by two different acts were number ones in their respective genres within a month of each other.

Peter Cetera had the highest total number of weeks at number one in 1986, spending seven weeks in the top spot. After nearly two decades as lead singer of the band Chicago, he had departed the group for a solo career in 1985. He spent five weeks atop the chart in July and August with his first single since quitting Chicago, "Glory of Love", and returned to number one for two weeks in November with "The Next Time I Fall", a duet with Amy Grant. "Glory of Love", from the soundtrack of the film The Karate Kid Part II, tied for the year's longest unbroken run at number one with Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All". Both songs also topped Billboard's all-genre singles chart, the Hot 100, as did eight of the year's other AC chart-toppers. The year's final Hot Adult Contemporary number one was "Love Is Forever" by Billy Ocean, which held the top spot for the final two weeks of 1986. It was the second chart-topper of the year for the Trinidad-born singer.

Chart history

a. Dionne & Friends consisted of Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder

See also

• 1986 in music
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart

References

1. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
2. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 4, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
3. Malkin, Marc (20 June 2019). "Elton John Has a Message for Struggling LGBTQ Youth: 'Be Proud of Who You Are'". Variety. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
4. Hyatt 1999, p. 310.
5. Leszczak 2016, p. 81.
6. Whitburn 1996, p. TBC.
7. Breihan, Tom (December 25, 2020). "The Number Ones: Peter Cetera's "Glory Of Love"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
8. Greene, Andy (April 14, 2016). "Flashback: Peter Cetera Honors the 'Glory' of Karate Kid's Love". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
9. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. TBC.
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12. "Adult Contemporary chart for January 25, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
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31. "Adult Contemporary chart for June 7, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
32. "Adult Contemporary chart for June 14, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
33. "Adult Contemporary chart for June 21, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
34. "Adult Contemporary chart for June 28, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
35. "Adult Contemporary chart for July 5, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
36. "Adult Contemporary chart for July 12, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
37. "Adult Contemporary chart for July 19, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
38. "Adult Contemporary chart for July 26, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
39. "Adult Contemporary chart for August 2, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
40. "Adult Contemporary chart for August 9, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
41. "Adult Contemporary chart for August 16, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
42. "Adult Contemporary chart for August 23, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
43. "Adult Contemporary chart for August 30, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
44. "Adult Contemporary chart for September 6, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
45. "Adult Contemporary chart for September 13, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
46. "Adult Contemporary chart for September 20, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
47. "Adult Contemporary chart for September 27, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
48. "Adult Contemporary chart for October 4, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
49. "Adult Contemporary chart for October 11, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
50. "Adult Contemporary chart for October 18, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
51. "Adult Contemporary chart for October 25, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
52. "Adult Contemporary chart for November 1, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
53. "Adult Contemporary chart for November 8, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
54. "Adult Contemporary chart for November 15, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
55. "Adult Contemporary chart for November 22, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
56. "Adult Contemporary chart for November 29, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
57. "Adult Contemporary chart for December 6, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
58. "Adult Contemporary chart for December 13, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
59. "Adult Contemporary chart for December 20, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
60. "Adult Contemporary chart for December 27, 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

Works cited

• Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits. Billboard Publications. ISBN 978-0-82307-693-2.
• Leszczak, Bob (2016). Dynamic Duets: The Best Pop Collaborations from 1955 to 1999. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-44227-150-0.
• Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. ISBN 978-0-82308-289-6.
• Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955–2002. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-155-0.
• Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961–2006. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.

• Lists of number-one adult contemporary songs in the United States
• 1986 record charts
• 1986 in American music