Best Songs of 1987

Not that I would ever play them again, but it’s times like these that I’m a little sad I no longer have my cassette tape collection. If I did, I could share with you images of my handful of artifacts from this era, most of them of the cheesy variety. But not only do I cop to having the likes of Exposé, Rick Astley, Basia, and Belinda Carlisle back in the day, I will proudly and confidently include them 30 years later on this list.

Same goes for the 45s—we call them 7-inches now, but when I talk about ones I got back then, I still use the old terminology—that I do in fact still have in my collection: Whitesnake, Richard Marx, and Bananarama.

Somewhere in between cool and uncool were my Michael Jackson and INXS tapes, and my David Bowie and Terence Trent D’Arby 45s. So maybe, in hindsight, this 30-years-after-the-fact selection of my favorite songs from one of the better musical years in the entire decade of the ’80s isn’t as much of a retcon as I thought it would be.

In fact, maybe I have always been able to bridge the populist and the obscure. After all, I feel most comfortable in the space between. Those mainstream radio hits are the ones I use to mark time, and the underground rarities are the ones I use to differentiate myself from the masses. The combination of the two then becomes the epitome of my taste, and my desire to drift between poles of interest. I think all my lists make great use of that push-pull, and these 100 tracks are no exception.

For these year-end lists, I like to undertake the seemingly impossibly task of creating an hours-long mix. The order you see below represents that effort, which you can listen to via Spotify. Sadly all 100 tracks aren't available, but you get the general idea. Track notes to come eventually or maybe never.

Show Grid

Gentle Sound

The Railway Children

Reunion Wilderness

Virgin
via TK library: 3/22/2014

Notes
Heartbreak Beat

The Psychedelic Furs

Midnight to Midnight

Columbia
via TK library: 4/1/2013

Notes
Shoplifters of the World Unite

The Smiths

Shoplifters of the World Unite 7"

Rough Trade
via TK library: 2/17/2012

Notes
World Shut Your Mouth

Julian Cope

Saint Julian

Island
via TK library: 9/21/2013

Notes
What’s My Scene?

Hoodoo Gurus

Blow Your Cool

Elektra
via TK library: 5/26/2013

Notes
No New Tale to Tell

Love and Rockets

Earth Sun Moon

Big Time
via TK library: 10/27/2007

Notes
Seattle

Public Image Ltd.

Happy?

Virgin
via TK library: 11/2/2013

Notes
Beds Are Burning

Midnight Oil

Diesel and Dust

Columbia
via TK library: 8/13/2010

Notes
Love Removal Machine

The Cult

Electric

Sire
via TK library: 9/9/2007

Notes
Here I Go Again

Whitesnake

Whitesnake

Geffen
via TK library: 2/18/2012

Notes
Alone

Heart

Bad Animals

Capitol
via TK library: 2/11/2013

Notes
Heaven Is a Place on Earth

Belinda Carlisle

Heaven on Earth

Geffen
via TK library: 11/2/2013

Notes
I Heard a Rumour

Bananarama

Wow!

London
via TK library: 6/22/2013

Notes
Never Gonna Give You Up

Rick Astley

Whenever You Need Somebody

RCA
via TK library: 2/20/2012 (on cassette in 1987)

Notes
What Have I Done to Deserve This?

Pet Shop Boys

Actually

Manhattan
via TK library: 8/7/2009

Notes
Heart & Soul

T’Pau

Bridge of Spies

Siren
via TK library: 4/21/2011

Notes
Soul Food to Go

The Manhattan Transfer

Brasil

Atlantic
via my dad library: 10/29/2012

Notes
Rhythm Is Gonna Get You

Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

Let It Loose

Epic
via TK library: 3/22/2011

Notes
Who’s That Girl

Madonna

Who’s That Girl

Sire
via TK library: 2/17/2012

Notes
Breakout

Swing Out Sister

It’s Better to Travel

Mercury
via TK library: 4/28/2013

Notes
Head to Toe

Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

Spanish Fly

Columbia
via TK library: 9/19/2009

Notes
Only in My Dreams

Debbie Gibson

Out of the Blue

Atlantic
via TK library: 2/18/2012

Notes
I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Whitney Houston

Whitney

Arista
via TK library: 2/12/2012

Notes
Pink Cadillac

Natalie Cole

Everlasting

Manhattan
via TK library: 1/20/2016

Notes
Rock Steady

The Whispers

Just Gets Better With Time

Solar
via TK library: 6/26/2013

Notes
Casanova

LeVert

The Big Throwdown

Atlantic
via TK library: 6/22/2013

Notes
Nobody Beats the Biz

Biz Markie

Nobody Beats the Biz

Prism
via TK library: 1/20/2016

Notes
I Know You Got Soul

Eric B. & Rakim

Paid in Full

4th & Broadway
via TK library: 2/12/2012

Notes
Pump Up the Volume

M/A/R/R/S

Pump Up the Volume 12"

4AD
via TK library: 11/1/2012

Notes
Touched By the Hand of God

New Order

Touched By the Hand of God 7"

Factory
via TK library: 3/23/2011

Notes
Day In Day Out

David Bowie

Never Let Me Down

Virgin
via TK library: 5/19/2013 (on 7" in 1987)

Notes
Dude (Looks Like a Lady)

Aerosmith

Permanent Vacation

Geffen
via TK library: 12/29/2010

Notes
Don’t Mean Nothing

Richard Marx

Richard Marx

MCA
via TK library: 2/18/2012

Notes
Since You’ve Been Gone

The Outfield

Bangin’

Columbia
via TK library: 11/18/2013

Notes
What It Feels Like

BoDeans

Outside Looking In

Slash
via TK library: 3/30/2013

Notes
Change With the Changing Times

The dB’s

The Sound of Music

I.R.S.
via TK library: 10/21/2013

Notes
Things Fall Apart

Guadalcanal Diary

2x4

Elektra
via TK library: 9/21/2013

Notes
The Friend Song

Drivin’ n’ Cryin’

Whisper Tames the Lion

Island
via TK library: 7/27/2013

Notes
I’m No Angel

The Gregg Allman Band

I’m No Angel

Epic
via TK library: 5/30/2017

Notes
I Want You Bad

Long Ryders

Two Fisted Tales

Island
via TK library: 6/22/2013

Notes
Wildflowers

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris

Trio

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 11/19/2013

Notes
If I Had a Boat

Lyle Lovett

Pontiac

Curb
via TK library: 11/9/2003 (10/27/2002)

Notes
Have a Little Faith in Me

John Hiatt

Bring the Family

A&M
via TK library: 11/2/2012

Notes
It’ll All Work Out

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough)

MCA
via TK library: 11/30/2003 (12/25/1995)

Notes
Angel Band

Emmylou Harris

Angel Band

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 7/22/2013

Notes
I Need You

Eurythmics

Savage

RCA
via TK library: 10/20/2013

Notes
Broken Arrow

Robbie Robertson

Robbie Robertson

Geffen
via TK library: 7/27/2013

Notes
See How We Are

X

See How We Are

Elektra
via TK library: 10/29/2012

Notes
The Factory

Warren Zevon

Sentimental Hygiene

Virgin
via TK library: 10/29/2012

Notes
Luka

Suzanne Vega

Solitude Standing

A&M
via TK library: 2/27/2012

Notes
Strange Fire

Indigo Girls

Strange Fire

Epic
via TK library: 2/13/2011

Notes
Ship of Fools

World Party

Private Revolution

Ensign
via retroactive experience library: 3/23/2024

Notes
Rain in the Summertime

The Alarm

Eye of the Hurricane

I.R.S.
via TK library: 9/28/2013

Notes
One Tree Hill

U2

The Joshua Tree

Island
via TK library: 10/26/2003 (7/18/1993)

Notes
Lips Like Sugar

Echo & The Bunnymen

Echo & The Bunnymen

Sire
via TK library: 9/10/2011

Notes
Pour Some Sugar on Me

Def Leppard

Hysteria

Mercury
via TK library: 12/8/2011 (on cassette in 1987)

Notes
Sweet Child O’ Mine

Guns N’ Roses

Appetite for Destruction

Geffen
via TK library: 12/19/2010

Notes
Hazy Shade of Winter

Bangles

Less Than Zero

Def Jam
via TK library: 8/19/2010

Notes
Let Me Be the One

Exposé

Exposure

Arista
via TK library: 3/22/2011

Notes
Looking for a New Love

Jody Watley

Jody Watley

MCA
via TK library: 2/18/2012

Notes
I Want Her

Keith Sweat

Make It Last Forever

Elektra
via TK library: 4/17/2010

Notes
Push It (Remix)

Salt-N-Pepa

Tramp 7"

Def Jam
via TK library: 9/13/2011

Notes
I Need Love

LL Cool J

Bigger and Deffer

Def Jam
via TK library: 12/2/2003 (12/25/1995)

Notes
Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Rock the House

Jive
via TK library: 11/16/2003 (5/25/1998)

Notes
I Want to Be Your Man

Roger

Unlimited!

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 11/19/2003 (11/9/1993)

Notes
If You’d Be Mine

Shuggie Otis

Wings of Love

Epic
via TK library: 4/16/2013

Recorded in 1987, released in 2013
Everywhere

Fleetwood Mac

Tango in the Night

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 12/6/2011

Notes
Time and Tide

Basia

Time and Tide

Epic
via TK library: 9/19/2009 (on cassette in 1987)

Notes
Englishman in New York

Sting

Nothing Like the Sun

A&M
via TK library: 11/5/2003 (4/8/1995)

Notes
Way Down in the Hole

Tom Waits

Franks Wild Years

Island
via TK library: 2/2/2011

Notes
Father Figure

George Michael

Faith

Columbia
via TK library: 8/7/2007 (on cassette in 1987)

Notes
Man in the Mirror

Michael Jackson

Bad

Epic
via TK library: 8/15/2007 (on cassette in 1987)

Notes
Wishing Well

Terence Trent D’Arby

Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby

Columbia
via TK library: 4/4/2009 (on cassette in 1987)

Notes
U Got the Look

Prince

Sign ‘O’ the Times

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 1/7/2013

Notes
New Sensation

INXS

Kick

Atlantic
via TK library: 2/27/2009 (on cassette in 1987)

Notes
Tunnel of Love

Bruce Springsteen

Tunnel of Love

Columbia
via TK library: 10/30/2011

Notes
The One I Love

R.E.M.

Document

I.R.S.
via TK library: 10/26/2003 (7/18/1995)

Notes
Like the Weather

10,000 Maniacs

In My Tribe

Elektra
via TK library: 2/13/2010

Notes
I Kiss the Flowers in Bloom

Close Lobsters

Foxheads Stalk This Land

Fire
via TK library: 3/30/2013

Notes
Tragedy

The Bats

Daddy’s Highway

Flying Nun
via TK library: 3/28/2013

Notes
Never Let Me Down Again

Depeche Mode

Music for the Masses

Sire
via TK library: 2/27/2012

Notes
Little Fury Things

Dinosaur Jr.

You’re Living All Over Me

SST
via TK library: 10/20/2006

Notes
Behind the Sun

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Uplift Mofo Party Plan

EMI
via TK library: 5/19/2011

Notes
Cherry Came Too

The Jesus and Mary Chain

Darklands

Blanco y Negro
via TK library: 11/2/2012

Notes
Progress

Mission of Burma

Forget

Taang!
via TK library: 3/2/2013

Notes
Soon

fIREHOSE

if’n

SST
via TK library: 7/27/2013

Notes
Bad Love

Meat Puppets

Huevos

SST
via TK library: 7/27/2013

Notes
Hidden Wheel

Rites of Spring

All Through a Life

Dischord
via TK library: 9/20/2013

Notes
Son of a Gun

The Vaselines

Son of a Gun 7"

53rd & 3rd
via TK library: 4/23/2009

Notes
All for the Best

Miracle Legion

Surprise Surprise Surprise

Rough Trade
via TK library: 12/15/2012

Notes
Over There

The Connells

Boylan Heights

TVT
via TK library: 6/22/2013

Notes
Oasis

Happy Mondays

Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face

Factory
via TK library: 11/2/2013

Notes
Just Like Heaven

The Cure

Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me

Elektra
via TK library: 11/7/2009

Notes
Get Outta My Cave

Young Fresh Fellows

The Men Who Loved Music

Frontier
via TK library: 2/12/2008

Notes
You Are Leaving

Primitons

Happy All the Time

What Goes On
via TK library: 4/20/2014

Notes
Come on Let’s Go

Los Lobos

La Bamba

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 11/15/2003 (12/28/1997)

Notes
Touch of Grey

Grateful Dead

In the Dark

Arista
via TK library: 8/4/2012

Notes
When We Was Fab

George Harrison

Cloud Nine

EMI
via TK library: 4/17/2011

Notes
Check It Out

John Mellencamp

The Lonesome Jubilee

Mercury
via TK library: 11/1/2003 (5/28/1998)

Notes
Alex Chilton

The Replacements

Pleased to Meet Me

Reprise
via TK library: 2/9/2006

Notes