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In 1986 there were 51 weekly charts, with 321 different records. Of those, 286 entered the chart that year and 17 reached number 1. When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean spent the longest at number 1, five weeks, and with 16 weeks it also stayed longest in the chart. The highest new entry was Harlem Shuffle by The Rolling Stones, straight in at 16 in week 11. Top of the year chart is When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean, with 492 points.

Weeks

Year chart 1986

The top 10 of the 1986 year chart, on points: every week in the chart counts 41 minus the position, from 40 for a number 1 down to 1 for number 40. The full list of 100 is on the year chart page.

  1. 1When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
    Billy Ocean · 492 points · 16 weeks · peak position 1
  2. 2The Final Countdown
    Europe · 471 points · 16 weeks · peak position 1
  3. 3A Different Corner
    George Michael · 456 points · 14 weeks · peak position 1
  4. 4Sing Our Own Song
    UB40 · 446 points · 15 weeks · peak position 1
  5. 5Don't Leave Me This Way
    The Communards · 435 points · 12 weeks · peak position 1
  6. 6Lessons In Love
    Level 42 · 426 points · 15 weeks · peak position 2
  7. 7(What A) Wonderful World
    Sam Cooke · 410 points · 12 weeks · peak position 1
  8. 8The Promise You Made
    Cock Robin · 407 points · 13 weeks · peak position 1
  9. 9Papa Don't Preach
    Madonna · 401 points · 13 weeks · peak position 2
  10. 10The Edge of Heaven
    Wham! · 400 points · 13 weeks · peak position 1

The full 1986 year chart: the 100 best records

Number ones

  1. wk 1–4Nikita
    Elton John · 4 weeks at 1 · week 1
  2. wk 5–6A Good Heart
    Feargal Sharkey · 2 weeks at 1 · week 5
  3. wk 7–11When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
    Billy Ocean · 5 weeks at 1 · week 7
  4. wk 12–13The Promise You Made
    Cock Robin · 2 weeks at 1 · week 12
  5. wk 14–15Jeanny
    Falco · 2 weeks at 1 · week 14
  6. wk 16–19Living Doll
    Comic Relief presents Cliff Richard and The Young Ones featuring Hank Marvin · 4 weeks at 1 · week 16
  7. wk 20A Different Corner
    George Michael · 1 week at 1 · week 20
  8. wk 21–24(What A) Wonderful World
    Sam Cooke · 4 weeks at 1 · week 21
  9. wk 25–27What Have You Done For Me Lately
    Janet Jackson · 3 weeks at 1 · week 25
  10. wk 28–30The Edge of Heaven
    Wham! · 3 weeks at 1 · week 28
  11. wk 31–33Holiday Rap
    MC Miker G, Deejay Sven · 3 weeks at 1 · week 31
  12. wk 34–37Sing Our Own Song
    UB40 · 4 weeks at 1 · week 34
  13. wk 38The Way It Is
    Bruce Hornsby and the Range · 1 week at 1 · week 38
  14. wk 39–42The Final Countdown
    Europe · 4 weeks at 1 · week 39
  15. wk 43Take My Breath Away
    Berlin · 1 week at 1 · week 43
  16. wk 44–48Don't Leave Me This Way
    The Communards · 5 weeks at 1 · week 44
  17. wk 49–51Walk Like an Egyptian
    The Bangles · 3 weeks at 1 · week 49

Longest in the chart

  1. 16When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
    Billy Ocean · weeks in 1986 · peak position 1 · from week 3
  2. 16The Final Countdown
    Europe · weeks in 1986 · peak position 1 · from week 33
  3. 15Sing Our Own Song
    UB40 · weeks in 1986 · peak position 1 · from week 29
  4. 15Lessons In Love
    Level 42 · weeks in 1986 · peak position 2 · from week 24
  5. 14A Different Corner
    George Michael · weeks in 1986 · peak position 1 · from week 14
  6. 14Borderline
    Madonna · weeks in 1986 · peak position 2 · from week 7
  7. 13The Promise You Made
    Cock Robin · weeks in 1986 · peak position 1 · from week 8
  8. 13Jeanny
    Falco · weeks in 1986 · peak position 1 · from week 9
  9. 13The Edge of Heaven
    Wham! · weeks in 1986 · peak position 1 · from week 25
  10. 13Burning Heart
    Survivor · weeks in 1986 · peak position 2 · from week 6

Highest new entries

  1. 16Harlem Shuffle
    The Rolling Stones · new at 16 in week 11
  2. 16Living Doll
    Comic Relief presents Cliff Richard and The Young Ones featuring Hank Marvin · new at 16 in week 15
  3. 16Walk This Way
    Run–D.M.C. · new at 16 in week 37
  4. 17Live to Tell
    Madonna · new at 17 in week 17
  5. 19Moscow Nights
    Anya · new at 19 in week 5

Source: top40.nl · guiljam is not affiliated with the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Top 40 is a trademark of the Stichting; the charts are used here as the source for the site’s own artist and track pages.

Sound of 1986

1986 sounded more electric and slower than 1985, at a tempo around 117 bpm.

Measured across 312 of the 321 records from 1986 with a sound analysis.

Keep exploring

If you have landed here, you probably want to keep going: an album, an artist, a week in the Dutch Top 40 or a concert.

Frequently asked questions

How many records reached number 1 in 1986?

In total 17 different records, across 51 charts. The first was Nikita by Elton John, the last Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles.

Which record had the longest run at number 1 in 1986?

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean: five weeks in a row at 1.

Which record stayed in the chart longest in 1986?

When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean: 16 weeks in 1986, peaking at number 1 that year.

What was the highest new entry of 1986?

Harlem Shuffle by The Rolling Stones, straight in at 16 in week 11.

What was the biggest hit of 1986?

On points across all weekly charts of 1986 that is When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean: 492 points from 16 weeks, peak position 1. The top 3: 1. When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going (Billy Ocean), 2. The Final Countdown (Europe), 3. A Different Corner (George Michael). The full ranking of 100 is in the 1986 year chart.

How many records made the Dutch Top 40 in 1986?

In total 321 different records, spread over 51 charts. Of those, 286 entered the chart that year.