UK Top 40 Singles Chart for Tuesday 23rd December 1986

So this was the chart that Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes broadcast from 5pm-7pm with data from the GALLUP computer based on record sales from Wednesday 17th to Monday 22nd December 1986.

This is how the charts USED to look with new entries, climbers and non-movers, all based solely on record purchases.
This week, thirty years ago, there was one new entry, sixteen climbers and five non-movers! And it was announced like this…

40. Spandau Ballet – “Through The Barricades”
Spandau Ballet kick off the Christmas chart of 1986 with an eighth week inside the top 40 but with the song going down five places.

39. Five Star – “If I Say Yes”
For Five Star it’s a sixth week with their fifth release of this year, which goes down eight places, and it could be their last.

38. Anita Baker – “Sweet Love”
American singer Anita Baker suffers a much bigger drop this week as her very first UK top 40 charting single falls fifteen places.

37. The Bangles – “Walk Like An Egyptian”
Going the other way and going back up the chart are The Bangles, walking like Egyptians two places higher than they descended to seven days ago!

36. Red Box – “For America”
No such luck for Red Box as their tribute for America goes down ten places as the group amass a ninth week on the top 40.

35. Paul McCartney – “Only Love Remains”
No big Christmas hit for Paul McCartney this year as his single slips back one place, the second to come from his current album, “Press To Play”.

34. Lionel Richie – “Ballerina Girl”
Lionel Richie is dancing on the ceiling all on his own this week as he is the only new entry, which makes him also the highest!

33. Paul Simon – “The Boy In The Bubble”
Paul Simon breaks out of his bubble with the latest cut from his “Graceland” album that moves up seven places from his entry position.

32. Cameo – “Candy”
And Cameo’s Christmas candy appears to have all been eaten as they go down three places with the follow up to their biggest hit to date.

31. Gary Moore – “Over The Hills And Far Away”
Good news for the brand new single from Gary Moore, which landed on the chart last week and climbs six places in his second.

30. Mel and Kim – “Showing Out (Get Fresh For The Weekend)”
Sisters Mel and Kim Appleby notch up ten weeks with their debut single this week, which remains top thirty but down six places.

29. Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman – “All I Ask Of You”
And there is some good news for Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman, who were non-movers last week as they go back up the chart by three places!

28. Kim Wilde – “You Keep Me Hanging On”
Down six this week for Kim Wilde and her version of The Supremes hit from 1966, which is her tenth on the top 40, but will it be her last…?

27. The Pretenders – “Hymn To Her”
Last week’s highest new entry came from The Pretenders with the follow up to “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and they are aiming high again with this one, which goes up nine places.

26. George Benson – “Shiver”
George Benson’s recent top twenty showing lasted just one week. He dropped out seven days ago and this week he’s down five.

25. Eurythmics – “The Miracle Of Love”
Five weeks on and the Eurythmics are still making steady moves in an upwardly direction with this single. This week finds them three up on their previous high.

24. Ray Moore – “O’ My Father Had A Rabbit”
TV and radio presenter Ray Moore also goes up three places with his harmless, quirky Christmas tune of a different kind.

23. Swing Out Sister – “Breakout”
This week Swing Out Sister break out of the top twenty for the first time in seven weeks as their very first top 40 hit single falls four places.

22. Spitting Image – “Santa Claus Is On The Dole”
The Spitting Image team take pity on Father Christmas with their second chart hit of 1986, that rises sixteen places to become this week’s highest!

21. Nick Kamen – “Each Time You Break My Heart”
Just slipping out of the top twenty, where he’s been for five weeks, is former launderette user Nick Kamen with his debut single, that goes down eight places.

20. Roger Whittaker and Des O’Connor – “The Skye Boat Song”
The Skye boat edges a bit closer to the mainland this week as Roger Whittaker and Des O’Connor fall just two places.

19. Debbie Harry – “French Kissin’ In The USA”
On the other side of ‘the pond’, Blondie’s Debbie Harry does her French kissing, but she does so five places lower than last week.

18. Elkie Brooks – “No More The Fool”
Elkie Brooks is certainly no more the fool as her first big chart hit for four years moves into the top twenty, up twelve places!

17. Status Quo – “Dreamin'”
Also back in the top twenty are Status Quo with the latest single from their album “In The Army Now”, which goes up eight places to be here.

16. Genesis – “Land Of Confusion”
Some confusion this week for Genesis as the latest cut from their current album stays the same and a non-mover for a second week.

15. Jaki Graham – “Step Right Up”
Meanwhile, Jaki Graham continues to step right up with her latest single as it climbs two places after five weeks on the chart.

14. Berlin – “Take My Breath Away”
Former chart toppers Berlin took a hasty exit from the top ten last week with the love theme from ‘Top Gun’. This week finds them just three places lower.

13. Dexy’s Midnight Runners – “Because Of You”
It’s another good week for Dexy’s Midnight Runners as their latest single goes up seven places, their highest since “Jackie Wilson Said” in 1982.

12. The Gap Band – “Big Fun”
The Gap Band had much big fun last week as the highest climber and go up three this week with their biggest hit here since “Oops Up Side Your Head” in 1980!

11. The Communards – “So Cold The Night”
No second number one for The Communards and it’s much colder outside the top ten as their latest slips out, down three places.

10. Bon Jovi – “Livin’ On A Prayer”
Bon Jovi know about slippery things, their debut album is called “Slippery When Wet”. This is the second UK hit from it and it’s down just one place this week.

9. Gregory Abbott – “Shake You Down”
Gregory Abbott shakes you down and shakes his debut single down two places this week. His first album is of the same title and it’s out now.

8. Alison Moyet – “Is This Love?”
Alison Moyet returns to the top ten this week for the first time since “The Ole Devil Called Love” last year and it’s with something new and original, which climbs four places.

7. a-ha – “Cry Wolf”
a-ha also enjoy yet another good week with this track, which climbs three places to put itself much higher than the first single from their current album.

6. Oran ‘Juice’ Jones – “The Rain”
The rain brought Oran ‘Juice’ Jones down with it last week, but for this week, he stays firm for a second week just outside the top five.

5. Erasure – “Sometimes”
Erasure also dropped down last week with their very first top 40 charting single and like Oran ‘Juice’ Jones they too are non-movers for a second week.

4. Madonna – “Open Your Heart”
And also remaining in the same spot for a second week is Madonna with the fourth single from this year’s best selling album, “True Blue”.

3. Europe – “The Final Countdown”
The non-movers keep coming as Europe’s former number one puts on the breaks for a second week. The Swedish boys make this their eighth week in the UK top 40.

2. The Housemartins – “Caravan Of Love”
After just one week, The Housemartins are toppled and leave the top spot with their biggest hit to date, which drops back one place to make way for someone else…

1. Jackie Wilson – “Reet Petite”
And that someone is the late Jackie Wilson, who goes up one place to claim this year’s Christmas number one and also the highest peak this song has attained here in the UK since it was first released back in 1957! Can he keep it for the new year or will someone else topple him? There’s only one way to find out…

Make sure you come back in seven days time for next weeks chart!

Follow the latest ‘rewind’ chart below or click here to read about previous weeks.