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U2 emerges from the shadows of college radio, Richard Marx makes smashing debut, and George Harrison makes smashing comeback.

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Events that shaped Album Rock during that year

The Joshua Tree Puts U2 In The Big Time

The band U2 first made their mark on the Rock music world on college radio stations in the early 1980's. In 1987, U2 hit the big time on Album Rock radio with their album The Joshua Tree. With the track With Or Without You reaching number one on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks Chart, The Joshua Tree became one of the most popular albums of the year with AOR fans! Other tracks that put it over the top include I Still Haven't Foung What I'm Looking For, Where The Streets Have No Name, and In God's Country.

Their success in 1987 would lead to even greater success in the 1990's. U2 reached beyond their college radio audience starting with The Joshua Tree.


Photo courtesy of cdn.ontourmedia.io

Photo courtesy of cdn.ontourmedia.io

With Or Without You
by U2

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
by U2

Where The Streets Have No Name
by U2

In God's Country
by U2

Video courtesy of YouTube and Vevo
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube

Notable new bands and artists: Richard Marx

With the release of his self·titled debut album, Richard Marx immediately made his mark with Rock radio audiences. His first track - Don't Mean Nothing - became a number one hit on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks Chart during the summer, with Should Have Known Better also attracting attention. With his more mellow style, some thought of Marx as more of a Pop music artist, but Rock fans gave him success during 1987.



Photo courtesy of songfacts.com


Video courtesy of YouTube

George Harrison Still Going Strong

Out of the four former Beatles, George Harrison proved the most resilient. With the careers of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr waning, and the tragic murder of John Lennon a few years earlier, Harrison outlasted his former bandmates, as his 1987 album Cloud Nine scored big with rock fans! The tracks When We Was Fab (a tribute to his days with the Beatles), Got My Mind Set On You, Devil's Radio, and the title track, Cloud Nine all proved popular, receiving frequent airplay on rock radio in late 1987 and early 1988.

The following year, George Harrison teamed up with 4 other big · name rockers to form the Traveling Wilburys.



Photo courtesy of AllMusic.com

When We Was Fab
by George Harrison

Got My Mind Set On You
by George Harrison

Devil's Radio (live version)
by George Harrison

Cloud Nine (live version)
by George Harrison

Video courtesy of YouTube and Vevo
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
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All rock tracks listed on Billboard Magazine's Top Rock Tracks chart that year.

Title Artist Peak Date Of Entry
I Want To Make The World Steve Miller # 1 see 1986 list for chart entry date
It's In The Way That You Use It Eric Clapton # 1 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Keep Your Hands To Yourself Georgia Satellites # 2 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Cool The Engines Boston # 4 see 1986 list for chart entry date
My Baby The Pretenders # 1 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Who Owns This Place Don Henley # 3 see 1986 list for chart entry date
We're Ready Boston # 2 see 1986 list for chart entry date
On The Western Skyline Bruce Hornsby # 6 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Stay The Night Benjamin Orr # 6 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Big Time Peter Gabriel # 3 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Livin' On A Prayer Bon Jovi # 1 see 1986 list for chart entry date
True To You Rick Ocasek # 9 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Smoking Gun The Robert Cray Band # 2 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Don't Need A Gun Billy Idol # 10 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Fire Bruce Springsteen # 14 see 1986 list for chart entry date
The Best Man In The World Ann Wilson # 5 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Superstition Stevie Ray Vaughan # 11 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Golden Ball And Chain Jason & The Scorchers # 16 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Back In The High Life Again Steve Winwood # 19 see 1986 list for chart entry date
War Bruce Springsteen # 4 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Tearing Us Apart Eric Clapton # 5 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Jacob's Ladder Huey Lewis & The News # 10 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Wanted Dead Or Alive Bon Jovi # 13 see 1986 list for chart entry date
America KBC Band # 8 see 1986 list for chart entry date
All I Wanted Kansas # 10 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Because The Night Bruce Springsteen # 22 see 1986 list for chart entry date
This Is The World Calling Bob Geldof # 23 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Ship Of Fools World Party # 5 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Behind The Wall Of Sleep The Smithereens # 23 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Working At The Factory The Kinks # 16 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Shelter Lone Justice # 26 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Land Of Confusion Genesis # 11 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Room Full Of Mirrors The Pretenders # 28 see 1986 list for chart entry date
This Is The Time Billy Joel # 32 see 1986 list for chart entry date
I Wanna Go Back Eddie Money # 3 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Swallowed By The Cracks David & David # 14 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Rock 'N' Roll Cities The Kinks # 37 see 1986 list for chart entry date
The Final Countdown Europe # 18 see 1986 list for chart entry date
One Simple Thing The Stabilizers # 21 see 1986 list for chart entry date
We Should Be Sleeping Eddie Money # 18 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Real Wild Child Iggy Pop # 27 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Nobody But You Baby Steve Miller # 9 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Some People Paul Young # 43 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Raise Your Hand Bruce Springsteen # 44 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Is This Love Survivor # 27 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Life Is Hard Timbuk 3 # 35 see 1986 list for chart entry date
It's Not You, It's Not Me KBC Band # 6 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Don't Get Me Wrong The Pretenders # 1 see 1986 list for chart entry date
Superman R.E.M. # 17 see 1986 list for chart entry date
To Be A Lover Billy Idol # 2 see 1986 list for chart entry date
I'll Be Alright Without You Journey # 26 1987-01-10
Coming Up Close Til Tuesday # 37 1987-01-10
Nobody's Fool Cinderella # 25 1987-01-10
Ain't So Easy David & David # 17 1987-01-10
Bad Attitude Deep Purple # 14 1987-01-17
Shakin' Shakin' Shakes Los Lobos # 4 1987-01-17
Roadrunner Joan Jett And The Blackhearts # 46 1987-01-17
All In My Mind Love & Rockets # 49 1987-01-17
Standing On Higher Ground Alan Parsons # 3 1987-01-24
Mandolin Rain Bruce Hornsby # 2 1987-01-24
Battleship Chains Georgia Satellites # 11 1987-01-24
Power Kansas # 38 1987-01-24
Miss You Eric Clapton # 9 1987-01-24
No Time Robin Trower # 25 1987-01-24
Midnight Blue Lou Gramm # 1 1987-01-31
That Ain't Love REO Speedwagon # 5 1987-01-31
Tonight, Tonight, Tonight Genesis # 9 1987-01-31
Can'tcha Say/Still In Love Boston # 7 1987-01-31
The Wanderer Dave Edmunds # 35 1987-01-31
Make It Mean Something Rob Jungklas # 41 1987-01-31
Too Hot To Stop Benjamin Orr # 25 1987-01-31
Winner Takes It All Sammy Hagar # 3 1987-02-07
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now Starship # 16 1987-02-07
World Shut Your Mouth Julian Cope # 22 1987-02-07
The Finer Things Steve Winwood # 5 1987-02-07
I'm No Angel Greg Allman # 1 1987-02-14
Willie The Wimp Stevie Ray Vaughan # 19 1987-02-14
Vera Cruz Santana # 21 1987-02-14
Don't Dream It's Over Crowded House # 11 1987-02-14
Hold Me Colin James Hay # 41 1987-02-14
Call Of The Wild Deep Purple # 14 1987-02-21
Light Of Day The Barbusters # 13 1987-02-21
The Boy In The Bubble Paul Simon # 15 1987-02-21
Modern Day Cowboy Tesla # 35 1987-02-21
Heartbreak Beat Psychedelic Furs # 11 1987-02-21
Come As You Are Peter Wolf # 1 1987-02-28
Never Enough Patty Smyth # 4 1987-02-28
(I Just) Died In Your Arms Cutting Crew # 4 1987-02-28
“True” Concrete Blonde # 42 1987-02-28
Ready Or Not Lou Gramm # 7 1987-02-28
Lost And Found The Kinks # 37 1987-02-28
Goodbye Saving Grace Jon Butcher # 7 1987-03-07
I Know What I Like Huey Lewis & The News # 31 1987-03-07
I Might Lie Andy Taylor # 17 1987-03-07
Never Say Goodbye Bon Jovi # 11 1987-03-14
Dream Warriors Dokken # 22 1987-03-14
Living In A Dream Pseudo Echo # 44 1987-03-14
Should I See Frozen Ghost # 4 1987-03-14
With Or Without You U2 # 1 1987-03-21
The Secret Of My Success Night Ranger # 12 1987-03-21
Endless Nights Eddie Money # 10 1987-03-21
Still Of The Night Whitesnake # 18 1987-03-21
I Will Be There Glass Tiger # 21 1987-03-21
Somebody Save Me Cinderella # 37 1987-03-21
Heat Of The Night Bryan Adams # 2 1987-03-28
Big Love Fleetwood Mac # 2 1987-03-28
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For U2 # 2 1987-03-28
Love Removal Machine The Cult # 15 1987-03-28
I Guess I Showed Her The Robert Cray Band # 28 1987-03-28
Sweet Sixteen Billy Idol # 26 1987-03-28
Day In, Day Out David Bowie # 3 1987-04-04
Rock The Night Europe # 22 1987-04-04
Set Me Free (Rosa Lee) Los Lobos # 21 1987-04-04
Where The Streets Have No Name U2 # 11 1987-04-04
Bullet The Blue Sky U2 # 14 1987-04-04
Dear God XTC # 37 1987-04-04
Another Day Bryan Adams # 33 1987-04-11
Run Eric Clapton # 21 1987-04-11
Dirty Water Rock And Hyde # 6 1987-04-11
Walk On Fire Little America # 10 1987-04-11
In God's Country U2 # 42 1987-04-11
Always The Sun The Stranglers # 47 1987-04-11
Jammin' Me Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 1 1987-04-18
Into The Fire Bryan Adams # 6 1987-04-18
Railroad Steel Georgia Satellites # 34 1987-04-18
Anything Goes Greg Allman # 3 1987-04-18
Can't Get Started Peter Wolf # 16 1987-04-18
Weapons Of Love The Truth # 7 1987-04-18
Variety Tonight REO Speedwagon # 28 1987-04-18
Seven Wonders Fleetwood Mac # 2 1987-04-25
Little Suzi Tesla # 22 1987-04-25
Fool In Love Farrenheit # 42 1987-04-25
Over The Hills And Far Away Gary Moore # 24 1987-04-25
Alone Again Or The Damned # 50 1987-04-25
Isn't It Midnight Fleetwood Mac # 14 1987-05-02
Something So Strong Crowded House # 10 1987-05-02
Time Will Crawl David Bowie # 7 1987-05-02
Tango In The Night Fleetwood Mac # 28 1987-05-02
Right Next Door Robert Cray # 27 1987-05-09
Runaway Trains Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 6 1987-05-09
We Are What We Are The Other Ones # 38 1987-05-09
Think About Me Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 36 1987-05-09
Ages Of You R.E.M. # 39 1987-05-09
Primitive Love Rites Mondo Rock # 31 1987-05-09
Alone Heart # 3 1987-05-16
In Too Deep Genesis # 25 1987-05-16
Gypsy Blood Mason Ruffner # 11 1987-05-16
Trail Of Broken Treaties Little Steven # 29 1987-05-16
Name Names The Del Fuegos # 43 1987-05-16
Shakedown Bob Seger # 1 1987-05-23
Don't Mean Nothing Richard Marx # 1 1987-05-23
She Don't Look Back Dan Fogelberg # 13 1987-05-23
Luka Suzanne Vega # 15 1987-05-23
Downtown Train Patty Smyth # 40 1987-05-23
Bang Bang David Bowie # 38 1987-05-23
Girls, Girls, Girls Motley Crue # 20 1987-05-30
Sentimental Hygene Warren Zevon # 9 1987-05-30
Holy War Jon Butcher # 25 1987-05-30
Hearts On Fire Bryan Adams # 3 1987-05-30
Here I Go Again Whitesnake # 4 1987-05-30
Into The Night Ace Frehley # 27 1987-05-30
Radio Waves Roger Waters # 12 1987-06-06
Hard Times In The Land... Omar And The Howlers # 19 1987-06-06
Since You've Been Gone The Outfield # 11 1987-06-06
Who Will You Run To Heart # 2 1987-06-06
Don't Let Me Die Young Andy Taylor # 36 1987-06-06
Give To Live Sammy Hagar # 1 1987-06-13
These Times Are Hard For Lovers John Waite # 6 1987-06-13
One For The Mockingbird Cutting Crew # 29 1987-06-13
Heartache Lou Gramm # 47 1987-06-13
The Radio Song Joe Walsh # 8 1987-06-20
Long Walk Home Neil Young # 14 1987-06-20
Good Times INXS & Jimmy Barnes # 3 1987-06-20
That's Freedom Tom Kimmel # 17 1987-06-20
Little Devil The Cult # 34 1987-06-20
Thank You Girl John Hiatt # 27 1987-06-20
Can't Keep Runnin' Greg Allman # 25 1987-06-20
Contagious Y&T # 41 1987-06-20
Stand Back The Fabulous Thunderbirds # 8 1987-06-27
It's Not Over ('Til It's Over) Starship # 9 1987-06-27
Back To Paradise 38 Special # 4 1987-06-27
I Ain't Ever Satisfied Steve Earle # 26 1987-06-27
Bed Of Lies Cruzados # 4 1987-06-27
Take Me Home Roger Daltrey # 46 1987-06-27
Spanish Eyes U2 # 11 1987-07-04
A Touch Of Grey The Grateful Dead # 1 1987-07-04
Rock Me Great White # 9 1987-07-04
Don't Be Scared The Fixx # 32 1987-07-04
Incommunicado Marillion # 24 1987-07-04
Johnny B. The Hooters # 3 1987-07-11
La Bamba Los Lobos # 11 1987-07-11
Jane's Getting Serious Jon Astley # 7 1987-07-11
Bogged Down In Love Charlie Daniels # 22 1987-07-18
Sunset Strip Roger Waters # 15 1987-07-18
Hot Love Twisted Sister # 31 1987-07-18
In My Car Joe Walsh # 14 1987-07-25
Boy's Night Out Sammy Hagar # 15 1987-07-25
Isn't It Enough Patty Smyth # 26 1987-07-25
Hell In A Bucket The Grateful Dead # 3 1987-07-25
Women Def Leppard # 7 1987-08-01
All Mixed Up Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 19 1987-08-01
I Could Have Been A Dreamer Dio # 33 1987-08-01
I Don't Wanna The Call # 38 1987-08-01
Carrie Europe # 35 1987-08-01
Painted Moon The Silencers # 23 1987-08-01
Should Have Known Better Richard Marx # 7 1987-08-08
Victim Of Love Bryan Adams # 10 1987-08-08
Dark Light The Beat Farmers # 27 1987-08-08
Darling It Hurts Paul Kelly & The Messengers # 19 1987-08-08
Dancing On Top Mason Ruffner # 42 1987-08-08
West La Fadeaway The Grateful Dead # 40 1987-08-08
Never Let Me Down David Bowie # 15 1987-08-08
Paper In Fire John Cougar Mellencamp # 1 1987-08-15
Ghost Of The Beach The Insiders # 8 1987-08-15
Where Has Everybody Gone The Pretenders # 26 1987-08-15
Animal Def Leppard # 5 1987-08-15
How Do You Spell... The Fabulous Thunderbirds # 22 1987-08-15
Detox Mansion Warren Zevon # 44 1987-08-15
When Push Comes To Shove The Grateful Dead # 45 1987-08-15
Wishes Jon Butcher # 42 1987-08-15
World Where You Live Crowded House # 45 1987-08-15
Notorious Loverboy # 8 1987-08-22
Little Lies Fleetwood Mac # 14 1987-08-22
Something Real (Inside Me, Inside You) Mr. Mister # 27 1987-08-22
Follow You Glen Burtnick # 23 1987-08-22
Satellite The Hooters # 13 1987-08-22
You Are The Girl The Cars # 2 1987-08-29
Dude (Looks Like A Lady) Aerosmith # 4 1987-08-29
Why Won't You Stay Melvin James # 17 1987-08-29
Is This Love Whitesnake # 13 1987-08-29
Returning Sammy Hagar # 20 1987-08-29
Solitude Standing Suzanne Vega # 43 1987-08-29
In Dreams Pete Bardens # 41 1987-08-29
Hold On Steppenwolf # 50 1987-08-29
Learning To Fly Pink Floyd # 1 1987-09-05
Force 10 Rush # 3 1987-09-05
The One I Love R.E.M. # 2 1987-09-05
Mony Mony Billy Idol # 27 1987-09-05
Hourglass Squeeze # 22 1987-09-05
Hard Times For An Honest Man John Cougar Mellencamp # 10 1987-09-05
Wild Flower The Cult # 39 1987-09-05
Cherry Bomb John Cougar Mellencamp # 1 1987-09-05
Let's Work Mick Jagger # 7 1987-09-12
Strap Me In The Cars # 4 1987-09-12
Rag Doll Aerosmith # 12 1987-09-12
The Real Life John Cougar Mellencamp # 3 1987-09-12
Come On, Let's Go Los Lobos # 33 1987-09-12
Hysteria Def Leppard # 9 1987-09-12
Boys Night Out Timothy B. Schmit # 17 1987-09-19
Time Stand Still Rush # 3 1987-09-19
Bangin' On My Heart The Outfield # 40 1987-09-19
Crazy Crazy Nights Kiss # 37 1987-09-19
Gettysburg The Brandos # 34 1987-09-19
I've Been In Love Before Cutting Crew # 50 1987-09-19
One Slip Pink Floyd # 5 1987-09-26
Steel Monkey Jethro Tull # 10 1987-09-26
Truck Drivin' Man Lynard Skynard # 12 1987-09-26
Throwaway Mick Jagger # 7 1987-09-26
On The Turning Away Pink Floyd # 1 1987-09-26
Small Town Love Cruzados # 39 1987-09-26
Crazy Icehouse # 10 1987-09-26
Dogs Of War Pink Floyd # 44 1987-09-26
Brilliant Disguise Bruce Springsteen # 1 1987-10-03
Love Will Find A Way Yes # 1 1987-10-03
Only Love The Bodeans # 16 1987-10-03
Rhythm Of Love Yes # 2 1987-10-10
We'll Be Together Sting # 20 1987-10-10
Valerie Steve Winwood # 13 1987-10-10
You Make Me Love You Roger Hodgson # 38 1987-10-10
Farm On The Freeway Jethro Tull # 7 1987-10-10
Kick The Wall Jimmy Davis & Junction # 32 1987-10-10
Things I Do For Money Northern Pikes # 37 1987-10-10
Eagles Fly Sammy Hagar # 22 1987-10-10
Tunnel Of Love Bruce Springsteen # 1 1987-10-17
Showdown At Big Sky Robbie Robertson # 2 1987-10-17
Spare Parts Bruce Springsteen # 28 1987-10-17
Like Dreamers Do The Radiators # 23 1987-10-17
I Don't Mind At All Bourgeois Tagg # 8 1987-10-17
Unchain My Heart Joe Cocker # 11 1987-10-17
Got My Mind Set On You George Harrison # 4 1987-10-24
Need You Tonight INXS # 12 1987-10-24
Little Wing Sting # 11 1987-10-24
Don't Shed A Tear Paul Carrack # 5 1987-10-24
Gimme Your Love MSG # 40 1987-10-24
No Such Thing Tommy Shaw # 41 1987-10-24
Rain In The Summertime The Alarm # 6 1987-10-31
Lady Red Light Great White # 47 1987-10-31
Back In The U.S.S.R. Billy Joel # 45 1987-10-31
Something In My Heart Dave Mason # 24 1987-11-07
Burning Like A Flame Dokken # 20 1987-11-07
Sweet Fire Of Love Robbie Robertson # 7 1987-11-07
Long Time Gone Triumph # 28 1987-11-07
The Usual Bob Dylan & Eric Clapton # 25 1987-11-07
Just Like You Martha Davis # 47 1987-11-07
Have Mercy Richard Marx # 17 1987-11-14
Devil's Radio George Harrison # 4 1987-11-14
Hang Man Jury Aerosmith # 14 1987-11-14
When We Was Fab George Harrison # 2 1987-11-14
Snakedance The Rainmakers # 31 1987-11-14
Shoot High, Aim Low Yes # 11 1987-11-14
There's The Girl Heart # 16 1987-11-21
Cloud Nine George Harrison # 49 1987-11-21
It's The End Of The World As We Know It R.E.M. # 16 1987-11-21
Give Me All Your Love Tonight Whitesnake # 22 1987-11-28
Double Trouble The Cars # 42 1987-11-28
The Lazarus Heart Sting # 30 1987-11-28
Hazy Shade Of Winter The Bangles # 41 1987-11-28
Reason To Live Kiss # 34 1987-11-28
In God's Country U2 # 6 1987-12-05
Say You Will Foreigner # 1 1987-12-05
Say You Will Mick Jagger # 39 1987-12-05
Throwing Stones (Ashes Ashes) Grateful Dead # 15 1987-12-05
No New Tale To Tell Love & Rockets # 18 1987-12-05
Everywhere Fleetwood Mac # 22 1987-12-05
Lock And Key Rush # 16 1987-12-12
One Step Up Bruce Springsteen # 2 1987-12-12
Heart Turns To Stone Foreigner # 7 1987-12-19
Save Your Love Great White # 9 1987-12-19
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay Michael Bolton # 12 1987-12-19
I Need A Man The Eurhythmics # 32 1987-12-19
Trust Me Squeeze # 50 1987-12-19
Jump Start Jethro Tull # 12 1987-12-26
Devil Inside INXS # 2 1987-12-26
Karla With A K The Hooters # 47 1987-12-26
Waning Moon Peter Himmelman # 41 1987-12-26

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