1
record label: Arista 9598
chart position: RandB #2, UK #1, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #1
written by: George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam
album: Whitney
Whitney Houston
I Wanna Dance with Somebody
1987
Arista
2
record label: Columbia 02860
chart position: RandB #8, UK #1, US #1, US AC #1, US rock #34
written by: Paul McCartney
album: Tug of War
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
Ebony and Ivory
1982
Columbia
3
record label: Columbia 04839
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #1, US AC #1, US Rock #27, US Country #76,
written by: Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie
album: We Are the World: U.S.A. for Africa
USA for Africa
We Are the World
1985
Columbia
4
record label: Siren 111
chart position: RandB #2, UK #3, US #1, US dance #3, US AC #39
written by: Elliot Wolff
album: Forever Your Girl
comments: [dance]
Paula Abdul
Straight Up
1988
Siren
5
record label: Epic 823
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #1, US AC #9
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Thriller
Michael Jackson
Billie Jean
1983
Epic
6
record label: MCA 52770
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #1, US AC #2
written by: Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager
album: Winner in You
Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
On My Own
1986
MCA
7
record label: Motown 1519
chart position: RandB #1, UK #7, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Lionel Richie
album: Endless Love: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 12
comments: [Motown Sound] [love ballad]
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
Endless Love
1981
Motown
8
record label: Motown 1494
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US dance #1, US 31, US AC #18
written by: Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards
album: Diana / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 11
comments: [Motown Sound]
Diana Ross
Upside Down
1980
Motown
9
record label: Motown 1745
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: The Woman in Red: Selections from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
comments: [Motown Sound]
Stevie Wonder
I Just Called to Say I Love You
1984
Motown
10
record label: Arista 9559
chart position: RandB #5, UK #1, US #1, US AC #2, US dance #12
written by: Simon Climie & Dennis Morgan
album: Aretha [1986 album]
Aretha Franklin & George Michael
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
1987
Arista
11
record label: RCA 13274
chart position: RandB #1, US dance #1, UK #7, US #17
written by: Kashif (as Kashif Saleem)
album: Get Loose
comments: [disco, dance, boogie]
Evelyn King (aka Evelyn Champagne King)
Love Come Down
1982
RCA
12
record label: Arista 9381
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Gerry Goffin
album: Whitney Houston
comments: [ballad]
Whitney Houston
Saving All My Love for You
1985
Arista
13
record label: Jive 9678
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #1, US dance #25, US AC #5
written by: Robert John
album: Tear Down These Walls
Billy Ocean
Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car
1988
Jive
14
record label: Motown 1698
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #1, US dance #5, US AC #1
written by: Lionel Richie
album: Can't Slow Down
comments: [Motown Sound]
Lionel Richie
All Night Long
1983
Motown
15
record label: Casablanca 2233
chart position: RandB #2, UK #2, US #1, US dance #1
written by: Steven Greenberg
album: Mouth to Mouth
comments: [disco]
Lipps, Inc.
Funkytown
1980
Casablanca
16
record label: Warner 22924
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #1, US dance #1, US alt. #18
written by: Prince
album: Batman
Prince
Batdance
1989
Warner
17
record label: Motown 1722
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Lionel Richie
album: Can't Slow Down
comments: [ballad] [Motown Sound]
Lionel Richie
Hello
1984
Motown
18
record label: Epic 07253
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Bad
Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
1987
Epic
19
record label: Tamla 1808
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #1
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: In Square Circle
comments: [Motown Sound]
Stevie Wonder
Part-Time Lover
1985
Tamla
20
record label: EMI Manhattan 50146
chart position: RandB #11, UK #2, US #1, US AC #7
written by: Bobby McFerrin
album: Spontaneous Inventions
comments: [reggae style pop]
Bobby McFerrin
Don't Worry, Be Happy
1988
EMI Manhattan
21
record label: Epic 3258
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #3, US rock #14
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Thriller
Michael Jackson
Beat It
1983
Epic
22
record label: Warner Bros.
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #6, US dance #1
written by: Prince
album: Parade
Prince
Kiss
1986
Warner Bros.
23
record label: Tamla 54321
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #2, US AC #4
written by: Smokey Robinson
album: Being with You / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 12
comments: [Motown Sound]
Smokey Robinson
Being with You
1981
Tamla
24
record label: Virgin 96528
chart position: RandB #3, US #1, UK #2, US dance #24, US AC #45
written by: Oliver Leiber
album: Forever Your Girl
Paula Abdul
Opposites Attract
1989
Virgin
25
record label: Epic 976
chart position: RandB #8, UK #1, US #1, US AC #1
written by: George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley
album: Make It Big
comments: [ballad]
George Michael
Careless Whisper
1984
Epic
26
record label: King Jay 28430
chart position: RandB #2, UK #3, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #31
written by: Bill Withers
album: Life, Love & Pain
Club Nouveau
Lean on Me
1987
King Jay
27
record label: Motown 1284 (UK)
chart position: RandB #2, UK #6, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Cochrane & Lionel Richie
album: Lionel Richie
comments: [Motown Sound] [love ballad] Â
Lionel Richie
Truly
1982
Motown
28
record label: RCA 5347
chart position: US #1, UK #1, US Dance #1, US AC #1
written by: Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman
album: Whenever You Need Somebody
comments: [BRIT Awards Best British Single 1988]
Rick Astley
Never Gonna Give You Up
1987
RCA
29
record label: Jive 1672
chart position: RandB #6, UK #1, US #2, US AC #2, US dance #31,
written by: Wayne Anton Braithwaite, Barry Eastmond (as Barry James Eastmond), Robert John
album: The Jewel of the Nile: Music from the 20th Century Fox Motion Picture Soundtrack
Billy Ocean
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
1985
Jive
30
record label: Columbia 07773
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8, US #1, US AC #1
written by: George Michael
album: Faith
George Michael
One More Try
1988
Columbia
31
record label: Parlophone 6062
chart position: RandB #2, US #1, UK #2, US dance #2, US AC #3, US rock #24
written by: Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
album: Pipes of Peace
Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney
Say, Say, Say
1983
Parlophone
32
record label: Columbia 06191
chart position: RandB #1, UK #6, US #1, US AC #2
written by: Gregory Abbott
album: Shake You Down
Gregory Abbott
Shake You Down
1986
Columbia
33
record label: RCA 12357
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #8, US dance #1 US AC #12, US rock #28
written by: Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen
album: Private Eyes
Hall & Oates
I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)
1981
RCA
34
record label: De lite 807
chart position: RandB #1, UK #7, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #34
written by: Donna Johnson, Claydes Charles Smith, Earl Eugene Toon Jr., James
album: Celebrate!
comments: [disco funk]
Kool & the Gang
Celebration
1980
De lite
35
record label: Virgin 265
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #4, US dance #1
written by: Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler, Nellee Hooper & Simon Law
album: Club Classics, Volume One
Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler
Back to Life
1989
Virgin
36
record label: CBS 6300 (UK)
chart position: US #1, UK #4, US AC #1
written by: D. Hall
album: The Secret Of Association
comments: [blue-eyed soul]
Paul Young
Every Time You Go Away
1985
CBS
37
record label: Warner 28455
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Jonathan Lewis, David Lewis & Wayne Lewis
album: All in the Name of Love
comments: [love ballad]
Atlantic Starr
Always
1987
Warner
38
record label: RCA 13354
chart position: US #1, RandB #78, UK #6, US dance #18, US AC #14, US rock #18
written by: Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates
album: H2O
Hall & Oates
Maneater
1982
RCA
39
record label: Arista 9434
chart position: RandB #1, UK #5, US #1, US dance #3, US AC #1
written by: George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam & Narada Michael Walden
album: Whitney Houston
comments: [disco dance]
Whitney Houston
How Will I Know
1985
Arista
40
record label: MCA 53383
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #6, US dance #7
written by: Bobby Brown, Gene Griffin & Teddy Riley
album: Don't Be Cruel
comments: [dance]
Bobby Brown
My Prerogative
1988
MCA
41
record label: Elektra 47031
chart position: RandB #2, US #1, UK #7, US dance #2
written by: John Deacon
album: The Game
Queen
Another One Bites the Dust
1980
Elektra
42
record label: WEA 377
chart position: RandB #38, UK #2, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
album: A New Flame
Simply Red
If You Don't Know Me by Now
1989
WEA
43
record label: Columbia 04417
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #2, US dance #1, US AC #3
written by: Tom Snow & Dean Pitchford
album: Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture
Deniece Williams
Let's Hear It for the Boy
1984
Columbia
44
record label: Qwest 15005 (UK)
chart position: RandB #9, US #1, UK #11, US AC #1
written by: Rod Temperton
album: Every Home Should Have One
comments: [love ballad]
Patti Austin & James Ingram
Baby, Come to Me
1982
Qwest
45
record label: Capitol 5459
chart position: RandB #1, UK #18, US #18
written by: Paul Laurence
album: Rock Me Tonight
comments: [slow jam]
Freddie Jackson
Rock Me Tonight (for Old Time's Sake)
1985
Capitol
46
record label: Columbia 08092
chart position: RandB #28, UK #1, US #3, US dance #20
written by: Maurice Starr
album: Hangin' Tough
New Kids on the Block
You Got It
1988
Columbia
47
record label: AandM 2861
chart position: RandB #3, US #1, UK #8, US dance #1, US AC #3
written by: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
album: Crash
The Human League
Human
1986
A&M
48
record label: Columbia 02536
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #3, US dance #3
written by: Wayne Vaughn & Maurice White
album: Raise!
Earth, Wind & Fire
Let's Groove
1981
Columbia
49
record label: Atlantic 89256
chart position: UK #1, US Dance #1
written by: Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterma
album: F.L.M.
comments: [disco dance]
Mel & Kim
Respectable
1987
Atlantic
50
record label: Tamla 54317
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #5, US dance #10
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: Hotter Than July
comments: [Motown Sound]
Stevie Wonder
Master Blaster (Jammin')
1980
Tamla
51
record label: Arista 612 693
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #3, US dance #1, US AC #7
written by: Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney & Andy Morris
album: Affection
Lisa Stansfield
All Around the World
1989
Arista
52
record label: Arista 9212
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #1, US dance #6, US AC #9, US rock #38
written by: Ray Parker Jr
album: Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album
Ray Parker Jr (aka Raydio)
Ghostbusters
1984
Arista
53
record label: Warner 29286
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #4, US dance #1, US rock #31
written by: Prince
album: Purple Rain
Prince
When Doves Cry
1984
Warner
54
record label: Epic 07645
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #9
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Bad
Michael Jackson
The Way You Make Me Feel
1987
Epic
55
record label: Columbia 03302
chart position: RandB #1, UK #4, US #3, US dance #12, US AC #34
written by: Marvin Gaye
album: Midnight Love
Marvin Gaye
Sexual Healing
1982
Columbia
56
record label: Motown 1819
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Lionel Richie
album: Dancing on the Ceiling
comments: [ballad] [Motown Sound]
Lionel Richie
Say You, Say Me
1985
Motown
57
record label: Arista 9781
chart position: RandB #3, UK #3, US #2, US dance #3
written by: Bill Pettaway Jr., Sean Spencer, Kevin Lyles, Rodney Hollaman & Ky Adeyemo
album: All or Nothing
comments: [hip hop]
Milli Vanilli
Girl You Know It's True
1988
Arista
58
record label: EMI America 8158
chart position: RandB #14, US dance #1, UK #1, US #1, US rock #8
written by: David Bowie
album: Let's Dance
David Bowie
Let's Dance
1983
EMI America
59
record label: Elektra 69564
chart position: RandB #29, UK #2, US #1
written by: Mick Hucknall & Neil Moss
album: Picture Book
Simply Red
Holding Back the Years
1986
Elektra
60
record label: Planet 47929
chart position: RandB #7, UK #10, US #2, US AC #6
written by: John Bettis & Michael Clark
album: Black & White
The Pointer Sisters
Slow Hand
1981
Planet
61
record label: Sire 27539
chart position: US dance #1, RandB #20, UK #1, US #1, US AC #3
written by: Madonna & Patrick Leonard
album: Like a Prayer
Madonna
Like a Prayer
1989
Sire
62
record label: Atlantic 3664
chart position: RandB #5, US #4, UK #4, US dance #50, US AC #3
written by: Sam Cooke & Michael Zager
The Spinners
Cupid -- I've Loved You for a Long Time (medley)
1980
Atlantic
63
record label: Arista 9870
chart position: RandB #20, UK #2, US #1, US AC #21
written by: Frank Farian, Peter Bischof Fallenstein & Dietmar Kawohl
album: All or Nothing
Milli Vanilli
Girl I'm Gonna Miss You
1989
Arista
64
record label: Columbia 04679
chart position: RandB #3, UK #1, US #2, US dance #7, US AC #15, US rock #5
written by: Philip Bailey, Phil Collins & Nathan East
album: Chinese Wall
Philip Bailey with Phil Collins
Easy Lover
1984
Columbia
65
record label: Warner 49505
chart position: RandB #1, UK #7, US #4, US dance #2, US AC #26
written by: Rod Temperton
album: Give Me the Night
George Benson
Give Me the Night
1980
Warner
66
record label: Arista 9642
chart position: RandB #5, US #1, UK #5, US dance #1, AC #8
written by: Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg
album: Whitney
comments: [disco dance]
Whitney Houston
So Emotional
1987
Arista
67
record label: Casablanca 811 440 7
chart position: RandB #2, UK #2, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #4
written by: Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey & Irene Cara
album: Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture
comments: [disco dance]
Irene Cara
Flashdance ... What a Feeling!
1983
Casablanca
68
record label: Columbia 7547
chart position: RandB #6, UK #11, US #1, US dance #13, US AC #3
written by: George Michael
album: Faith
George Michael
Father Figure
1988
Columbia
69
record label: Portrait 03793
chart position: RandB #18, UK #2, US #2, US dance #6, US rock #12
written by: Eddy Grant
album: Killer on the Rampage
Eddy Grant
Electric Avenue
1983
Portrait
70
record label: Arista 9466
chart position: RandB #3, UK #8, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Linda Creed & Michael Masser
album: Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Greatest Love of All
1986
Arista
71
record label: RCA 13479
chart position: RandB #6, UK #4, US #7, AC #2
written by: Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago (uncredited), George Goldner (uncredited) & Morris Levy
album: Why Do Fools Fall in Love
Diana Ross
Why Do Fools Fall in Love?
1981
RCA
72
record label: SBK 19701
chart position: RandB #10, UK #2, US #2, US dance #1
written by: Ya Kid K (as Manuela Kamosi) & Jo Bogaert (as Thomas de Quincey)
album: Pump Up the Jam: The Album
comments: [disco dance]
Technotronic
Pump Up the Jam
1989
SBK
73
record label: Capitol 5354
chart position: RandB #2, US #1, UK #3, US dance #21, US AC #8, US rock #51
written by: Britten & Graham Lyle
album: Private Dancer
Tina Turner
What's Love Got to Do with It
1984
Capitol
74
record label: AandM 2216
chart position: RandB #1, UK #6, US #7, US dance #1
written by: Louis Johnson, George Johnson
album: Light Up the Night
comments: [disco funk jazz]
The Brothers Johnson
Stomp!
1980
A&M
75
record label: Columbia 07675
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #4, US dance #7, US AC #44
written by: Terence Trent D'Arby & Sean Oliver
album: Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
Wishing Well
1987
Columbia
76
record label: Epic 03288
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8, US #2, US AC #1
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Thriller
Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney
The Girl Is Mine
1982
Epic
77
record label: Arista 9743
chart position: RandB #22, UK #1, US #5, US AC #1
written by: Albert Hammond & John Bettis
album: One Moment in Time: 1988 Summer Olympics Album
Whitney Houston
One Moment in Time
1988
Arista
78
record label: De lite 829
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #2, US AC #2
written by: Charles Smith, James
album: In the Heart
comments: Joanna / Tonight was released as a double a side in the UK
Kool & the Gang
Joanna
1983
De lite
79
record label: Atlantic 89446
chart position: RandB #2, UK #2, US #3, US dance #1, S AC #38
written by: John Smith
album: Poolside
Nu Shooz
I Can't Wait
1986
Atlantic
80
record label: Elektra 45128
chart position: RandB #3, US #2, UK #34, AC #2
written by: Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald & William Salter
album: Winelight
comments: [jazz funk]
Grover Washington, Jr. featuring Bill Withers
Just the Two of Us
1981
Elektra
81
record label: MCA 53483
chart position: RandB #54, US #1, UK #5, US dance #1, US alt.# 5
written by: Roland Gift, David Steele & Andy Cox
album: The Raw & the Cooked
Fine Young Cannibals
She Drives Me Crazy
1989
MCA
82
record label: Epic 4949
chart position: RandB #12, UK #2, US #1, US dance #7, US AC #4
written by: George Michael
album: Make It Big
Wham!
Everything She Wants
1984
Epic
83
record label: Epic 07418
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #33
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Bad
Michael Jackson
Bad
1987
Epic
84
record label: MCA 52149
chart position: RandB #8, UK #1, US #10, US dance #11
written by: Lloyd Ferguson, Jackie Mittoo & Fitzroy Simpson
album: The Youth of Today
comments: [Reggae]
Musical Youth
Pass the Dutchie
1982
MCA
85
record label: Arista 9863
chart position: RandB #1, UK #16, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager
album: Friends
comments: [ballad] featuring Elton John, Stevie Wonder & Gladys Knight
Dionne Warwick
That's What Friends Are For
1985
Arista
86
record label: Arista 9674
chart position: RandB #2, UK #14, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Chuck Jackson & Frank Wildhorn
album: Whitney
comments: [love ballad]
Whitney Houston
Where Do Broken Hearts Go
1988
Arista
87
record label: RCA 1962
chart position: UK #1, US Dance #6
written by: L. Russell Brown and Sandy Linzer
album: Hang Together
comments: [disco dance]
Odyssey
Use It Up and Wear It Out
1980
RCA
88
record label: Jive 1754
chart position: RandB #1, UK #12, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Billy Ocean, Wayne Anton Braithwaite & Barry Eastmond (as Barry James Eastmond)
album: Love Zone
Billy Ocean
There'll Be Sad Songs
1986
Jive
89
record label: De lite 818
chart position: RandB #4, UK #3, US dance #16, US #10
written by: Ronald Bell (as Khalis Bayyan), Kool & the Gang & James
album: Something Special
Kool & the Gang
Get Down on It
1981
De lite
90
record label: Columbia 68671
chart position: RandB #12, UK #5, US #1, US AC #3
written by: Maurice Starr
album: Hangin' Tough
comments: [love ballad]
New Kids on the Block
I'll Be Loving You
1989
Columbia
91
record label: Sire 9210 (UK)
chart position: RandB #9, UK #3, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #29
written by: Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly
album: Like a Virgin
Madonna
Like a Virgin
1984
Sire
92
record label: 20th Century 2460
chart position: RandB #12, UK #4, US #6, US dance #5, US AC #5
written by: James Mtume & Reggie Lucas
album: 11
Stephanie Mills
Never Knew Love Like This Before
1980
20th Century
93
record label: Arista 8883 (UK)
chart position: RandB #14, UK #2, US #10, US AC #1
written by: Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb & Maurice Gibb
album: Heartbreaker
Dionne Warwick
Heartbreaker
1982
Arista
94
record label: De lite 880 869
chart position: RandB #1, UK #4, US #2, US AC #1
written by: Robert Bell
album: Emergency
Kool & the Gang
Cherish
1985
De lite
95
record label: Manhattan 50047
chart position: RandB #7, UK #3, US #2, US AC #37, US dance #1
written by: Robbie Nevil, Duncan Pain & Mark Holding
album: Robbie Nevil
Robbie Nevil
C'est la vie
1986
Manhattan
96
record label: Capitol 4953
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, US AC #1
written by: Rokusuke Ei, Hachidai Nakamura, Abraham Quintanilla III (as Abraham Quintanilla Jr.) & Pete Astudill
album: Twice as Sweet
comments: [ballad]
A Taste of Honey
Sukiyaki
1981
Capitol
97
record label: AandM 663
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #22, US dance #1
written by: Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III) & Terry Lewis
album: Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
Miss You Much
1989
A&M
98
record label: Jive 9199
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #6, US dance #1, US AC #7
written by: Billy Ocean & Keith Diamond
album: Suddenly
Billy Ocean
Caribbean Queen
1984
Jive
99
record label: Motown 1491
chart position: RandB #6, US #5, UK #13, US dance #1
written by: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
album: Diana / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 12
Diana Ross
I'm Coming Out
1980
Motown
100
record label: Arista 9616
chart position: RandB #2, UK #14, US #1, US AC #1
written by: Will Jennings & Michael Masser
album: Whitney
comments: [ballad]
Whitney Houston
Didn't We Almost Have It All
1987
Arista