Top 100 Best Selling R&B Soul Songs of 1987

Below is a list of the best selling Soul R&B songs from 1987, sorted by the most popular or best selling first. Click "year" to sort by year. Place mouse on to see information about song. Click song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available). Click checkbox to add song to playlist. Click checkbox at top of column to add all songs below it to playlist. Click label to list songs from that record label. Following on from the top 100 chart are listings of hundreds of other lesser-known Soul R&B songs from 1987.

(Songs are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)

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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: 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
3 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
4 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
5 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
6 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
7 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
8 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
9 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
10 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
11 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
12 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
13 record label: AandM 2906
chart position: RandB #1, UK #3, US #2, US AC #2
written by: Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III), Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson & Melanie Andrews
album: Control
comments: [ballad]
 		Janet Jackson Let's Wait Awhile
1987 A&M
14 record label: Columbia 07008
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #82, US dance #1
written by: Full Force
album: Spanish Fly
 		Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Head to Toe
1987 Columbia
15 record label: Columbia 07267
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #58, US dance #8, US AC #27
written by: Full Force
album: Spanish Fly
 		Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Lost in Emotion
1987 Columbia
16 record label: MCA 52956
chart position: RandB #1, US #2, UK #13, US dance #1
written by: Andre Cymone & Jody Watley
album: Jody Watley
 		Jody Watley Looking for a New Love
1987 MCA
17 record label: Warner Bros. 28399
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #10, US dance #2
written by: Prince
album: Sign of the Times
 		Prince Sign o' the Times
1987 Warner Bros.
18 record label: Paisley Park 28289
chart position: RandB #11, UK #11, US #2
written by: Prince
album: Sign of the Times
 		Prince with Sheena Easton U Got the Look
1987 Paisley Park
19 record label: 4AD 707
chart position: RandB #8, UK #1, US #13, US dance #1
written by: Steve Young & Martyn Young
 		M.A.R.R.S. Pump Up the Volume
1987 AD
20 record label: Arista 9640
chart position: RandB #27, US #1, UK #97, US AC #1
written by: Lewis Martinez
album: Exposure
comments: [ballad]
 		Exposé Seasons Change
1987 Arista
21 record label: Motown 1876
chart position: RandB #20, UK #7, US #5, US AC #22
written by: Luther Ingram & Mack Rice
album: The Return of Bruno
 		Bruce Willis featuring the Pointer Sisters Respect Yourself
1987 Motown
22 record label: AandM 2929
chart position: RandB #1, US #5, UK #27, US dance #1
written by: Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III) & Terry Lewis
album: Keep Your Eye on Me
 		Herb Alpert (with Janet Jackson) Diamonds
1987 A&M
23 record label: Arista 9573
chart position: RandB #23, UK #22, US #4, US AC #3
written by: Kenny G
album: Duotones
comments: [instrumental] [jazz funk]
 		Kenny G Songbird
1987 Arista
24 record label: Atlantic 89217
chart position: RandB #1, US #5, UK #9, US dance #27
written by: Reggie Calloway
album: The Big Throwdown
 		LeVert Casanova
1987 Atlantic
25 record label: Reprise 28229
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, US AC #22
written by: Larry Troutman
album: Unlimited!
comments: [slow jam]
 		Roger (Troutman) I Want to Be Your Man
1987 Reprise
26 record label: Capitol 2339 (UK)
chart position: RandB #10, UK #2, US #12, US dance #42
written by: Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller & Ron Wilson
album: Crushin'
comments: [hip hop]
 		The Fat Boys with The Beach Boys Wipe Out
1987 Capitol
27 record label: London 117 (UK)
chart position: UK #1
written by: Steve Hurley
album: Hold on to Your Dream
 		Steve 'Silk' Hurley Jack Your Body
1987 London
28 record label: MCA 53162
chart position: RandB #3, US #6, UK #55, US dance #1
written by: Franne Golde, D.P. Bryant & Jody Watley
album: Jody Watley
comments: [disco, boogie]
 		Jody Watley Don't You Want Me
1987 MCA
29 record label: Motown 1877
chart position: RandB #2, UK #52, US #8, US AC #1
written by: Jimmy George & Lou Pardini
album: One Heartbeat
 		Smokey Robinson Just to See Her
1987 Motown
30 record label: Solar 70006
chart position: RandB #1, US #7, UK #38, US AC #49
written by: L.A. Reid & Babyface (as Kenneth Edmonds)
album: Just Gets Better with Time
 		The Whispers Rock Steady
1987 Solar
31 record label: SMP 1 (UK)
chart position: UK #3
written by: A. Evelyn, V. McCoy
comments: re release
 		Jackie Wilson I Get The Sweetest Feeling
1987 SMP
32 record label: Next Plateau 315
chart position: RandB #28, UK #2, US #19, US dance #18
written by: Hurby Azor & Ray Davies (as Raymond Douglas Davies)
album: Hot, Cool & Vicious
 		Salt-N-Pepa Push It
1987 Next Plateau
33 record label: Atlantic 789 320
chart position: RandB #1, US #4, US AC #35
written by: David Frank & Mic Murphy
album: Don't Disturb This Groove
 		The System Don't Disturb This Groove
1987 Atlantic
34 record label: Virgin 96752
chart position: US dance #1, RandB #13, US #8
written by: Jade Starling & Whey Cooler
album: Catch Me I'm Falling
 		Pretty Poison Catch Me (I'm Falling)
1987 Virgin
35 record label: Arista 9555
chart position: RandB #14, US #5, US dance #1
written by: Lewis Martinez
album: Exposure
 		Exposé Come Go With Me
1987 Arista
36 record label: Motown 1897
chart position: RandB #3, US #10, US AC #2
written by: Brian Ray & Steve LeGassick
album: One Heartbeat
 		Smokey Robinson One Heartbeat
1987 Motown
37 record label: MCA 52954
chart position: RandB #64, US #7, UK #54, US dance #7
written by: Dan Gilroy & Stephen Bray (as Steve Bray)
album: Breakfast Club
 		Breakfast Club Right on Track
1987 MCA
38 record label: Mercury 888 292
chart position: RandB #4, US #10, UK #45, US dance #41, US AC #11
written by: Claydes Charles Smith, Kool & the Gang & James
album: Forever
 		Kool & the Gang Stone Love
1987 Mercury
39 record label: Arista 9617
chart position: RandB #29, US #7, UK #76, US dance #2
written by: Lewis Martinez
album: Exposure
 		Exposé Let Me Be the One
1987 Arista
40 record label: Chrysalis 43104
chart position: RandB #74, UK #5, US #17, US dance #6
written by: Marcus Vere & Steve Piggot
album: Living in a Box
 		Living in a Box Living in a Box
1987 Chrysalis
41 record label: AandM 2927
chart position: RandB #1, US #14, UK #24, US dance #1
written by: Monte Moir
album: Control
 		Janet Jackson The Pleasure Principle
1987 A&M
42 record label: Chrysalis 43331
chart position: US #7, US Dance #11, UK #10
written by: David Was, Don Was and Randy Jacobs
album: What Up, Dog?
 		Was (Not Was) Walk the Dinosaur
1987 Chrysalis
43 record label: Def Jam 07350
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8, US #14
written by: LL Cool J (as James Todd Smith), Bobby Erving, Darryl Pierce, Dwayne Simon & Steven Ett
album: Bigger and Deffer
comments: [hip hop]
 		LL Cool J I Need Love
1987 Def Jam
44 record label: Manhattan 50094
chart position: RandB #4, UK #23, US #13, US AC #2
written by: Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel & Allan Rich
album: Everlasting
comments: [love ballad]
 		Natalie Cole I Live for Your Love
1987 Manhattan
45 record label: MCA 53123
chart position: RandB #11, US #7, US dance #8
written by: Stephen Bray & Michael Verdick
album: Magic
 		The Jets Cross My Broken Heart
1987 MCA
46 record label: MCA 53124
chart position: RandB #32, US #23, UK #8, US AC #1
written by: Al Jarreau & Lee Holdridge
album: Moonlighting: The Television Soundtrack Album
 		Al Jarreau Moonlighting Theme
1987 MCA
47 record label: Orbitone 21 (UK)
chart position: UK #2
written by: Felix Da Silva
album: Can't Be With You Tonight
comments: [ballad]
 		Judy Boucher Can't Be With You Tonight
1987 Orbitone
48 record label: Motown 41349
chart position: RandB #72, UK #2, US #59, US AC #20
written by: Kenny Young & Arthur Resnick
album: The Return of Bruno
 		Bruce Willis Under the Boardwalk
1987 Motown
49 record label: Tabu 07600
chart position: RandB #4, UK #4, US #70, US dance #21
written by: A. O'Neal, G. Johnson
album: Hearsay
 		Alexander O'Neal Criticize
1987 Tabu
50 record label: Arista 9567
chart position: RandB #5, US #12, US AC #1
written by: Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager
album: Reservations for Two
 		Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osborne Love Power
1987 Arista
51 record label: Manhattan 50073
chart position: RandB #2, US #13, UK #44, US dance #28
written by: Reggie Calloway & Vincent Calloway
album: Everlasting
 		Natalie Cole Jump Start
1987 Manhattan
52 record label: Tabu 07100
chart position: RandB #1, US #25, UK #33, US dance #7
written by: Jimmy Jam (as James Harris) & Terry Lewis
album: Hearsay
 		Alexander O'Neal Fake
1987 Tabu
53 record label: Chrysalis 43120
chart position: UK #10, US #16, US Dance #3
written by: Paul Gurvitz
album: Just Visiting This Planet
 		Jellybean featuring Elisa Fiorillo Who Found Who
1987 Chrysalis
54 record label: Arista 9625
chart position: RandB #17, US #15, US AC #2
written by: Walter Afanasieff, Preston Glass & Narada Michael Walden
album: Duotones
comments: [jazz soul ballad]
Kenny G with Lenny Williams Don't Make Me Wait for Love
1987 Arista
55 record label: Club 63
chart position: UK #3, US Dance #4
written by: Cassius Campbell, Mark Gamble and Ruth Joy
comments: charted as House Arrest / Jack's Back in US dance charts
 		Krush House Arrest (The Beat Is Law)
1987 Club
56 record label: Motown 1907
chart position: RandB #1, US #19, UK #59, US dance #20
written by: Stevie Wonder
album: Characters
 		Stevie Wonder Skeletons
1987 Motown
57 record label: Jive 141
chart position: RandB #5, UK #18, US #27, US AC #16
written by: Jonathan Butler & Jolyon Skinner
album: Jonathan Butler
 		Jonathan Butler Lies
1987 Jive
58 record label: Omni 99426
chart position: UK #4, US Dance #19
written by: Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman
album: Sinitta!
 		Sinitta Toy Boy
1987 Omni
59 record label: Atlanta Artists 888 385
chart position: RandB #3, UK #11, US #50, US dance #6
written by: Kevin Kendrick, Nathan Leftenant, Larry Blackmon & Tomi Jenkins
album: Word Up!
comments: [funk]
 		Cameo Back and Forth
1987 Atlanta Artists
60 record label: Constellation 53028
chart position: RandB #7, US #18, US AC #8
written by: Babyface, Greg Scelsa & Joyce
album: Klymaxx
 		Klymaxx I'd Still Say Yes
1987 Constellation
61 record label: China 43102
chart position: UK #4, RandB #49
written by: Labi Siffre
album: So Strong
 		Labi Siffre (Something Inside) So Strong
1987 China
62 record label: Mercury 3
chart position: UK #7, US Dance #22, US AC #7
written by: Andy Connell, Corinne Drewery and Martin Jackson
album: It's Better to Travel
 		Swing Out Sister Surrender
1987 Mercury
63 record label: Columbia 44 06739
chart position: RandB #2, UK #56, US #20, US AC #24
written by: Bernard Jackson, David Townsend & David Conley
album: Surface
 		Surface Happy
1987 Columbia
64 record label: Debut 3022 (UK)
chart position: UK #4
album: Jack Mix 88 The Best Of Mirage 88 Non Stop Hits
 		Mirage Jack Mix II - III
1987 Debut
65 record label: Columbia 08023
chart position: RandB #9, UK #20, US #30, US dance #7
written by: Terence Trent D'Arby
album: Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby
 		Terence Trent D'Arby Dance Little Sister
1987 Columbia
66 record label: Tent 41265 (UK)
chart position: UK #4
written by: Michael Margules (as Michael Jay) and Marvin Morrow
album: Silk and Steel
 		Five Star The Slightest Touch
1987 Tent
67 record label: Motown 1883
chart position: RandB #12, UK #43, US #20, US AC #5
written by: L. Richie, G. Phillinganes
album: Dancing on the Ceiling
comments: [reggae]
 		Lionel Richie Se La
1987 Motown
68 record label: Breakout 602
chart position: RandB #3, UK #19, US #46, US dance #3
written by: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
album: Keep Your Eye on Me
comments: [instrumental] [jazz funk]
 		Herb Alpert Keep Your Eye on Me
1987 Breakout
69 record label: Columbia 07398
chart position: RandB #19, UK #7, US #68, US dance #47
written by: Terence Trent D'Arby
album: Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby
 		Terence Trent D'Arby If You Let Me Stay
1987 Columbia
70 record label: Warner Bros 77 647
chart position: RandB #58, UK #7, US #62, US AC #48
written by: Taja Sevelle
album: Taja Sevelle
 		Taja Sevelle Love Is Contagious
1987 Warner Bros
71 record label: Warner Bros. 8237
chart position: RandB #10, UK #13, US #48, US dance #13, US AC #38
written by: Brenda Russell
album: All Systems Go
 		Donna Summer Dinner with Gershwin
1987 Warner Bros.
72 record label: Elektra 69518
chart position: RandB #5, US #23, US AC #21
written by: Roger (as Roger Troutman) & Billy Beck
album: Shirley Murdock!
 		Shirley Murdock As We Lay
1987 Elektra
73 record label: Chrysalis 3167
chart position: RandB #49, UK #13, US #82, US dance #1
weeksinr&bchart: 12
written by: A. Roman & Toni C.
album: Just Visiting This Planet
 		Jellybean featuring Steven Dante The Real Thing
1987 Chrysalis
74 record label: CBS 651180
chart position: RandB #1, US dance #1, UK #54, US #60
written by: Skylark
album: Touch the World
 		Earth, Wind & Fire System of Survival
1987 CBS
75 record label: Geffen 27
chart position: RandB #5, UK #13, US #68, US AC #42
written by: Ray Parker Jr
album: After Dark
 		Ray Parker Jr (aka Raydio) I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone
1987 Geffen
76 record label: RCA 4 (UK)
chart position: UK #5
written by: Dr. Robert
album: She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter
 		The Blow Monkeys It Doesn't Have to Be This Way
1987 RCA
77 record label: Capitol 44037
chart position: RandB #1, UK #81, US #32
written by: Freddie Jackson & Paul Laurence
album: Just Like the First Time
 		Freddie Jackson Jam Tonight
1987 Capitol
78 record label: Profile 5131
chart position: RandB #21, UK #16, US #57, US dance #30
written by: DJ Run (as Joseph Simmons) & DMC (as Darryl McDaniels)
album: Raising Hell
 		Run-D.M.C. It's Tricky
1987 Profile
79 record label: Capitol 437
chart position: RandB #1, UK #33, US #69
written by: Barry Eastmond & Jolyon Skinner
album: Just Like the First Time
 		Freddie Jackson Have You Ever Loved Somebody
1987 Capitol
80 record label: AandM 2949
chart position: RandB #7, UK #87, US #35, US AC #21
written by: Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III) & Terry Lewis
album: Keep Your Eye on Me
 		Herb Alpert ft. Janet Jackson & Lisa Keith Making Love in the Rain
1987 A&M
81 record label: Warner Bros. 28360
chart position: RandB #2, US #39, US dance #22
written by: Denzil Foster, Jay King & Thomas McElroy
album: Life, Love & Pain
 		Club Nouveau Why You Treat Me So Bad
1987 Warner Bros.
82 record label: Epic 7
chart position: RandB #1, US #50, UK #72, US AC #20
written by: Luther Vandross & Skip Anderson
album: Give Me The Reason
 		Luther Vandross & Gregory Hines There's Nothing Better Than Love
1987 Epic
83 record label: Elektra 69456
chart position: RandB #5, US #44, US AC #9
written by: Ken Hirsch & Marti Sharron
album: Rapture...
 		Anita Baker No One in the World
1987 Elektra
84 record label: Paisley Park 28334
chart position: RandB #12, UK #20, US #67
written by: Prince
album: Sign of the Times
 		Prince If I Was Your Girlfriend
1987 Paisley Park
85 record label: Epic 07201
chart position: RandB #6, UK #16
written by: Luther Vandross & Marcus Miller
album: Give Me the Reason
 		Luther Vandross I Really Didn't Mean It
1987 Epic
86 record label: MCA 53081
chart position: RandB #3, US #56, UK #77, US dance #8
written by: Andre Cymone & Jody Watley
album: Jody Watley
 		Jody Watley Still a Thrill
1987 MCA
87 record label: Elektra 69484
chart position: RandB #8, US #44, UK #100, US AC #6
written by: Marilyn Mcleod & Darryl K. Roberts
album: Rapture...
comments: [ballad]
 		Anita Baker Same Ole Love
1987 Elektra
88 record label: Virgin 99422
chart position: RandB #2, US #54, US dance #20
weeksinr&bchart: 15
written by: Eban Kelly, Jimi Randolph & Kevin Moore
album: Serious
 		Déja You and Me Tonight
1987 Virgin
89 record label: Important 10
chart position: UK #7
written by: Johnny Flippin and Michael Walker
album: With Love
 		Fatback Band I Found Lovin'
1987 Important
90 record label: Supreme 113
chart position: UK #7
written by: Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterma
album: F.L.M.
 		Mel & Kim F.L.M.
1987 Supreme
91 record label: EMI 8382
chart position: RandB #5, US #58, US dance #6
written by: Garry Johnson
album: Female Trouble
 		Nona Hendryx Why Should I Cry?
1987 EMI
92 record label: Warner 28380
chart position: RandB #8, UK #23
written by: Ralph Hawkins Jr. and Sherrick
album: Sherrick
 		Sherrick Just Call
1987 Warner
93 record label: AandM 2943
chart position: RandB #17, UK #14
written by: Barry White & Jack Perry
album: The Right Night & Barry White
 		Barry White Sho' You Right
1987 A&M
94 record label: Motown 1892
chart position: RandB #5, US #96, US dance #1
written by: Georgio
album: Sexappeal
 		Georgio Tina Cherry
1987 Motown
95 record label: Tent 41131 (UK)
chart position: UK #9
written by: Deniece Pearson
album: Silk and Steel
 		Five Star Stay Out of My Life
1987 Tent
96 record label: Warner 8327
chart position: RandB #10, UK #57, US #58, US dance #16
written by: Richard Feldman & Jimmy Scott
album: All in the Name of Love
comments: [pop soul]
 		Atlantic Starr One Lover At a Time
1987 Warner
97 record label: Jive 1049
chart position: RandB #2, US #66, UK #85, US AC #36
written by: Timmy Allen & Glenn Jones
album: Glenn Jones
 		Glenn Jones We've Only Just Begun (The Romance Is Not Over)
1987 Jive
98 record label: Germain 24 (UK)
chart position: UK #9
written by: Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett and John Freeman
album: Freddie McGregor
comments: [reggae]
 		Freddie McGregor Just Don't Want to Be Lonely
1987 Germain
99 record label: Tommy Boy 28300
chart position: RandB #1, UK #97, US #78, US AC #38
written by: Martin Lascelles, Geoff Gurd & Gina Foster
album: Touch and Go
comments: [sweet soul]
 		The Force M.D.s Love Is a House
1987 Tommy Boy
100 record label: MCA 53151
chart position: RandB #1, UK #62, US #85, US dance #23
written by: Timmy Allen & Paul Laurence
album: If I Were Your Woman
 		Stephanie Mills (You're Puttin') A Rush on Me
1987 MCA


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