Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1986. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.
- 1. That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight
- 2. Say You, Say Me – Lionel Richie
- 3. I Miss You – Klymaxx
- 4. On My Own – Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
- 5. Broken Wings – Mr. Mister
- 6. How Will I Know – Whitney Houston
- 7. Party All the Time – Eddie Murphy
- 8. Burning Heart – Survivor
- 9. Kyrie – Mr. Mister
- 10. Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
- 11. Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
- 12. Secret Lovers – Atlantic Starr
- 13. Friends & Lovers – Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring
- 14. Glory of Love (Theme from “the Karate Kid, Pt. II”) – Peter Cetera
- 15. West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys
- 16. There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) – Billy Ocean
- 17. Alive and Kicking – Simple Minds
- 18. Never – Heart
- 19. Kiss – Prince and The Revolution
- 20. Higher Love – Steve Winwood
- 21. Stuck With You – Huey Lewis and The News
- 22. Holding Back the Years – Simply Red
- 23. Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel
- 24. Sara – Starship
- 25. Human – Human League
- 26. I Can’t Wait – Nu Shooz
- 27. Take My Breath Away – Berlin
- 28. Rock Me Amadeus – Falco
- 29. Papa Don’t Preach – Madonna
- 30. You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi
- 31. When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going – Billy Ocean
- 32. When I Think of You – Janet Jackson
- 33. These Dreams – Heart
- 34. Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) – Glass Tiger
- 35. Live to Tell – Madonna
- 36. Mad About You – Belinda Carlisle
- 37. Something About You – Level 42
- 38. Venus – Bananarama
- 39. Dancing On the Ceiling – Lionel Richie
- 40. Conga – Miami Sound Machine
- 41. True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
- 42. Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins
- 43. What Have You Done for Me Lately – Janet Jackson
- 44. No One Is to Blame – Howard Jones
- 45. Let’s Go All the Way – Sly Fox
- 46. I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On – Robert Palmer
- 47. Words Get In the Way – Miami Sound Machine
- 48. Manic Monday – Bangles
- 49. Walk of Life – Dire Straits
- 50. Amanda – Boston
- 51. Two of Hearts – Stacey Q
- 52. Crush On You – Jets
- 53. If You Leave – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD)
- 54. Invisible Touch – Genesis
- 55. The Sweetest Taboo – Sade
- 56. What You Need – INXS
- 57. Talk to Me – Stevie Nicks
- 58. Nasty – Janet Jackson
- 59. Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
- 60. We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off – Jermaine Stewart
- 61. All Cried Out – Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam With Full Force
- 62. Your Love – Outfield
- 63. I’m Your Man – Wham!
- 64. Perfect Way – Scritti Politti
- 65. Living In America – James Brown
- 66. R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A. – John Cougar Mellencamp
- 67. Who’s Johnny – El Debarge
- 68. Word Up – Cameo
- 69. Why Can’t This Be Love – Van Halen
- 70. Silent Running – Mike + The Mechanics
- 71. Typical Male – Tina Turner
- 72. Small Town – John Cougar Mellencamp
- 73. Tarzan Boy – Baltimora
- 74. All I Need Is A Miracle – Mike + The Mechanics
- 75. Sweet Freedom – Michael McDonald
- 76. True Blue – Madonna
- 77. Rumors, Timex Social Club
- 78. Life In a Northern Town – Dream Academy
- 79. Bad Boy – Miami Sound Machine
- 80. Sleeping Bag – ZZ Top
- 81. Tonight She Comes – Cars
- 82. Love Touch – Rod Stewart
- 83. A Love Bizarre – Sheila E.
- 84. Throwing It All Away – Genesis
- 85. Baby Love – Regina
- 86. Election Day – Arcadia
- 87. Nikita – Elton John
- 88. Take Me Home – Phil Collins
- 89. Walk This Way – Run-D.M.C.
- 90. Sweet Love – Anita Baker
- 91. Your Wildest Dreams – Moody Blues
- 92. Spies Like Us – Paul McCartney
- 93. Object of My Desire – Starpoint
- 94. Dreamtime – Daryl Hall
- 95. Tender Love – Force M.D.’s
- 96. King for a Day – Thompson Twins
- 97. Love Will Conquer All – Lionel Richie
- 98. A Different Corner – George Michael
- 99. I’ll Be Over You – Toto
- 100. Go Home – Stevie Wonder