On this day in 1983: David Bowie was at #1 on the UK singles chart with the title track from his album ‘Let’s Dance’, his fourth UK #1. The song featured blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. The song introduced Bowie to a new, younger audience oblivious to his work in the 1970s and would also become U.S. #1 hit. It was Bowie’s first single to reach #1 on both sides of the Atlantic.
On this day in 1988: Billy Ocean started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car.’
The song is based on a line in the Sherman Brothers’ song (famously covered by Johnny Burnette as well as Ringo Starr) “You’re Sixteen”. Part of its popularity was attributed to its cutting-edge (for the time) video, which featured animation mixed with live-action sequences. The song went to #1 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. It also peaked at #1 in seven other countries, including Canada, where it was the country’s most successful single of 1988. On the UK singles chart, it reached #3.
The song was also featured on the soundtrack of the 1988 film ‘License To Drive.’
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1988:
1 3 GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR –•– Billy Ocean – 9 (1)
2 1 MAN IN THE MIRROR –•– Michael Jackson – 10 (1)
3 4 OUT OF THE BLUE –•– Debbie Gibson – 11 (3)
4 7 DEVIL INSIDE –•– INXS – 9 (4)
5 10 WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GO –•– Whitney Houston – 7 (5)
6 6 ROCKET 2 YOU –•– The Jets – 12 (6)
7 2 ENDLESS SUMMER NIGHTS –•– Richard Marx – 12 (2)
8 9 GIRLFRIEND –•– Pebbles – 11 (8)
9 5 I WANT HER –•– Keith Sweat – 13 (5)
10 12 WISHING WELL –•– Terence Trent D’Arby – 13 (10)
11 17 I SAW HIM STANDING THERE –•– Tiffany – 7 (11)
12 16 ANGEL –•– Aerosmith – 11 (12)
13 14 SOME KIND OF LOVER –•– Jody Watley – 11 (13)
14 11 (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY –•– Michael Bolton – 12 (11)
15 18 CHECK IT OUT –•– John Cougar Mellencamp – 10 (15)
16 23 PINK CADILLAC –•– Natalie Cole – 6 (16)
17 20 PROVE YOUR LOVE –•– Taylor Dayne – 8 (17)
18 8 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP –•– Rick Astley – 17 (1)
19 25 ONE STEP UP –•– Bruce Springsteen – 7 (19)
20 29 ANYTHING FOR YOU –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – 5 (20)
