Charlie's 80s Blog

This Day In 80s Music, October 7th

On this day in 1989: Paula Abdul went to #1 on the U.S. album chart with ‘Forever Your Girl’. Abdul spent sixty-four consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart before hitting #1, making it the longest time for an album to reach the number one spot.

Forever Your Girl was the debut studio album for Paula Abdul. It was released on June 21, 1988 through Virgin Records. The album was Abdul’s breakthrough into the music industry after being a choreographer for high-profile artists including George Michael, ZZ Top, Duran Duran and Janet Jackson. At the time of the album’s release it was the most successful debut album of all time and was the first time an artist scored four U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles from a debut album.

The album was eventually certified seven times platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA and has sold over 18 million copies worldwide. It also includes four #1 singles: “Straight Up”, “Forever Your Girl”, “Cold Hearted”, and “Opposites Attract”  which ties Forever Your Girl for second most #1 songs from a single album, and ties it for the most number ones in a debut album. She was the first female artist to have four number one singles from a debut album.

Also on this day in 1989: Janet Jackson started a four week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Miss You Much.”

Composed by songwriters and record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, it was recorded for the singer’s fourth studio album, ‘Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814.’ As with all tracks for the album, recording took place at Lewis and Jam’s Flyte Tyme Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota between 1988 and 1989. Lyrically, the song narrates a longing to reconnect with a romantic partner after time spent apart.

“Miss You Much” was released as the lead single from Rhythm Nation 1814 on August 22, 1989, by A&M Records. It topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, becoming the second #1 hit of Jackson’s career. Spending four consecutive weeks atop the chart, it was the longest running #1 single of 1989. It is Jackson’s third longest running Hot 100 number one, behind “That’s The Way Love Goes” (1993) and “All For You” (2001), which spent eight and seven weeks at #1, respectively. It also topped several Billboard composite charts, including the R&B and Dance Club Songs charts.

Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1989:

1 5 MISS YOU MUCH –•– Janet Jackson – 6 (1)
2 4 CHERISH –•– Madonna – 8 (2)
3 1 GIRL I’M GONNA MISS YOU –•– Milli Vanilli – 10 (1)
4 2 HEAVEN –•– Warrant – 12 (2)
5 3 IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME –•– Cher – 14 (3)
6 12 MIXED EMOTIONS –•– Rolling Stones – 6 (6)
7 10 LOVE SONG –•– The Cure – 9 (7)
8 6 18 AND LIFE –•– Skid Row – 14 (4)
9 11 BUST A MOVE –•– Young M.C. – 11 (9)
10 14 IT’S NO CRIME –•– Babyface – 9 (10)

11 13 DON’T LOOK BACK –•– Fine Young Cannibals – 9 (11)
12 15 IT’S NOT ENOUGH –•– Starship – 10 (12)
13 18 SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE –•– Tears For Fears – 6 (13)
14 22 LISTEN TO YOUR HEART –•– Roxette – 7 (14)
15 17 WHEN I LOOKED AT HIM –•– Expose – 8 (15)
16 21 LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR –•– Aerosmith – 6 (16)
17 23 DR. FEELGOOD –•– Motley Crue – 6 (17)
18 20 PARTYMAN –•– Prince – 7 (18)
19 31 COVER GIRL –•– New Kids On The Block – 4 (19)
20 28 ROCK WIT’CHA –•– Bobby Brown – 7 (20)

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