On this day in 1987: Belinda Carlisle went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Heaven Is a Place on Earth’. The ex Go-Go’s member’s first and only solo #1. It would spend two weeks in the top spot.
The song was released as the lead single from her second solo album ‘Heaven on Earth’ on September 14, 1987, and it reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on December 5, 1987, becoming Carlisle’s only U.S. chart-topper to date. The single also reached #1 in many other countries, among them Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, South Africa and Norway. It also reached #3 in Germany and Canada, #2 in Australia, and #6 in Italy. It reached Gold status in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Carlisle’s backup vocalists on the song include songwriters Nowels and Shipley as well as Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas and songwriter Diane Warren. It also features Thomas Dolby on keyboards.
The promotional video was directed by Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton and features an appearance of Carlisle’s husband Morgan Mason.
Here’s the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1987:
1 2 HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH — Belinda Carlisle (MCA)-11 (1) (1 Week at #1)
2 1 (I’ve Had) THE TIME OF MY LIFE –•– Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (RCA)-11 (1)
3 5 FAITH –•– George Michael (Columbia)-7 (3)
4 4 SHOULD’VE KNOWN BETTER –•– Richard Marx (Manhattan)-11 (4)
5 11 IS THIS LOVE –•– Whitesnake (Geffen)-7 (5)
6 10 SHAKE YOUR LOVE –•– Debbie Gibson (Atlantic)-10 (6)
7 8 WE’LL BE TOGETHER –•– Sting (A&M)-9 (7)
8 16 SO EMOTIONAL –•– Whitney Houston (Arista)-6 (8)
9 12 THE ONE I LOVE –•– R.E.M. (I.R.S.)-12 (9)
10 14 DON’T YOU WANT ME –•– Jody Watley (MCA)-10 (10)
11 19 GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU –•– George Harrison (Dark Horse)-7 (11)
12 17 CATCH ME (I’m Falling) –•– Pretty Poison (Virgin)-11 (12)
13 3 MONY MONY –•– Billy Idol (Chrysalis)-14 (1)
14 20 VALERIE –•– Steve Winwood (Island)-13 (14)
15 18 HOURGLASS –•– Squeeze (A&M)-12 (15)
16 7 I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW –•– Tiffany (MCA)-15 (1)
17 9 I’VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE –•– Cutting Crew (Virgin)-14 (9)
18 22 DUDE (Looks Like A Lady) –•– Aerosmith (Geffen)-10 (18)
19 21 SKELETONS –•– Stevie Wonder (Motown)-8 (19)
20 27 CHERRY BOMB –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Mercury)-7 (20)
