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.
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)
