What was the #1 album on the Billboard chart the week of August 22, 1987?

My Thoughts on Billboard Chart History August 1987 

August 1987 saw the release of the movie **Dirty Dancing**, which became a major hit. A couple of other films that became very popular at the time were:

- **The Lost Boys**
- **Spaceballs**

*Spaceballs* became a comedy classic and remains popular today, often played at frat parties and other gatherings for young men.

The spotlight album of the week was Whitney Houston’s **Whitney**. It was extremely popular.

Although it was released in late 1986, it dominated the charts in 1987. The album produced three huge singles, and we were selling lots of 45s, albums, and cassettes.

Okay, August 1987. The hit singles for the month that are important to remember, to realize where we are in time, were:

- “La Bamba” – Los Lobos
- “Here I Go Again” – Whitesnake
- “Paper and Fire” – John Cougar Mellencamp
- “Luka” – Suzanne Vega
- “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” – Michael Jackson
- “I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tiffany (a remake of the 1967 Tommy James and the Shondells song)

That song became number one for Tiffany in November 1987.

Personally

1987 was the year I was trying to build another business—a multi‑level marketing business—while also having a one‑year‑old daughter and my wife trying to earn extra money by working at the Walden bookstore in the mall. 

We were struggling financially.

Now that this is history, Camelot never really gave me much of a pay raise to go from a mid‑volume to a large‑volume store.

Of course, I found out later, being naive and in my mid‑30s, that this was a common practice in retail.

So, to my chagrin, I had made the mistake of thinking I would be paid a lot more when I switched from the mid‑volume store to a large‑volume store.

Album of the Week Spotlight

     Whitney-Whitney Houston!

Album of the Week Spotlight

Whitney by Whitney Houston

Whitney reached #1 because it delivered hit after hit.
The album was radio-friendly and MTV-ready.
It confirmed Whitney Houston as the dominant pop voice of the era.

This was her second studio album.
It followed massive success from her debut.
Few artists matched this level of momentum in 1987.

Notable Tracks

• I Wanna Dance with Somebody
• Didn’t We Almost Have It All
• So Emotional

AMERICA'S TOP TEN ALBUMS – WEEK OF AUGUST 22, 1987

1. Whitney – Whitney Houston (“I Wanna Dance with Somebody”)

2. Whitesnake – Whitesnake (“Here I Go Again”)

3. Bad Animals – Heart (“Alone”)

4. Bigger and Deffer – LL Cool J (“I Need Love”)

5. The Joshua Tree – U2 (“With or Without You”)

6. In the Dark – Grateful Dead (“Touch of Grey”)

7. Girls, Girls, Girls – Mötley Crüe (“Girls, Girls, Girls”)

8. La Bamba – Soundtrack / Los Lobos (“La Bamba”)

9. Duotones – Kenny G (“Songbird”)

10. Beverly Hills Cop II – Soundtrack (“Shakedown”)

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A SNAPSHOT IN TIME – WEEK OF AUGUST 22, 1987

What Was Happening That Week

Music & Pop Culture
Pop ruled radio playlists.
MTV favored glossy videos and big hooks.
Arena tours dominated the summer circuit.

Television & Movies
Network TV leaned on sitcom reruns.
Summer movies still packed theaters.
Soundtrack albums stayed strong on the charts.

News & World Events
The Cold War still shaped global politics.
U.S.–Soviet relations remained tense.
Economic confidence stayed high in the U.S.

FROM THE RECORD STORE FLOOR

I was managing the superstore Camelot Music, Park City Mall this week in 1987.

Whitney's album became a heavy in-store play selection. 

Plus with hit singles, and tons of Radio airplay this was a very good weekly sales item for me.

By mid-August 1987, *Whitney* was already a sure thing.
You could feel it before the charts confirmed it.

Customers didn’t browse for it.
They asked for it directly.
“Do you have the new Whitney album?”

That was the question all week.

Shipments came in light and left fast.
Copies moved across the counter from open to close.

Singles were doing the work.

Radio played them nonstop.

MTV pushed the videos hard.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” drove traffic.
“So Emotional” kept people coming back.

This album crossed age lines with ease.
Teens loved it.
Adults trusted it.

From behind the counter, this didn’t feel competitive.

It felt inevitable.
When the Billboard chart landed, no one was surprised.

This was pop dominance in real time.

TRIVIA – AUGUST 22, 1987

1. Which Whitney Houston single from Whitney became her fourth straight #1 hit?

2. Which rock album held the #2 spot this week?

3. What Grateful Dead song helped push In the Dark into the Top Ten?

4. Which movie soundtrack stayed popular throughout the summer of 1987?

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What was the #1 album on the Billboard chart in August 1987?
A: Whitney by Whitney Houston was the top album in late August 1987.

Q: How long did Whitney stay at number one?
A: The album spent multiple weeks at #1 during 1987.

Q: What other albums were popular the same week?
A: Whitesnake, Bad Animals, and The Joshua Tree ranked in the Top Ten.

Q: How were Billboard album rankings calculated in the 1980s?
A: Rankings were based on reported retail sales from record stores nationwide.

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