Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush “Don’t Give Up” released

Don’t Give Up Peter Gabriel

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XTC Skylarking released

Skylarking XTC

Released: October 27, 1986 Peak: 70 US, 90 UK, 13 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Summer’s Cauldron [3:15] Grass [3:05] The Meeting Place [3:13] That’s Really Super, Supergirl [3:22] Ballet for a Rainy Day [2:50] 1000 Umbrellas [3:44] Season Cycle [3:21] Earn Enough for Us [2:54] Big Day [3:32] Another Satellite [4:16] Mermaid Smiled [2:26] The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul [3:24] Dying [2:31] Sacrificial Bonfire [3:46] Dear God [3:36] Total Running Time: 46:50 The Players: Andy Patridge (vocals, guitar) Colin Moulding (bass, vocals) Dave Gregory (guitar, piano, snythesizers, vocals) Todd Rundgren (producer, engineer, various instruments)

Rating: 4.444 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings) Quotable: “A pop masterpiece…that has great ambitions and fulfills them with ease.” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic.com Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

A New Direction for XTC “Working with producer Todd Rundgren didn’t necessarily bring XTC a sense of sonic cohesion – after all, every record since English Settlement followed its own interior logic – but it did help the group sharpen its focus, making Skylarking its tightest record since Drums and Wires.” AM “Ironically, Skylarking had little to do with new wave and everything to do with the lush, post-psychedelic pop of the Beatles and Beach Boys. Combining the charming pastoral feel of Mummer with the classicist English pop of The Big Express, XTC expand their signature sound by enhancing their intelligently melodic pop with graceful, lyrical arrangements and sweeping, detailed instrumentation.” AM The Beatles’ Influence “In the crowded pantheon of post-Beatles pop, XTC looms as one of the few bands to not simply learn from the Fab Four, but to take the inspiration into significant new realms. The British outfit built around singer-songwriter Andy Partridge and bassist-songwiter Colin Moulding started out in 1977 as a New Wave guitar band.” TM By the time of Skylarking nearly a decade later, the band’s “sound resembled Abbey Road” TM delivered with lyrics that have “a cynical New Wave smirk.” TM The Concept With Skylarking, the band set out to “create a concept album that covers growing up, dawning sexuality, getting married, facing old age, and fading away, all set within the framework of a single day.” RD Certainly we see songs devoted to love (Grass), work (Earn Enough for Us), marriage (Big Day, religion (Dear God, and ultimately death (Dying). However, there are also songs about the cycle of seasons such as in “Summer’s Cauldron,” “Season Cycle,” and “Sacrificial Bonfire.”“Concept albums usually run aground” RD because the obligation to the narrative “often outstrips the artist’s songwriting skills. But the move from summer into fall and on to winter is seamless.” RD Rundgren “may have devised the sequencing, helping the record feel like a song cycle” AM He also borrowed the idea from Sgt. Pepper’s of having one track flow straight into the next. AD The Strength of the Songs “What really impresses is the consistency and depth of Andy Partridge’s and Colin Moulding’s songs. Each song is a small gem, marrying sweet, catchy melodies to decidedly adult lyrical themes.” AM “Moulding’s songs complement Partridge’s songs better than before, and each writer is at a melodic and lyrical peak, which Rundgren helps convey with his supple production. The result is a pop masterpiece – an album that has great ambitions and fulfills them with ease.” AM Notes The original version of Skylarking featured the song “Mermaid Smile,” later replaced by “Dear God,” which was originally the B-side of “Grass.” Some versions of the album feature the original track listing plus “Dear God” tacked on to the end of the album. The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Summer’s Cauldron XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 19 CO, 23 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.95 streaming About the Song: “Crickets announce the coming of Summer, birds twitter – you can almost see the heat rising in the air, you can see the sun and bees buzzing past your ear. The melody begins, the singing opens and it breaks your heart.” AD “There is no obvious…melody running through it, which helps ultimately. It’s a shifting song and very evocative. You really can SEE the song in the air in front of you!” AD

Grass XTC

Writer(s): Colin Moulding Released: 8/16/86 (single), Skylarking (1986) B Side: “Dear God” Peak: 35 CO, 100 UK, 9 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.48 streaming About the Song: “The way ‘Summer Cauldron’ ends and floats dreamily into Colin Moulding’s dreamy enough already ‘Grass’ is a thing to behold.” AD The song offers “moments of reflection and idyllic late-afternoon frolics.” TM This “isn’t a song that hits you in the face. It’s an elegant song, a romantic song that once again impresses images in your mind. A wonderfully relaxed melody that ends by returning to the opening of ‘Summers Cauldron’ and then moves into a clockwork sound to announce the start of a working day. Shifting mechanical sounds, sounding wonderful. Fabulous production and attention to detail.” AD

The Meeting Place XTC

Writer(s): Colin Moulding Released: 2/2/87 (single), Skylarking (1986) B side: “The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul” Peak: 35 CO, 100 UK, 22 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.41 streaming About the Song: “The Meeting Place” “reveals itself to be a brilliant pop song with a chorus that sticks in your brain, lovely little piano sections and everything is correct. A wonderfully structured song and a piece of Colin Moulding brilliance.” AD

That’s Really Super, Supergirl XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 20 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.74 streaming About the Song: “That’s Really Super, Supergirl” “is sunshine itself, so very happy and uplifting.” AD

Ballet for a Rainy Day XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 18 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.24 streaming About the Song: “‘Ballet for a Rainy Day’: The name itself has a certain magic and poetry about it. A wonderful vocal performance from Andy is a highlight of this and the Piano returns too. Very good lyrics and little Beach Boys style harmonies.” AD

1000 Umbrellas XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 34 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.09 streaming About the Song: “Another brilliant transition marks the arrival of ‘1000 Umbrellas.’ A sick sounding string section creates the illusion of rain, the melody jumps around in support of this. The whole song is very orchestral sounding.” AD

Season Cycle XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 25 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.00 streaming About the Song: “The finest song arrives slap bang in the middle, a fine place to put the finest song. Here XTC manage almost to outdo The Beach Boys themselves – you’ve just got to love the ‘Summer chased by autumn....’ vocal section” AD in XTC’s version of “Brian Wilson refracted through rural Britain.” RD

Earn Enough for Us XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: March 1987 (single in Australia and Canada), Skylarking (1986) Peak: 15 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 3.68 streaming About the Song: “The first nosier guitar track arrives with ‘Earn Enough for Us.’ Not many guitar led songs on this Skylarking album so this is most welcome.” AD This sounds like the best bet on the album for a single. It was eventually released as the fourth single from the album, but only in Canada and Australia.

Big Day XTC

Writer(s): Colin Moulding Released: 6/1/87 (B side of “Dear God”), Skylarking (1986) Peak: 15 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.72 streaming About the Song: “Big Day” offers “tales of weddings, great bass playing and fine Colin Moulding song writing ability!” AD

Another Satellite XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 25 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.91 streaming About the Song: “Things suddenly get serious for ‘Another Satellite’ which puts XTC back up into space – a place they hadn’t been since their first two comic book styled albums. This is a far more serious composition than those early efforts though, however charming and fun they may have been. This is a touching love song and a plea of devotion.” AD

Mermaid Smiled XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.80 streaming About the Song: “The guitar that opens ‘Mermaid Smiled’…is as good a piece of Andy Patridge brilliance as he's ever created.” AD This song got bumped from later editions of Skylarking in favor of “Dear God,” a song which was originally the B-side of “Grass.” Still later, both songs were included on the album.

The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 15 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.92 streaming About the Song: “The finger-clicking jazzy of ‘The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul’” RD “helps add variety to the record as well as managing to be very accomplished within its jazz influenced style.” AD

Dying XTC

Writer(s): Colin Moulding Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 8 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.62 streaming About the Song: “‘Dying’ is another heartbreaker – the sound of a clock ticking, a guitar, occasional bass and Colin Moulding. Little else is present and little else needs to be. The vocal harmonies that end again recall The Beach Boys of Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys at their very finest.” AD

Sacrificial Bonfire XTC

Writer(s): Colin Moulding Released: Skylarking (1986) Peak: 24 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.59 streaming About the Song: “The rustic lament of ‘Sacrificial Bonfire’” RD “closes the album and closes the circle that begun with ‘Summers Cauldron.’” AD It gives “that sense of this record being whole, being thoughtful in concept and being complete.” AD

Dear God XTC

Writer(s): Andy Partridge (see lyrics here) Released: 8/16/86 (B side of “Grass”), 6/1/87 (single), Skylarking (1986) B Side: “Big Day” First Charted: 4/4/87 Peak: 37 AR, 1 CO, 99 UK, 1 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2.60 video, 43.14 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: XTC’s “Dear God” was originally released as the B-side of “Grass,” the lead single for the new wave band’s ninth album, Skylarking. “Dear God” was initially left off the album because Virgin Records was concerned about the effect of its agnostic message. Andy Partridge, the songwriter and XTC’s lead singer, was also dissatisfied with the lyrics and didn’t think the song represented his views on religion. WK He eventually became an atheist, but was, as he said, “wrestling with the tail end of my belief” when he wrote this. SF After college DJs started playing the song, listeners started contacting Geffen Records (the U.S. distributer) to ask how they could get the song. Geffen added it to the Skylarking album, bumping the song “Mermaid Smiles.” SF It was then also released as a single on its own. The song was inspired by a series of books with the same title which Partridge considered exploitive of children. The song is built on the idea of an agnostic writing letters to God questioning his existence. Partridge saw it as a commentary on “the need for humans to believe the stuff they do…I’d struggled with the concept of God and Man…since I was a kid.” WK Producer Todd Rundgren had the idea to bring in eight-year-old Jasmine Veillette to sing the opening verse and closing line. WK The anti-religious message provoked hostile reactions, including a bomb threat to a Florida radio station and a student who held a faculty member hostage at knife-point at Binghampton High School in New York and forced the school to play the song over its public address system. Partridge also received lots of hate mail because of the song. He said he felt sorry for the people he upset, but that “if you can’t have a different opinion without them wanting to firebomb your house, then that’s their problem.” WK Sarah McLachlan covered the song on a 1995 XTC tribute album (A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC) and Rundgren recorded his version for his 2011 (re)Production album.

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine AD Adrian Denning (3/30/2007). “Adrian’s Top 100 Albums, So Far” RD Robert Dimery (2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Quintet Publishing Limited: New York, NY. Page 558. TM Tom Moon (2008). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Workman Publishing Company, Inc.: New York, NY. Pages 878-9. SF Songfacts page for “Dear God” WK Wikipedia page for Skylarking WK Wikipedia page for “Dear God” Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/25/2008; last updated 7/20/2026.

 

Bon Jovi hit #1 with Slippery When Wet

Slippery When Wet Bon Jovi

Released: August 18, 1986 Peak: 18 US, 6 UK, 18 CN, 16 AU Sales (in millions): 12.0 US, 1.0 UK, 28.0 world (includes US and UK), 53.51 EAS Genre: pop metal/hair band

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Let It Rock You Give Love a Bad Name (7/23/86, 1 BB, 1 CB, 7 GR, 7 RR, 9 AR, 14 UK, 2 CN, 32 AU, 6 DF) Livin’ on a Prayer (10/25/86, 1 BB, 1 CB, 1 GR, 1 RR, 1 AR, 4 UK, 1 CN, 3 AU, 2 DF) Social Disease Wanted Dead or Alive (11/1/86, 7 BB, 7 CB, 8 GR, 7 RR, 13 AR, 13 UK, 17 CN, 13 AU, 3 DF) Raise Your Hands Without Love I’d Die for You Never Say Goodbye (3/14/87, 28 BA, 35 RR, 21 UK, 11 AR, 21 UK, 26 AU, 29 DF) Wild in the Streets Total Running Time: 43:49 The Players: Jon Bon Jovi (vocals, guitar) Richie Sambora (guitar, harmony and backing vocals) Alec John Such (bass, backing vocals) Tico Torres (drums, percussion, backing vocals) David Bryan (keyboards, backing vocals)

Rating: 4.256 out of 5.00 (average of 35 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Bon Jovi’s Early Days Bon Jovi formed in 1983 in New Jersey. The rock band consisted of singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, bassist Alec John Such, keyboardist David Bryan, and drummer Tico Torres. They released their self-titled debut album in 1984. It reached #43 on the Billboard album chart and eventually went platinum. Their sophomore album, 7800° Fahrenheit, would perform about the same, also reaching platinum status and peaking slightly higher at #37. The two albums charted four songs on the Billboard Hot 100. The highest peak was #39, achieved by “Runaway.” Those albums showcased material that “most obviously drew on 1970s heavy metal.” TB It looked like Bon Jovi might never be more than a second-tier glam-metal hair band lumped in with the likes of Cinderella and White Lion who’d always be a rung below bands like Poison and Mötley Crüe. They would be lucky to be remembered beyond the ‘80s. However, the band’s third album, Slippery When Wet, became a “breakthrough for hair metal” WK1 by turning “heavy metal into a radio-friendly pop format.” WK1 It demonstrated more of an influence from fellow New Jersey artist Bruce Springsteen. TB Songwriting The band wrote 30 songs for Slippery When Wet. In an effort to make the album as teen-friendly as possible, the group played rough mixes of the songs for youth in New York and New Jersey and assembled the final track listing based on their feedback. TB While most of the songs that made the final cut were written by Bon Jovi and Sambora, the band had also opted to collaborate with songwriter Desmond Child in an effort to achieve a more mainstream sound. Child had worked with Cher, Kiss (most notably “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”), Billy Squier, and Bonnie Tyler. Jon Bon Jovi said of working with Desmond that “He hasn’t tried to change what we are, but to refine it slightly; to suggest extra ways that we could wring a bit more out of what we had.” WK1 Four out of the album’s final ten songs were co-written by Child, including the band’s #1 hits “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” that lifted them “from minor-league poodle rockers to global superstars.” AZ Bruce Fairbairn In another move targeted at reaching a wider audience, the group opted for Bruce Fairbairn as the album’s producer. He had worked with Blue Öyster Cult, Honeymoon Suite, Krokus, Prism, and, most notably, Loverboy on their first three multi-platinum albums. Jon Bon Jovi had specifically been drawn to the sound quality of heavy metal band Black ‘n Blue’s 1985 album Without Love, produced by Fairbairn. WK1 Jon Bon Jovi said of working with him, “for the first time, we were allowed to be us in the studio.” WK2 In 2006, Fairbairn said of working with the band: “I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many talents…but Bon Jovi may be the finest. There was record company pressure to deliver the hits, but they were a joy.” WK2 The band recorded the album at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver from January to July 1986. WK1 The Title and the Cover One early version of the album had it called Wanted Dead or Alive and featured a cover of the band dressed as cowboys. WK1 It was later used for the cover of the single for the song of the same name. WK1 The band came up with the album title Slippery When Wet after visiting strip clubs in Vancouver where a woman descended from the ceiling on a pole, got in a shower, and soaped herself up. WK1 The first version of the album cover featured a busty, 34DD woman wearing a wet yellow T-shirt. It was replaced with a wet plastic garbage bag with the album title traced in the water. Jon Bon Jovi reportedly didn’t like the pink edges of the cover and record executives were leery that record stores might not carry the album because of its sexist cover. WK1 In Japan, however, most releases used the original cover. WK1 Becoming a Blockbuster Bon Jovi may have “had little more on their minds than girls and rock-as-mythology (even the working-class anthem ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ featured a character who was forced to hock his ‘six string’), but that may only mean they had identified their audience – young white adolescent males – and were targeting it accurately.” AM “From the scantily clad car-wash girls on the inner sleeve to the ‘You lost more than that in my back seat / Yeah!’ lyrics, the album is blissfully untouched by irony and subtlety, which actually adds to its charm.” AZ Of course, the album wouldn’t have achieved such massive success if it were only targeted at horny male teenagers. “Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi’s mop of curls and winning smile” AM gave the group a healthy dose of sex appeal from the female front as well. Ultimately, though, the album became a massive success because it “contains its fair share” AZ of “consistently memorable tunes” AZ and “competent contemporary pop/rock from its Eddie Van Halen-inspired guitar solos to the singer’s enthusiastic, husky wail (which owed a lot to Bruce Springsteen).” AM “Slippery When Wet won’t change your world, but it will, undoubtedly, rock it.” AZ “You Give Love a Bad Name” You Give Love a Bad Name was released as the lead single several weeks before the album came out. On October 25, 1986, as the single was still climbing the charts, Slippery When Wet ascended to the pinnacle of the Billboard album chart for one week. “You Give Love a Bad Name” continued to climb, eventually peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending November 29, 1986. “Livin’ on a Prayer” Slippery When Wet abdicated the throne to Boston’s Third Stage after one week. After that album’s month-long stay on top, Bruce Springsteen grabbed the gold for seven weeks with his Live 1975-1975 box set. By then, Livin’ on a Prayer, the second single from Slippery When Wet, had followed its predecessor to the top of the charts in February 1987. This propelled the album back to the top for an additional seven weeks. The song, which about a working-class couple struggling to make ends meet, is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999. It was the only song in 1987 to spend more than three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. In 2006, VH1 viewers named it the greatest song of the 1980s. “Wanted Dead or Alive” The band followed their two #1 hits with the power ballad Wanted Dead or Alive. It reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Slippery When Wet the first glam metal album to feature three top-10 hits. The song compares the rock and roll lifestyle to that of cowboys from the Old West. Jon Bon Jovi has said the song was inspired by Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page.” Notes: An import edition includes bonus tracks.

Resources: AM AllMusic.com review by William Ruhlmann AZ Amazon.com review by Ronita Dutta TB Thunder Bay (2005). Albums: The Stories Behind 50 Years of Great Recordings. Thunder Bay Press; San Diego, CA. Page 231. WK1 Wikipedia entry on Slippery When Wet WK2 Wikipedia entry on Bruce Fairbairn Related DMDB Links: First posted 2/19/2008; last updated 12/7/2024.

Crowded House released “Don’t Dream It’s Over”

Don’t Dream It’s Over Crowded House

Writer(s): Neil Finn (see lyrics here) Released: October 20, 1986 Peak: 2 US, 3 CB, 3 GR, 3 RR, 9 AC, 11 AR, 1 CO, 25 UK, 1 CN, 8 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.4 UK, 0.4 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 211.3 video, 252.92 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: New Zealand-born singer/songwriter Neil Finn got his big break in the late ‘70s when older brother Tim invited him to join his band Split Enz. Over the next few years, Neil assumed co-frontman duties (most notably on 1980’s “I Got You”) and even led the band briefly before its demise when Tim left for a solo career. Neil and the drummer from Split Enz then formed the Mullanes in 1984, which later became Crowded House rounded out by bassist Nick Seymour, whose older brother was Mark, leader of Hunters & Collectors. The trio released their self-titled debut in August 1986. It was preceded by singles “Mean to Me” and “World Where You Live,” which were minor hits in Australia. Third single “Now We’re Getting Somewhere,” sadly, went nowhere and it looked like Crowded House might be nothing more than an afterthought to the more successful Split Enz. However, the fourth single from the album was a hit. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” reached #2 in the U.S. in April 1987. It also went to #1 in New Zealand and Canada. It was a top-10 hit in Australia, Norway, and the Netherlands. Finn said he wrote the “majestic ballad” WK on his brother’s piano and that it was “about, on the one hand feeling kind of lost, and on the other sort of urging myself on.” SF In 2016, he said “I’m super pleased and proud that the song that is almost the most identiable for us is, I think, one of my best songs.” SF Seymour said it was “about not giving up hope and succumbing to the effects of the mass media and consumerism.” WK Naturally it was used in commercials for the New Zealand Tourism Commission. SF The video featured surreal images of household objects floating in the air. Finn plays guitar and walks through the house while his bandmates are doing chores or playing background instruments. At the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, it earned the group a Best New Artist award. It was also nominated for Best Group Video and Best Direction. Resources: DMDB encyclopepedia entry for Neil Finn SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 10/23/2020; last updated 12/23/2022.