1984– The Hardest Year to rate
This was such an incredible year, that I rated the top 13 artists. (Though only 5 will make the list) I initially had Madonna at 9 but the power of her music videos just bumped her up. Michael Jackson did not have a number hit and his only top 20 hit was Thriller, but It was Thriller, and there was no way I could keep him off the top 5.
Prince - 4 top 10 hits and 2 number 1s
Cyndi Lauper – 4 top 10 hits and 1 number 1.
Duran Duran - 3 top 10 hits and 1 number 1.
Madonna – 3 Top 10 hits including No 1 – "Like a Virgin"
Michael Jackson – THRILLER
Pointer Sister – 4 top 10 hits and who got bumped down by Madonna
Huey Lewis – 4 top 20 hits
Bruce Springsteen – 3 Top 10 hits – I can't believe the Boss comes in at only number 8.
Van Halen – 3 Top 20 hits – including No 1 "Jump"
Lionel Richie – 3 Top 10 hits
Chicago – 3 top 20 hits
Hall Oates – 2 top 10 hits
Kenny Loggins – 1 top ten hit but it was number 1 "Footloose"
1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
The Beatles | The Beatles | The Beatles | The Beatles | The Beatles | 5th Dimension |
4 Seasons | Supremes | Rolling Stones | Monkees | Gary Pucket | 3 Dog Night |
Supremes | Rolling Stones | Frank Sinatra | Supremes | Simon & Garfunkel | Elvis Presley |
Bobby Vinton | Herman Hermits | Beach Boys | Rascals | Aretha Franklin | The Beatles |
Johnny Rivers | Byrds | Monkees | The Doors | Supremes | Rolling Stones |
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 |
Jackson 5 | Osmonds | 3 Dog Night | Stevie Wonder | Elton John | John Denver |
The Beatles | Marvin Gaye | Michael Jackson | Elton John | John Denver | Elton John |
Simon & Garfunkel | Temptations | 5th Dimension | Paul Simon | Newton John | Eagles |
3 Dog Night | Jackson 5 | Don McLean | Wings | Wings | Sunshine Band |
Guess Who | 3 Dog Night | Moody Blues | Rolling Stones | Chicago | Starship |
1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 |
Captain Tennille | Fleetwood Mac | Bee Gees | Donna Summer | Blondie | Hall Oates |
Elton John | Eagles | Newton John | Bee Gees | Queen | Rolling Stones |
Aerosmith | Foreigner | Andy Gibb | Michael Jackson | Newton John | Rick Springfield |
Wings | Sunshine Band | Rolling Stones | Commadores | Diana Ross | Journey |
4 Seasons | B. Manilow | Billy Joel | Earth Wind Fire | Kenny Rogers | Foreigner |
1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |
Stevie Wonder | Michael Jackson | Prince |
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Paul McCarthy | Duran Duran | Cindy Lauper |
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Journey | Lionel Richie | Duran Duran |
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J Geils Band | Police | Madonna |
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Newton John | David Bowie | Mchael Jackson |
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1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 |
Looks good. Michael is a really tough case. He was undoubtedly the biggest star in the world, but he didn't really release any new music under his own name (although Motown put out a collection of unreleased songs from when he was kid, Farewell My Summer Love, and the title song was a minor hit). But in addition to "Thriller" he hit the top three with "State of Shock", credited to The Jacksons but really a Michael duet with Mick Jagger. He also had a duet with his brother Jermaine, "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming", which wasn't eligible to chart (it wasn't a single because he and Jermaine were signed to different record companies) but was a major radio hit. And of course the Victory Tour was by far the biggest tour of the year. (I went in both New York and Chicago!) So, yeah, he's definitely worthy of the list.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the level of stardom here is off the charts.