Spend an hour remembering some of the most popular jazz of 1986 as listed on the Top 40 Jazz Albums chart in the July 5, 1986 issue of Billboard magazine.
Playlist:
#38: “Bob Goes to the Store” by Spyro Gyra, from the #38 album of the week, Breakout. Breakout was the group’s tenth album, released in June, 1986. This chart marked the album’s debut. It would go on to spend two weeks at the #1 spot in late September/early October. “Bob Goes to the Store” is the album’s first track and was written by bass player Kim Stone. The group filmed a promotional video for the song that was later included in a 1990 promotional VHS tape titled Graffiti.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 1 | 34 |
| Billboard 200 | 71 | 19 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 14 |
#36: “Maybe Tomorrow” by Perrí, from the #36 album of the week, Celebrate. Perrí was a Los Angeles-based vocal group consisting of four sisters: Lori, Sharon, Darlene, and Carolyn Perry. They were discovered by Pat Metheny and later supported Anita Baker on tour. Celebrate was the quartet’s debut album. This issue of Billboard marked the album’s final appearance on the jazz chart; it had debuted on the chart back on March 15.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 14 | 20 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 48 |
#33: “After” by Makoto Ozone, from the #33 album of the week, After. After was the Japanese pianist’s second solo album. It debuted here in the #33 position on this date and stayed at #33 for the entirety of its chart run. While other tracks feature various sidemen/combos, this track features only Ozone.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 33 | 4 |
#25: “Sandu” by Freddie Hubbard & Woody Shaw from the #25 album, Double Take. This album by two jazz trumpet masters opens with this cover of a Clifford Brown tune. In addition to Hubbard and Shaw, the track features Kenny Garrett on alto saxophone and Mulgrew Miller on piano. The album debuted on the chart this week at the #25 spot and stayed near that position for its brief chart run.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 19 | 12 |
#21: “Milan” by Ahmad Jamal from the #21 album, Rossiter Road. This Jamal album had debuted on the jazz chart on June 7 and was peaking here at the #21 spot. For this album, Jamal was backed by James Cammack on bass, Herlin Riley on drums, and Manolo Badrena on percussion.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 21 | 10 |
#20: “And You Know That” by Yellowjackets from the #20 album, Shades. At #20, this was the highest debuting album on this particular chart. The track, written by drummer Ricky Lawson and keyboardist Russell Ferrante, won a Grammy Award for “Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist)” and is the album’s lead cut. Track 4 of the album, “Revelation,” features vocals from Perrí (see #36 above).
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 4 | 32 |
| Billboard 200 | 195 | 2 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 16 |
#18: “Never As Good As the First Time” by Sade from the #18 album, Promise. This multi-platinum album debuted on the jazz chart on January 18, had peaked at #4 on March 29, and was on its decline on this date. “Never As Good As the First Time” was the third single released from the album and peaked at #20 pop, #8 R&B, and #6 adult contemporary.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 4 | 32 |
| Billboard 200 | 1 | 46 |
| R&B | 1 | 45 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 10 |
#12: “Highland Aire” by Lyle Mays from the #12 album, Lyle Mays. The first solo effort by Pat Metheny Group keyboardist, this album debuted on the jazz chart on May 24 and was peaking here at #12 in its seventh week. Playing with Mays on this album are Alejandro N. Acuña, drums; Billy Drewes, saxophone; Bill Frisell: guitar; Marc Johnson, bass; and Nana Vasconcelos, percussion.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 12 | 16 |
#11: “Majesty” by Cabo Frio from the #11 album, Right on the Money. The fusion group’s second album debuted on the jazz chart on April 12 and was at its peak here at #11. “Majesty” is the album’s 8th track and was written by keyboardist Joey Santora and also features saxophonist Terrance Bruce.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 11 | 20 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 37 |
#5: “Since I Fell for You” by Bob James & David Sanborn from the #5 album, Double Vision. This track, a jazz standard, features vocals by Al Jarreau and won a Grammy award for “Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental,” peaked at #10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and was featured in the television show Moonlighting as well as appearing on that show’s compilation. The album debuted on the previous chart at #30 and jumped 25 spots to #5 on this chart. It would spend 8 consecutive weeks in the top spot starting August 2.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 1 | 58 |
| Billboard 200 | 50 | 64 |
| R&B | 16 | 39 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 7 |
#2: “Smiles and Smiles to Go” by Larry Carlton from the #2 album, Alone/But Never Alone. This is the album’s lead track and was written and produced by Carlton. The album debuted on the jazz chart on April 12 and would move from this #2 position to the top spot on the next chart.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 1 | 34 |
| Billboard 200 | 141 | 11 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 6 |
#1: “Love Will Follow” by George Howard from the #1 album, Love Will Follow. This album, which had debuted on March 29, spent 8 consecutive weeks in the #1 spot. This title track is a cover of a Kenny Loggins/Tom Snow song and features Howard on soprano saxophone and Ron Smith on guitar.
| Billboard Album Charts: | Peak | Weeks |
| Jazz | 1 | 32 |
| Billboard 200 | 142 | 11 |
| R&B | 22 | 26 |
| 1986 Jazz Year End | 3 |
As always, thanks to Herc of Herc’s Hideaway for research assistance and support.
