This week’s Thursday top 10 Countdown looks at the month and year Lefty (as a SF Giant) became the 2nd pitcher in history to throw 4,000 strikeouts, David Crosby got paroled 5 months into a 5 year prison sentence for drug and weapons convictions, and Howard Stern premiered in Philadelphia on WYSP. On the charts, these were the top 10 rock albums on August 25, 1986, with a rare 1-2 combination:

• 10. Heart - Heart

  Nancy Wilson said she got the great vocal performance on ‘These Dreams’ as a result of having a bad cold! Her voice was a bit raspy and Heart’s producer loved how she sounded on the track. The song was Heart’s only #1 single, and it’s from their self titled album, which was also their lone chart topper. This week it’s #10.

• 9. Play Deep - The Outfield

  I love album titles that compliment the artists’ name, like this one.  The debut album by The Outfield, Play Deep, was also their biggest seller, peaking here at #9.

• 8. Tuff Enuff - The Fabulous Thunderbirds

  Co-founded by Stevie Ray Vaughan’s older brother Jimmy, Austin, Texas-based The Fabulous Thunderbirds saw their biggest success with this, their 5th album, Tuff Enuff.  It was #8 on August 25, 1986, and the lead off single was the title track.

• 7. The Bridge - Billy Joel

  In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Billy Joel described the making of The Bridge as “not a happy album.”  He’d brought in new musicians to join him, and were not clicking with them, plus he missed being home with his wife Christy and their new baby, Alexa.  Still, it managed to peak here at #7.

   

• 6. Like A Rock - Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band

  Up next is an album whose title track became quite a popular truck commercial on TV in the 80s, Bob Seger’s 13th album, Like A Rock.  Unlike Bob’s last 5 albums, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section does NOT appear on this album, which is #6 on our countdown.

• 5. 5150 - Van Halen

  Van Halen’s debut album with the Red Rocker on lead vocals bested their previous release featuring Diamond Dave.  In fact, 5150 was the band’s first #1 album, and every VH studio album with Sammy has hit #1.  After topping the chart, the album moves to #5 on August 25, 1986.

• 4. The Other Side Of Life - The Moody Blues

  The Moody Blues cracked the top 10 for the 6th time with their 12th studio album, produced by the legendary Tony Visconti. At #4 on this week’s Thursday Top 10 Countdown, The Other Side Of Life.

• 3. Back In The High Life - Steve Winwood

  Steve Winwood’s biggest success as a solo artist was his 4th solo album, Back In The High Life. It sold 3 million copies and scored Winwood three Grammy awards. On August 25, 1986, the album was #3.

• 2. Invisible Touch - Genesis

  After touring the world and taking a bit of a break to work on solo projects, Genesis returned with what would be their biggest selling album, Invisible Touch.  It has sold over 6 million copies, and it peaked here at #2.

• 1. So - Peter Gabriel

  At the top of the charts this week is the 5th studio album by a former member of the band who has the #2 album!  This was his masterwork – a combination of sounds that catapulted him into superstardom.  And this very clever video for the opening track, didn’t hurt either.  #1 on August 25, 1986 was So by Peter Gabriel.

  Catch the replay of the Top 10 Countdown, Sunday nights at 8!

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