Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, as our retrospective segments, ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay,’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind serves as a variation of our Retro Rewind assay to salute an entire era of music history.
This week, we’ll revisit 1986 to ode Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald‘s classic hit, ‘On My Own.’
Nearly 10 years into breaking away from her girl group, Labelle, powerhouse vocalist Patti Labelle may have been no stranger to rocking R&B charts with memorable top 10 hits like ‘If Only You Knew,’ ‘Love, Need, & Want You,’ ‘New Attitude,’ and more, but her runs on the Hot 100 couldn’t boast the same impact.
Only cracking the tally’s top 40 once in the 8 years that followed the onset of her solo career (see: ‘New Attitude’s #17 peak in 1985), Patti found Pop audiences weren’t as impressed with her soaring vocal stylings as her dedicated R&B admirers. But, with ‘Attitude’s success acting as the calm before the storm, the diva tried Pop fans again with an undeniable endeavor – the velvety ‘On My Own.’
Joining forces with crooner Michael McDonald, the heartfelt duet – unveiled in March 1986 – acted as the first single to Patti’s ‘Winner in You’ album released the following month. Eventually unseating Pop Queen Madonna to claim the Hot 100’s throne this week in 1986, the accomplishment gave Labelle and McDonald their first and (to date) only runs at #1 on the Pop chart.
What’s more, ‘Own’ gifted Patti the distinction of being the second woman over 40 to own a Hot 100 #1 hit in Billboard history. As of time of this report, only Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Cher, Madonna, Sia, and Mariah Carey can boast inclusion in that exclusive club.
When the dust settled, ‘On My Own’ not only garnered a Gold certification from the RIAA, but it also helped its parent album enjoy similar success on the Billboard 200. To date, ‘Winner’ remains Patti’s only #1 on the main album chart.
Hot 100 This Week in 1986
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to see this week’s full ‘TGJ Chart Check: Hot 100.’