Michael Jackson’sThriller album ruled the Billboard 200 chart for 17 consecutive weeks before the soundtrack for the popular 1984 film Footloose overtook the King of Pop.
Jackson released his sixth studio album, Thriller, in November 1982. The project featured some of the singer’s biggest hits, including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” and the title track.
Nearly three months after its debut, Thriller reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart on Feb. 26, 1983, where it remained for 17 weeks. The record returned to the top of the chart for two weeks in July and one week in September before experiencing another 17-week streak at No. 1 from December 1983 to April 1984.
While Jackson’s album seemed unstoppable at the time, the Footloose soundtrack overtook Thriller atop the Billboard 200 chart on April 21, 1984. The soundtrack stayed at No. 1 for 10 consecutive weeks before giving up the top slot to Huey Lewis and the News’ Sports album on June 30, 1984.
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Released in January 1984, the Footloose soundtrack featured nine songs. Highlights included the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deniece Williams, top 10 hit “Almost Paradise” by Ann Wilson and Mike Reno and top 40 hits “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler, “Dancing in the Sheets” by Shalamar and “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by Loggins.
“Footloose” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” were both nominated for Best Original Song at the 1985 Academy Awards, though the accolade ultimately went to Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” from The Woman in Red. The soundtrack and its songs also received five nods at the 1985 Grammy Awards: Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, for “Footloose,” Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best Rhythm and Blues Song for “Dancing in the Sheets.”
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The Footloose film starred Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormack, a teenager who moves from Chicago to a small town where dancing is banned. The cast also included Lori Singer as Ariel Moore, John Lithgow as Reverend Shaw Moore and Dianne Wiest as Vi Moore. Following its February 1984 release in theaters, the movie was a success at the box office, raking in more than $80 million to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year.
The legacy of Footloose endures to this day. Not only is it one of the most beloved films of the ‘80s, but the soundtrack’s hits are just as recognizable today as they were when they first appeared on the charts.
A 2011 Footloose remake starred Kenny Wormald (Ren), Julianne Hough (Ariel), Andie MacDowell (Vi) and Dennis Quaid (Shaw). The soundtrack peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 chart and topped the Billboard Soundtrack Albums chart. The record featured eight new songs and four remakes of tracks from the original film’s soundtrack, including Blake Shelton’s rendition of “Footloose.”
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