And now we come to the end of this 1986 countdown with a track that continues to get airplay everywhere you go, year in and year out. This artist had such a plethora of rock hits years ago, he didn’t need another one, and yet delivers one here. The chorus, production, everything about this track is awesome and deserves its place at the top. The #1 song turning 40 years old this year is Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money.

The last two tracks on this countdown of the top 1986-released songs were very tough to place. This track has a title that once you mention it, people know what it is. It was a huge hit back then, and it remains a well-known hit today. Having less airplay than the top track might have hurt it, but its power is still strong to this day. Coming in at #2 is Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles.

This track is the most stripped down of any recording you’ll hear on this list. It’s also another classic in a sea of classics written by this artist. It’s not enough that he wrote one of the biggest pop songs of all time without a bass guitar, he went ahead and did it again with this one. This funky track will get you grooving in your seat. For the top songs turning 40 years old this year, at #3 it’s Kiss by Prince.

This next artist was already a household name back in the 1970s, but like a lot of artists from that time, he found his second coming during the MTV era. All you have to mention is the video with the girls playing instruments and you know what song we’re talking about, and what a great song it is. This track gave this man a new lease on life as a recording artist, and it remains one of his biggest tracks today. Coming in at #4 is Addicted To Love by Robert Palmer.

We are now down to the top 5 1986 songs, and we start with this band’s second (and biggest) entry to this list. Hands down, this is the song that shot this group to the top and they would remain there for the next few years. A great guitar riff, an anthemic chorus, and wall-of-sound production makes this an undeniable top track. Coming in at #5 is Living On a Prayer by Bon Jovi.

We wrap up the first half of this top ten with a little controversy. While this song might not be as popular or have as longevity as a couple other songs in this list (though still played a lot today), this has remained one of my favorite songs and for its time, I love the production. It is a great song with great lyrics, and I simply shut up and listen to it until its done. At #6 it’s These Dreams by Heart.