How Many Ways Can You Hit #1?

Having a #1 single on your resume is certainly something any band or solo artist can be proud of.  How about achieving the feat as a solo artist AND as the singer in a band?  Only a select few artists reached this goal during the 1980s.  And, to eliminate confusion, my rules state that duets (this means you, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder) do not count as a "band".  But Wham! does count as a band.  You're welcome, George Michael.

A solo Phil Collins landed several #1 songs during the decade, topping the charts with "Against All Odds", "One More Night", "Sussudio", "Groovy Kind Of Love", "Two Hearts", and "Another Day In Paradise".  And when his band, Genesis, topped the charts in 1986 with "Invisible Touch", Phil became the charter member of this distinct group.

Just two weeks after Phil Collins became the first member of this elite group, former Chicago member Peter Cetera joined him.  Chicago (with Cetera providing lead vocals) hit #1 in 1982 with "Hard To Say I'm Sorry".  A solo Cetera reached the top again in 1986 with "Glory Of Love".

George Michael had spent plenty of time at the top with his band Wham!, reaching #1 with "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper".  In 1987, Michael joined Collins and Cetera, when his song "Faith" topped the charts.  "Father Figure", "Monkey", and "One More Try" would also hit #1 the following year.

Lastly, John Waite's "Missing You" was a radio favorite and #1 single in the summer of 1984.  Later in the decade, Waite would front the band Bad English, and re-visit the top spot with "When I See You Smile" in 1989, just 6 weeks before the decade would end.

For the record, Collins, Cetera, and Michael also topped the charts as part of a duet.  Collins with Marilyn Martin on "Separate Lives", Cetera with Amy Grant on "The Next Time I Fall", and Michael with Aretha Franklin on "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".