1987 may be the single greatest year for album releases in rock history. U2's The Joshua Tree defined the sound of arena rock for a generation, producing three massive singles and winning Album of the Year. Michael Jackson answered Thriller with Bad, which spawned an unprecedented five consecutive #1 singles.
Guns N' Roses burst onto the scene with Appetite for Destruction, a raw, dangerous debut that would eventually become the best-selling debut album of all time. Def Leppard's Hysteria—four years in the making after drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident—became a multi-platinum phenomenon.
George Michael reinvented himself as a solo artist with Faith, proving there was artistic life after Wham!. Whitney Houston cemented her dominance with Whitney and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody." Prince released the sprawling double album Sign o' the Times, now considered his artistic peak alongside Purple Rain.
Fleetwood Mac delivered their final classic-lineup album with Tango in the Night. R.E.M. broke through with Document. Rick Astley launched a career (and, decades later, an internet meme) with "Never Gonna Give You Up." From power ballads to punk attitude, 1987 had everything.
Our 1987 trivia quiz tests your knowledge of Billboard chart data, Grammy records, and the album-era details that shaped the year. You'll face questions on The Joshua Tree's chart run, the Dirty Dancing soundtrack's surprising longevity, Guns N' Roses' debut impact, and the production credits behind hits from Whitney Houston, George Michael, and Michael Jackson. Questions range from moderate recognition of the year's biggest songs to expert-level deep cuts about B-sides, sales milestones, and the chart battles that defined what many consider the greatest year for albums in the entire decade.
Test yourself with 15 multiple-choice questions about the music of 1987.
1. U2's "The Joshua Tree" won Album of the Year at the 1988 Grammys. Which two singles reached #1?
A) Sunday Bloody Sunday and Pride
B) With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
C) Where the Streets Have No Name and One
D) Beautiful Day and Elevation
2. Michael Jackson's "Bad" album produced how many #1 singles?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 7
3. Which Guns N' Roses debut album, released in 1987, became the best-selling debut of all time?
A) Use Your Illusion I
B) GN'R Lies
C) Appetite for Destruction
D) The Spaghetti Incident?
4. Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" was from which album?
A) Whitney Houston
B) Whitney
C) I'm Your Baby Tonight
D) The Bodyguard
5. Which George Michael single from "Faith" became one of the biggest hits of 1987?
A) Father Figure
B) One More Try
C) Faith
D) I Want Your Sex
6. Def Leppard's "Hysteria" album took how many years to record, partly due to drummer Rick Allen's car accident?
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 4 years
D) 5 years
7. Which Prince album, released in 1987, featured "Sign o' the Times" and "U Got the Look"?
A) Parade
B) Lovesexy
C) Sign o' the Times
D) Around the World in a Day
8. Heart's "Alone" became their first #1 hit. Who wrote the song?
A) Ann and Nancy Wilson
B) Diane Warren
C) Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly
D) Desmond Child
9. Which Los Lobos cover became a #1 hit thanks to the film "La Bamba"?
A) Come On, Let's Go
B) La Bamba
C) Donna
D) We Belong Together
10. The Eurythmics had a hit in 1987 with "Missionary Man." Who was the lead singer?
A) Siouxsie Sioux
B) Kate Bush
C) Annie Lennox
D) Chrissie Hynde
11. Which R.E.M. album, released in 1987, was their major-label debut and breakthrough?
A) Murmur
B) Life's Rich Pageant
C) Document
D) Green
12. Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" reached #1 in 1987, though originally released in 1982. What was different about the 1987 version?
A) Different lyrics
B) Re-recorded with a new lineup and guitar solo
C) Remixed with electronic drums
D) Featured a guest rapper
13. Which Fleetwood Mac album, their last with the classic lineup, was released in 1987?
A) Mirage
B) Tango in the Night
C) Behind the Mask
D) Say You Will
14. Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" was produced by which hit-making trio?
A) Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
B) Stock Aitken Waterman
C) Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards
D) The Bee Gees
15. Which Bon Jovi power ballad reached #1 in 1987?
A) Wanted Dead or Alive
B) You Give Love a Bad Name
C) Livin' on a Prayer
D) Bad Medicine