In June 1985, Billboard magazine established Tropical Albums (initially called Tropical/Salsa Latin Albums),[1] a chart that ranks the best-selling tropical albums in the United States. The chart was published on a fortnightly basis with its positions being compiled by sales data from Latin music retailers and distributors.[2][3] According to Billboard, tropical music is the "sound of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean – though it extends beyond it".[4] In the 1980s, 17 albums topped the chart.
The first album to reach number one on the Tropical Albums chart was El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico's Innovations (1985).[2] El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico was also the act with the most number-one albums of the 1980s with five records in total. The 1980s saw the popularity of salsa romántica in the tropical field with artists such as Frankie Ruiz and Eddie Santiago as the movement's pioneers.[5] Ruiz and Santiago were the only other artists with more than two number ones on the Tropical Albums chart during the 1980s. Ruiz had the best-selling tropical album of 1986 with his debut album as a soloist, Solista Pero No Solo (1985).[1][6] Santiago achieved the same feat from 1987 to 1989 with his albums Atrevido y Diferente (1986),[7] Sigo Atrevido (1987),[8] and Invasión de la Privacidad (1988).[9]
Lalo Rodríguez achieved his only number one on any Billboard chart with Un Nuevo Despertar (1988) which spawned the single "Ven, Devórame Otra Vez" and became a top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.[10][11] Rodríguez won three Lo Nuestro Awards at the inaugural award ceremony in 1989 including Tropical Album of the Year, Tropical Song of the Year, and Tropical Artist of the Year.[12] Luis Enrique had two number one albums on the chart with Amor y Alegría (1988) and Mi Mundo (1989). The latter was the final number one of the decade and also won Tropical Album of the Year at the following Lo Nuestro Awards.[12]
† | Indicates best-selling tropical album of the year |
Issue date | Album | Artist(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
June 29, 1985 | Innovations | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | [13] |
July 13, 1985 | [14] | ||
July 27, 1985 | [15] | ||
August 10, 1985 | [16] | ||
August 24, 1985 | [17] | ||
September 7, 1985 | [18] | ||
September 21, 1985 | [19] | ||
October 5, 1985 | [20] | ||
October 19, 1985 | [21] | ||
November 2, 1985 | [22] | ||
November 16, 1985 | [23] | ||
November 30, 1985 | [24] | ||
December 14, 1985 | Y Su Pueblo | [25] | |
December 28, 1985 | [26] | ||
January 11, 1986 | [27] | ||
January 25, 1986 | [28] | ||
February 8, 1986 | [29] | ||
February 22, 1986 | Solista Pero No Solo †[1] | Frankie Ruiz | [30] |
March 8, 1986 | La Magia de | Hansel & Raúl | [31] |
March 22, 1986 | [32] | ||
April 5, 1986 | [33] | ||
April 19, 1986 | Solista Pero No Solo †[1] | Frankie Ruiz | [34] |
May 3, 1986 | La Magia de | Hansel & Raúl | [35] |
May 17, 1986 | Solista Pero No Solo †[1] | Frankie Ruiz | [36] |
May 31, 1986 | [37] | ||
June 14, 1986 | [38] | ||
June 28, 1986 | [39] | ||
July 12, 1986 | [40] | ||
July 26, 1986 | [41] | ||
August 9, 1986 | [42] | ||
August 23, 1986 | Y Su Pueblo | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | [43] |
September 6, 1986 | [44] | ||
September 20, 1986 | [45] | ||
October 4, 1986 | [46] | ||
October 18, 1986 | [47] | ||
November 1, 1986 | [48] | ||
November 15, 1986 | [49] | ||
November 29, 1986 | [50] | ||
December 13, 1986 | [51] | ||
December 27, 1986 | [52] | ||
January 10, 1987 | Atrevido y Diferente †[7] | Eddie Santiago | [53] |
January 24, 1987 | Y Su Pueblo | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | [54] |
February 7, 1987 | Atrevido y Diferente †[7] | Eddie Santiago | [55] |
February 21, 1987 | [56] | ||
March 7, 1987 | [57] | ||
March 21, 1987 | [58] | ||
April 4, 1987 | [59] | ||
April 18, 1987 | Voy Pa' Encima | Frankie Ruiz | [60] |
May 2, 1987 | [61] | ||
May 16, 1987 | [62] | ||
May 30, 1987 | [63] | ||
June 13, 1987 | [64] | ||
June 27, 1987 | Atrevido y Diferente †[7] | Eddie Santiago | [65] |
July 11, 1987 | [66] | ||
July 25, 1987 | [67] | ||
August 8, 1987 | Voy Pa' Encima | Frankie Ruiz | [68] |
August 22, 1987 | [69] | ||
September 5, 1987 | [70] | ||
September 19, 1987 | [71] | ||
October 3, 1987 | [72] | ||
October 17, 1987 | Atrevido y Diferente †[7] | Eddie Santiago | [73] |
October 31, 1987 | Voy Pa' Encima | Frankie Ruiz | [74] |
November 14, 1987 | [75] | ||
November 28, 1987 | 25 Aniversario: 1962 - 1987 | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | [76] |
December 12, 1987 | 30 Aniversario | Tommy Olivencia | [77] |
December 26, 1987 | Historia Musical de Frankie Ruiz | Frankie Ruiz | [78] |
January 16, 1988 | Sigo Atrevido †[8] | Eddie Santiago | [79] |
January 30, 1988 | [80] | ||
February 13, 1988 | [81] | ||
February 27, 1988 | [82] | ||
March 12, 1988 | [83] | ||
March 26, 1988 | [84] | ||
April 9, 1988 | [85] | ||
April 23, 1988 | [86] | ||
May 7, 1988 | [87] | ||
May 21, 1988 | [88] | ||
June 4, 1988 | Romántico y Sabroso | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | [89] |
June 18, 1988 | [90] | ||
July 2, 1988 | Un Nuevo Despertar | Lalo Rodríguez | [91] |
July 16, 1988 | [92] | ||
July 30, 1988 | [93] | ||
August 13, 1988 | [94] | ||
August 27, 1988 | [95] | ||
September 10, 1988 | [96] | ||
September 24, 1988 | [97] | ||
October 8, 1988 | [98] | ||
October 22, 1988 | [99] | ||
November 5, 1988 | Amor y Alegría | Luis Enrique | [100] |
November 19, 1988 | [101] | ||
December 3, 1988 | [102] | ||
December 17, 1988 | [103] | ||
December 31, 1988 | [104] | ||
January 14, 1989 | Juntos Pa' Goza | Various artists | [105] |
January 28, 1989 | Invasión de la Privacidad †[9] | Eddie Santiago | [106] |
February 11, 1989 | [107] | ||
February 25, 1989 | [108] | ||
March 11, 1989 | [109] | ||
March 11, 1989 | [110] | ||
March 25, 1989 | [111] | ||
April 8, 1989 | [112] | ||
April 22, 1989 | [113] | ||
May 6, 1989 | [114] | ||
May 20, 1989 | [115] | ||
June 3, 1989 | [116] | ||
June 17, 1989 | [117] | ||
July 1, 1989 | Ámame | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | [118] |
July 15, 1989 | [119] | ||
July 29, 1989 | Invasión de la Privacidad †[9] | Eddie Santiago | [120] |
August 12, 1989 | Ámame | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | [121] |
August 26, 1989 | [122] | ||
September 9, 1989 | [123] | ||
September 23, 1989 | [124] | ||
October 7, 1989 | Mi Mundo | Luis Enrique | [125] |
October 21, 1989 | [126] | ||
November 4, 1989 | [127] | ||
November 18, 1989 | [128] | ||
December 2, 1989 | [129] | ||
December 16, 1989 | [130] | ||
December 30, 1989 | [131] |