List of number-one Billboard Tropical Albums from the 1980s

The Billboard Tropical Albums chart, published in Billboard magazine, is a record chart that features Latin music sales information. This data are compiled by Nielsen SoundScan from a sample that includes music stores, music departments at electronics and department stores, Internet sales (both physical and digital) and verifiable sales from concert venues in the United States.^[1]

The Tropical Albums chart was first of the three Latin-related charts (along with Latin Pop Albums and Regional Mexican Albums) published on June 29, 1985, eight years before the Top Latin Album survey which began on July 10, 1993.^[2] The data for this chart was published every two weeks, unlike most Billboard charts.

At the time of the chart's introduction, a softer form of salsa known as salsa romantica had emerged in the mid-1980s. ^[3] This new form of salsa led musicians such as Eddie Santiago, Frankie Ruiz, and Luis Enrique to dominate the chart throughout the 1980s.

The first album to reach number-one on the Tropical Albums chart was Innovations by Puerto Rican musician group, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. The album remained number-one for 24 consecutive weeks until being replaced by their next album, Y Su Pueblo. ^{[4] [5]} Romantico y Sabroso, another studio album by the group that reached number-one on the Tropical Albums chart was their crossover attempt in the salsa romantica genre. ^[6] In addition, a compilation album related to the group reach number-one on the chart. ^[7]

Frankie Ruiz became the first solo performer to reach number-one with his debut album, Solista Pero No Solo. ^[8] Two other album by Ruiz including Voy Pa' Encima and a compilation album reached number-one the Tropical Album charts. ^{[9] [10]}

Cuban duo performers Hansel & Raul reached number-one with their album, La Magia de. ^[11]

Three albums by Eddie Santiago reached number-one on the Tropical Album chart. The first album was Atrevido y Diferente which was the debut album for Santiago. ^[12] The follow-up album, Sigo Atrevido was the second album to reach number-one on the chart and received a Grammy Award-nomination for Best Tropical Latin Performance. ^{[13] [14]}

Salsa bandleader Tommy Olivencia released an album to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the group's history which reached number-one on the Tropical Album chart. Frankie Ruiz and Lalo Rodriguez were former members of Olivencia's band. ^[15] The latter of the two also reached number-one with his album, Un Nuevo Despertar. ^[16]

One compilation album featuring various artists was released by Rodven Records and reached number-one on the chart. ^[17]

Near the end of the decade, Nicaraguan salsa singer Luis Enrique released two album that reached number-one on the chart. His debut album, Amor y Alegria became his first number-one on the chart ^[18], while his next album was the Tropical album to chart in the 1980s. ^[19]

Number one albums

Key

     – Best-selling Latin album of the year

Contents
1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • → 1990s

Artist	Album	Reached number one	Weeks at number one
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Innovations	01985-06-29 29 June 1985	24
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Y Su Pueblo	01985-12-14 14 December 1985	4
Artist	Album	Reached number one	Weeks at number one
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Y Su Pueblo	01986-01-11 11 January 1986	6
Ruiz, FrankieFrankie Ruiz	Solista Pero No Solo	01986-02-22 22 February 1986	2
Hansel & Raul	La Magia de	01986-03-08 8 March 1986	6
Ruiz, FrankieFrankie Ruiz	Solista Pero No Solo	01986-04-19 19 April 1986	2
Hansel & Raul	La Magia de	01986-05-03 3 May 1986	2
Ruiz, FrankieFrankie Ruiz	Solista Pero No Solo	01986-05-17 17 May 1986	4
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Y Su Pueblo	01986-11-15 15 November 1986	4
Artist	Album	Reached number one	Weeks at number one
Santiago, EddieEddie Santiago	Atrevido y Diferente	01987-01-10 10 January 1987	2
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Y Su Pueblo	01987-01-24 24 January 1987	2
Santiago, EddieEddie Santiago	Atrevido y Diferente	01987-02-07 7 February 1987	10
Ruiz, FrankieFrankie Ruiz	Voy Pa' Encima	01987-04-18 18 April 1987	10
Santiago, EddieEddie Santiago	Atrevido y Diferente	01987-06-27 27 June 1987	4
Ruiz, FrankieFrankie Ruiz	Voy Pa' Encima	01987-08-08 8 August 1987	10
Santiago, EddieEddie Santiago	Atrevido y Diferente	01987-10-17 17 October 1987	2
Ruiz, FrankieFrankie Ruiz	Voy Pa' Encima	01987-08-08 8 August 1987	4
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	25 Aniversario: 1962 - 1987	01987-11-28 28 November 1987	2
Olivencia, TommyTommy Olivencia	30 Aniversario	01987-12-12 12 December 1987	2
Ruiz, FrankieFrankie Ruiz	Historia Musical de Frankie Ruiz	01987-12-26 26 December 1987	2
Artist	Album	Reached number one	Weeks at number one
Santiago, EddieEddie Santiago	Sigo Atrevido	01988-01-16 16 January 1988	12
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Romantico y Sabroso	01988-06-04 4 June 1988	4
Rodríguez, LaloLalo Rodríguez	Un Nuevo Despertar	01988-07-02 2 July 1988	18
Enrique, LuisLuis Enrique	Amor y Alegria	01988-11-05 5 November 1988	8
Artist	Album	Reached number one	Weeks at number one
Various Artists	Juntos Pa' Goza	01989-01-14 14 January 1989	2
Santiago, EddieEddie Santiago	Invasion de la Privacidad	01989-01-28 28 January 1989	22
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Amame	01989-07-01 1 July 1989	4
Santiago, EddieEddie Santiago	Invasion de la Privacidad	01989-07-29 29 July 1989	2
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico	Amame	01989-08-12 12 August 1989	8
Enrique, LuisLuis Enrique	Mi Mundo	01989-10-07 7 October 1989	14

See also

• List of number-one Billboard Tropical Albums from the 1990s
• List of number-one Billboard Tropical Albums from the 2000s
• List of number-one Billboard Tropical Albums from the 2010s

References

General

Specific