I was 20 in 1985 and this brings back a lot of great memories. And if I can say – and I'm sure younger people will roll their eyes at this – but they really did make better, more varied, more interesting music back then.
Wow, such a fantastic post and list, really takes me back! Personally I’d have put The Cult’s Love and Sting’s Dream of the Blue Turtles above the honorable mention line, but that’s a minor quibble.
I’d also add The Smiths’ Meat Is Murder and Til Tuesday’s Voices Carry as top albums. I’d have to include the Depeche Mode compilation Catching Up With Depeche Mode as it was a foundational record for me at the time. It was the first time I’d ever heard them and I fell in love with the band on the back of that album.
Thanks! I get your point about the DM comp, that was an important release for many of us, although I usually stick to music released in the year I cover. Thanks for the tip about your 15 post!
Thanks! SP is one of those groups I never followed too closely, even though many artists I admire have championed them over the years (Miles, Meshell Ndegeocello, etc). Maybe it’s time to revisit!
Agree on the “Scorchers” inclusion. How hot would they be if they were a “new” band? You could argue that they blazed the trail for the popularity of the country/rock genre we hear now.
Wow! That is very thorough, and having (barely) graduated high school in 1985, I really value this. I wonder if there's a FILTHY FIFTEEN playlist already floating around? Otherwise I'll make one... thank you!
I was in my early 20s in 1985 and listening to a lot of pop. At the end of the year when my friends and I had our annual Top Ten party, these were in my Ten:
Solid! I was back and forth on adding some of those to the mixtape. I loved "Everything She Wants" and "Careless Whisper," but they were on an album that came out in '84, same with "Smooth Operator" and "Angel." I was also torn on adding Phil to it, but ultimately decided against it. It seemed like he was on almost every album I bought that year!
I also completely overlooked one of the year's biggest albums in my Best of 1984 post last year, Bryan Adams' 'Reckless'! But it was released so late in the year (November, I think), I always associated it with 1985. Memories can sure mess with the mind.
Release dates were always a debate for us. We ended up deciding that if a single was released in a given year OR was a hit in the next year it would qualify for our Top Ten lists. Madonna's album (and Wham's and Sade's) was released in '84 as was the first single. However, the additional releases from the album came out in '85. To this day I find it frustrating to try evaluating an album that comes out at the end of the year. I usually push them into the next one when they were really in my consciousness.
I have an inner debate on that whenever I do one of these things, but ultimately, to keep it clean, I stick with album release years. If nothing else, it's to keep the "Actuallyyyyy" keyboard warriors from coming after me. Ha!
Thank you as always - I love your “Best of” articles. BUT. Ima have to take exception with some of your rankings. You will not be surprised at all that I am scandalized by “New Day Rising” being a mere honorable mention. But also “Songs from the Big Chair” - it could supplant the Firm. I’d also swap out Power Station for “Riptide” 😉 Thanks for inclusion of Lone Justice and the Hoodoos, and Fables is one of my favorite REM albums and doesn’t get enough love. 🤘🤘
😝 OK I’ll revisit Power Station - I just always dug Robert Palmer. Fun/weird fact: he used to cover “New Day Rising” in his concerts. Have a great weekend!
I adored Palmer. His first few albums with Little Feat and the Meters are all-timers for me. He kept his stellar taste all through his career, even while everything was going nuts around him.
Point taken, but I was not really into Bob Mould and Co in the moment (I'd make up for it in my 20s), and while I dearly loved Tears for Fears when I heard them on the radio, I never got the full album, believe it or not! (Although I did add them to the mixtape.)
And Riptide over Power Station? I know it's basically the same players, but you, sir, are mad! :)
Nice! I have that keyboard along with a Linn drum machine and a few other mid 80's Yamaha drum machines and keys. My daughter's 18 year old boyfriend is going to college for audio and he flips out every time I break one of these vintage pieces out and let him fiddle with it. Then again, if it's early 2000's it's vintage to them so these pieces from the 80-'s are dinosaurs....
Those ‘80s patches/sounds are now all the rage again. Being 35-40 years removed, I admit I’m fonder of them now than when I was inundated with them back then.
Michael, you’ve taken me back into the throws of time where I criticized and scoffed at every Top 40 effort. Music snob indeed! “We Built This City” made it way to easy to grasp your forehead, shake it in dissapproval and craft out a smirk. Nonetheless, what a tribute to ‘85 and kicking up the nostalgia and having the courage to acknowledge what was on the radio. With that said, I’d add The Smith’s Meat is Murder as an album with the “hidden” How Soon Is Now? to your Mixtape. Who can forget the reverbing, swirling, rhythmic repetition and treble howl of Johnny Marr’s guitar. Absolute audible crack.
"How Soon Is Now" was definitely one I was considering, although I didn't really get into it until the early '90s, it's a masterful track. I'd forced myself to stick to 85 songs, which made exclusions painfully difficult. Thanks for reading!
You forgot the most embarrassing moment of '85 - the localized version of "We Built This City" whereby local DJs (if you remember those before Clear Channel bought everything) could layer in the patter in the middle eight. The first time I heard it I actually cringed while driving the car and then felt sorry for the DJ who had probably been forced to do it at gunpoint.
Check out the very first footnote. :) I’d forgotten the mechanism, but you’re correct. What a task…and I’m lucky that I didn’t start in radio until the following year!
Hah, that's what I get for reading in email - one of Substack's many curious faults is to truncate things in email and on desktop in some apparent attempt to make you use the mobile app. And BTW this was in Wilmington which at that date was still a small burgh next to a moving mud puddle of a river.
No worries! Oh, yes…we went to Wrightsville Beach a few times back then. (Though I’m more partial to the Atlantic Beach area, no offense.) We even stayed at the Blockade Runner once.
I was 20 in 1985 and this brings back a lot of great memories. And if I can say – and I'm sure younger people will roll their eyes at this – but they really did make better, more varied, more interesting music back then.
jason and the scorchers. thanks for that! absolutely sweet marie, too.
lone justice. coulda. woulda. shoulda. o7
Wow, such a fantastic post and list, really takes me back! Personally I’d have put The Cult’s Love and Sting’s Dream of the Blue Turtles above the honorable mention line, but that’s a minor quibble.
I’d also add The Smiths’ Meat Is Murder and Til Tuesday’s Voices Carry as top albums. I’d have to include the Depeche Mode compilation Catching Up With Depeche Mode as it was a foundational record for me at the time. It was the first time I’d ever heard them and I fell in love with the band on the back of that album.
Earlier this year I covered a handful of songs on The Filthy Fifteen list, which you can find here if you’re interested: https://open.substack.com/pub/joyinthejourney/p/five-faves-the-filthy-fifteen
Thanks! I get your point about the DM comp, that was an important release for many of us, although I usually stick to music released in the year I cover. Thanks for the tip about your 15 post!
Great overview Michael. For me 1985's favorite album remains Scritti Politti's Cupid & Psyche.
Thanks! SP is one of those groups I never followed too closely, even though many artists I admire have championed them over the years (Miles, Meshell Ndegeocello, etc). Maybe it’s time to revisit!
Glad to see the love for the Hoodoo Gurus and Jason and the Scorchers. “White Lies” might be favorite song from the 80s.
Agree on the “Scorchers” inclusion. How hot would they be if they were a “new” band? You could argue that they blazed the trail for the popularity of the country/rock genre we hear now.
Nice collection! Thanks
Also, "We Built This City" is awesome.
Alright now, calm down. :)
Wow! That is very thorough, and having (barely) graduated high school in 1985, I really value this. I wonder if there's a FILTHY FIFTEEN playlist already floating around? Otherwise I'll make one... thank you!
I don’t think the Vanity one is available on streaming platforms, otherwise, feel free!
I was in my early 20s in 1985 and listening to a lot of pop. At the end of the year when my friends and I had our annual Top Ten party, these were in my Ten:
New Attitude - Patti LaBelle
Everything She Wants - Wham!
Smooth Operator - Sade
Savin' All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
Angel - Madonna
Go Home - Stevie Wonder
Into the Groove - Madonna
Dare Me - The Pointer Sisters
Sussudio - Phil Collins
In My House - Mary Jane Girls
That's what 1985 was to me at the time!
Solid! I was back and forth on adding some of those to the mixtape. I loved "Everything She Wants" and "Careless Whisper," but they were on an album that came out in '84, same with "Smooth Operator" and "Angel." I was also torn on adding Phil to it, but ultimately decided against it. It seemed like he was on almost every album I bought that year!
I also completely overlooked one of the year's biggest albums in my Best of 1984 post last year, Bryan Adams' 'Reckless'! But it was released so late in the year (November, I think), I always associated it with 1985. Memories can sure mess with the mind.
Release dates were always a debate for us. We ended up deciding that if a single was released in a given year OR was a hit in the next year it would qualify for our Top Ten lists. Madonna's album (and Wham's and Sade's) was released in '84 as was the first single. However, the additional releases from the album came out in '85. To this day I find it frustrating to try evaluating an album that comes out at the end of the year. I usually push them into the next one when they were really in my consciousness.
I have an inner debate on that whenever I do one of these things, but ultimately, to keep it clean, I stick with album release years. If nothing else, it's to keep the "Actuallyyyyy" keyboard warriors from coming after me. Ha!
That said, however, I agree with you!
Thank you as always - I love your “Best of” articles. BUT. Ima have to take exception with some of your rankings. You will not be surprised at all that I am scandalized by “New Day Rising” being a mere honorable mention. But also “Songs from the Big Chair” - it could supplant the Firm. I’d also swap out Power Station for “Riptide” 😉 Thanks for inclusion of Lone Justice and the Hoodoos, and Fables is one of my favorite REM albums and doesn’t get enough love. 🤘🤘
😝 OK I’ll revisit Power Station - I just always dug Robert Palmer. Fun/weird fact: he used to cover “New Day Rising” in his concerts. Have a great weekend!
I adored Palmer. His first few albums with Little Feat and the Meters are all-timers for me. He kept his stellar taste all through his career, even while everything was going nuts around him.
You, too!
Point taken, but I was not really into Bob Mould and Co in the moment (I'd make up for it in my 20s), and while I dearly loved Tears for Fears when I heard them on the radio, I never got the full album, believe it or not! (Although I did add them to the mixtape.)
And Riptide over Power Station? I know it's basically the same players, but you, sir, are mad! :)
The Simmons drum pads, Yamaha DX7 keyboards, neon, Phil Collins, big hair, linen suits and loafers..... What a decade in music.
A couple of years later, I got a Roland D50. Still have it. It's handy for whenever I need a jolt of that era.
Nice! I have that keyboard along with a Linn drum machine and a few other mid 80's Yamaha drum machines and keys. My daughter's 18 year old boyfriend is going to college for audio and he flips out every time I break one of these vintage pieces out and let him fiddle with it. Then again, if it's early 2000's it's vintage to them so these pieces from the 80-'s are dinosaurs....
Those ‘80s patches/sounds are now all the rage again. Being 35-40 years removed, I admit I’m fonder of them now than when I was inundated with them back then.
What goes around comes around, right?
Outstanding.
Michael, you’ve taken me back into the throws of time where I criticized and scoffed at every Top 40 effort. Music snob indeed! “We Built This City” made it way to easy to grasp your forehead, shake it in dissapproval and craft out a smirk. Nonetheless, what a tribute to ‘85 and kicking up the nostalgia and having the courage to acknowledge what was on the radio. With that said, I’d add The Smith’s Meat is Murder as an album with the “hidden” How Soon Is Now? to your Mixtape. Who can forget the reverbing, swirling, rhythmic repetition and treble howl of Johnny Marr’s guitar. Absolute audible crack.
"How Soon Is Now" was definitely one I was considering, although I didn't really get into it until the early '90s, it's a masterful track. I'd forced myself to stick to 85 songs, which made exclusions painfully difficult. Thanks for reading!
You forgot the most embarrassing moment of '85 - the localized version of "We Built This City" whereby local DJs (if you remember those before Clear Channel bought everything) could layer in the patter in the middle eight. The first time I heard it I actually cringed while driving the car and then felt sorry for the DJ who had probably been forced to do it at gunpoint.
Check out the very first footnote. :) I’d forgotten the mechanism, but you’re correct. What a task…and I’m lucky that I didn’t start in radio until the following year!
Hah, that's what I get for reading in email - one of Substack's many curious faults is to truncate things in email and on desktop in some apparent attempt to make you use the mobile app. And BTW this was in Wilmington which at that date was still a small burgh next to a moving mud puddle of a river.
No worries! Oh, yes…we went to Wrightsville Beach a few times back then. (Though I’m more partial to the Atlantic Beach area, no offense.) We even stayed at the Blockade Runner once.
So much Phil Collins.