25May-07Jun
Wham!, "Everything She Wants" (comp. & prod. George Michael)

Composed, produced & performed by Michael alone, this is a masterpiece of electro pop-funk.
The long version is essential for the great bridge ("How could you settle...").
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf_L...

13Apr-10May
USA For Africa, "We Are the World" (comp. Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie; prod. Quincy Jones & Michael Omartian)

A so-so tune given some life by Ray, Stevie, Cyndi(!), the Dionne/Willie overlap.
The documentary is better than the song.
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ajk...

22Dec1984-01Feb1985
🎵 Madonna, "Like a Virgin" 🎵
Written by Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg.
Produced by Nile Rodgers.

Not one of my faves of hers, but solid. That huge Tony Thompson drum sound captured in the Power Station is always a treat.
#1985TopTunes
youtu.be/s__rX_WL10022

02Feb-15Feb
Foreigner, "I Want to Know What Love Is"
Written by Mick Jones.
Produced by Jones & Alex Sadkin.

Never dug this. The drums sound wrong.
Feat. the NJ Mass Choir & Jennifer Holliday on background vocals, Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey on keys.
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3Pr...

13Jul-26Jul
Duran Duran, "A View to a Kill"
(comp. Duran Duran & John Barry; prod. Bernard Edwards, Jason Corsaro & Duran Duran)

Released between The Power Station (Mar) & Arcadia (Nov) projects.
Fun verse structure, great John Taylor bass throughout.
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp4C...

06Jul-12Jul
Phil Collins, "Sussudio"
(comp. Collins; prod. Collins & Hugh Padgham)

Feat David Frank (The System) on synths, The Phenix Horns, & an arrangement by Chicago's own Tom "Tom Tom 84" Washington.
My least favorite tune on the album.
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sny3...

22Jun-05Jul
Bryan Adams, "Heaven"
(comp. Adams & Jim Vallance; prod. Adams & Bob Clearmountain)

Of '80s power ballads, this is another.
It's fine.
I'd take Journey's "Faithfully" every time.
#1985TopTunes
youtu.be/3eT464L1YRA

08Jun-21Jun
Tears For Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
(comp. Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley & Chris Hughes; prod. Hughes)

Great shuffle feel. Great synth sounds. Great bridge. Great guitar solo. Just great.
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCd...

18May-24May
Simple Minds, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (comp. Keith Forsey & Steve Schiff; prod. Forsey)

It's wild how many chart-toppers in 1985 were from movies.
This one is from THE BREAKFAST CLUB (dir. John Hughes).
It's okay. A nice galloping groove.
#1985TopTunes
youtu.be/CdqoNKCCt7A

11May-17May
Madonna, "Crazy For You" (comp. John Bettis & Jon Lind; prod. John "Jellybean" Benitez)

Her 2nd chart-topper of '85, from the film VISION QUEST (dir. Harold Becker).
Nice arrangement, but overall: meh.
"Live to Tell" is a better ballad.
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHut...

30Mar-12Apr
Phil Collins, "One More Night" (comp. Collins; prod. Collins & Hugh Padgham)

After "Easy Lover" (w/Philip Bailey) hit #2 weeks earlier, this lead US single from NO JACKET is a lovely ballad w/Don Myrick (EW&F) on sax, & strings arranged by Arif Mardin.
#1985TopTunes
youtu.be/zKVq-P3z5Vg

09Mar-29Mar
REO Speedwagon, "Can't Fight This Feeling"
Written by Kevin Cronin.
Produced by Cronin, Gary Richrath & Alan Gratzer.

Members of the band called this "that stupid ballad" & who am I to argue? 🤷
Not for me 🤢
#1985TopTunes
youtu.be/zpOULjyy-n8

18Feb
Phil Collins' NO JACKET REQUIRED is released (prod. Collins & Hugh Padgham).
Collins was all over the 1985 pop music landscape, with some chart-topping singles coming later in this #1985TopTunes thread.
This was the first CD I ever bought.
"Long Long Way to Go"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKMR...

16Feb-08Mar
Wham! feat George Michael, "Careless Whisper"
Written by GM & Andrew Ridgeley.
Produced by GM.

Perfection.
Several people tried playing that iconic sax line (composed by GM) until Steve Gregory nailed it. Tasty acoustic guitar by Ridgeley.
#1985TopTunes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGw...

1985 was a huge year in my young life memories, especially for its pop music.
Will start a #1985TopTunes song nest here of tracks that topped the Billboard charts as they appeared 40 years ago.