We’ve now hit the halfway mark of our Best of the ’80s Redux series of year-by-year song polls as we move on to the year 1985, giving Slicing Up Eyeballs readers the chance to vote for their 25 favorites as we rank the 100 best songs released that year.
The Best of the ’80s Redux polls launched in 2015 and covered 1980 and 1981 before fizzling out (the whole site ultimately went on hiatus for almost two years). But last year we kickstarted the series, and relaunched it with polls that ranked the best songs of 1982, 1983 and 1984.
VOTING: For the album polls (and our more recent artist discography polls), we presented you with a list, sometimes hundreds of titles long, to choose from, plus the ability to offer write-ins. We inevitably missed titles, and some argued this skewed the results. So this time, it’s a (mostly) free-for-all. You may vote for any songs you’d like — singles, B-sides, album cuts, etc. It’s all fill-in-the-blanks, not multiple choice.
A few important things to note:
- To be eligible, songs must have been released in some format — whether it be on an album, EP or a single — for the first time during the year 1985. That means, for example, that a song that’s released as a single in 1986 will be eligible for the 1985 poll if it first appeared on an album released in 1985. Splitting hairs? Sure, but we have to draw the line somewhere.
- But wait! There’s an exception. The so-called “Radio Free Europe” rule. Just as we allowed R.E.M.’s twice-released debut single to be voted on in two different years, we’ll let people vote twice for songs that are re-released in re-recorded versions — such as a-ha’s “Take On Me,” the original version of which came in at No. 42 in our 1984 poll. The much more familiar version, the worldwide hit, was released in 1985 and can be voted in this poll.
- With the album polls, acknowledging the theme of this website, we limited voting to artists that fall under the very loose and ill-defined “alternative” banner, generally acts from the punk, post-punk, goth, college rock, indie, synthpop, industrial, New Wave and related genres. Not the case anymore — although that’s still likely how the results will skew. For the song polls, vote for whatever you want.
- Well, there is one limit. To prevent one-note fans from, say, simply listing every track off The Head on the Door, you may only vote for a maximum of two songs by the same artist when filling out your Top 25. Any ballots submitted with more than two songs by the same artist will be disqualified.
DEADLINE: Voting will be open through 5 p.m. ET Friday, May 10, and results will be posted at some point thereafter — after which we’ll launch the 1986 poll and take it from there.
Sound good? Then vote away via the survey widget posted below. And if you have trouble with that embedded widget, you may vote directly on Polldaddy’s site.
And because there’s not a pre-set list to choose from, we encourage you to lobby for your picks (list your whole ballot if you want), and maybe sway some votes, in the comments below.
Finally, if you’re drawing a blank on what came out that year, take a look back at our Top 100 albums of 1985 poll results, or check out these other resources:
- Wikipedia: 1985 singles
- Songfacts: Songs released in 1985
- Billboard’s Top 100 songs of 1985
- NME’s albums and tracks of the year: 1985
- WLIR & WDRE 92.7 FM Screamer & Shrieks of the Week
- KROQ’s Top 106.7 songs of 1985
- 91X’s Top 91 of 1985
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Top 100 Songs of 1984: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 5
- Top 100 Songs of 1983: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 4
- Top 100 Songs of 1982: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 3
- Top 100 Songs of 1981: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 2
- Top 100 Songs of 1980: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 1
- Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the 1980s: The Top 100 albums from 1980-1989
Huge year… so many “Just missed…” Looking forward to reviewing other lists before I official submit mine.
Self-limited to one song per artist/band, and double checked release dates per Wikipedia.
Top 25 Best of 1985
25. Yello, “Oh Yeah”
24. Fine Young Cannibals, “Funny How Love Is”
23. Lick the Tins, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
22. Wang Chung, “To Live and Die in L.A.”
21. The Cure, “In Between Days”
20. Suzanne Vega, “Small Blue Thing”
19. Echo and the Bunnymen, “Bring On the Dancing Horses”
18. Prefab Sprout, “Desire As”
17. Tears for Fears, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
16. New Order, “Love Vigilantes”
15. ‘Til Tuesday, “Voices Carry”
14. The Hooters, “And We Danced”
13. Jesus & Mary Chain, “Just Like Honey”
12. Kate Bush, “Hounds of Love”
11. Dream Academy, “The Edge of Forever”
10. Simple Minds, “Ghost Dancing”
9. Cult, “She Sells Sanctuary”
8. Big Audio Dynamite, “Medicine Show”
7. Pete Townshend, “Give Blood”
6. Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Cities in Dust”
5. Talking Heads, “And She Was”
4. R.E.M. “Driver 8”
3. Shriekback, “Nemesis”
2. The Waterboys, “The Whole of the Moon”
1. Marillion, “Kayleigh”
Just misses:
Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, “Lost Weekend”
Howard Jones, “No One Is to Blame”
The Pogues, “Dirty Old Town”
Oingo Boingo, “Just Another Day”
Sting, “Consider Me Gone”
INXS, “What You Need”
Tom Waits, “Downtown Train”
ABC, “Be Near Me”
a-Ha, “Take on Me”
Thompson Twins, “Lay Your Hands on Me”
The Smiths, “I Want the One I Can’t Have”
Simply Red, “Holding Back the Years”
Husker Du, “I Apologize”
Suzanne Vega, “Marlene On the Wall”
Sisters of Mercy, “Black Planet”
Scritti Politti, “Perfect Way”
The Replacements, “Left of the Dial”
The Bangles, “Walk Like an Egyptian”
Propaganda, “P-Machinery”
Prince & the Revolution, “Raspberry Beret”
Phil Collins, “Take Me Home”
Pet Shop Boys, “West End Girls”
The Alarm, “Spirit of 76”
Paul Hardcastle, “19”
OMD, “So In Love”
Nitzer Ebb, “Isn’t Funny How Your Body Works”
Nick Lowe, “I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll)
Marshall Crenshaw, “Blues is King”
Love and Rockets, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)”
Level 42, “Something About You”
Descendants, “Silly Girl”
David Bowie & Pat Metheny, “This is Not America”
Ok, based on responses below, looks like I need to make room for “Life’s What You Make It” (I thought it was 86, but nope…) and Faith No More.
Are we sure we can’t vote for 50? :)
I need 50. At least!
Seriously. Sophie’s choice was nothing compared to culling this list.
Let’s lobby Matt to change the rules! 50 songs… at least!
Agreed! this was a BRUTAL year to limit to just 25.
Does anything from Katrina and the Waves’ self titled album on Capitol Records qualify under the “Radio Free Europe” rule? Some of those songs were re-recorded and some were just remixes. A few I think may have been the original versions from their indie Canadian label years.
At least. This one’s gonna be the most brutal one yet.
Yup, I think the Waterboys “Whole of the Moon” holds up today as a great song (even with that sax riff at the end).
It certainly will be near the top of my list.
It was a very good year. -Frank Sinatra
Could easily have just done every song from Fables and Tim! Tough year.
Not to mention “Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash,” “Oil & Gold” “This Is The Sea” or a host of other gems.
Such a great year!
this probably won’t get hard for me until 87-89 when there’s a flood of “best albums” in the mix…so I got to choose more than one song in some instances for a change! Just hoping people don’t forget A View To A Kill, I almost did. Not as bad as when I forgot Just Like Heaven then A Forest edged it out by one vote…
Hello.
Well, one of the hardest years to choose only 25 songs. Not in preferencial order.
1 – Yello – Desire
2 – The Smiths – That joke isn’t funny anymore
3 – Tears for Fears – Head over heels
4 – Sisters of Mercy – No time to cry
5 – Sisters of Mercy – Marian
6 – New Order – Love vigilantes
7 – A-ha – The sun always shines on tv
8 – Icehouse – No promises
9 – Talking Heads – The lady don’t mind
10 – OMD – 88 seconds in Greensboro
11 – OMD – The native daughters of the golden west
12 – The Cure – In between days
13 – Kate Bush – Running up that hill
14 – INXS – This time
15 – Depeche Mode – Shake the disease
16 – Duran Duran – A view to a kill
17 – The Cult – She sells sanctuary
18 – Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking
19 – Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
20 – Oingo Boingo – Just another day
21 – Propaganda – P-Machinery
22 – B.A.D. – E=mc2
23 – Echo & The Bunnymen – Bring on the dancing horses
24 – Arcadia – Election day
25 – The Smiths – The boy with the thorn in his side
—-
And this was the songs that missed the list:
Bryan Ferry – Slave to Love
Simple Minds – Don’t you (forget about me)
Grace Jones – Slave to the rhythm
Propaganda – Duel
Power Station – Some like it hot
Killing Joke – Love like blood
New Order – Sunrise
A-ha – Take on me
A-ha – Here I stand and face the rain
The Cult – Revolution
ABC – Be near me
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – Brand New Friend
Indochine – Canary bay
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore always reminds me of my girlfriend from my early twenties. Such a great song. Hope it all turned out good for you Jeni.
“That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore always reminds me of my girlfriend from my early twenties. Such a great song. Hope it all turned out good for you Jeni.”
Now that is a proper rock ‘n roll response!
Every musical memory
deeply intertwined
with friends and lovers
that shared the time.
Top 25 Songs of 1985
Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
Dokken – It’s Not Love
AC/DC – Shake Your Foundations
The Smiths – That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
The Replacements – Kiss Me On the Bus
Madonna – Into the Groove
Prince + the Revolution – Raspberry Beret
Mary Jane Girls – In My House
Oingo Boingo – Just Another Day
‘Til Tuesday – No More Crying
Propaganda – Duel
Mötley Crüe – Louder Than Hell
Siouxsie + the Banshees – Cities In Dust
The Cure – Kyoto Song
New Order – Love Vigilantes
Thompson Twins – Lay Your Hands On Me
Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking
Cocteau Twins – Kookaburra
Jesus + Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
Echo + the Bunnymen – Bring On the Dancing Horses
ABC – Be Near Me
Eric Clapton – Forever Man
Phil Collins – Take Me Home
Sisters of Mercy – Black Planet
Bonus Five
Depeche Mode – Shake The Disease
Huey Lewis + the News – The Power of Love
Adam Ant – Vive le Rock
Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love
Tina Turner – We Don’t Need Another Hero
My list:
1: “Running Up That Hill” Kate Bush
2. “Voices Carry” ‘Til Tuesday
3. “Don’t You Forget About Me” Simple Minds
4. “This Time” INXS
5. “The Perfect Kiss” New Order
6. “Shout” Tears For Fears
7. “Cities in Dust” Siouxsie & The Banshees
8. “Push” The Cure
9. “The Edge of Forever” The Dream Academy
10. “Alive and Kicking” Simple Minds
11. “Bring on the Dancing Horses” Echo & the Bunnymen
12. “The Unforgettable Fire” U2
13. “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” Tears For Fears
14. “A Night Like This” The Cure
15. “Kiss The Dirt” INXS
16. “Elegia” New Order
17. “Lay Your Hands On Me” Thompson Twins
18. “How Soon Is Now” The Smiths
19. “So In Love” O.M.D
20. “Things Can Only Get Better” Howard Jones
21. “She Sells Sanctuary” The Cult
22. “Anything Anything” Dramarama
23. “Just Like Honey” The Jesus and Mary Chain
24. “Into The Groove” Madonna
25. “Election Day” Arcadia
Just fyi… Shout, Unforgettable Fire and How Soon is Now are all 1984, and made that list. Opens up three more slots if you need them.
Just fyi… Shout, Unforgettable Fire and How Soon is Now were all 1984… so that opens three slots on your list if you want ’em!
And She Was – Talking Heads
Ball of Confusion – Love & Rockets
Bitchin Camaro – The Dead Milkmen
Cities in Dust – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Deadman’s Party – Oingo Boingo
Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds
Driver 8 – REM
E=MC2 Big Audio Dynamite
Everyday is Halloween – Ministry
Holding Back The Years – Simply Red
How Soon Is Now? The Smiths
In Between Days – The Cure
Life In A Northern Town – The Dream Academy
Marlene On The Wall – Suzanne Vega
Oh Yeah – Yello
Perfect Way – Scritti Politti
Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush
Shout – Tears for Fears
Slave To Love – Bryan Ferry
Spin Me Around – Dead or Alive
The Sweetest Taboo – Sade
The Whole of the Moon – Waterboys
Voices Carry – Til Tuesday
West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys
When Love Breaks down – Prefab Sprout
A few on your list Julie were 84’
When love breaks down, How Soon is now and Shout
And “Everday is Halloween” and “You Spin me Around” as well, also 1984.
When love breaks down was re-released in 1985. Does that make it eligible?
Re-release is the same version, IIRC. That doesn’t count. If it was a new recording of the song (i.e. West End Girls, or Radio Free Europe, etc.) that is clearly different than the original, that counts. AFAIK, When Love Breaks Down was the same song/same recording, so the first time it was released is the correct year, 1984.
Bitchin’ Camaro SO reminds me of my cousin and his punk/hardcore punk obsession. We used to do the intro together. Fun times…
Husker Du’s “New Day Rising” came out that year, along with so many other great albums. Jesus and Mary Chain was hugely influential, Meat is Murder, two of the Cure’s biggest singles ever came out that year, “Perfect Kiss” by New Order, and then you have The Cult, The Pogues, The Replacements (Tim), Black Flag…jeez what a loaded year that was. Oh, and a sentimental favorite of 1985, “Take the Skinheads Bowling” by Camper van Beethoven.
My picks in reverse order for no good reason. :P
Tears for Fears, “Head Over Heels”
Tears for Fears, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”
Talking Heads, “Road to Nowhere”
The Smiths, “How Soon Is Now”
The Smiths, “Barbarism Begins at Home”
Simply Red, “Holding Back the Years”
Simple Minds, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”
The Replacements, “Bastards of Young”
The Replacements, “Left of the Dial”
Red Hot Chili Peppers, “If You Want me to Stay”
R.E.M., “Can’t Get There from Here”
Prince, “Rasberry Beret”
OMD, “So In Love”
New Order, “Love Vigilantes”
Minor Threat, “Salad Days”
Killing Joke, “Love Like Blood”
Julian Cope, “Sunspots”
The Jesus & Mary Chain, “Just Like Honey”
INXS, “What You Need”
Dream Academy, “Life in a Northern Town”
Dramarama, “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)”
The Cure, “Close To Me”
The Cure, “In Between Days”
The Cult, “She Sell Sanctuary”
A-Ha, “Take On Me”
Honorable Mentions:
Ratt-Lay It Down
Dokken-In My Dreams
Outfield-Your Love
Tom Waits-Downtown Train
UTFO-Roxanne, Roxanne
Yello-Oh Yeah
Sting-Fortress Around Your Heart
Sade-Sweetest Taboo
Camper Van Beethoven-Take the Skinheads Bowling
Motley Crue-Home Sweet Home
LL Cool J-I Can’t Live Without My Radio
John Fogerty-The Old Man Down the Road
Howard Jones-No One is to Blame
George Thorogood-I Drink Alone
The Firm-Radioactive
Corey Hart-Never Surrender
1. Siouxsie and the Banshees Cities in Dust
2. Prefab Sprout, Appetite
3. Tears for Fears, The Working Hour
4. Oingo Boingo, Dead Man’s Party
5. Rhythm & Noise, Schismatic
6. Mary Jane Girls, In My House
7. Simply Red, Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)
8. Love and Rockets, Ball of Confusion
9. The Cure, A Night Like This
10. Prefab Sprout When Love Breaks Down
11. Kate Bush, Mother Stands for Comfort
12. Cocteau Twins, Quisquose
13. Paul Hardcastle, 19
14. ‘Til Tuesday, Voices Carry
15. Kate Bush, Waking the Witch
16. Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Endicott
17. The Smiths, How Soon is Now?
18. The Fall, L.A.
19. Wall Of Voodoo, Big City
20. Rhythm & Noise, Bent Metal Forest
21. Tears for Fears, Head Over Heels
22. Scritti Politti, Perfect Way
23. The Cure, Kyoto Song
24. The Smiths, Barbarism Begins At Home
25. Wall Of Voodoo, Far Side of Crazy
For those unaware of Rhythm & Noise, I implore you to seek out their 2 albums on Ralph Records. The songs I chose (#s 5 and 20) come from R&N’s second LP, Chasms Accord. Despite their American roots (San Francisco, to be exact), R&N sound more European with their combination of dark ambient and nightmarish industrial. Imagine Tangerine Dream, Throbbing Gristle, Tuxedomoon, Cluster, Einsturzende Neubauten, and Popol Vuh having an orgy, and you might have a picture of what to expect. I’ve posted links to both LPs for others to investigate. I can’t praise this group highly enough. They deserve a mass rediscovery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViYU2hMiAbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnBjH0fRfpY
My Favourite 25 from 85’ in no particular order
Kate Bush – Cloudbusting
Kate Bush – Running up that Kill
The Cure – Close to Me
Prince – Raspberry Beret
The Cure – In Between Days
The Waterboys – The Whole of the Moon
Talk Talk – Life’s What You Make it
Camper Van Beethoven – Take the Skinheads Bowling
Echo and the Bunnymen – Bring on the Dancing Horses
The Pogues – Dirty Old Town
Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home
Suzanne Vega – Marlena on the Wall
The Style Council – Walls Come Tumbling Down
Prefab Sprout – Faron Young
The Smiths – The Boy with a Thorn in his Side
Prefab Sprout- Goodbye Lucille #1
Propaganda – Duel
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Brand New Friend
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Lost Weekend
R.E.M. – Driver 8
Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere
The Housemartins – Flag Day
The Waterboys – Don’t Bang the Drum
Tom Waits – Jockey Full Of Bourbon
Fine Young Cannibals – Blue
With Talk Talk’s ,Life’s What you Make It, Wikipedia says the following on its release
Released
* 1985 (Australia, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa)
* 1986 (UK and other countries)
This track could suffer in its position if it’s 85 and most will vote for it for 86’
What we going with this one?
How the ‘eff did I miss Faith No More for my list? This is why I wait to view other’s lists before I vote. Need to find a spot for that.
And I had no idea Housemartins had released in ’85, though they were going to be Top 10 in 1986. Nice one.
And good question about “Life’s What You Make It” because I had that at #2 on my 1986 list. So I want to vote for it in the correct year.
Anyone want to make a ruling on this?
As far as I can tell The Housemartin’s “Flag Day” single was their very first release and was indeed released in 1985. The “London 0 Hull 4” album was not released until well into 1986. Thus it seems “Flag Day” is eligible, but the rest of the album will be eligible in the 1986 poll.
Keep in mind that I am not the one who makes this final call, but that is what I got from the research I did.
That was what I figured… so I can vote for Flag Day now, and Happy Hour later!
I guess I’m going to put “Life’s What You Make It” on 85s list, just because I don’t want to miss the opportunity to vote for it. Then if it gets kicked off, put it on 86. Too great a song to miss getting the vote.
The Chills: Never Never Go
Fishbone: ? (Modern Industry)
The Jazz Butcher: Big Saturday
Robyn Hitchcock: My Wife and My Dead Wife
The Three Johns: Death Of The European
Cleaners From Venus: Julie Profumo
Midnight Oil: Hercules
999: Vicious Circle
Faith No More: We Care A Lot
Jason and the Scorchers: Shop It Around
Big Audio Dynamite: Medicine Show
The Cult: The Phoenix
Love and Rockets: If There’s A Heaven Above
The Chameleons: Singing Rule Britannia
Hoodoo Gurus: Bittersweet
REM: Can’t Get There From Here
Replacements: Left Of The Dial
Lime Spiders: Out Of Control
Stan Ridgway: Drive She Said
Dramarama: Scenario
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions: Cut Me Down
Wall Of Voodoo: Far Side Of Crazy
Screaming Blue Messiahs: Twin Cadillac Valentine
Mad Daddys: Ain’t Hit Me Yet
Dancing Hoods: Pleasure
Oh man, Robyn Hitchcock’s “Fegmania” album in 1985? Damn, this is getting to be even tougher that I was expecting!
Crud…left off CVB Club Med Sucks
Two I missed that others may not!:
Front 242, Don’t Crash
Echo & the Bunnymen, the original version of Bedbugs & Ballyhoo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbugs_and_Ballyhoo
Nothing here mentions a 1985 version. Do you have a reference, as I don’t think I’ve ever heard a different version of this song. I’d be interested.
Mine, in no particular order:
1 Ian Hunter – Good Man In A Bad Time
2 The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
3 Mr. Mister – Kyrie
4 Jane Wiedlin – Blue Kiss
5 Eurythmics – Would I Lie To You
6 China Crisis – King In Catholic Style
7 Simple Minds – Don’t You Forget About Me
8 Wang Chung – To Live And Die In L.A.
9 Shriekback – Nemesis
10 Sting – Fortress Around Your Heart
11 The Alarm – Strength
12 level 42 – Something about you
13 David Bowie & Pat Metheny – This is not america
14 Arcadia – The Promise
15 Oingo Boingo – Dead Man’s Party
16 Big Audio Dynmite – E=MC2
17 Dream Academy – Life in A northern town
18 Bryan Ferry – Sensation
19 Dramarama – Anything Anything
20 A-Ha – Take On Me
21 The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
22 Tears for Fears – Head Over Heels
23 ’Til Tuesday – Voices Carry
24 Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
25 Susanne Vega – Marlene on The Wall
Wasn’t even planning on doing this, but got to thinking…
1. The Cure – The Exploding Boy
2. The Cure – A Few Hours After This
3. The Smiths – Well I Wonder
4. The Smiths – Barbarism Begins At Home
5. Sisters of Mercy – Marian
6. The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
7. The Damned – Is It a Dream
8. Sisters of Mercy – No Time to Cry
9. The Cult – Revolution
10. Depeche Mode – Shake the Disease
11. The Damned – Shadow of Love
12. Gene Loves Jezebel – Shame
13. Echo & The Bunnymen – Bring on the Dancing Horses
14. Siouxsie + the Banshees – Cities In Dust
15. The Clash – Three Card Trick
16. Big Audio Dynamite – The Bottom Line
17. Big Audio Dynamite – E = mc^2
18. Gene Loves Jezebel – Cow
21. Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking
19. Bryan Ferry – Slave to Love
20. ABC – Ocean Blue
22. Icehouse – No Promises
23. Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
24. INXS – This time
25. ABC – Be Near Me
1. Death In June “The Calling”
2. The Misfits “Comeback”
3. Oingo Boingo “Dead Man’s Party”
4. Skeletal Family “Hands Of The Clock”
5. Clan Of Xymox “No Words”
6. Book Of Love “Boy”
7. Book Of Love “Lost Souls”
8. The Cure “The Exploding Boy”
9. Cocteau Twins “Pink Orange Red”
10. Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill”
11. Marc Almond “Trauma’s Trauma’s Trauma’s”
12. Marc Almond “Stories Of Johnny”
13. The Misfit’s “Some Kinda Hate”
14. Thomas Newman “New York Day”
15. New Order “Sub Culture”
16. Pat Benatar “Invincible”
17. The Style Council “Shout To The Top”
18. Depeche Mode “Shake The Disease”
19. A-Ha “The Sun Always Shines On TV”
20. B.A.D. “E=MC2”
21. The Sisters Of Mercy “Marian”
22. New Order “The Perfect Kiss”
23. The Cure “Close To Me”
24. Jesse Johnson’s Revue “Free World”
25. Dramarama “Anything, Anything”
The only reason “Cities in dust” or “the sweetest chill” is not on my list is because I bought “Tinderbox” in 1986. I can be too technical sometimes. Otherwise those songs would be “1 and #2. I still have the promo poster of Tinderbox framed on my wall.
Two of my favorite b-sides ever were released in 1985, both on the back of singles from albums that were released in 1984:
Big Country – Winter Sky; one of Stuart’s most evocative, lovely compositions.
U2 – Love Comes Tumbling; a brilliant, understated song; my favorite ever by them.
What a year! This was the sweet spot for my college years programming our campus radio station. There was SO MUCH great music I had to limit each artist to just one song each…and there was many songs that did not make my list! here is what I submitted:
1. FEARGAL SHARKEY “A GOOD HEART”
2. LONE JUSTICE “WAYS TO BE WICKED”
3. AMERICAN MUSIC CLUB “ROOM ABOVE THE CLUB”
4. SQUEEZE “LAST TIME FOREVER”
5. SIMPLE MINDS “ALIVE AND KICKING”
6. TALKING HEADS “AND SHE WAS”
7. ABC “BE NEAR ME”
8. JANE WIEDLIN “BLUE KISS”
9. DEPECHE MODE “PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE”
10. ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN “BRING ON THE DANCING HORSES”
11. R.E.M. “DRIVER 8”
12. SIOUXIE & THE BANSHEES “CITIES IN DUST”
13. OINGO BOINGO “DEAD MAN’S PARTY”
14. FISHBONE “PARTY AT GROUND ZERO”
15. BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE “THE BOTTOM LINE”
16. ARCADIA “ELECTION DAY”
17. TEARS FOR FEARS “HEAD OVER HEELS”
18. KATE BUSH “RUNNING UP THAT HILL”
19. THE SMITHS “HOW SOON IS NOW?”
20. INXS “WHAT YOU NEED”
21. THE CULT “RAIN”
22. ARTISTS UNITED AGAINST APARTHEID “SUN CITY”
23. THE WATERBOYS “THE WHOLE OF THE MOON”
24. TIL TUESDAY “VOICES CARRY”
25. THE BLASTERS “COLORED LIGHTS”
The “Reply” function doesn’t deem to be working, but there was an early version of Bedbugs ad one of the b-sides of the Dancing Horses 12” single. No Ray Manzerak, I dig it as an Echo relic, but it’s not *that* great which makes it a decent b-side; song definitely benefited from better production teo years later.
Thanks! Yeah… I’m always “meh” on voting for the early releases of classic songs. If they were so great, they wouldn’t have been rerecorded and released to fanfare later. Interesting from a fan/musicology POV, but probably not for a Best Of list.
Cool. Thanks again for the info.
I discovered a few songs I thought were released in ’85 don’t qualify, some on technicalities. “How Soon Is Now?” is one. It was originally released in 1984 as the B-side to “William, It was Really Nothing.” Some of the lists linked here also include songs that were not 1985 releases. Hate to burst anyone’s bubble. It ranked third on the 1984 list, btw. That’s also another way to check if you can include a song.
I’m glad someone mentioned Camper Van Beethoven’s “Take the Skinheads Bowling.” But no love for “Sally MacLennane,” my favorite Pogues song?
OK. Here is my tentative list. If anyone could be so kind as to let me know if any of these are not from 1985 before I formally submit it I would be very appreciative.
25. Elegia – New Order
24. Marlene On The Wall – Suzanne Vega
23. Pass It On – Lone Justice
22. This World – The Dream Academy
21. In Between Days – The Cure
20. We Work The Black Seam – Sting
19. If I Was – Midge Ure
18. Would I Lie To You – Eurythmics
17. Knight Moves – Suzanne Vega
16. Don’t Bang The Drum – The Waterboys
15. Close To Me – The Cure
14. The Lady Don’t Mind – Talking Heads
13. Walking On Sunshine — Katrina & The Waves
12. Faded Flowers – Shriekback
11. It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back) – Eurythmics
10. The Old Main Drag – The Pogues
9. Love Vigilantes – New Order
8. Wendell Gee – R.E.M.
7. Cloudbusting – Kate Bush
6. Sally MacLennane – The Pogues
5. The Whole Of The Moon – The Waterboys
4. Nemesis – Shriekback
3. Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush
2. Sun City – Artists United Against Apartheid
1. Driver 8 – R.E.M.
The following fell victim to the no more than two songs per artist rule:
Virtually every song on The Pogues’ “Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash” album
Feeling Gravity’s Pull – R.E.M.
Maps and Legends – R.E.M.
Can’t Get There From Here – R.E.M.
Green Grow The Rushes – R.E.M.
Under The Ivy – Kate Bush
Mother Stands For Comfort – Kate Bush
The Big Hush – Shriekback
Everything That Rises Must Converge – Shriekback
This Is The Sea – The Waterboys
Old England – The Waterboys
The Pan Within – The Waterboys
Honorable mentions:
And She Was – Talking Heads
The Road To Nowhere – Talking Heads
Mexico – Katrina & The Waves
Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears
Mother’s Talk – Tears For Fears
Shout – Tears For Fears
Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds
Alive & Kicking – Simple Minds
My Wife And My Dead Wife – Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
After The Flood – Lone Justice
Ways To Be Wicked – Lone Justice
East of Eden – Lone Justice
Life In A Northern Town – The Dream Academy
The Love Parade – The Dream Academy
The Perfect Kiss – New Order
Great list. Is there a digital version of Sun City anywhere? I’ve never been able to find it, though I had a 12″ of it back in 85 that I somehow don’t have any longer. Been wanting to find that track again, but I tend to only buy physical music, not downloads… but in this case I may have to break down… if it is out there. (To pay for… I refuse to listen to music I didn’t pay for.)
To my knowledge, no. And it’s sad.
Sure, the topical nature of the project puts it out of date but it was still such a milestone in 80’s music (and a real lifeline for those of us in the day who were NOT drinking the Reagan
Kool-Aid.) I had the 45 RPM and album. The album was made available on CD in the early 90’s but used copies fetch a pretty penny (a quick look online suggests that such copies start at about 50 bucks.)
The video is up at You Tube.
Just wanted to throw this out there for an idea, though I know space is tight with only 25:
Aztec Camera “Jump”
And another one for your consideration:
Blancmange “Lose Your Love”
01. The Replacements, “Left of the Dial”
02. Hüsker Dü, Celebrated Summer”
03. The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Something’s Wrong”
04. 28th Day, “25 Pills”
05. Big Audio Dynamite, “E=MC2”
06. The Smiths, “How Soon Is Now?”
07. R.E.M, “Life and How To Live It”
08. Blow Monkeys, “Forbidden Fruit”
09. Pop Art, “The Party”
10. The Jesus and Mary Chain, “My Little Underground”
11. The Chant, “For You”
12. Died Pretty, “Out of the Unknown”
13. Hoodoo Gurus, “Bittersweet”
14. Hüsker Dü, Keep Hanging On”
15. U2, “The Three Sunrises”
16. Katrina & The Waves, “Red Wine & Whisky”
17. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, “Perfect Skin”
18. Til Tuesday, “Voices Carry”
19. Pale Fountains, “Jean’s Not Happening”
20. Prince, “Raspberry Beret”
21. R.E.M, “Driver 8”
22. Replacements, “Here Comes a Regular”
23. Danny & Dusty, “The King of the Losers”
24. Lone Justice, “East of Eden”
25. Beastie Boys, “She’s On It”
28th Day — excellent! Glad someone else remembers (although my vote will be for “Pages Turn”….)
Agree with everyone that said this was a tough year to narrow down to 25. As I look at all your lists, I’m like – whoa yes! Here’s mine.
1. Tears for Fears, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World
2. New Order, “Perfect Kiss”
3. Chaka Khan, “I Feel For You”
4. The Cure, ”Close to Me”
5. Eurythmics, “Would I Lie to You?”
6. Sade, “Smooth Operator”
7. General Public, “Tenderness”
8. Echo and the Bunnymen, “Bring on the Dancing Horses”
9. ABC, “Be Near Me”
10. Kate Bush, “Running Up the Hill”
11. Book of Love, “Boy”
12. Bronski Beat, “Smalltown Boy”
13. Pet Shop Boys, “West End Girls – 1985 remix”
14. Tears for Fears, “Shout”
15. The Cure, “In Between Days”
16. Howard Jones, “Things Can Only Get Better”
17. Simple Minds, “Don’t You Forget About Me”
18. Scritti Politti, “Perfect Way”
19. Bryan Ferry, “Don’t Stop the Dance”
20. Phil Collins, “Sussudio”
21. Mary Jane Girls, “In My House”
22. Aha, “Take On Me”
23. Talking Heads, “And She Was”
24. Sheila E, “A Love Bizarre”
25. Dead or Alive, “Spin me Around”
If you haven’t voted yet, several of yours were 84 and on that list.
“Spin Me Around”
“Shout”
“Smalltown Boy”
“Tenderness”
So that opens up some spots in the crunch of so many good songs.
Chaka Khan was also originally from 1984
25-Flesh for Lulu, “Vaguely Human”
24-The Replacements, “Hold My Life”
23-Suzanne Vega, “Marlene on the Wall”
22-Killing Joke, “Night Time”
21-Throwing Muses, “Fish”
20-Killing Joke, “Kings and Queens”
19-Simple Minds, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”
18-Tears for Fears,”Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
17-Dire Straits, “The Man’s Too Strong”
16-Prince and the Revolution, “Pop Life”
15-R.E.M., “Maps and Legends”
14-Sting, “Fortress Around Your Heart”
13-The Cure, “Close to Me”
12-Dire Straits, “So Far Away”
11-Prince and the Revolution, “Raspberry Beret”
10-R.E.M., “Life and How to Live It”
9-Dream Academy, “Life in a Northern Town”
8-The Dentists,”Strawberries Are Growing in My Garden (and It’s Winterttime)”
7-Dukes of Stratosphear, “Bike Ride to the Moon”
6-Tears for Fears, “Head over Heels”
5-The Smiths, “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”
4-The Damned, “Grimly Fiendish (The Bad Trip Mix)”
3-Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Cities in Dust”
2-Kate Bush, “Jig of Life”
1-Kate Bush, “The Big Sky”
Oh man, I totally nerfed on The Dukes Of Stratosphear rekkid…”My Love Explodes” should be on my list.
Bedbugs & Ballyhoo original version is the 2nd b-side on the 12″ for BOTDH, 1985.
1. KATE BUSH – Hounds of Love
2. PRINCE – Raspberry Beret
3. R. E. M. – Life and How to Live It
4. THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN – Just Like Honey
5. KATE BUSH – Running Up That Hill
6. THE CURE – Push
7. THE POGUES – Dirty Ol’ Town
8.TALKING HEADS – Road to Nowhere
9. R. E. M. – Feeling Gravity’s Pull
10. TOM PETTY – Don’t Come Around Here No More
11. CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN – Take the Skinheads Bowlung
12. TOM WAITS – Singapore
13. THE SMITHS – That Joke Isn’t Funny Amymote
14. THE REPLACEMENTS – Left of the Dial
15. THE FALL – Cruisers Creek
16. THE CURE – In between Days
17. NEW ORDER – Love Vigilantes
18. NICK CAVE & THE Bad SEEDS – Tupelo
19. GRACE JONES – Slave to the Rythym
20. KILLING JOKE – Eighties
21. DEPECHE MODE – Shake This Disease
22. TALKING HEADS – The Lady Don’t Mind
23. EINSTRUZENDE NEUBAUTEN – Yu Gung
24. COCTEAU TWINS – Aikea-Guinea
25. HUSKER DU – Celebrated Summer
Hot damn, 1985 was chockablock with fantastic music. So many favorites had to be relegated to “also ran”s.
The (most likely) final list:
a-ha, “Take on Me”
Big Audio Dynamite, “The Bottom Line”
Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
The Cult, “She Sells Sanctuary”
The Cure, “Close to Me”
The Cure, “In Between Days”
Echo and the Bunnymen, “Bring on the Dancing Horses”
Killing Joke, “Love Like Blood”
Level 42, “Something About You”
Pet Shop Boys, “West End Girls”
New Order, “Elegia”
New Order, “The Perfect Kiss”
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, “So in Love”
Prince & the Revolution, “Pop Life”
R.E.M., “Can’t Get There From Here”
R.E.M., “Driver 8”
The Replacements, “Bastards of Young”
Scritti Politti, “Perfect Way”
Simple Minds, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”
Simply Red, “Holding Back the Years”
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Cities in Dust”
The Sisters of Mercy, “Marian”
Tears For Fears,”Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
The Waterboys, “The Whole of the Moon”
Also Ran…
Book of Love, “I Touch Roses”
The Cure, “Six Different Ways”
The Dream Academy, “Life in a Northern Town”
Howard Jones, “Life in One Day”
New Order, “Sub-culture”
The Pogues, “A Pair of Brown Eyes”
Prefab Sprout, “Desire As”
Prince & the Revolution, “Raspberry Beret”
Scritti Politti, “Wood Beez”
Talking Heads, “Road to Nowhere”
Tears For Fears, “Head Over Heels”
Tom Waits, “Rain Dogs”
Be so kind as to let me know if you notice a 1984 goof. TIA xoxo
Perfect skin was 1984..
I am dedicating most of my Top 25 picks to bands/songs that might not be getting as much love as they should.
Happy Boy – The Bolshoi
Dare To Be Stupid – Weird Al Yankovic
Pleasure And Pain – Divinyls
Praying Mantis – Don Dixon
Fire In The Twilight – Wang Chung
Bitchin’ Camaro – The Dead Milkmen
Marlene On The Wall – Suzanne Vega
Take The Skinheads Bowling – Camper Van Beethoven
Number One – Chaz Jankel
Lost Weekend – Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
Eighties – Killing Joke
Rock Me Amadeus – Falco
When Love Breaks Down – Prefab Sprout
Positively Lost Me – The Rave-Ups
My Wife And My Dead Wife – Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
King In A Catholic Style – China Crisis
Flag Day – The Housemartins
Nemesis – Shriekback
Perfect Way – Scritti Politti
The Whole Of The Moon – The Waterboys
Alive And Kicking – Simple Minds
Bike Ride To The Moon – The Dukes Of Stratosphear
Johnny Come Home – Fine Young Cannibals
Voices Carry – ‘Til Tuesday
Life In A Northern Town – The Dream Academy
D’oh! Forgot about Positively Lost Me. :( They may have to bump someone…
Nice call out to Don Dixon. Still trying to find “Most of the Girls Like to Dance But Only Some of the Boys Like To” on CD.
My copy was nearly impossible to find even back in the day. I might be willing to part with it…
Just checked and there is a CD copy up on eBay right now. Go get it!
I did just that! Thanks!
Would Heyday count as 1985 or 1986?
I surprisingly have the Australian cd
from 1985.
The Church’s “Heyday” was first released in 1985, so any songs on it would be eligible for the ’85 poll, not the ’86 poll
abc-be near me
AHA-Take on Me
Depeche Mode-Fly on the windscreen
Don Henley-Boys of Summer
echo & the bunnymen-bring on the dancing horses
Fishbone-Party at Ground Zero
INXS-What you need
Jazz Butcher-The Human Jungle
jesus and mary chain-just like honey
Katrina and the Waves-Walking on Sunhine
Level 42-Something About You
Makes no sense at all-Husker Du
New Order-The Perfect Kiss
OMD-So In Love
Pet Shop Boys-West End Girls
Prince-Raspberry Beret
REM-Can’t get there from here
replacements-bastards of young
siouxsie and the banshees-cities in the dust
tears for fears-Head over Heels
The Cult-She Sell Sanctuary
the cure-in between days
the smiths-How soon is now
thompson twins-Lay your hands on me
U2-Bad (live)
I know a couple of these are on albums that were released in ’84 but the singles came out in ’85 so I went with that.
My Picks for Best of ’85:
The Cure, “In Between Days”
The Cure, “Close to Me”
The Jesus & Mary Chain, “Just Like Honey”
New Order, “Sub-culture”
New Order, “Face Up”
The Smiths, “Stretch Out and Wait”
Siouxsie & the Banshees, “Cities in Dust”
Love & Rockets, “Haunted When the Minutes Drag”
Echo & the Bunnymen, “Bring on the Dancing Horses”
A-Ha, “Take on Me”
Kate Bush, “Running Up that Hill”
7 Seconds, “Walk Together, Rock Together”
Ministry, “Over the Shoulder”
Til Tuesday, “Voices Carry”
Thompson Twins, “Lay Your Hands on Me”
The Cult, “She Sells Sanctuary”
Billy Bragg, “It Says Here”
Billy Bragg, “Between the Wars”
The Waterboys, “The Whole of the Moon”
Simple Minds, “Don’t You Forget About Me”
Simple Minds, “Alive and Kicking”
Talking Heads, “Road to Nowhere”
Talking Heads, “And She Was”
Camper Van Beethoven, “Take the Skinheads Bowling”
The Dead Milkmen, “Bithchin’ Camaro”
Definitely a great year in music across multiple genres which made it hard to narrow down especially with the 2 songs per artist rule. I tried to select songs that still hold up and also influenced other music. Here is my list:
1. Prince – Raspberry Beret
2. U2- Bad (live) from the “Wide Awake in America EP”
3. The Cult- She Sells Sanctuary
4. New Order – The Perfect Kiss (Extended 12″ Mix)
5. Tears for Fears – Head Over Heals
6. Prince – Paisley Park
7. INXS – What You Need
8. Duran Duran – View to A Kill
9. Simple Minds – All the Things She Said
10. Sheila E – A Love Bizarre
11. Arcadia – Election Day
12. Eurythmics – Would I lie to You?
13. The Cure – Close to Me
14. UTFO – Roxanne, Roxanne
15. Til Tuesday – Voices Carry
16. Depeche Mode – Shake the Disease
17. Kate Bush – Running up that Hill
18. Power Station – Some like it Hot
19. Simple Minds – Ghost Dancing
20. New Order – Love Vigalantes
21. David Bowie/Pat Methany – This is Not America
22. INXS – This Time
23. Howard Jones – Things Can Only Get Better
24. The Family – Nothing Compares 2 U
25. The Jesus & Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
Just Missed:
Prince – America & Pop Life
Talking Heads – And She Was
ABC – Be Near Me
Simple Minds – Alive & Kicking
New Order – Sunrise
Love & Rockets – Ball of Confusion
Pet Shop Boys – Opportunities (single version)
Fishbone – Modern Industry
OMD – So in Love
Finally, another vote for “Ghost Dancing”… yes!
Thumbs up!
My Top 25 list in alphabetical by artist”
Clan of Xymox, “Muscoviet Mosquito”
Dead Can Dance, “The Cardinal Sin”
Depeche Mode, “Master and Servant”
Echo and the Bunnymen, “Bring on the Dancing Horses”
Eurythmics, “Would I Lie to You?”
Faith No More, “We Care a Lot”
Husker Du, “Makes No Sense At All”
Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill”
Killing Joke, “Love Like Blood”
Killing Joke, “Eighties”
New Order, “The Perfect Kiss”
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”
Simple Minds, “Don’t You Forget About Me”
R.E.M., “Driver 8”
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Cities in Dust”
Tears For Fears, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
The Cult, “She Sells Sanctuary”
The Cure, “In Between Days”
The Cure, “Push”
The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Just Like Honey”
Sonic Youth, “I’m Insane”
The Replacements, “Left of the Dial”
The Sisters of Mercy, “Marian”
The Smiths, “Barbarism Begins At Home”
The Smiths, “How Soon Is Now?”
Darn, I feel bad I missed putting Cocteau Twins in there…
As has been noted previously…
“How Soon is Now?”
“Eighties”
“Master and Servant”
… all ’84 songs… so that should free up space for Cocteau Twins.
ACK! HOW could I forget the Chris Isaak debut album and it’s stellar single “Dancin'”
and DON FREAKIN’ DIXON! Most of the girls like to dance but only some of the boys do! “Praying Mantis”…what a song! Damn, 1985 was an awesome year!
Would Castles In Spain count as 1984 or 1985?
From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Armoury_Show
Their debut single, “Castles in Spain”, was released in 1984, followed later that year by “We Can Be Brave Again”. Given the green light to record an album, the band spent four weeks at Manor Studios in rural Oxfordshire, with producer Nick Launay at the controls. The resultant album, Waiting for the Floods, and accompanying singles “The Glory of Love” and a re-release of “Castles in Spain” came out in 1985.
Anyone?
Would be nice to get this clarified before I submit my actual vote.
Thanks!
Since it’s not a new recording of the song appearing on the 1985 album, I’d say “Castles in Spain” is an ’84 release
just found this – actually, Castles in Spain was re-recorded for the 1985 album, so I guess that puts it back to a 1985 release?
https://www.armouryshow.com/history.html
Fishbone “Party at Ground Zero”
Dramarama “Anything, Anything”
New Order “The Perfect Kiss”
Forgot about those 3.
So, I came here to lobby for Nemesis, thinking no one would remember. And it’s in the first comment. And several others. I can see 1985 is in good hands. Carry on…..
We are no monsters
We’re moral people
And yet we have the strength to do this
Culling this ’85 list takes a LOT of strength. heh.
I submitted this before realizing I completely whiffed on The Head On Door entirely. It’s unlikely that I listened to anything more than that record between ‘85 and ‘86 (maybe Songs From The Big Chair – maybe).
I’m sure everyone else will cover my flagrant omission, right?
Meat Puppet – Up On The Sun
Husker Du – The Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill
Prince – Pop Life
R.E.M. – Life And How To Live It
Echo & The Bunnymen – Bring On The Dancing Horses
Depeche Mode – Shake The Disease
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians – My Wife and My Dead Wife
The Church – Already Yesterday
Camper Van Beethoven – Take The Skinheads Bowling
The Chameleons – In Shreds
The Smiths – How Soon Is It Now
The Power Station – Some Like It Hot
New Order – Love Vigilantes
The Dream Academy – Life in a Northern Town
Pet Shop Boys – Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)
Game Theory – 24
Tears for Fears – Head Over Heels
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Don’t Come Around Here No More
Grandmaster Flash – Sign of the Times
Scritti Politti – Hypnotize
Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere
Translator – Come With Me
Modern Industry – Fishbone
Prefab Sprout – When Love Breaks Down
Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Big Audion Dynamite-E=MC2
Dramarama – Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)
The Cult -Rain
The Cult- She Sells Sanctuary
The Smiths- That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Echo &the Bunnymen- Bring on the Dancing Horses
Dream Academy – Life in a Northern Town
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Cities in Dusta
The Cure- A Night Like This
The Cure – In Between Days
Propaganda- P-Machinery
Killing Joke – Love Like Blood
UB40 With Chrissie Hynde – I Got You Babe
U2 – Love Comes Tumbling
Chameleons – In Shreds
Sisters of Mercy- Marian
Sisters of Mercy – First and Last and Always
Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking
Simple Minds – Don’t You “Forget About Me”
Bryan Ferry – Slave to Love
Talking Heads – The Lady Don’t Mind
Talk Talk – Living in Another World
Tears For Fears – Shout
Bryan Ferry – Don’t Stop the Dance
The Replacements – Bastards of Young
in alphabetical order by band name
1. Abecedarians – Smiling Monarchs
2. Armory Show – Castles In Spain
3. Big Audio Dynamite – The Bottom Line
4. Chameleons – Home Is Where the Heart Is
5. Chameleons – P.S. Goodbye
6. China Crisis – King In A Catholic Style
7. Dramarama – Anything, Anything
8. Felt – Primitive Painters
9. Hoodoo Gurus – Bittersweet
10. Hoodoo Gurus – Like Wow, Wipeout
11. Hüsker Dü – Divide and Conquer
12. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Brand New Friend
13. Long Ryders – Looking For Lewis & Clark
14. Love & Rockets – Haunted When the Minutes Drag
15. Ministry – Over the Shoulder
16. New Order – Face Up
17. O.M.D. – 88 seconds in Greensboro
18. Prefab Sprout – Appetite
19. Propaganda – Duel
20. Propaganda – P-Machinery
21. R.E.M. – Driver 8
22. The Connells – Hats Off
23. The Rave-Ups – Positively Lost Me
24. The Replacements – Hold My Life
25. The Smiths – Headmaster Ritual
Egads this was difficult. I needed like 100.
1. Tears For Fears, “Everybody wants to Rule The World”
2. Eurythmics, “Sisters are Doin’ It For Themselves”
3. Eurythmics, “Would I Lie to You”
4. Tears For Fears, “Head Over Heels”
5. Howard Jones, “Things Can Only Get Better”
6. Big Audio Dynamite, “E=MC2”
7. Big Audio Dynamite, “The Bottom Line”
8. OMD, “So In Love”
9. Howard Jones, “No One Is To Blame”
10. A-ha, “Take On Me”
11. Talking Heads, “Road to Nowhere”
12. Sting, “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free”
13. Dead or Alive, “You Spin Me Round”
14. Prince, “Raspberry Beret”
15. Wham! “Careless Whisper”
16. New Order, “The Perfect Kiss”
17. Oingo Boingo, “Just Another Day”
18. Bruce Springsteen, “I’m On Fire”
19. Simple Minds, “Alive and Kicking”
20. Echo and the Bunnymen, “Bring on the Dancing Horses”
21. Dream Academy, “Life in a Northern Town”
22. A-ha, “The Sun Always Shines on TV”
23. Murray Head, “One Night in Bangkok”
24. Animotion, “Obsession”
25. Baltimora, “Tarzan Boy”
25 songs the hard way. No room or reason for honorable mentions, but it was difficult to pull only 25 songs from about 45. I expect 1986 will be even harder.
ABC, “How to be a Millionaire”
A-Ha, “The Sun Always Shines On TV”
Blancmange “Lose Your Love”
Communards, “Never Can Say Goodbye”
Depeche Mode, “It’s Called a Heart”
Depeche Mode, “Shake The Disease”
Falco, “Vienna Calling”
Fishbone, “Party At Ground Zero”
Grace Jones, “Slave To The Rythym”
Kate Bush, “Cloudbusting”
Kid Creole and the Coconuts, “Endicott
New Order “The Perfect Kiss”
Oingo Boingo, “Stay”
Propaganda, “Duel”
R.E.M., “Driver 8”
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians, “Brenda’s Iron Sledge”
Shriekback, “Everything That Rises Must Converge”
Shriekback, “Nemesis
Talking Heads, “Road To Nowhere”
The Cure, “In Between Days”
The Housemartins, “Flag Day
The Smiths, “Headmaster Ritual”
The The, “Flesh And Bones”
The Waterboys, “The Whole Of The Moon”
Yello, “Vicious Games”
INXS What You Need
The Jesus And Mary Chain Just Like Honey
Kate Bush Running Up That Hill
Dream Academy The Edge Of Forever
Rave-ups Positively lost me
The Smiths Barbarism Begins at Home
The Smiths The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Pet Shop Boys West End Girls
Hoodoo Gurus Bittersweet
Pet Shop Boys Love Comes Quickly
Level 42 Something About You
The Cult She Sells Sanctuary
Killing Joke Love Like Blood
INXS Shine Like It Does
Dramarama Anything, Anything
U2 Bad (live version from their 1985 EP )
Love and Rockets If There’s A Heaven Above
Love and Rockets Haunted When The Minutes Drag
The Hooters Where Do The Children Go
New Order Subculture
Oingo Boingo Just Another Day
The Power Station Bang A Gong
The Hooters Day by Day
Camper Van Beethoven Take The Skinheads Bowling
Simply Red Money’s Too Tight (to mention)
I think ‘Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly’ was 1986
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Please_(Pet_Shop_Boys_album)
Dang…guess I wasted one of my 25.
Wow, this was rough. Not going to even try to explain the algorithm that helped me calculate the order. Admittedly I left off a few that are already well covered. As well as a few that I probably should have added (“Praying Mantis”!)
1986 will be a lot easier… 1987s going to be the killer.
1. Shake the Disease—Depeche Mode
2. Close to Me—The Cure
3. Be Near Me – ABC
4. What You Need—INXS
5. Secret—OMD
6. A Night Like This—The Cure
7. A View to a Kill—Duran Duran
8. Some Like It Hot—The Power Station
9. Stay—Oingo Boingo
10. It’s Called a Heart—Depeche Mode
11. Just Another Day—Oingo Boingo
12. Slave to Love—Bryan Ferry
13. The Whole of the Moon—Waterboys
14. Perfect Way—Scritti Politti
15. Easy Lover—Phil Collins and Philip Bailey
16. Just Like Honey—Jesus and Mary Chain
17. Stay Up Late—Talking Heads
18. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free—Sting
19. The Wild Boys—Duran Duran
20. Don’t You (Forget About Me)—Simple Minds
21. And She Was—Talking Heads
22. Endicott—Kid Creole and the Coconuts
23. Things Can Only Get Better—Howard Jones
24. Election Day—Arcadia
25. The Perfect Kiss—New Order
1 The Cult She Sells Sanctuary
2 Echo and the Bunnymen Bring On the Dancing Horses
3 The Cure A Few Hours After This…
4 The Smiths The Boy with a Thorn in His Side
5 The Jesus and Mary Chain Just Like Honey
6 The Cult Rain
7 The Chameleons Looking Inwardly
8 The Replacements Bastards of Young
9 The Smiths That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
10 INXS This Time
11 Adam Ant Apollo 9
12 Rave-Ups Positively Lost Me
13 REM Life and How to Live It
14 The Replacements Hold My Life
15 The Church Already Yesterdy
16 The Cult Brother Wolf and Sister Moon
17 The Cure In Between Days
18 Simple Minds Don’t You Forget About Me
19 The Clash This is England
20 The Jesus and Mary Chain Never Understand
21 The Chameleons P.S. Goodbye
22 Husker Du I Apologize
25. The Cult – Rain
24. The Housemartins – Flag Day
23. Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere
22. The Pogues – A Pair of Brown Eyes
21. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Tupelo
20. Echo and the Bunnymen – Bring on the Dancing Horses
19. Killing Joke – Love Like Blood
18. New Order – The Perfect Kiss
17. Talk Talk – Life’s What You Make It
16. The Cure – Close to Me
15. Tom Waits – Clap Hands
14. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Cities in Dust
13. The Fall – My New House
12. Tom Waits – Jockey Full of Bourbon
11. Kate Bush – Cloudbusting
10. R.E.M. – Driver 8
9. Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels
8. The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
7. Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
6. The Jesus and Mary Chain – Never Understand
5. The Cure – In Between Days
4. The Fall – Paint Work
3. The Smiths – The Boy With the Thorn in His Side
2. The Smiths – Well I Wonder
1. The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
When will the results be posted?
Great Stuff! When’s the results going up?
Thank you. Hope all is well.
Any update about when the results might get posted???
All I want for Christmas is…
… the results of the Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux: 1985!
PLEEEEAAASEEE!