Number Ones 1985 in the UK
There were 20 number ones in 1985 in the UK, with 2 of those holding the top spot for 5 weeks apiece. A quick glance at the rundown reveals that this was the year of the 80s power ballad – and the female solo artist.
The Christmas no 1 in 1985 continued a run of success for one of the best selling artists ever in the UK, and is still regularly played during the festive season today. At the start of the year, 1984’s Christmas number one also dominated, as it still rules the airwaves decades later during December every year.
Other top songs in 1985 included a tune about the Vietnam War, a huge hit from a musical duet and what I regard as one of the best ballads ever.
In 1985 I was 11, so old enough to know what music I liked and what I didn’t. My taste has changed since then in some ways, but remains constant in others. I still own a few of these tracks on CD and I often ask Alexa to play another.
Here they are. In this series of 80s number one songs by year, this is 1985.
The 20 number ones 1985 in the UK
Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas
2 weeks at number one in January 1985
Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is
2 weeks at number one in January & February 1985
Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson – I Know Him So Well
4 weeks at number one in February & March 1985
Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
2 weeks at number one in March 1985
Phil Bailey & Phil Collins – Easy Lover
4 weeks at number one in March & April 1985
USA for Africa – We Are The World
2 weeks at number one in April 1985
Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer
1 week at number one in May 1985
Paul Hardcastle – 19
5 weeks at number one in May & June 1985
The Crowd – You’ll Never Walk Alone
2 weeks at number one in June 1985
Sister Sledge – Frankie
4 weeks at number one in June & July 1985
Eurythmics – There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)
1 week at number one in July 1985
Madonna – Into The Groove
4 weeks at number one in August 1985
UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – I Got You Babe
1 week at number one in August 1985
David Bowie & Mick Jagger – Dancing In The Street
4 weeks at number one in September 1985
Midge Ure – If I Was
1 week at number one in October 1985
Jennifer Rush – The Power of Love
5 weeks at number one in October & November 1985
Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart
2 weeks at number one in November 1985
Wham – I’m Your Man
2 weeks at number one in November & December 1985
Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You
2 weeks at number one in December 1985
Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone
1 week at number one in December 1985
What do you think of the number ones 1985?
Which of these 1985 top songs did you own, if any? I had David Bowie and Mick Jagger’s track and of course the band Aid tune on vinyl, plus I owned the Wham, Whitney Houston and Madonna albums in the same format.
The hit songs from 1985 began with Band Aid, and the Wembley Live Aid gig took place in July 1985. My hubby could in fact hear it from his house, as he lived in West London (or what was then Middlesex) at the time.
Several of these number one hits of 1985 were for charity, including those by David Bowie and Mick Jagger, USA for Africa and The Crowd. My favourite of the hit singles from 1985 at the moment is the Foreigner track – somehow for me it manages that rare trick of being powerful without any schmaltz whatsoever.
Marcy x
Discover all the number one singles from the rest of the 80s here:
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