100 Greatest Songs From 1985
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
1. Money For Nothing
Dire Straits
2. Into the Groove
Madonna
3. Addicted To Love
Robert Palmer
4. Word Up!
Cameo
5. How Will I Know?
Whitney Houston
6. Walk Like An Egyptian
Bangles
7. The Power of Love
Huey Lewis & The News
8. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Tears for Fears
9. Don't You (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds
10. West End Girls (1985 version)
Pet Shop Boys
11. We Are the World
U.S.A. for Africa
12. Saving All My Love For You
Whitney Houston
13. Freeway of Love
Aretha Franklin
14. Walking On Sunshine
Katrina & The Waves
15. Everytime You Go Away
Paul Young
16. Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston
17. Raspberry Beret
Prince & The Revolution
18. That's What Friends Are For
Dionne Warwick & Friends
19. Sussudio
Phil Collins
20. Rock Me Amadeus
Falco
21. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
Tina Turner
22. Part-Time Lover
Stevie Wonder
23. Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush
24. Miami Vice Theme
Jan Hammer
25. In My House
Mary Jane Girls
26. When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
Billy Ocean
27. Rhythm of the Night
DeBarge
28. Oh Sheila
Ready For the World
29. Say You, Say Me
Lionel Richie
30. Would I Lie To You?
Eurythmics
31. Small Town
John Cougar Mellencamp
32. Living in America
James Brown
33. And She Was
Talking Heads
34. Broken Wings
Mr. Mister
35. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)
John Parr
36. We Built This City
Starship
37. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On
Robert Palmer
38. Who's Zoomin' Who?
Aretha Franklin
39. Holding Back the Years
Simply Red
40. These Dreams
Heart
41. Some Like It Hot
Power Station
42. Take Me Home
Phil Collins
43. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute To '60s Rock)
John Cougar Mellencamp
44. Sun City
Artists United Against Apartheid
45. I Can't Live Without My Radio
LL Cool J
46. The Show
Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew
47. She Sells Sanctuary
The Cult
48. Let's Go All the Way
Sly Fox
49. You Belong To the City
Glenn Frey
50. Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
Pet Shop Boys
51. There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)
Eurythmics
52. Road To Nowhere
Talking Heads
53. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
Jermaine Stewart
54. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Sting
55. Two of Hearts
Stacey Q
56. You Are My Lady
Freddie Jackson
57. Conga
Miami Sound Machine
58. Oh Yeah
Yello
59. 19
Paul Hardcastle
60. A View To Kill
Duran Duran
61. Lonely Ol' Night
John Cougar Mellencamp
62. You Give Good Love
Whitney Houston
63. Pop Life
Prince & The Revolution
64. All I Need is a Miracle
Mike + The Mechanics
65. Voices Carry
'Til Tuesday
66. Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves
Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin
67. Rock Me Tonight (For Old Time's Sake)
Freddie Jackson
68. Secret Lovers
Atlantic Starr
69. Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)
Mike + The Mechanics
70. Walk of Life
Dire Straits
71. Centerfield
John Fogerty
72. In Between Days
The Cure
73. Just Another Night
Mick Jagger
74. Alive and Kicking
Simple Minds
75. Brothers in Arms
Dire Straits
76. Dare Me
Pointer Sisters
77. A Love Bizarre
Sheila E.
78. Who's Holding Donna Now?
DeBarge
79. Rock the Bells
LL Cool J
80. One More Night
Phil Collins
81. All Cried Out
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
82. Your Love
Outfield
83. Separate Lives
Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
84. One of the Living
Tina Turner
85. Hangin' On a String (Contemplating)
Loose Ends
86. Tender Love
Force M.D.s
87. Head Over Heels
Tears For Fears
88. Burning Heart (Theme from "Rocky IV")
Survivor
89. Kyrie
Mr. Mister
90. I'm Your Man
Wham!
91. Things Can Only Get Better
Howard Jones
92. Forever Man
Eric Clapton
93. The Boy With the Thorn In His Side
Smiths
94. The Whole of the Moon
Waterboys
95. Close to Me
The Cure
96. Cry
Godley & Creme
97. So Far Away
Dire Straits
98. The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
A-Ha
99. King of Rock
Run-D.M.C.
100. The Payoff Mix
Double Dee & Steinski
Dire Straits
2. Into the Groove
Madonna
3. Addicted To Love
Robert Palmer
4. Word Up!
Cameo
5. How Will I Know?
Whitney Houston
6. Walk Like An Egyptian
Bangles
7. The Power of Love
Huey Lewis & The News
8. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Tears for Fears
9. Don't You (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds
10. West End Girls (1985 version)
Pet Shop Boys
11. We Are the World
U.S.A. for Africa
12. Saving All My Love For You
Whitney Houston
13. Freeway of Love
Aretha Franklin
14. Walking On Sunshine
Katrina & The Waves
15. Everytime You Go Away
Paul Young
16. Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston
17. Raspberry Beret
Prince & The Revolution
18. That's What Friends Are For
Dionne Warwick & Friends
19. Sussudio
Phil Collins
20. Rock Me Amadeus
Falco
21. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
Tina Turner
22. Part-Time Lover
Stevie Wonder
23. Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush
24. Miami Vice Theme
Jan Hammer
25. In My House
Mary Jane Girls
26. When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
Billy Ocean
27. Rhythm of the Night
DeBarge
28. Oh Sheila
Ready For the World
29. Say You, Say Me
Lionel Richie
30. Would I Lie To You?
Eurythmics
31. Small Town
John Cougar Mellencamp
32. Living in America
James Brown
33. And She Was
Talking Heads
34. Broken Wings
Mr. Mister
35. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)
John Parr
36. We Built This City
Starship
37. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On
Robert Palmer
38. Who's Zoomin' Who?
Aretha Franklin
39. Holding Back the Years
Simply Red
40. These Dreams
Heart
41. Some Like It Hot
Power Station
42. Take Me Home
Phil Collins
43. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute To '60s Rock)
John Cougar Mellencamp
44. Sun City
Artists United Against Apartheid
45. I Can't Live Without My Radio
LL Cool J
46. The Show
Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew
47. She Sells Sanctuary
The Cult
48. Let's Go All the Way
Sly Fox
49. You Belong To the City
Glenn Frey
50. Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
Pet Shop Boys
51. There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)
Eurythmics
52. Road To Nowhere
Talking Heads
53. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
Jermaine Stewart
54. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Sting
55. Two of Hearts
Stacey Q
56. You Are My Lady
Freddie Jackson
57. Conga
Miami Sound Machine
58. Oh Yeah
Yello
59. 19
Paul Hardcastle
60. A View To Kill
Duran Duran
61. Lonely Ol' Night
John Cougar Mellencamp
62. You Give Good Love
Whitney Houston
63. Pop Life
Prince & The Revolution
64. All I Need is a Miracle
Mike + The Mechanics
65. Voices Carry
'Til Tuesday
66. Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves
Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin
67. Rock Me Tonight (For Old Time's Sake)
Freddie Jackson
68. Secret Lovers
Atlantic Starr
69. Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)
Mike + The Mechanics
70. Walk of Life
Dire Straits
71. Centerfield
John Fogerty
72. In Between Days
The Cure
73. Just Another Night
Mick Jagger
74. Alive and Kicking
Simple Minds
75. Brothers in Arms
Dire Straits
76. Dare Me
Pointer Sisters
77. A Love Bizarre
Sheila E.
78. Who's Holding Donna Now?
DeBarge
79. Rock the Bells
LL Cool J
80. One More Night
Phil Collins
81. All Cried Out
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
82. Your Love
Outfield
83. Separate Lives
Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
84. One of the Living
Tina Turner
85. Hangin' On a String (Contemplating)
Loose Ends
86. Tender Love
Force M.D.s
87. Head Over Heels
Tears For Fears
88. Burning Heart (Theme from "Rocky IV")
Survivor
89. Kyrie
Mr. Mister
90. I'm Your Man
Wham!
91. Things Can Only Get Better
Howard Jones
92. Forever Man
Eric Clapton
93. The Boy With the Thorn In His Side
Smiths
94. The Whole of the Moon
Waterboys
95. Close to Me
The Cure
96. Cry
Godley & Creme
97. So Far Away
Dire Straits
98. The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
A-Ha
99. King of Rock
Run-D.M.C.
100. The Payoff Mix
Double Dee & Steinski
20 more worth mentioning.
101. Love Like Blood
Killing Joke
102. What You Need
INXS
103. Crush on You
Jets
104. Life in a Northern Town
Dream Academy
105. Something About You
Level 42
106. Party All The Time
Eddie Murphy
107. Election Day
Arcadia
108. Computer Love
Zapp
109. Trapped
Colonel Abrams
110. Slave To The Rhythm
Grace Jones
111. Just Like Honey
Jesus & Mary Chain
112. California Girls
David Lee Roth
113. Face the Face
Pete Townshend
114. Talk To Me
Stevie Nicks
115. Single Life
Cameo
116. Take the Skinheads Bowling
Camper Van Beethoven
117. Bastards of Young
Replacements
118. P.S.K. - What Does it Mean?
Schoolly D
119. Driver 8
R.E.M.
120. Find a Way
Amy Grant
Killing Joke
102. What You Need
INXS
103. Crush on You
Jets
104. Life in a Northern Town
Dream Academy
105. Something About You
Level 42
106. Party All The Time
Eddie Murphy
107. Election Day
Arcadia
108. Computer Love
Zapp
109. Trapped
Colonel Abrams
110. Slave To The Rhythm
Grace Jones
111. Just Like Honey
Jesus & Mary Chain
112. California Girls
David Lee Roth
113. Face the Face
Pete Townshend
114. Talk To Me
Stevie Nicks
115. Single Life
Cameo
116. Take the Skinheads Bowling
Camper Van Beethoven
117. Bastards of Young
Replacements
118. P.S.K. - What Does it Mean?
Schoolly D
119. Driver 8
R.E.M.
120. Find a Way
Amy Grant
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1985
An unheralded great record from 1985
Jeff's choice:
Greatest Single Re-entry:
* Holiday (#2 UK)
Madonna
Jeff's choice:
* Fall Down (Spirit of Love)
Tramaine
Lew's choice:
* Beat's So Lonely
Charlie Sexton
Bruce's choice:
* Dip My Dipper
Cicero Blake
Brett's choice:
* Waiting On My Angel
Jamie Principle
Ryan's choice:
* Up the Hill and Down the Slope
The Loft
Jeff's choice:
Greatest Single Re-entry:
* Holiday (#2 UK)
Madonna
Jeff's choice:
* Fall Down (Spirit of Love)
Tramaine
Lew's choice:
* Beat's So Lonely
Charlie Sexton
Bruce's choice:
* Dip My Dipper
Cicero Blake
Brett's choice:
* Waiting On My Angel
Jamie Principle
Ryan's choice:
* Up the Hill and Down the Slope
The Loft
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edited By: Jeff B.
Last Updated: 2014-04-15
Last Updated: 2014-04-15