'A New England' is such a lovely song, even though I usually prefer electronic songs from the 80s.

'Run To You' I really like both the Bryan Adams original and the Rage dance cover in 1992.

The Art of Noise track is good for its sampling and ahead of its time, in terms of the sound of late 80s house music especially when the synth comes in near the end.

Edited October 8Oct 8 by TheSnake

On 08/10/2026 at 08:14, Jaz13music said:

Can we see the Rhino video?!🤣

I’ll see if I can dig it out!

No doubt about the top pick here: what an iconic track. The runner up I wasn’t that familiar with though: a wonderful collaboration.

9	The Smiths	How Soon Is Now?	The shimmering, swampy instrumental on this is what really makes the fabulous, but the lyrics are also very poetic
9	David Bowie And The Pat Metheny Group	This Is Not America	Only hit for this jazz fusion band in collaboration with Bowie: it's a beautiful track with exquisite production
8	Don Henley	The Boys Of Summer	This will be unlucky to reach #12 twice and it's the Eagles member's only solo Top 40: a beautifully written song
8	Dead Or Alive	You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)	546th #1: quite the bubbling under early run for this and the first SAW #1: it's an excellent camp disco track
7	Prince And The Revolution	Let's Go Crazy/Take Me With U	Another double A and the 1st track is a highly energetic gig opener and a US #1, but both are very strong songs
7	Sharpe And Numan	Change Your Mind	The keyboard player from Shakatak here teaming up with Gary Numan: this works a treat with Gary's sultry voice
6	Killing Joke	Love Like Blood	1st Top 40 for this UK band who had 7 prior Top 75 misses: it's quite a powerful track with a slightly Gothic feel
6	Mick Jagger	Just Another Night	From his 1st solo album proper and he'll have a much bigger hit, but this has an interesting energy and a good flow
5	Howard Jones	Things Can Only Get Better	The lead from his 2nd album and another big hit for him: it's nice but feels rather similar to "What Is Love" to me
4	Kool And The Gang	Misled	This was bigger in the US where it was the lead before "Fresh": their usual style and nothing new but nice enough
3	Chicago	You're The Inspiration	Last of their 6 Top 40s in their usual big emotive style: it's not an unpleasant but a rather sickly sweet song
3	Eddy And The Soul Band	Theme From 'Shaft'	Only hit for this Dutch group with a cover of the film theme from 1971: it's competently done but very similar
2	Eugene Wilde/Simplicious	Personality/Let Her Feel It	His 2nd and last hit: he had released the second side before with his group, but I find both tracks interminably dull

1985 Group 4:

#1610	02/03/1985	Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy	Kiss Me	4	22-{4}-4-5-9-10-15-27-40-41-68->11
#1611	02/03/1985	Madonna	Material Girl	3	24-5-{3}-3-7-11-16-31-44-66->10
#1612	23/02/1985	ZZ Top	Legs	16	42-26-{16}-18-29-42-63->7
#1613	02/03/1985	Shakin' Stevens	Breaking Up My Heart	14	30-15-{14}-22-35-50-69->7
#1614	09/02/1985	Daryl Hall And John Oates	Method Of Modern Love	21	66-54-41-33-25-{21}-26-47->8
#1615	23/02/1985	David Cassidy	The Last Kiss	6	67-34-11-{6}-8-11-19-33-49->9
#1616	02/02/1985	Little Benny And The Masters	Who Comes To Boogie	33	62-55-48-43-36-{33}-48->7
#1617	16/02/1985	Jermaine Jackson	Do What You Do	6	64-44-39-18-7-7-{6}-8-12-21-38-46-73->13
#1618	09/03/1985	Philip Bailey And Phil Collins	Easy Lover	1	20-2-{1}-1-1-1-3-13-19-34-46-60->12
#1619	09/03/1985	Paul Young	Every Time You Go Away	4	26-9-{4}-4-7-9-13-25-36-57-72->11
#1620	23/02/1985	Go West	We Close Our Eyes	5	68-44-31-16-9-8-6-{5}-6-9-18-27-43-70->14
#1621	23/02/1985	Loose Ends	Hangin' On A String (Contemplating)	13	46-42-37-22-20-{13}-13-17-29-32-44-67-74->13
#1622	23/02/1985	David Essex	Falling Angels Riding	29	51-46-38-{29}-31-54-73->7
#1623	23/02/1985	Sheila E	The Belle Of St Mark	18	75-56-39-24-{18}-22-31-46-59->9
#1624	23/02/1985	New Edition	Mr Telephone Man	19	70-47-40-26-{19}-20-32-43-73->9

'You Spin Me Round' has some great energy and is a much needed dance hit.

'Change Your Mind' is a bit like deep house with the production.

'Boys of Summer' is a great summery mood track.

'How Soon Is Now' is a good precursor to 90s indie.

I agree How Soon Is Now is the best of a very good bunch, though it’s probably not really a very typical Smiths song. They were my favourite band as a teenager and I still absolutely love the jangly stuff, but like here, they could get quite a heavy sound when they wanted. Fantastic.

This Is Not America and The Boys Of Summer are both gorgeous

You Spin Me Round is the first big, and definitely the best, of the SAW number ones. Brilliant energy, unique and iconic of course.

Let’s Go Crazy is great but not top tier Prince for me

Things Can Only Get Better is another one I like a lot here

How Soon Is Now one o those tracks that improved with age, it sort of came and went at the time without the same media awareness as Charming man or Miserable Now, but it's top tier Smiths 9/10. This Is Not America ditto, a forgotten tuneful and emotional Bowie gem 9/10. Boys Of Summer is a masterpiece and the best thing Henley did outside the band, though often good 10/10.

You Spin Me Round a pop classic and SAW announcing their arrival in style, exciting then and now 10/10, albeit a bit overplayed sometimes. Let's Go Crazy is prince at his most raucously wonderful 9/10. Take Me With U is sweet and nice 8/10. Change Your Mind is Gazza's last great record, and Bill Sharpe seemed such an unlikely collab 8/10.

Love Like Blood far and away Killing Joke's best track, a band I never really liked much 7/10, Just Another Night was an interesting 80'sounding pop track I rather liked from Mick 7/10. Things Can Only Get Better decent pop, if not quite up to early singles, on a par with current single Stand Up (as I type this) though 7/10.

Misled, or myzulled as I wont to pronounce it before this hit, pleasantly forgettable 6/10, Chicago really formulaic by this stage, and they continued to pump out the hit US MOR dross for the rest of the decade, which the UK were thankfully spared from by and large. 4/10 Shaft, it was a pleasure to have the classic back and appealing to a new dance generation, done quite nicely 8/10, though I havent heard it in 40 years! Eugene Wilde I have no memory of whatsoever.

'How Soon Is Now?' would top that last group for me too, my favourite Smiths song incredible instrumental with that oscillating riff and I've always related to the lyrics as someone who struggles a lot with social anxiety IRL.

Not the biggest SAW fan in general but 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' is the best thing they ever produced for me, banger alert. Coming to a Gamu round near you soon?

'Little Red Corvette' overshadowed 'Let's Get Crazy' for me in the corresponding SyncTube session, but still enjoyable and amazing that it was a U.S. #1! He had some pretty surprising chart-toppers over there like this and 'Batdance'.

Killing Joke are a bit of a blind spot that I need to check out more of. Really enjoyed the gothic sound of 'Love Like Blood' 🖤

❤️I can relate to social anxiety, too, Jade, I didn't really stop being self-conscious and uncomfortable in group situations (except with people I know) or on public show until I got way older! I wouldnt say I stopped being self-conscious, but I did stop caring so much about it and forced myself out of the house after 40 years in my bedroom, pretty much! It gets easier. I still race to the toilets though if it looks like I'm about to be grabbed to go on stage and join the throng to dance and chant along with Maori singers and dancers (for example), I was like a greyhound chasing a toy rabbit out of a trap in February in New Zealand!

A definite step down here but there probably aren’t that many all time great male duets and

“Easy Lover” is up there.

8	Philip Bailey And Phil Collins	Easy Lover	547th #1: debut solo hit for this Earth, Wind and Fire member and an excellenet and dynamic collaboration
8	Go West	We Close Our Eyes	1st and biggest hit for this UK duo and another very strong and dynamic track that's still heard around quite a bit
7	Madonna	Material Girl	Her early hits are quite bubblegum but classics nonetheless with very distinctive and influential pop production
7	Paul Young	Every Time You Go Away	His 7th straight Top 10 hit: it's a slightly syrupy track but something about his voice and performance elevates it
6	Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy	Kiss Me	1st of a couple of hits for this UK singer: nothing too adventurous but very nice with interesting Bublical lyrics
6	Daryl Hall And John Oates	Method Of Modern Love	After a few misses they're back with this which is their final Top 40: it's slightly quirky with some nice production
5	David Essex	Falling Angels Riding	His last Top 40 apart from a duet, and it's quite an interesting military style song used in his "Mutiny!" musical
5	Sheila E	The Belle Of St Mark	Only hit for this US songer known more for her drum playing: a fun song written by Prince with his production style
5	Little Benny And The Masters	Who Comes To Boogie	Only hit for this US funk band: it's an enjoyable piece of backing music rather than something really essential
4	ZZ Top	Legs	Another track from their 1983 album belatedly becoming a Top 20 hit: I slightly prefer the others but this is fine
4	Shakin' Stevens	Breaking Up My Heart	A catchy and moderately enjoyable Shaky track, though I still find the vocals and exuberant style slightly grating
3	David Cassidy	The Last Kiss	Last Top 40 for the one of the radio friendly Davids here who I generally enjoy less, and this is a slightly soppy one
3	Loose Ends	Hangin' On A String (Contemplating)	1st Top 40 for this UK R&B band, and like much of this genre this drags a bit and doesn't leave much impression
2	New Edition	Mr Telephone Man	Their last Top 40 for more than a decade: it's not unpleasant but a fairly naff song that doesn't really go anywhere
2	Jermaine Jackson	Do What You Do	His last Top 40 coming long after the others and a surprisingly big hit, as it's a dull and dated for its time track

1985 Group 5:

#1625	16/03/1985	Alison Moyet	That Ole Devil Called Love	2	11-{2}-2-4-6-14-24-35-54-64->10
#1626	16/03/1985	Nik Kershaw	Wide Boy	9	15-12-10-{9}-11-18-29-48->8
#1627	16/03/1985	Billy Bragg	Between The Wars EP	15	33-{15}-15-25-28-51->6
#1628	09/03/1985	Starvation	Starvation/Tam-Tam Pour L'Ethiope	33	44-36-{33}-36-48-73->6
#1629	16/03/1985	The Power Station	Some Like It Hot	14	37-17-{14}-15-21-28-43-58->8
#1630	02/03/1985	The Alarm	Absolute Reality	35	48-43-40-{35}-48-70->6
#1631	23/03/1985	Sarah Brightman And Paul Miles-Kingston	Pie Jesu	3	14-{3}-3-4-10-26-37-61->8
#1632	09/03/1985	Big Daddy	Dancing In The Dark EP	21	73-45-25-{21}-23-29-46-62->8
#1633	23/02/1985	Phyllis Nelson	Move Closer	1	69-58-48-44-28-19-14-8-4-3-{1}-2-2-4-6-17-25-29-39-52-73->21
#1634	02/03/1985	Glenn Frey	The Heat Is On	12	66-45-41-34-23-17-14-{12}-18-28-45-63->12
	09/03/1985	Third World	Now That We Found Love {1985}	22	64-46-37-25-{22}-31-35-55->8
#1635	23/03/1985	King	Won't You Hold My Hand Now	24	38-26-{24}-24-25-33-47-66->8
#1636	23/03/1985	David Grant And Jaki Graham	Could It Be I'm Falling In Love	5	39-24-12-10-7-{5}-10-15-30-45-62->11
#1637	23/03/1985	The Cool Notes	Spend The Night	11	40-31-18-13-{11}-16-21-35-59->9
#1638	30/03/1985	Frankie Goes To Hollywood	Welcome To The Pleasuredome	2	5-{2}-2-5-12-24-39-56-69-72-72->11
#1639	30/03/1985	Tears For Fears	Everybody Wants To Rule The World	2	16-5-3-{2}-2-3-4-9-15-25-36-51-70-75-73R(34)->15

On 14/10/2026 at 11:10, Jade said:

'How Soon Is Now?' would top that last group for me too, my favourite Smiths song incredible instrumental with that oscillating riff and I've always related to the lyrics as someone who struggles a lot with social anxiety IRL.

That’s exactly right, the Smiths were my lodestar when I was younger (and actually now too to be truthful) as I had/have pretty bad social anxiety, as you might be able to tell from some of my posts on here!

They pretty much soundtracked the whole of my teenage (and longer) years. Brilliant band in all ways!

Easy Lover is decent enough and nice to see Philip Bailey get hits after Earth Wind & Fire have chart finished more or less 8/10. We Close Our Eyes also decent but much prefer later Go West singles, though the sweaty video got them noticed 7/10. Material Girl is a nice Marilyn Monroe pastiche but not among my top Madonna faves 8/10.

Paul Young is always good, just by virtue of his vocals, but not one of my faves of his either, bit of a theme here. Hall & Oates song with that famous mis-heard lyric "Every time you go away you take a piece of meat with you" 7/10. Kiss Me a pleasant pop ditty from the future Robbie Williams collaborator 8/10. Considering the much better Hall & Oates flops that hit big in the USA it was always odd that this minor effort got them a hit in the UK. That said it's still among the best of the bunch so far 8/10.

David Essex singles always unpredictable in sound, which I always liked about him, Fallen Angels Riding is middling in his catalogue 7/10. The Belle Of St Mark is a bit of Prince fun 7/10 Who Comes To Boogie I dont remember well at all but I think I liked it 6/10. Legs is typically ZZ of the time and nice riffs as always 7/10. Breaking Up My Heart one of Shaky's forgotten pop tracks that I enjoyed more than most of his stuff 7/10.

The Last Kiss was David Cassidy's comeback with bundles of vocal assistance from George Michael, like me a bit of a fan of Cassidy's breathy/strident vocal hits of the 70's, allowing Michael Bolton to also come out as a fan. The album wasnt even released in the US! Best record of the batch for me, though I'm not as huge on it as I was at the time, all nostalgic to have him back. I love the way it builds slowly to a crescendo. 9/10 Produced by Alan Tarney (see Cliff's 80's goodies among many others).

Loose Ends also a great single, the production is good and the vibes of the melody are quite more-ish in a subtle way. Came back as minor hit remixes and generally well-regarded amongst the Brit-soul of the time 9/10. New Edition still essentially teeny soulpop in a Jackson 5 groove, but starting to morph into grown-up r'n'b future acts and this one is OK 6/10. Jermaine had never been cutting edge popsoul like his brother & shortly his sister, so it was a more of surprise that this one hit big in the UK where most of his previous laid-back ballads had bombed. It's nice enough but not that special 6/10.

Concentrating on my favourites, Easy Lover is great, contrasting vocals work well and the drumming is excellent as usual by Phil.

We Close are eyes is good but as has been mentioned, they had better to come.

I love Material Girl more now than at the time, great fun pop.

Everytime You Go Away is pleasant enough.

I have a real soft spot for Kiss Me, quirky with that brilliant intro. Weirdly enough I found a copy of the 12 inch vinyl while crate digging this week.

Disagree with you about Loose Ends - Hangin on A String. It sounds really cool and ahead of its time R&B.

Easy Lover is a great mix of rock and soulful post-disco from the two Phils.

Belle of St Mark from Shiela E via Prince is a good upbeat track too.

Everytime You Go Away is a nice song from Paul Young. We Close Our Eyes by Go West has a great chorus which was exploited by the Groovecutters in a good 2005 minor dance hit.

Edited Friday at 14:253 days by TheSnake

Tears For Fears only narrowly missed a 10 with “Shout” so it feels right that this one makes it. They’re joined at the top by Frankie getting another great score. I used to think this wasn’t up with any of the trio of #1s but actually although it doesn’t have a big hook like the others it’s an incredible and innovative ride of a track, especially the full length version.

10	Tears For Fears	Everybody Wants To Rule The World	Their biggest hit and one of the best ever synth pop tracks with timeless lyrics about the human desire for power
9	Frankie Goes To Hollywood	Welcome To The Pleasuredome	A runner up hit following their chart topper trio and every bit as good as those: a wild and wonderful 13 minute epic
8	Sarah Brightman And Paul Miles-Kingston	Pie Jesu	From his "Requiem", this is a lovely little piece of classical music and an impressive departure for Lloyd Webber
8	Glenn Frey	The Heat Is On	Recorded for the "Beverly Hills Cop" film and the 1st hit for this Eagles member, it's a great lively pop rock song
7	The Alarm	Absolute Reality	The lead single from their 2nd album: it's not quite up with "98 Guns" but it's a very strong and spirited track
7	Alison Moyet	That Ole Devil Called Love	This rendition of a 1940s jazz song doesn't feel like it should be her biggest solo hit, but she does it beautifully
6	Billy Bragg	Between The Wars EP	1st hit for this UK singer: I don't usually enjoy very political songs but some of these tracks have great guitar work
6	Nik Kershaw	Wide Boy	Not up with his best few but this is another catchy and well performed number with well thought out lyrics
5	Phyllis Nelson	Move Closer	548th #1: only Top 40 for this US singer and one of the 1st female entirely self penned #1s; it's quite a nice song
5	Starvation	Starvation/Tam-Tam Pour L'Ethiope	Behind this middling combined score is a terribly naff first side and a wonderful and authentically African second
4	King	Won't You Hold My Hand Now	A much smaller hit than their debut and it doesn't have anything like the impact of that, though it's decent enough
4	The Power Station	Some Like It Hot	1st hit for this British American supergroup with Robert Palmer on lead: it's a passable unremarkable funk track
3	The Cool Notes	Spend The Night	1st Top 40 for this UK band: to me it's just a standard funk track with nothing particularly distinctive going on
2	David Grant And Jaki Graham	Could It Be I'm Falling In Love	David's last hit and Jaki's 1st with a cover of this '70s song: it's competently done but dull and unnecessary
1	Big Daddy	Dancing In The Dark EP	Only hit for this US novelty band with terribly drab and limp karaoke versions of a whole bunch of classic songs

1985 Group 6:

#1640	30/03/1985	The Smiths	Shakespeare's Sister	26	29-{26}-38-56->4
#1641	30/03/1985	The Damned	Grimly Fiendish	21	33-{21}-22-26-30-43-75->7
#1642	23/03/1985	Pat Benatar	Love Is A Battlefield {1985}	17	43-34-29-23-{17}-17-23-37-58-74->10
#1643	16/03/1985	REO Speedwagon	Can't Fight This Feeling	16	71-51-38-28-19-{16}-21-31-42-66->10
#1644	16/03/1985	Bryan Adams	Somebody	35	62-48-39-{35}-36-37-52->7
#1645	16/03/1985	Change	Let's Go Together	37	53-41-40-{37}-40-44-57->7
#1646	30/03/1985	The Rah Band	Clouds Across The Moon	6	43-27-18-9-{6}-9-12-21-41-57->10
#1647	06/04/1985	ABC	Be Near Me	26	36-{26}-33-45->4
#1648	30/03/1985	Dream Academy	Life In A Northern Town	15	57-38-25-{15}-15-26-40-60->8
#1649	09/03/1985	Billy Connolly	Super Gran	32	60-47-49-58-39-34-{32}-35-42->9
#1650	30/03/1985	China Crisis	Black Man Ray	14	59-40-32-19-{14}-15-24-42-58->9
#1651	13/04/1985	USA For Africa	We Are The World	1	7-{1}-1-2-5-17-33-45-67->9
#1652	13/04/1985	Phil Collins	One More Night	4	27-8-{4}-6-10-16-34-46-65->9
#1653	06/04/1985	Foreigner	That Was Yesterday	28	43-39-30-{28}-34-47->6

Tears for Fears EWTRTW has the rock and synth mix which we will see a lot more of in 1985.

Not such a big fan of 'The Heat Is On' in comparison.

Everybody… is one of my 3 favourite TFT songs (along with Mad World and Sowing The Seeds..) love the driving rhythm and great lyrics, sadly too relevant for today’s world too.

Might just be topped by Welcome… for me though, especially that magnificent sprawling full album version. Just when I thought FGTH/Trevor Horn couldn’t top their ambitions with the first three singles!

Pie Jesus is gorgeous, more eclectic 80s hits.

The Heat Is On is a great fun song from a great film.

Alison Moyet’s vocals are excellent again but I prefer her earlier (non cover version) hits

I’m a big fan of Billy Bragg’s early career, much underrated great songwriter and guitarist.

I’ve come to appreciate Move Closer and the songwriting achievement more over the years.

Everybody Want To Rule The World is a candidate for the Best Record Of The 80's for me, perfect in every way for every second. As we saw with the re-recording for Sport Aid only the original will do. What's amazing is Roland deliberately tried to write a "commercial" song, and oh my word he certainly did, where most songs have one terrific hook if they are lucky, this masterpiece has several and they never let up, keep the interest throughout, and never get boring on repeat plays. 10/10.

Pleasuredome is still peak Frankie, and I reckon they could have grabbed another big hit with Born To Run if inclined to mine the album for one more hit. The epic sound is still there 9/10. Pie Jesu is OK, a little too downbeat for my tastes - but then again I havent heard it in 40 years. 6/10. The Heat Is On is a catchy middling rockpop ditty 7/10.

The Alarm single I don't remember at all, and by this stage they were getting on my nerves a bit so I can't really rate it. Alison Moyet going all 1940's-stylee certainly worked for her, her voice can carry it. That said I prefer Billie Holiday's original, I preferred her Jolly & Swain singles at the time and she will do a better cover in a couple of years 6/10. Billy Bragg has always the vocal subtlety of a foghorn being played through a farting trumpet, but can knock off a decent record once in a blue moon, most notably in the early 90's. This EP fell into his Let's Support The Miners era (males in my family all went down the pits, apart from black sheep me) but I still didn't like the radio played title track much 3/10.

Wide Boy is a good track, Nik better than he might have seemed at the time 8/10. Move Closer is a nice radio staple that never quite goes away long enough for me to welcome it back as an old friend but is still a pleasant 8/10. I bought Starvation for the cause at the time, and I've barely played it (if at all) since 1985, but it was well meaning 5/10. King's was a fairly forgettable song but worth a 6/10.

Some Like It Hot was never quite as good as I thought it should have been given those behind it, but I don't mind it 6/10. Spend The Night is yet another nice Brit Soul track, UK bands seemed to have a bit more freshness about them compared to the American ones and I liked the tune 8/10. I had a lot of time for David and Linx stuff, and I loved seeing the Detroit Spinners getting some love, it's a great song, a good version and nice as a duet with Jaki on it boosting her chart profile ahead of some good pop tracks. Not as good as the original, of course, but still a 9/10 for me.

Big Daddy spearheading a still-going minor tradition of taking current pop songs and doing them in a sometimes tongue-in-cheek novel(ty) way. Seem amusing at the time, less so down the line somewhat I suspect 5/10. Not heard it in 40 years though...! Wonderwall Mike Flowers did it right...