The Who
Collection
Polydor Records
1985
This compilation available only in the UK was the first import record I ever had. Teenaged me: “Wait, records are different in other countries?” Hooked.
It had a cool remix of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and great packaging as you can see here.
Bryan Adams
Reggae Christmas
A&M Records
1985
Nothing says Reggae like Canadian Bryan Adams, right mon, eh?
John Fogerty
Centerfield
Warner Bros
1985
Getting ready for baseball playoffs with Fogerty’s massive 80s comeback, Centerfield. Go Cubs Go!
The Firm
The Firm
Atlantic Records
1985
This was not exactly Led Zeppelin, but Jimmy Page wrote the songs, produced the sound, and played the guitars. That makes it better than anything else that came out in 1985.
Twisted Sister
Come Out and Play
Atlantic Records
1985
The beginning of the end of the Glam Metal era may have been this flop by Twisted Sister. It had cool LP packaging, but I think by ’85 America was done with Dee Snider and crew…
The Super Bowl Shuffle
The Chicago Bears Shufflin’ Crew
Red Label Music
1985
This was the biggest single (at least in Chicago) this week in 1986 leading up to Super Bowl XX.
“Now we’re not doing this because we’re greedy,
The Bears are doing it to feed the needy.”
-Sweetness
We will see lots of lists for 2015 this week. But first, check out Chicago’s WLS Top 100 Songs of 1985!
What’s the deal with Phil Collins?
1985 was indeed the year of Phil Collins. He performed at Live Aid in London then jetted across the Atlantic to perform at Live Aid in Philly!
In fact many Live Aid performers show up on this list. I don’t know how much money these guys raised for starving kids, but Springsteen, Madonna, Duran Duran, REO, Tina Turner, Hall & Oates, Bowie & Jagger and several Live Aid bands all sold a lot of records that year!
1985 Transformations
1985 was a strange and transformative year. New Wave gave way to post-punk synthpop bands like A-Ha, Tears for Fears, and Thompson Twins. Classic Rock was transforming into Corporate Rock with Foreigner, Survivor, Huey Lewis, and Night Ranger. Not a good transition…
1985 also had a feeling of temporary separation; it was a time when the front men for rock’s biggest bands went out on their own. We had Jagger, but no Stones. David Lee Roth, but no Van Halen. Sting, but no Police. The aforementioned Phil Collins, but no Genesis. Both Don Henley and Glenn Frey, but no Eagles. Interesting that all of those guys went back to their bands!
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