Counting down the Top 85 of '85: Bubbling Under Singles

---

I hope you enjoyed the countdown of my Top 85 of '85 series.  As I mentioned in each post, I started with the 404 singles that charted on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart in 1985, plus the 81 singles that only made the Bubbling Under Chart (101-110).  An initial pass through those lists narrowed it down to 107 before deciding on the final 85.  But what of those other 22 singles that made the first cut but weren't selected for the final list?  Here they are, in alphabetical order:

• "Angel" by Madonna
• "Big in Japan" by Alphaville
• "The Bird" by The Time
• "Cry" by Godley & Creme
• "Dancing in the Street" by David Bowie & Mick Jagger
• "Find a Way" by Amy Grant
• "Forever Young" by Alphaville
• "I Just Wanna Hang Around You" by George Benson
• "Life in One Day" by Howard Jones
• "Like to Get to You Know the Well" by Howard Jones
• "Misled" by Kool & The Gang
• "Never You Done That" by General Public
• "The Night is Still Young" by Billy Joel
• "Not Enough Love in the World" by Don Henley
• "People Are People" by Depeche Mode
• "Rhythm of the Night" by DeBarge
• "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat
• "Some People" by Belouis Some
• "Step by Step" by Jeff Lorber
• "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan
• "Weird Science" by Oingo Boingo
• "You Wear It Well" by DeBarge

Counting down the Top 85 of '85: Singles #5 - 1

A breakdown of my top singles from 1985

---

Voices Carry

'Til Tuesday

Weeks in Hot 100: 21

Peaked: July 13

Album: Voices Carry (Epic)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	8
Mainstream Rock	14

---

Can't Get There from Here

R.E.M.

Weeks in Hot 100: 0

Peaked: August 17

Album: Fables of the Reconstruction (I.R.S.)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	110
Mainstream Rock	14

---

Don't You (Forget About Me)

Simple Minds

Weeks in Hot 100: 22

Peaked: May 18

Album: The Breakfast Club Soundtrack (A&M)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	1
Dance	9
Mainstream Rock	1
Adult Contemporary	36

---

Would I Lie to You?

Eurythmics

Weeks in Hot 100: 19

Peaked: July 13

Album: Be Yourself Tonight (RCA)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	5
Dance	5
Mainstream Rock	2

---

Everything She Wants

Wham!

Weeks in Hot 100: 20

Peaked: May 25

Album: Make It Big (Columbia)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	1
Dance	7
R&B	12
Adult Contemporary	4

---

These are my personal top 85 singles of those that peaked on the Billboard charts in 1985.  The list is solely my opinion.  Chart information is from the US Billboard charts.  Using Joel Whitburn's book, Music Yearbook 1985, I started with the 404 singles that charted on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart in 1985, plus the 81 singles that only made the Bubbling Under Chart (101-110).  Note: the Bubbling Under chart was temporarily discontinued on 8/25/85.  An initial pass through that list narrowed down the 485 singles to a more manageable 107.  Then listening, ranking, and editing began.  The top 85 are presented here, in order.

---

Counting down the Top 85 of '85: Singles #15 - 6

A breakdown of my top singles from 1985

---

We Close Our Eyes

Go West

Weeks in Hot 100: 15

Peaked: April 27

Album: Go West (Chrysalis)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	41
Dance	5

---

Take Me With U

Prince and The Revolution

Weeks in Hot 100: 12

Peaked: March 23

Album: Purple Rain (Warner Bros.)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	25
R&B	40

---

The Power of Love

Huey Lewis and the News

Weeks in Hot 100: 19

Peaked: August 24

Album: Back to the Future Soundtrack (MCA)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	1
Dance	22
R&B	81
Mainstream Rock	1
Adult Contemporary	6

---

Saving All My Love for You

Whitney Houston

Weeks in Hot 100: 22

Peaked: October 26

Album: Whitney Houston (Arista)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	1
R&B	1
Adult Contemporary	1

---

Alive and Kicking

Simple Minds

Weeks in Hot 100: 20

Peaked: December 28

Album: Once Upon a Time (A&M)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	3
Dance	25

---

Crazy for You

Madonna

Weeks in Hot 100: 21

Peaked: May 11

Album: Vision Quest Soundtrack (Geffen)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	1
R&B	80
Adult Contemporary	2

---

Don't Come Around Here No More

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Weeks in Hot 100: 14

Peaked: May 18

Album: Southern Accents (MCA)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	13
Mainstream Rock	2

---

Raspberry Beret

Prince
Weeks in Hot 100: 17

Peaked: July 20

Album: Around the World in a Day (Paisley Park)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	2
Dance	4
R&B	3
Mainstream Rock	40

---

Solid

Ashford & Simpson

Weeks in Hot 100: 24

Peaked: February 9

Album: Solid (Capitol)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	12
Dance	15
R&B	1
Adult Contemporary	34

---

Perfect Way

Scritti Politti

Weeks in Hot 100: 25

Peaked: December 21

Album: Cupid & Psyche 85 (Warner Bros.)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	11
Dance	6
R&B	85

---

These are my personal top 85 singles of those that peaked on the Billboard charts in 1985.  The list is solely my opinion.  Chart information is from the US Billboard charts.  Using Joel Whitburn's book, Music Yearbook 1985, I started with the 404 singles that charted on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart in 1985, plus the 81 singles that only made the Bubbling Under Chart (101-110).  Note: the Bubbling Under chart was temporarily discontinued on 8/25/85.  An initial pass through that list narrowed down the 485 singles to a more manageable 107.  Then listening, ranking, and editing began.  The top 85 are presented here, in order.

Counting down the Top 85 of '85: Singles #25 - 16

A breakdown of my top singles from 1985

---

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Tears for Fears

Weeks in Hot 100: 24

Peaked: June 8

Album: Songs From the Big Chair (Mercury)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	1
Dance	1
Adult Contemporary	2
Mainstream Rock	2

---

Road to Nowhere

Talking Heads

Weeks in Hot 100: 0

Peaked: June 22

Album: Little Creatures (Sire)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	105
Mainstream Rock	25

---

Head Over Heels

Tears for Fears

Weeks in Hot 100: 20

Peaked: November 9

Album: Songs From the Big Chair (Mercury)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	3
Adult Contemporary	5
Mainstream Rock	7

---

Get It On

The Power Station

Weeks in Hot 100: 15

Peaked: August 3

Album: The Power Station (Capitol)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	9
Mainstream Rock	19

---

Things Can Only Get Better

Howard Jones

Weeks in Hot 100: 23

Peaked: June 15

Album: Dream Into Action (Elektra)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	5
Dance	10
R&B	54
Mainstream Rock	21
Adult Contemporary	38

---

Relax

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Weeks in Hot 100: 16

Peaked: March 16

Album: Welcome to the Pleasuredome (Island)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	10
Dance	20

---

Do What You Do

Jermaine Jackson

Weeks in Hot 100: 20

Peaked: January 5

Album: Dynamite (Arista)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	13
R&B	14
Adult Contemporary	1

---

Fortress Around Your Heart

Sting

Weeks in Hot 100: 20

Peaked: October 26

Album: Dream of the Blue Turtles (A&M)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	8
Mainstream Rock	1
Adult Contemporary	32

---

Valotte

Julian Lennon

Weeks in Hot 100: 19

Peaked: January 12

Album: Valotte (Atlantic)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	9
Mainstream Rock	2
Adult Contemporary	4

---

Some Things are Better Left Unsaid

Daryl Hall & John Oates

Weeks in Hot 100: 13

Peaked: May 4

Album: Big Bam Boom (RCA)

U.S. charts:
Hot 100	18
R&B	85
Adult Contemporary	17

---

These are my personal top 85 singles of those that peaked on the Billboard charts in 1985.  The list is solely my opinion.  Chart information is from the US Billboard charts.  Using Joel Whitburn's book, Music Yearbook 1985, I started with the 404 singles that charted on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart in 1985, plus the 81 singles that only made the Bubbling Under Chart (101-110).  Note: the Bubbling Under chart was temporarily discontinued on 8/25/85.  An initial pass through that list narrowed down the 485 singles to a more manageable 107.  Then listening, ranking, and editing began.  The top 85 are presented here, in order.