Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

8th February 1986 for four weeks

How good was Billy Ocean? This was his only Number 1 single, but he has released some crackers – Love Really Hurts Without You, Caribbean Queen, Suddenly and Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car. And of course, my favourite, Red Light Spells Danger.

WTGGTTTGG is a fabulous pop song. Like much of Billy Ocean’s music, it has stood the test of time, still sounding great nearly 40 years later!

I can recall the Boyzone version in 1999 and I remember that it annoyed me because it was cheesy and not as good as the original version.

9/10

A-ha – The Sun Always Shines On T.V.

25th January 1986 for two weeks

I think that these days people remember A-ha for Take On Me. I have real memories of Take On Me. I can remember seeing the video on TV and loving the song.

I don’t have any specific memories of The Sun Always Shines on T.V. but I absolutely love it. It is such a great song and, I feel, it really holds up well in 2023. It is a great pop song and is just as strong as Take On Me.

If you haven’t listened for a while, The Sun Always Shines is well worth a listen. I am sure that you’ll love it.

10/10

Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls

12th January 1986 for two weeks

I must have heard this at some point as a child because when the East 17 version came out in 1993 I was familiar with it. In 1993 I thought that the East 17 version was alright (excuse the East 17 pun). I didn’t love it.

And that also goes for the Pet Shop Boys’ original. I think it’s alright. It is certainly better than the East 17 version but I just think that there are better Pet Shop Boys songs.

6/10

Thoughts on 1985

1985 was quite an up and down year for quality songs at Number 1.

It was clear that charity singles were going to become a thing, after the runaway success of Do They Know It’s Christmas? in 1984 and you could see people’s eyes light up at the idea of releasing charity songs and experiencing the same level of success. Of course, none of them ever did and none of them ever will ever again.

Another theme of the year was (at least it seems like to me) mums buying records. I Know Him So Well, Move Closer and Saving All My Love For You are all huge love songs and probably appealed more to a certain demographic.

There were some timeless songs that reached the top in 1985 – I Want To Know What Love Is, Spin Me Around, Easy Love, Move Closer, There Must Be An Angel, Into The Groove, I Got You Babe and The Power Of Love. It’s hard to pick a stand out song as I don’t think any of them have continued to enjoy huge popularity.

There were some poorer songs – the weakest being You’ll Never Walk Alone by The Crowd. A very worthy cause, but there are better ways to raise money than this.

Looking ahead to 1986 there are a lot of Eighties powerhouses to look forward to – massive artists and classic songs.

Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone

28th December 1985 for two weeks

We arrive at the final Number 1 on 1985 and meet one of the finest Christmas songs ever.

Shakin’ Stevens’ pension plan, Merry Christmas Everyone, was a huge song on its original release (which was apparently pushed back a year to avoid clashing with Do They Know It’s Christmas?) but has continued to be downloaded and streamed in huge quantities over the years. By Christmas 2022 it had achieved consumption of over 1.8 million!

It is a brilliant Christmas song. It puts you in a Christmassy mood and you cannot help but sing along and enjoy the moment. It is deservedly one of the most well known Christmas songs and is rightly a classic.

10/10

Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You

14th December 1985 for two weeks

This is the first time we’ll discuss Whitney Houston on this blog.

I don’t remember hearing this as a child but I am sure that I must have at some point. I recall hearing it as a teenager, but not before. It was probably on the Late Night Love Hour on MFM.

SAMLFY is a great song. It shows off Whitney’s incredible vocals as well as being just a great song. It’s no surprise that it made Number 1.

Like much of Whitney’s back catalogue, it has lasted well and is still heard on the radio.

8/10

Wham! – I’m Your Man

30th November 1985 for two weks

I have no memories of I’m Your Man at all from my childhood. The first time I definitely know that I heard it was in 1997 when I purchased The Best Of Wham! If You Were There…

It was a great song and there was even a more upbeat version of it included on there.

It’s hearing yet another great Wham! song that reminds you what a genius George Michael was, and we have barely got started on his solo hits…

8/10

Jennifer Rush – The Power Of Love

12th October 1985 for five weeks

I think this must have been a record for all the mums out there. I don’t really remember this version as a child but I must have heard it because when Celine Dion released her version in 1993 I had definitely heard it before.

It’s just a nice record. There’s not much more to say than that. It’s nice. So I don’t know how it went on to sell more than a million copies!

This, of course, is the second Number 1 in under a year to be called The Power Of Love. Obviously mums were into love being powerful back then.

6/10