1985 Was When It All Started to Turn to Shit

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It's 1985. Hardcore punk was essentially dead (or, in the case of what happened to Jello Biafra wr2 Frankenchrist, was being beaten to death). Folks like Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, Martin Gore, and Phil Oakley decided that they didn't like being thought of as androids any more, re-asserted their "humanity," and the world watched as the erstwhile robots flushed their artistry down the drain. bob mould caught pete townshend's disease (i.e., he became pretentious and boring, started making "rock operas," and "the Byrds" and "classic song structures" were beginning to be applied to his emerging oeuvre), and although Prince and Paul Westerberg were still in fine form the signs of of their inevitable decay were beginning to rear their respective heads. And the horrifying specters of REM ("real music with real instruments," i.e., "alternative" music that pony-tailed yuppies could like), U2 (stadium rock with feeling, man), Born in the USA electrobutt, thrice-refried trite roots-rock, and hair metal were stalking the land.

This was my 1985. What is yours?

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

still listening to stuff from 1984, the greatest year in pop music history

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:24 (twenty-one years ago)

1984 was pretty darn good ... maybe 1985 just pales in comparison?

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:24 (twenty-one years ago)

roller skating to doug e. fresh!

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, the problem with years that are heavy heavy loaded loaded is that alot of times they're followed by years that ain't

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:26 (twenty-one years ago)

add david bowie to the list of one-time androids (or should that be aliens) who decided that they were human (of flesh and blood they're made) and at that precise moment began to really suck.

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:26 (twenty-one years ago)

"into the groove"!

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

things on the horizon/just born/in gestation/yet to be invented in 1985: house, acid house, hardcore, jungle, speed garage, 2-step, the digital dancehall xplosion, southern bounce, (early) post-rock, shoegaze, death/black/xtreme metal, swingbeat and it's descendants, digital bootlegs, fushisusha, two-man noise rock duos (unless the blue humans count)...

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Another thing that sucked in 85 -- I think that was when David Lee Roth left Van Halen....

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I was thinking 2 live crew was 85 but it were 86

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

spin magazine starts in 85

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

jess made a good point re stuff either being born or just over the horizon in '85. maybe it's that 1985 was when one era in music was dying and another was in its birth pains -- at a cusp?

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I almost just posted that!

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I always remember 1986-88 as being a bleak time in the pop charts.

― Michael B, Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:37 (twenty-one years ago)

with the exception that 84 was a great great great year for hip-hop and american post-punk which definitely had some claim on the future

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

the ego trip list for 85 is crappy compared to like two years later but still very good!

i think tad is right...at least in american indie rock terms 85-86 was some kinda turning point.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:39 (twenty-one years ago)

JAMC?

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:43 (twenty-one years ago)

(I can't befuckinglieve I abbreviated Jesus and Mary Chain)

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:43 (twenty-one years ago)

haha

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:44 (twenty-one years ago)

First And Last And Always!

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:44 (twenty-one years ago)

It's BRMC's fault I tells ya

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:45 (twenty-one years ago)

well all the big 84 bangin got majors attention - bye bye placemats and husker - plus bands start breaking up, d. boon dies - and (said with nothing but love for r.e.m., esp. pre-85 r.e.m.) all the r.e.m. clones started to have an impact. plus combine the mainstream roots ethos in the air with indie earnestness = apt for boredom.

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:47 (twenty-one years ago)

there was puh-lenty of indie goodness in england in 86

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:47 (twenty-one years ago)

haha james blount: c86 apologist

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I blame tom

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

james hit it on the head.

i stand somewhat corrected, since synthpop had really died before '85 (some great reward being an exception) -- felled by a combination of "roots ethos" (the dreaded rockist "they play real instruments!" horseshit), rapidly evolving technology, and (frankly) uninspired synth music. (this is a general observation with room for exceptions of course.)

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

IT IS THE DAWNING OF THE AGE OF CHANCE

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

synthpop had died in the us before 85, but it still lived on in the uk with new order and depeche mode (who'd eventually bring it back to the states in the late 80s)(on the backs of the pet shop boys who never had problems getting hits stateside until america's gaydar improved?)

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

In 1985 I was into soul-funk ie the 'r&b' of the time and also hip hop. With the funk it was the time when the reverbed snare beat started to get a bit out of hand and the DX7 too standard as the workhorse sound generator. A lot of people were still making the same kind of records as four or five years before but using nothing but cheap drum boxes and DX7s which gave everything a nasty, brittle sound (eg things like the Aleem/Leroy Burgess LP from 1986). People like Jam & Lewis were starting to master the new technology but there was a lot of 2nd rate stuff around.

― David (David), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Um, in what exact sense were either 2 step or hardcore, jungle or southern bounce on the cusp of being invented in 1985? I mean surely all of these genres required earlier prerequisites that did not yet exist in 1985...

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sleng Teng," "Here I Come (Broader Than Broadway)" AND "Ring the Alarm" all came out that year, so it was an astonishing year for Jamaican music just based on that (and there was undoubtedly shitlaods more as well)

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

things on the horizon/just born/in gestation/yet to be invented

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

southern bounce was certainly in gestation by 1985, HELLO miami BOING

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

also The Indestructible Beat of Soweto is released

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, southern bounce in terms of miami bass existed, true. But 2-step? Come on...

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)

do you need new glasses?

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:07 (twenty-one years ago)

was indestructible beat 85?

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:07 (twenty-one years ago)

yes.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

'85 Earthworks in England, '86 Shanachie in U.S., which is why Xgau has it no. 1 in '86

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

my initial post was largely just to refute the idea that anything "turned to shit" in 1985, unless tad was referring to some underground sub-set of american rock music or his personal tastes

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

also must take issue w/titling of thread: "started to turn to shit"? and what, it's all been downhill since? ugh.

xpost

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

it was a ebb year but eleven year old me didn't notice or mind at skate-a-round usa (too much digital revolution to worry about)

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

matos he doesn't really imply that I don't think

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Also 1985 = peak of the Go Go scene.

Is this good?

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:12 (twenty-one years ago)

okay, true, 1978-1984 were amazing times for pop music but um HELLO 1998-present?? (ha ha this means 2004 will be the best pop music year since 1984...FACT!)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:12 (twenty-one years ago)

omg i just used a 5-7-20 year cycle theory :-(

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean I can do '1998 was when it all started to turn to shit' and talk about how I can't listen to college radio anymore really but it ain't neccesarily yer standard stanley crouch grouch

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't really think of a single year where there isn't plenty of music I love from it

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought he meant that house was just about to emerge. And all those genres have a connection to house, although some of them deny it. And also the methodology - fiddling with sequencers and drum machines which was a new way of making music (before that the technology tended to be used in a more traditional way - 'now I have a Linndrum I can sound as tight as Steve Gadd').

― David (David), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Blount, READ. "also must take issue w/titling of thread." who cares if that's what his posts imply? it's not what the title implies.

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:16 (twenty-one years ago)

well that's just nitpicking

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:16 (twenty-one years ago)

1996...maybe it's the "lots" that throws me. 1996 was godawful. and it was my senior year! still, we had "no diggity".

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:17 (twenty-one years ago)

well that's just tough shit

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:17 (twenty-one years ago)

ie. you must READ (the new KRS-One show, coming to NBC Saturday mornings this fall) Tad's post to know what "it" refers to

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

1996 was incredible!

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)

name me 10 songs

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

played on the RADIO

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

so none of that boards of canada - twoism limited to 500 copies bullshit

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Ultra flava?
Funk phenomenon?

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:24 (twenty-one years ago)

i just looked at pazz & jop for 1996 and there are six songs in the top 25 i like, and 15 in 1998

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Also:

The chopper
Shadow boxing
Peace love and unity

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

and twenty-seven in 2001's top 40

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

"No Diggity"
"Wannabe" (if yall counting Indestructible Beat as 85)
"1979"
"California Love"
"Setting Sun"
"Sweet Dreams"
"Natural One"
"Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand"
"Disco 2000"
"You Remind Me of Something"

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

aargh!

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

jess i already repped for 96 on the hpihop albums thread go there

― trife (simon_tr), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

1985=that Phil Collins drum sound was everywhere. As was Phil himself.

But...REM in 1985 was Fables of the Reconstruction, which I liked then and still mostly like, so pffbbbbbbt.

Also, 1985 had King of Rock, there is none higher.

― JesseFox (JesseFox), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm not a fan particularly but the smiths were at their strongest in 85, weren't they? meat is murder... how soon is now...

― phil turnbull (philT), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

metroplex 01: model 500 - night drive thru babylon (time space transmat) 1985

― Mike Taylor (mjt), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 01:55 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGCOVERS/music/cover200/drc400/c411/c41145q0b5w.jpg

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 02:14 (twenty-one years ago)

(really need a bigger image to do it justice)

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 02:17 (twenty-one years ago)

don't diss the 1985--as someone upthread mentioned, 1985 was the year of _Psychocandy_, so, in a way, it was the year that some things changed...

Plus, Husker Du released great albums that year.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Good things from '85 not mentioned yet

Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen
Aimee Mann says shut up
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
Rain Dogs!
LL Cool J rocks the bells
The Waterboys
Killing Joke lives in The Eighties; fire continues to be honoured
The '85 Shufflin' Crew
"In Between Days" by The Cure

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 02:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Any year with "Roxanne, Roxanne," "Human Beat Box Part II," the extended remix of "Shout" with those big fat drums that all the DJs on campus loved so much, the first singles from Heavy D, "Johnny Come Home," Fegmania!, Lloyd Cole's Easy Pieces (the great lost pop album of our time featuring the most beautiful song in the world "Why I Love Country Music"), Hallowed Ground, Dare to Be Stupid, Rain Dogs, along with the aforementioned stuff especially LL Cool J ("I Need a Beat,") and Run-DMC (King of Rock), couldn't be anything but great.

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:11 (twenty-one years ago)

and Around the World in a Day still sounds like the pinnacle of Prince to me most days

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:12 (twenty-one years ago)

that is so fucking untrue

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Calm down Matos, I said "to me". I pre-qualified it in advance because I knew someone would jump all over my ass about it, I know I'm supposed to worship Sign 'O' the Times like everyone else. And I do. But damn, can't I love goth/hippie/drama-queen Prince AS WELL AS young-punk or heavy-metal or christian-funk Prince, if I wanna?

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:23 (twenty-one years ago)

haha that's a lie! it is not "to you!" you are kidding yourself! repent! have the same opinion as me! etc!

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:24 (twenty-one years ago)

;-)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:24 (twenty-one years ago)

well, if you put it like that, then okay. I hereby renounce--dagnabbit, Matos, you sneaky silver-tongued bastard, you almost had me there.

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:26 (twenty-one years ago)

"Roxanne Roxanne" was 84 - I remember that crystal clear cuz that was the last year I lived in East Point, and that record was HUGE

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess I first heard it in '85, 'cause that's when the album came out. I withdraw my claim. But wasn't '85 total Roxanne Replies time?

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:34 (twenty-one years ago)

surely there had to be a couple amazing metal albums in '85 too (although reign in blood was '84, natch.)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:39 (twenty-one years ago)

yes! and it probably was still getting alot of play in 85 (in fact I first thought "hey - Roxanne Roxanne" but allmusic said the single was 84, so apparently not)(I moved in summer of 85, so all I could remember was 'fourth grade')

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:41 (twenty-one years ago)

the roxanne roxanne answer records are at least 51% of the story anyway

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:41 (twenty-one years ago)

best single of that year: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam w/Full Force "I Wonder If I Take You Home," man was I hypnotized by her booty in that video

jess the Vision Quest soundtrack was that year...and Eddy has it at #16 in Stairway to Hell

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:42 (twenty-one years ago)

this thread is funny in a kind of sad way. I mean, we're all struggling so valiantly to find the good in the year!

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I think 85 was actually an ebb year for hair metal too - recovering/recalculating from 1984-Pyromania-Quiet Riot- RATT-etc., setting the stage for Slippery When Wet-Hysteria-Appetite-Poison-Cinderella

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:45 (twenty-one years ago)

there's plenty of good, it's just not 1984 level (neither is 1967!)

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:45 (twenty-one years ago)

This FACE list makes it look pretty good though.

1. Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm
2. Cameo - Single Life
3. Jesus And Mary Chain - Never Understand
4. Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny Come Home
5. Duran Duran - A View To A Kill
6. Harlequin Fours - Set It Off
7. Lisa Lisa & Full Force - I Wonder If I Take You Home
8. Doug E. Fresh - The Show
9. Trouble Funk - Still Smokin'
=10. Mai Tai - History
=10. Madonna - Into The Groove
=10. Donald Banks - Status Quo
=13. Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Lets Make Lots Of Money)
=I3. Prince - Paisley Park
15. Steve Arrington - Feel So Real
16. Beastie Boys - Rock Hard
=17. Fats Comet - Stormy Weather
=17. Eurythmics - Would I lie To You
=17. Macattack - Art Of Drums
20. James lngram - Ya Mo B There
21. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
22. The Clash - This Is England
23. Colonel Abrams - Trapped
24. Mass Extension - Happy Feet
25. Conway Brothers - Turn It Up
26. Rene & Angela - Save Your love
=27. MCA and Burzoothe - Drum Machine
=27. Anthony Redrose - Tempo
29. Eurythmics - There Must Be An Angel
30. Madonna - Material Girl
31. The Pogues - Sally MacLennane
32. Prince - Pop life
=33. Horace Andy - Sting Me A Sting
=33. York – It’s Only A Dream
35. The Smiths - Shakespeare's Sister
36. The Pogues - A Pair Of Brown Eyes
37. Art of Noise - Moments In Love
38. Motorslug - Wise Blood
=39. Scritti Politti - Hypnotise
=39. Maria Vidal - Body Rock
41. E.U. - Sho' NufF Bumpin'
42. L.L. Cool J - I Can Give You More
=43. Prince - Raspberry Beret
=43. Cameo - Young Americain
45. Andre Cymone - Dance Electric
46. Lorna G. - Three Weeks Gone (Mi Giro)
47. Silly Idol - White Wedding
=48. Bobby Womack - I Wish She Didn't Trust Me So Much
=48. Dennis Brown - How Sweet It Is
50. Double D & Steinski - Master Mix 3

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:46 (twenty-one years ago)

holy shit, scritti! i stand fukkin corrected

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:48 (twenty-one years ago)

was "single life" 85?

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:51 (twenty-one years ago)

was just gonna get that list! which frankly looks pretty fucking b-level compared to almost any other year surrounding it. and yes '67 isn't as good as '84 James, come on! nothing is except maybe [pick yr five exceptions here].

fwiw, if I were forced to pox it I'd go w/"I Wonder If I Take You Home," "The Show," "Into The Groove," "Opportunities (Lets Make Lots Of Money)," "Trapped," "Pop life," "Raspberry Beret," "White Wedding," "Master Mix 3." which is only nine.

also for my corny indie fuxxx bredren: Mekons' Fear & Whiskey came out that year.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:52 (twenty-one years ago)

"any other year surrounding it" = "any other year of the '80s"

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex in SF's list is crucial (to me) anyway. This was my end-of-freshman-then-summer-then-beginning-of-sophomore-at-college year, so I was totally just into whatever the hell I could scrounge (no $$) and what DJs played at dances and the sad little video channels (any Boston people remember V66? We could barely pick that up in our dorm rooms) and MTV and whatever. So I remember this stuff really fondly as a good year for pop...but yeah, not one of yr classic years.

Kinda surprised no one mentioned "The Show" before now. Road trip to Connecticut soundtrack featured that heavily, along with my cassette of Sam Cooke's Live at the Harlem Square Club (now sadly lost).

And wasn't there a Fall album that year? (every year, safe bet)

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:54 (twenty-one years ago)

and what the hell, here's Xgau's Dean's List from that year's Pazz & Jop:

Albums
Mekons: Fear & Whiskey (Sin import) 16
Aretha Franklin: Who's Zoomin' Who? (Arista) 13
The Replacements: Tim (Sire) 13
Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill (A&M) 12
Hüsker Dü: New Day Rising (SST) 11
Velvet Underground: VU (Verve) 9
Willie Nelson & Hank Snow: Brand on My Heart (Columbia) 9
The Blasters: Hard Line (Slash) 6
Joe Higgs: Triumph (Alligator) 6
Talking Heads: Little Creatures (Sire) 5
The Pogues: Rum Sodomy & the Lash (Stiff import)
Thomas Mapfumo: Ndangariro (Carthage '84)
Linton Kwesi Johnson: In Concert With the Dub Band (Shanachie)
Go Go Crankin' (4th & B'way)
Scritti Politti: Cupid & Psyche 85 (Warner Bros.)
Marti Jones: Unsophisticated Time (A&M)
The Dead Milkmen: Big Lizard in My Backyard (Fever)
George Clinton: Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends (Capitol)
Yabby You: Fleeing from the City (Shanachie)
Dramarama: Cinema Verité (New Rose import)
Hüsker Dü: Flip Your Wig (SST)
John Anderson: Tokyo, Oklahoma (Warner Bros.)
Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus: Rally Round (Shanachie)
Minutemen: 3-Way Tie for Last (SST)
Rosanne Cash: Rhythm and Romance (Columbia)
Katrina and the Waves (Capitol)
Phranc: Folksinger (Rhino)
Steve Arrington: Dancin' in the Key of Life (Atlantic)
Willie Nelson: Me and Paul (Columbia)
The Go-Betweens: Metal and Shells (PVC)
Robert Cray Band: False Accusations (Hightone)
Kid Creole and the Coconuts: In Praise of Older Women and Other Crimes (Sire)
Phezulu Eqhudeni (Carthage)
Marshall Crenshaw: Downtown (Warner Bros.)
George Strait: Something Special (MCA)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti: Army Arrangement (Celluloid)
UB40: Geffery Morgan (A&M '84)
The Rave-Ups: Town & Country (Fun Stuff)
David Byrne: Music for the Knee Plays (ECM)
Conjure (American Clavé '84)
Harold Budd/Brian Eno: The Pearl (Editions EG '84)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti: No Agreement (Celluloid)
Mofungo: Frederick Douglass (Coyote/Twin/Tone)
Nomads: Outburst (What Goes On '84)
Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City (Manhattan)
Nile Rodgers: B-Movie Matinee (Warner Bros.)
Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey and His Inter-Reformers Band: Juju Jubilee (Shanachie)
Jimmy G. and the Tackheads: Federation of Tackheads (Capitol)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo: Ulwandle Oluncgwele (Shanachie)

Singles
Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew: "The Show" (Reality 12-inch)
Aretha Franklin: "Freeway of Love" (Arista)
Roxanne Shanté: "Roxanne's Revenge" (PopArt 12-inch)
Roky Erickson: "Don't Slander Me" (Dynamic)
Artists United Against Apartheid: "Sun City" (Manhattan)
Ramones: "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" (Beggars Banquet import 12-inch)
Beastie Boys: "Rock Hard" (DefJam 12-inch)
USA for Africa: "We Are the World" (Columbia)
Strafe: "Set It Off" (JusBorn 12-inch)
Run-D.M.C.: "King of Rock" (Profile 12-inch)
Aretha Franklin: "Who's Zoomin' Who?" (Arista),
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force: "I Wonder If I Take You Home" (Columbia 12-inch)
Ready for the World: "Tonight" (MCA)
Prince and the Revolution: "Raspberry Beret" (Paisley Park)
Paul Young: "Every Time You Go Away" (Columbia 12-inch)
Cheech & Chong: "Born in East L.A." (MCA)
Jean Knight: "My Toot Toot" (Mirage)
Klymaxx: "Meeting in the Ladies Room" (Constellation)
Fishbone: "? (Modern Industry)" (Columbia)
Special Guests: "Cezanne" (Special Guests)
Nonfiction: "Dead into West Virginia"/"Speak the Same to Everyone" (Proud Pork)
Wiseblood: "Motorslug" (WaxTrax)
Shalamar: "Don't Get Stopped in Beverly Hills" (Columbia 12-inch)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti: "Army Arrangement" (Celluloid 12-inch),
Sonic Youth: "I Killed Christgau with My Big Fucking Dick (And Now It Don't Work No More)" (Forced Exposure)

EPs
Double Dee & Steinski: The Payoff Mix/Lesson Two/Lesson 3 (Tommy Boy)
Big Black: Racer-X (Tommy Boy promo)
UB40: Little Baggariddim (A&M)
Alex Chilton: Feudalist Tarts (Big Time)
Lifeboat (Dolphin)
Aaron Neville: Orchid in the Storm (Passport)
Screaming Blue Messiahs: Good and Gone (Big Beat import)
Undercurrent: Rockin Asunder! (Double Image cassette)
Psychotics: Mass Insanity Destroying Civilization (Olive Tree)
Full Time Men (Coyote)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:55 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hi. I'm M Matos and I kill threads. Thank you and goodnight."

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:57 (twenty-one years ago)

haha!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 04:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Sonic Youth: "I Killed Christgau with My Big Fucking Dick (And Now It Don't Work No More)" (Forced Exposure)

Tee hee.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:00 (twenty-one years ago)

"Born in East L.A."!!!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I pitched woo to J*nnie Ak*ns to that song

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Not to Juan Atkins, inventor of the Atkins diet?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:04 (twenty-one years ago)

is that nile rodgers solo lp any good, i always see it around cheap but never get to play it

― trife (simon_tr), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:05 (twenty-one years ago)

(x-post) but JB you were only in 4th grade! damm.

my makeout music with *nn *k*ch*k* was "Be Near Me" and Tears for Fears

i haven't heard NR solo either, kinda wanted to but late Chic was so dullish

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Aretha Franklin: Who's Zoomin' Who? (Arista) 13

THIS is the headscratcher. Aretha roxors of course, but this album?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:08 (twenty-one years ago)

so from Xgau's list alone I'd add "Makes No Sense at All," "And She Was," "Bitchin' Camaro" (NOTE: my tastes are notoriously unreliable, as you all know), "Walking on Sunshine," "Army Arrangement (Bill Laswell Mix)," "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg," "Rock Hard" (which would be my tenth on that Face POX), "Set It Off" (YES YES YES to BOTH VERSIONS), "Who's Zoomin' Who?," "Born in East L.A.," "Death Valley '69." this is looking better and better, actually. (Nate P, get your ass in here and take notes!)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:08 (twenty-one years ago)

feh on all late-Chic hate! also I like "Freeway" and love "Zoomin'" (dunno the alb-proper), though I suspect some (a lot) of soulism was involved in his ranking it so high

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I fucking KNEW Blount would say something about "East L.A."!!! I knew it I knew it I knew it!

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, everybody was so happy (understandably) Aretha was back they went a little overboard for the album

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

not hate Matos just a little boredom, although more research is needed

HEY no one's talking about Robert Palmer OWNING this year both with his solo singles ("Addicted to Love," mofoz!) and with The Power Station!

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

you get me, a couple of personal pan pizzas, a hot little fifth grader that looks vaguely like Phoebe Cates, and Cheech Marin on the jukebox and you get a lesson in the art of seduction.

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:12 (twenty-one years ago)

isn't "Addicted to Love" 86 (if not, pretty sure "Addicted to Spuds" is)

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:13 (twenty-one years ago)

ugh, Power STation. (haha is that what you mean by late Chic, Neudonym? Tony Thompson and Bernard Edwards, hah!) (seriously, Real People is their best album by far--and I'm a HUGE Risque fan--and Take It Off and Tongue in Chic are also excellent. try Rhino's Best of Chic Vol. 2, which boils it down really nicely.)

Blount, that's me minus the Phoebe Cates lookalike and the courage, and sub Billy Crystal's Mahvelous! album. or don't, since my mom wouldn't buy me the cassette at Target, I had to get Tears for Fears instead! (I still LOVE THE SHIT OUT OF "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" FYI)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:13 (twenty-one years ago)

"Mom, can I have a tape?"
"Sure, find one you like."
"Here!" [brandishing Mahvelous!]
"No. Pick a real tape."

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:14 (twenty-one years ago)

just think--one purchase different and I would have been a stand-up impressionist instead of a sour rock critic!

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

"You look Mahvelous"!!!!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:16 (twenty-one years ago)

that, my friends, was my 1985

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I only have a one-disc Chic comp MM, and it dragz at the end, but I'll do as you say. And NO I'm not a big Power Station guy, although I'm confused that they don't get huge retro-love around here for being just so blatant and funky

and when I hear "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" I still air-drum the fills with the upside-down cymbal crash like dude in the video

Riptide came out late 1985 and I think "Addicted" was out before the album but I don't know, who knows, fuck I gotta get to bed

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:18 (twenty-one years ago)

haha!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't take it that way at all, Neudonym

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:19 (twenty-one years ago)

you would think with Power Station being part-Duran and part-Chic it would get more ilx love

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:19 (twenty-one years ago)

tells you something about just how mediocre that record is

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:20 (twenty-one years ago)

'85 was one hell of a year for novelty records, though. was that when "Rappin' Rodney" came out? or that Honeymooners rap song? I vaguely remember hearing those that year.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Honeymooners maybe, but I'm pretty sure "Rappin Rodney"'s way before that (like 83 maybe)

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:24 (twenty-one years ago)

"Rappin Duke" was 85 maybe! "da ha ha ha, da ha ha ha ha"!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:25 (twenty-one years ago)

although reign in blood was '84, natch

'86 actually. But yes, lots of great metal:

Slayer - Hell Awaits
Anthrax - Spreading The Disease
Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion
Celtic Frost - Emperor's Return
Exodus - Bonded By Blood
Possessed - Seven Churches
Bathory - The Return
Iron Maiden - Live After Death
Kreator - Endless Pain
Destruction - Infernal Overkill
Megadeth - Killing Is My Business
Piledriver - Metal Inquisition
Sodom - In The Sign Of Evil

― Siegbran (eofor), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:25 (twenty-one years ago)

The 1981 re-edit of "Walking on Thin Ice" was released in 1985 according to Disco Not Disco. Nice.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Nate can't put that on his MP3 '85 masterwork, though! against the rules! (even if no one else is thinking along those lines, I am, sorry to be pedantic.)

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

*STICKS OUT TONGUE*

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Wasn't "Under Mi Sleng Teng" 1985 too?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I almost consulted those Nate 'year in the life' mixtapes

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:31 (twenty-one years ago)

not to mention the singles off Tim! Bastards Of The Young!

Also still Cyndi Lauper singles (themesong for the goonies in particular). And the aforementioned Run-DMC A-and LL Cool J AND the Bangles!

The Fall -- Hip Priests & etc. and Quarterflash -- Black into Blue as well as Kix Midnite Dynamite and Billy Joel's 2 vol greatest hits. (acc. to Chuck Eddy's Accidental Evolution...)

Also Can't Fight This Feeling but the real question is what were the CHARTS that year!!!

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Bangles are one of those 84, 86 leapfroggers of 85

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:35 (twenty-one years ago)

grrr. curse you amg you lied to me!! (it sez at least the first singles from the second album were 85)

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:38 (twenty-one years ago)

tis 86!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:42 (twenty-one years ago)

now that's 1985

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 05:44 (twenty-one years ago)

thgreads like show why i wont ever be able to be a real music critic : (

― trife (simon_tr), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 06:00 (twenty-one years ago)

well, threads like this and matos never emailing me back : (

― trife (simon_tr), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 06:01 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry im bein a fuckwit

― trife (simon_tr), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 06:01 (twenty-one years ago)

flagpole gave ya some luv this week (finally)

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 06:03 (twenty-one years ago)

too. many. freelancers. already.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 06:06 (twenty-one years ago)

haha!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 06:13 (twenty-one years ago)

that reminds me I have an idea for a story

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 06:14 (twenty-one years ago)

1985 was the year that gave me Bobby Gillespie's Leather Clad Crotch.

I bow in awe. I rest my case.

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 07:45 (twenty-one years ago)

1985 was 'Running up that hill' and 'Hounds of Love'.

A magnificent year, then....

― russ t, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 08:31 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, so someone somewhere mentioned "Cupid and Psyche", but nobody's mentioned the one and only Colourbox album which was a whole host of future possibilities all rolled onto one disc (though the two disc / cassette version was miles better). And then there was "Lowlife", and "Primitive painters", and "Smiling monarchs" and the Mary Chain and oh my god I've just found a website with streaming broadcasts of Peels festive fiftys for most of the 80s and 90s... don't disturb me for a few days, OK?

― Rob M (Rob M), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 10:28 (twenty-one years ago)

*cough* The Head On The Door *cough*

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:11 (twenty-one years ago)

...and Dead or Alive 'You Spin me round like a record'.

― russ t, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:12 (twenty-one years ago)

When it all turned to shit: 2004
When it all turned to gold: 2005

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Peel's Festive 50 1985 :

Not good at all.

Jesus and Mary Chain - Never Understand
Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey
The Fall - Cruiser's Creek
Cult - She sells sanctuary
Cocteau Twins - Aikea-Guinea
Chumbawamba - Revolution
Felt - Primitive Painters
Smiths - The boy with the thorn in his side
New Order - Perfect Kiss
Housemartins - Flag Day
The Men They Couldn't Hang - Ironmasters
Jesus and Mary Chain - You trip me up
Pogues - Sally Maclennane
Three Johns - Death of the European
Wedding Present - Go out and get 'em boy!
New Order - Love Vigilantes
Shop Assistants - All that ever mattered
New Order - Sub-culture
Woodentops - Move me
Pogues - A pair of brown eyes
Echo and the Bunnymen - Bring on the dancing horses
That Petrol Emotion - V2
The Fall - Spoilt Victorian Child
New Order - Sunrise
Pogues - I'm a man you don't meet every day
Rose of Avalanche - L.A. Rain
Cure - InBetween Days
James - Hymn from a Village
Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual
Age of Chance - Motor City
Smiths - That joke isn't funny anymore
Smiths - Meat is Murder
The Fall - Gut of the Quantifier
Beloved - 100 Words
Nick Cave/Bad Seeds - Tupelo
Sisters of Mercy - Marian
Vibes - I'm in Pittsburg and it's raining
Prefab Sprout - Faron Young
The Fall - Couldn't get ahead
Billy Bragg - Between the Wars
Smiths - Well I wonder
The Fall - L.A.
Sisters of Mercy - Some Kind of Stranger
Primal Scream - It happens
New Order - Face up
Husker Du - Makes no sense at all
Robert Wyatt - The Wind of Change
Woodentops - Well well well
One Thousand Violins - Like One Thousand Violins
Shop Assistants - All day long

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

didn't you like jamc doctor?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

My 1985? I broke the ladder-turret of the Playmobil fire-engine in infant school by trying to take it apart and put it back together again and got in hella trouble with Mrs Kenyon. I was 6 years old woman, forgive my childish curiosity!

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

**didn't you like jamc doctor?**

Not much

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

"cruiser's creek"!!! again, 1985- good year for usa, GREAT year for uk

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

whoever mentioned 'steve mcqueen' up there is OTM. was listening to that a bit last week.

that first jamc alb was fine but i haven't heard that in years now.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

that looks like a pretty great festive top 50 to my eyes?!

Minus the Shop Assistants, JAMC, Nick Cave and Three Johns it's a nigh-on perfect selection - The Smiths on top form, New Order on a creative roll, Cocteau Twins when they were GREAT, the Sisters at their peak...... compare it to the NME-tinged drivel he plays nowadays.....

― russ t, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Nick, I believe you have issues. Are your really that young? Hell, I feel old.

The 1985 festive fifty was the second one I heard and the first I taped in full and loved almost every second of it (with a few exceptions, never could get the Pogues or the Sisters of Mercy). And christ, nobody's mentioned Yeah Yeah Noh who were at their peak in 1985 - the Peel session they did that year was stupendous, and the "Cutting the heavenly lawn" LP... pah, who says 1985 was crap?

― Rob M (Rob M), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

(with a few exceptions, never could get the Pogues or the Sisters of Mercy)
Blasphemy!

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

KROQ Top 106.7 Countdown of 1985

Not too shabby.

1. Shake the Disease - Depeche Mode
2. Vigilante - Felony
3. Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) - Pet Shop Boys
4. In Between Days - The Cure
5. Shout - Tears for Fears
6. You Spin Me Round - Dead or Alive
7. Take On Me - A-ha
8. This Time - INXS
9. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
10. Dead Man's Party - Oingo Boingo
11. Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds
12. The Perfect Kiss - New Order
13. Viva La Rock - Adam Ant
14. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
15. The Bottom Line - Big Audio Dynamite
16. Love and Pride - King
17. So In Love - OMD
18. World Destruction - Time Zone
19. Flexible - Depeche Mode
20. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting
21. Head Over Heels - Tears for Fears
22. Dancing in the Streets - Mick Jagger & David Bowie
23. Blue Kiss - Jane Weidlin
24. One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head
25. Just Another Night - Mick Jagger
26. Kosciusko - Midnight Oil
27. Sussudio - Phil Collins
28. Good Bye Bad Times - Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder
29. Stay Up Late - Talking Heads
30. Blowing Up Detroit - John Polumbo
31. Sun City - Artists United Against Apartheid
32. The Perfect Way - Scritti Politti
33. Be Near Me - ABC
34. Bring on the Dancing Horses - Echo & the Bunnymen
35. I Got You Babe - UB40 & Chrissie Hynde
36. Election Day - Arcadia
37. Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
38. A View to a Kill - Duran Duran
39. Weird Science - Oingo Boingo
40. It's Called a Heart - Depeche Mode
41. Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads
42. Some Like it Hot - Power Station
43. My Heart Goes Bang - Dead or Alive
44. Close to Me - The Cure
45. Subculture - New Order
46. Say it Again - Danse Society
47. Just Another Day - Oingo Boingo
48. Secrets - OMD
49. King for a Day - Thompson Twins
50. Vienna Calling - Falco
51. Slave to Love - Brian Ferry
52. Won't You Hold My Hand Now - King
53. What You Need - INXS
54. Nemesis - Shriekback
55. Vanity Kills - ABC
56. Strength - The Alarm
57. Communication - Power Station
58. Lay Your Hands on Me - Thompson Twins
59. Lover Come Back to Me - Dead or Alive
60. Fire in the Twilight - Wang Chung
61. Would I Lie to You - Eurythmics
62. Things Can Only Get Better - Howard Jones
63. The Sun Always Shines on TV - A-ha
64. Castles in Spain - The Armory Show
65. She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult
66. Bang a Gong - Power Station
67. Sanctify Yourself - Simple Minds
68. Face the Face - Pete Townshend
69. Don't Mess With Dr. Dream - Thompson Twins
70. Black Cars - Gino Vanelli
71. Burning House of Love - X
72. How to be a Millionaire - ABC
73. Johnny Come Home - Fine Young Cannibals
74. A Sort of Homecoming - U2
75. Tonight She Comes - The Cars
76. Gratitude - Oingo Boingo
77. Loving the Alien - David Bowie
78. Life in One Day - Howard Jones
79. Never You Done That - General Public
80. Universal Radio - Nena Hagen
81. Love Parade - Dream Academy
82. Radioactive - The Firm
83. Eye to Eye - Go West
84. Break Them Down - Graham Parker
85. Tarzan Boy - Baltimora
86. Born in East LA - Cheech Marin
87. Raspberry Beret - Prince
88. Perfect Skin - Lloyd Cole & the Commotions
89. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina & the Waves
90. In Too Deep - Dead or Alive
91. America - Prince
92. Love is the 7th Wave - Sting
93. Colleen - Living Daylights
94. Dave - Boomtown Rats
95. Love You Like a Ball & Chain - Eurythmics
96. Cities in Dust - Siouxsie & the Banshees
97. Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
98. Hits of the Year - Squeeze
99. Don't Lose My Number - Phil Collins
100. Midnight Man - Flash in the Pan
101. Warning Sign - Nick Heyward
102. This is not America - David Bowie
103. Nineteen - Paul Hardcastle
104. An Act of War - Elton John
105. East of Eden - Lone Justice
106. Kat Box Beach - Living Daylights
106.7 Woodpeckers in Space - Video Kids

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 14:04 (twenty-one years ago)

All good music created and released in 1985 was sucked into the black hole of DEATH that was No.22 above.

"South Americaaaaaa!"

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Thus, the original premise is correct, since That Song killed music.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

...great to see a mention of Time Zone - World Destruction in the KROQ chart - what a fantastic single that was.... and still is.

― russ t, Wednesday, 16 July 2003 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, but surely No. 24 alleviates No. 22 somewhat?

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes! Yes! Yes!
#24: A deliciously sleazy song about NOT being sleazy. Every sixth or seventh line of lyric was a subtle triple entendre. And the writer/ composer/ singer is named Murray HEAD. You gotta love that.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Murray Head didn't write it; it's from Chess

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm trying to figure out how "Sussudio" ended up on a 1985 KROQ list. But more to the point:

2. Vigilante - Felony

?!?!? I've NEVER heard of this band or song.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, but didn't Murray Head create Chess? (not the game, just the musical)

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

no way - Bjorn and Tim Rice!!!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 18:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay. I'll take your word for it.

Still, anyhow. One Night in Bangkok...it's a great, smarmy choon. It's like Fred Schneider got coolness lessons from Bryan Ferry and luuurrrve man lessons from Serge Gainsbourg.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 18:52 (twenty-one years ago)

'85 was when it all started.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Wednesday, 16 July 2003 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Nothing much to do with the general history of rock, but how has this thread got this far without any mention of Don't Stand Me Down or This Nation's Saving Grace?. Or Clouds Across The Moon?

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 28 August 2003 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

++any Boston people remember V66?

yup yup, my only exposure to videos.

― kephm, Thursday, 28 August 2003 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Things weren't really starting to go in the wrong direction until around 1986-87, with rap and house arriving and hair metal starting to sell even more than before.

However, there have still been enough great records released during the past 15 years that I will not write off the entire period as "crap". Hitlist pop (read: singles lists) has never been as great again after the mid to late 80s that it used to be in the past though.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

this thread was way fun. even with Geir after-the-fact involved.

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 22 November 2003 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

(rarely a mention of the starting of Wax Trax! even? *peep*)

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 22 November 2003 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

(front 242 "commando"?)
(ministry "nature of love"?)
(wiseblood "motorslug"?)
(minimal compact "next one is real"?)
(revolting cocks "no devotion"?)

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 22 November 2003 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, i dunno if i still adhere so strongly to my original views on this subject. there was some pretty good stuff in 1985, plus the birthpangs of better things to come.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 22 November 2003 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

MY BEST TRACKS OF 1985:

1. The Word Girl – Scritti Politti
2. A Night Like This – The Cure
3. Your Latest Trick – Dire Straits
4. Mole From The Ministry – The Dukes Of Stratosphear
5. Shake The Disease – Depeche Mode
6. Spirit Of 76 – The Alarm
7. Heart Of Lothian – Marillion
8. Raspberry Beret – Prince
9. One Vision – Queen
10. Long Long Way To Go – Phil Collins
11. Fly On The Windscreen – Depeche Mode
12. King For a Day – Thompson Twins
13. What In The World – The Dukes Of Stratosphear
14. St. George Street – Squeeze
15. State Of The Heart – Rick Springfield
16. Kyoto Song – The Cure
17. One Mouth Is Fed – Split Enz
18. Come Summer – Fra Lippo Lippi
19. We Said Hello Goodbye – Phil Collins
20. Father To Son – The Alarm
21. Perfect Way – Scritti Politti
22. Specialty – Howard Jones
23. Why Worry – Dire Straits
24. 25 O’Clock – The Dukes Of Stratosphear
25. Calling America – Electric Light Orchestra
26. Castles In The Air – Colourfield
27. Wendell Gee – R.E.M.
28. Strength – The Alarm
29. Election Day – Arcadia
30. Kia Kaha – Split Enz
31. Field Work – Thomas Dolby & Ryuchy Sakamoto
32. Horsing Around – Prefab Sprout
33. Watching You Without Me – Kate Bush
34. Your Gold Dress – The Dukes Of Stratosphear
35. Kiss Me – Stephen “Tin Tin” Duffy
36. Paisley Park – Prince
37. Samurai (Did You Ever Dream) – Michael Cretu
38. Change – Sparks
39. Bike Ride To The Moon – The Dukes Of Stratosphear
40. Faron Young – Prefab Sprout
41. I Walk Away – Split Enz
42. Soldier’s Gun – Stage Dolls
43. Coming Home – Fra Lippo Lippi
44. Is There a Difference? – Howard Jones
45. Secret – Orchestral Manouvers In The Dark
46. Take Me Home – Phil Collins
47. Call Of The Wild – Midge Ure
48. Whatever Happened To Fun – Candy
49. Don’t Stop The Dance – Bryan Ferry
50. Goodbye Is Forever – Arcadia
51. Hallelujah – Prefab Sprout
52. Wide Boy – Nik Kershaw
53. Voices – Split Enz
54. And Dream Of Sheep – Kate Bush
55. One More Night – Phil Collins
56. Sub-Culture – New Order
57. Small Talk – Scritti Politti
58. In-Between Days – The Cure
59. Hunting High & Low – a-ha
60. Russians – Sting
61. Stereotomy – Alan Parsons Project
62. Mother Stands For Comfort – Kate Bush
63. Moving The River – Prefab Sprout
64. Leaving Me Now – Level 42
65. Absolute Reality – The Alarm
66. Celebrate Youth – Rick Springfield
67. Years Go By – Split Enz
68. We Close Our Eyes – Go West
69. Shouldn’t Have To Be Like That – Fra Lippo Lippi
70. Brothers In Arms – Dire Straits
71. Cheerio – The Monroes
72. Janey Don’t Lose Heart – Bruce Springsteen
73. Be Near Me – ABC
74. It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back) – Eurythmics
75. Valotte – Julian Lennon
76. Overjoyed – Stevie Wonder
77. Heaven Can Wait – The Monroes
78. Appetite – Prefab Sprout
79. Uncle Sam – Madness
80. When a Heart Beats – Nik Kershaw
81. West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys
82. Don’t Lose My Number – Phil Collins
83. Living On Video – Trans-X
84. It’s Called a Heart – Depeche Mode
85. Don’t Mess With Dr. Dream – Thompson Twins
86. Marlene On The Wall – Suzanne Vega
87. That Ole Devil Called Love – Alison Moyet
88. The Flame – Arcadia
89. Last Time Forever – Squeeze
90. La Femme Accident – Orchestral Manouvers In The Dark
91. Bonny – Prefab Sprout
92. The Hounds Of Love – Kate Bush
93. Close To Me – The Cure
94. My Love Explodes – The Dukes Of Stratosphear
95. Knife Edge – The Alarm
96. Breaking My Back – Split Enz
97. Hello Earth – Kate Bush
98. When The Angels – Prefab Sprout
99. I’ll Compete – Madness
100. Moon Over Bourbon Street – Sting

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 22 November 2003 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

"I heard that you have a white label of every seminal Detroit techno hit - 1985, '86, '87."

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 18 November 2004 18:39 (twenty years ago)

Debbie just hit the wall
She never had it all
One Prozac a day
Husbands a CPA
Her dreams went out the door
When she turned twenty four
Only been with one man
What happen to her plan?
She was gonna be an actress
She was gonna be a star
She was gonna shake her ass
On the hood of white snake’s car
Her yellow SUV is now the enemy
Looks at her average life
And nothing has been alright since
Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cuz she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985
Woohoohoo
(1985)
Woohoohoo
She’s seen all the classics
She knows every line
Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink
Even Saint Elmo’s Fire
She rocked out to wham
Not a big Limp Bizkit fan
Thought she’d get a hand
On a member of Duran Duran
Where’s the mini-skirt made of snake skin
And who’s the other guy that's singing in Van Halen
When did reality become T.V.
What ever happen to sitcoms, game shows
(on the radio was)
Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cuz she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985
Woohoohoo
She hates time make it stop
When did Motley Crew become classic rock?
And when did Ozzy become an actor?
Please make this stop
Stop!
And bring back
Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cuz she's still preoccupied
With 1985
Woohoohoo

Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV (woohoohoo)
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cuz she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 18 November 2004 18:51 (twenty years ago)

I'm curious if I'd love this song so much if it wasn't for ILX providing me with so many examples of this archetype.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 18 November 2004 18:53 (twenty years ago)

Wasn't Chicago House blowing up then? Creatively I mean.

― djdee2005 (djdee2005), Thursday, 18 November 2004 18:59 (twenty years ago)

Double Dee and Steinski - "Lessons 1-3" EP
Baltimora - "Tarzan Boy"
David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group - "This is Not America"
Prince - "Let's Go Crazy"/"Erotic City"
ZZ Top - "Legs"
The Dream Academy - "Life in a Northern Town"
Simple Minds - "Don't You Forget About Me"
Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F"/"Shoot Out"
D-Train - "You're the One for Me (Remix)"
The Cars - "Drive"
Huey Lewis and the News - "The Power of Love"
Level 42 - "Something About You"
Stevie Wonder - "Part-Time Lover"
The Clash - "This is England"
Dire Straits - "Money for Nothing"
Pet Shop Boys - "West End Girls" (not the Bobby O version)

So, not all bad then. You want the worst year for music ever, try finding anything good from 1998. Besides Moon Safari. And Mark Hollis.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 19 November 2004 03:15 (twenty years ago)

Also there was some really great obscure dance music, like...

Model 500 - "No UFOs"
Paul Scott - "Off the Wall"
Jamie Principle - "Waiting on My Angel"
J.M. Silk - "Music is the Key"

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 19 November 2004 03:45 (twenty years ago)

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