November 1985 -- All about the City

The DJs opened this countdown extolling the wonderful virtues of 1985 and this countdown as representing all that is good about 80's music.  I'll not be that hyperbolic -- it had little to hate -- no rap, no heavy metal, no country, and a more mature feel across the board, even on the synth pop (Tears, Thompsons, ABC).  

No kiddie music, indeed leaning adult contemporary for such a cool time, and two instrumentals (pre-Kenny G!), including last week's number one.  Last #1 of so many for Stevie Wonder, two hits for a resurgent Aretha Franklin, and at the top, a pair of city songs.

Last hit at all for Olivia Newton John (going out with an interesting one) and Ray Parker Jr. (not!)

And along the way, a very respectable four 5-star songs:  Bryan Adams, A-ha, Stevie Wonder, and the Hooters.

1 5 WE BUILT THIS CITY –•– Starship (Grunt)-11 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 4 YOU BELONG TO THE CITY –•– Glenn Frey (MCA)-10 (2)
3 1 MIAMI VICE THEME –•– Jan Hammer (MCA)-11 (1)
4 3 HEAD OVER HEELS –•– Tears For Fears (Mercury)-10 (3)
5 2 PART-TIME LOVER –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-11 (1)
6 7 SEPARATE LIVES –•– Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin (Atlantic)-7 (6)
7 11 BROKEN WINGS –•– Mr. Mister (RCA)-9 (7)
8 12 NEVER –•– Heart (Capitol)-10 (8)
9 9 BE NEAR ME –•– ABC (Mercury)-13 (9)
10 10 LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME –•– Thompson Twins (Arista)-9 (10)

11 16 WHO’S ZOOMIN’ WHO –•– Aretha Franklin (Arista)-8 (11)
12 14 YOU ARE MY LADY –•– Freddie Jackson (Capitol)-11 (12)
13 8 TAKE ON ME –•– A-Ha (Warner Brothers)-19 (1)
14 6 SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU –•– Whitney Houston (Arista)-14 (1)
15 19 LOVE THEME FROM “ST. ELMO’S FIRE” –•– David Foster (Atlantic)-13 (15)
16 13 ONE NIGHT LOVE AFFAIR –•– Bryan Adams (A&M)-10 (13)
17 21 ONE OF THE LIVING –•– Tina Turner (Capitol)-7 (17)
18 29 ELECTION DAY –•– Arcadia (Capitol)-4 (18)
19 25 SLEEPING BAG –•– ZZ Top (Warner Brothers)-5 (19)
20 15 LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT –•– Loverboy (Columbia)-13 (9)

21 24 SOUL KISS –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-7 (21)
22 28 ALIVE AND KICKING –•– Simple Minds (A&M)-5 (22)
23 31 I MISS YOU –•– Klymaxx (Constellation)-10 (23)
24 35 PARTY ALL THE TIME –•– Eddie Murphy (Columbia)-7 (24)
25 30 PERFECT WAY –•– Scritti Politti (Warner Brothers)-11 (25)
26 26 SO IN LOVE –•– Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (A&M)-12 (26)
27 18 I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN –•– Paul Young (Columbia)-11 (13)
28 17 FORTRESS AROUND YOUR HEART –•– Sting (A&M)-13 (8)
29 20 OH SHEILA –•– Ready For The World (MCA)-16 (1)
30 23 AND WE DANCED –•– The Hooters (Columbia)-15 (21)

31 37 SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES –•– Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin (RCA)-5 (31)
32 40 SAY YOU, SAY ME –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-2 (32)
33 38 WRAP HER UP –•– Elton John (Geffen)-4 (33)
34 36 GIRLS ARE MORE FUN –•– Ray Parker, Jr. (Arista)-7 (34)
35 39 RUNNING UP THAT HILL –•– Kate Bush (EMI-America)-11 (35)
36 42 SMALL TOWN –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-3 (36)
37 43 OBJECT OF MY DESIRE –•– Starpoint (Elektra)-8 (37)
38 44 TONIGHT SHE COMES –•– The Cars (Elektra)-3 (38)
39 22 LONELY OL’ NIGHT –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-13 (6)
40 45 WALK OF LIFE –•– Dire Straits (Warner Brothers)-3 (40)