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Of all of the Top 40s we’ve put together for our 80s year-by-year series, this is one of our clear favourites. In part, as it’s packed to bursting point with melody, intrigue and experimentation. In part as it’s as varied a mix of pop confections as they come – from synth-pop classics and soulful belters to synth-driven instrumentals and rock-pop balladry – underlining the decade as truly one of the greatest and most diverse in musical history.
As always, it’s one track per artist, and our approach has been to survey the field, from Classic Pop’s ever-opinionated staffroom, to calling upon our contacts list of discerning experts – plus anyone willing to give their two pennies’ worth. Our travails have resulted in this magically miscellaneous rundown of some of pop’s finest moments, as well as a few lesser-spun outliers that deserve their moment in the sun.
As ever, plenty of excellent tracks just missed the cut: amongst them fine turns from Feargal Sharkey, Echo & The Bunnymen, Midge Ure, R.E.M., OMD, The Dream Academy, Dire Straits, ABC, DeBarge and others. Plus, We Are The World didn’t make it, nor did (eek) the year’s biggest-selling single in the UK, Jennifer Rush’s uberballad The Power Of Love. We’re sorry, but there’s just too many blinders that beat them to the punch in a year of abundant pop delights.
Let us know your favourites, but in the meantime, take the time to cue up our Top 40 singles of 1985…
4O
EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY
PAUL YOUNG
After the runaway success of his No.1 debut album
No Parlez,
Paul Young was under high pressure to follow up what is now a quadruple platinum LP. He needn’t have worried,
The Secret Of Association
quickly found the UK top spot. Its most successful satellite was this cover of Hall & Oates’ 1980 song, occupying the higher echelons around the globe, topping the listings in the US and making the UK Top 5. Standing tall, in part thanks to the slick fretless bass of Pino Palladino and John Turnbull’s electric sitar, the track remains his most requested song at shows.
39
THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER
HOWARD JONES
With its route-one, funked-up synth-pop ingredients, some hungering falsetto and a glory-chasing “whoa, whoa, whoa” hook,
Things Can Only Get Better
neatly encapsulates Howard’s songcraft in this, his paean to perseverance. Add in a chorus of the jubilantly voiced Afrodiziak, some of-their-time synthesized brass stabs and, while it’s admittedly consigned to the era in which it was birthed, it’s a fine piece of pop and very much deserving of its UK Top 10 placing, its Top 5 spot in the US and, of course, its position here.
38
KAYLEIGH
MARILLION
Marillion are on the periphery of Classic Pop’s radar, but how could we ignore this mighty waxing – a rock-pop classic, sent skyward thanks to a palette of soft synths and a melody to die for, described by singer Fish to The Daily Telegraph as a “tremulous torch song”. Inspired by a specific ex, but aimed as a sort of universal apology to all of his long-term lovers, this was another to just miss the UK summit, landing at No.2 and remaining on the chart for 14 weeks. Fish memorably performed the track at the Nelson Mandela’s 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley, helped along by Midge Ure on guitar and Phil Collins on drums.
34
BLACK MAN RAY
CHINA CRISIS
“What are you thinking?” asks the boy. “Just remembering the times in this room,” replies the girl. And so begins China Crisis’ slender synth-pop ballad, one of their most successful 45s and a centrepiece of third collection, Flaunt The Imperfection. Written by Gary Daly at his mother’s house post-touring with Simple Minds, its title amalgamated Ray Charles and visual artist Man Ray – “It’s a total Eno-ism, going with the first thing that pops into your head,” Daly explained to Electronic Sound.
33
THE SWEETEST TABOO
SADE
After whipping up a quiet storm in 1984, breaking through with the likes of Smooth Operator and Your Love Is King from their Brit Award-winning debut album Diamond Life, Sade continued their rise with this, opening up their second, more pensive follow-up, Promise, a No.1 in the UK and US. Emerging from the sound of rainfall, The Sweetest Taboo exudes singer Sade Adu’s born-with-it cool, an inspiriting lyric of love and devotion. While the track underperformed in the UK (No.31), it made the US Top 5.
32
WALKING ON SUNSHINE
KATRINA AND THE WAVES