# 1985 in British music

This is a summary of 1985 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

## Summary

The biggest British musical event of 1985 was the Live Aid concert in London's Wembley Stadium on 13 July. Held to follow up the previous year's charity record "Do They Know It's Christmas?", the biggest-selling single ever at the time, popular acts such as The Who, U2 and Queen performed in front of an estimated audience of 1.9 billion viewers. It raised £150 million to help famine in Ethiopia, and a similar event would happen 20 years later in 2005, with Live 8.
After the huge success of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", several more charity songs reached number 1 this year. USA for Africa, inspired by Band Aid, released "We Are the World", a song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, while David Bowie and Mick Jagger released a cover of "Dancing in the Street", the music video being premiered at Live Aid and all proceeds going to the charity. In May, a fire at a football stadium in Bradford killed 56 people, and supergroup The Crowd released a charity cover of popular football anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" in tribute.
British rock band Dire Straits released their album Brothers in Arms in May, one of the first ever albums to be released on compact disc and the format's first million-seller. It went on to become the UK's best-selling album of the entire decade and remains one of the top ten best-selling albums of all time in the UK. Four singles were released from the album, including the UK number 4 hit and US number 1 "Money for Nothing", which referenced American music channel MTV and had a groundbreaking video featuring early computer-generated imagery. When a European version of MTV launched in 1987, it was the first video ever played on the channel.
Jennifer Rush entered the top 75 in June with the power ballad "The Power of Love", which remained in the chart for months without entering the top 40. When it finally did in September, it quickly hit number 1, where it remained for five weeks and was the biggest selling single of the year. It sold over a million copies, however it would be the last single of the decade to do so, and there would not be another million-seller until 1991.
Many songs this year competed for the Christmas number one single, and the entire top 3 from 1984 re-entered the chart this year; Paul McCartney's "We All Stand Together" at number 32, Wham!'s "Last Christmas" at number 6, and Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" at number 3. There were also attempts from Bruce Springsteen with a cover of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", and ventriloquist Keith Harris released a cover of "White Christmas" with his green puppet Orville the Duck.
However, the Christmas number one went to Shakin' Stevens with the song "Merry Christmas Everyone". It had been intended to be released in 1984, but was kept back a year due to the Band Aid charity single. Still a widely known Christmas song in the 21st century, it re-entered the chart in Christmas 2007 on downloads alone, at number 22.
John Rutter, hitherto best known for his popular modern carols, acknowledged his classical roots with his Requiem, which was premièred in October in Sacramento, California. Less than eight months earlier, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem had its première in New York. Paul Miles-Kingston, the boy soprano who won a silver disc for his recording of the "Pie Jesu" from that work, became Head Chorister of Winchester Cathedral in the same year. The prolific Peter Maxwell Davies (who had moved to Orkney in 1971) produced one of his most popular works, An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise, notable for featuring the bagpipes as a lead instrument, as well as the Symphony No 3, which like its predecessors shows the influence of Sibelius. Veteran Welsh composer Daniel Jones, produced his 12th symphony, at the age of 73, whilst 80-year-old Michael Tippett began work on his last opera, New Year.

## Events

* 19 February – The first performance of Peter Maxwell Davies' Symphony No 3 takes place at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Downes conducting.
* 24 February – The first performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem takes place in St Thomas Church, Manhattan, conducted by Lorin Maazel, with soloists Plácido Domingo, Sarah Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston.
* 10 March – An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise by Peter Maxwell Davies is premiered in Boston by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
* 14 March – Movements 1, 2, 4 and 7 of John Rutter's Requiem receive their first performance in Sacramento, California, conducted by the composer.
* 15 March – Jesus & Mary Chain perform a gig at North London Polytechnic which lasts less than 20 minutes after they appear late on stage. A riot ensues, resulting in audience members storming the stage and smashing up the band's equipment, causing £8000 worth of damage.
* 15 March – Song Offerings for soprano and eight players by Jonathan Harvey is performed for the first time at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
* 2 May – The last surviving member of the family of Savoy opera directors, Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte, dies of cancer at the age of 77.
* 13 July – The benefit concert Live Aid is held at London's Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. 72,000 people attend at Wembley and the event raises over £150 million in aid of famine relief.
* 7 September – The first performance of Robin Holloway's Viola Concerto takes place at the Proms, with soloist Rivka Golani and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley.
* 26 September – The Symphony No 12 by Daniel Jones is premiered at St David's Hall, Cardiff by the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Erich Begal.
* 13 October – The first complete performance of John Rutter's Requiem takes place in Dallas, Texas, conducted by the composer.

## Charts
### Number one singles

| Chart date (week ending) | Song | Artist(s) | Weeks |
| 5 January | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | Band Aid | 2 |
| 12 January | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | Band Aid | 2 |
| 19 January | "I Want to Know What Love Is" | Foreigner | 3 |
| 26 January | "I Want to Know What Love Is" | Foreigner | 3 |
| 2 February | "I Want to Know What Love Is" | Foreigner | 3 |
| 9 February | "I Know Him So Well" | Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson | 4 |
| 16 February | "I Know Him So Well" | Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson | 4 |
| 23 February | "I Know Him So Well" | Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson | 4 |
| 2 March | "I Know Him So Well" | Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson | 4 |
| 9 March | "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" | Dead or Alive | 2 |
| 16 March | "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" | Dead or Alive | 2 |
| 23 March | "Easy Lover" | Philip Bailey and Phil Collins | 4 |
| 30 March | "Easy Lover" | Philip Bailey and Phil Collins | 4 |
| 6 April | "Easy Lover" | Philip Bailey and Phil Collins | 4 |
| 13 April | "Easy Lover" | Philip Bailey and Phil Collins | 4 |
| 20 April | "We Are the World" | USA for Africa | 2 |
| 27 April | "We Are the World" | USA for Africa | 2 |
| 4 May | "Move Closer" | Phyllis Nelson | 1 |
| 11 May | "19" | Paul Hardcastle | 5 |
| 18 May | "19" | Paul Hardcastle | 5 |
| 25 May | "19" | Paul Hardcastle | 5 |
| 1 June | "19" | Paul Hardcastle | 5 |
| 8 June | "19" | Paul Hardcastle | 5 |
| 15 June | "You'll Never Walk Alone" | The Crowd | 2 |
| 22 June | "You'll Never Walk Alone" | The Crowd | 2 |
| 29 June | "Frankie" | Sister Sledge | 4 |
| 6 July | "Frankie" | Sister Sledge | 4 |
| 13 July | "Frankie" | Sister Sledge | 4 |
| 20 July | "Frankie" | Sister Sledge | 4 |
| 27 July | "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" | Eurythmics | 1 |
| 3 August | "Into the Groove" | Madonna | 4 |
| 10 August | "Into the Groove" | Madonna | 4 |
| 17 August | "Into the Groove" | Madonna | 4 |
| 24 August | "Into the Groove" | Madonna | 4 |
| 31 August | "I Got You Babe" | UB40 and Chrissie Hynde | 1 |
| 7 September | "Dancing in the Street" | David Bowie and Mick Jagger | 4 |
| 14 September | "Dancing in the Street" | David Bowie and Mick Jagger | 4 |
| 21 September | "Dancing in the Street" | David Bowie and Mick Jagger | 4 |
| 28 September | "Dancing in the Street" | David Bowie and Mick Jagger | 4 |
| 5 October | "If I Was" | Midge Ure | 1 |
| 12 October | "The Power of Love" | Jennifer Rush | 5 |
| 19 October | "The Power of Love" | Jennifer Rush | 5 |
| 26 October | "The Power of Love" | Jennifer Rush | 5 |
| 2 November | "The Power of Love" | Jennifer Rush | 5 |
| 9 November | "The Power of Love" | Jennifer Rush | 5 |
| 16 November | "A Good Heart" | Feargal Sharkey | 2 |
| 23 November | "A Good Heart" | Feargal Sharkey | 2 |
| 30 November | "I'm Your Man" | Wham! | 2 |
| 7 December | "I'm Your Man" | Wham! | 2 |
| 14 December | "Saving All My Love for You" | Whitney Houston | 2 |
| 21 December | "Saving All My Love for You" | Whitney Houston | 2 |
| 28 December | "Merry Christmas Everyone" | Shakin' Stevens | 1 |

### Number one albums

| Chart date (week ending) | Album | Artist(s) | Weeks |
| 5 January | Hits 1 | Various Artists | 2 |
| 12 January | Hits 1 | Various Artists | 2 |
| 19 January | Alf | Alison Moyet | 1 |
| 26 January | Agent Provocateur | Foreigner | 3 |
| 2 February | Agent Provocateur | Foreigner | 3 |
| 9 February | Agent Provocateur | Foreigner | 3 |
| 16 February | Born in the U.S.A. | Bruce Springsteen | 1 |
| 23 February | Meat Is Murder | The Smiths | 1 |
| 2 March | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | 5 |
| 9 March | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | 5 |
| 16 March | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | 5 |
| 23 March | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | 5 |
| 30 March | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | 5 |
| 6 April | The Secret of Association | Paul Young | 1 |
| 13 April | Hits 2 | Various Artists | 6 |
| 20 April | Hits 2 | Various Artists | 6 |
| 27 April | Hits 2 | Various Artists | 6 |
| 4 May | Hits 2 | Various Artists | 6 |
| 11 May | Hits 2 | Various Artists | 6 |
| 18 May | Hits 2 | Various Artists | 6 |
| 25 May | Brothers in Arms | Dire Straits | 2 |
| 1 June | Brothers in Arms | Dire Straits | 2 |
| 8 June | Our Favourite Shop | The Style Council | 1 |
| 15 June | Boys and Girls | Bryan Ferry | 2 |
| 22 June | Boys and Girls | Bryan Ferry | 2 |
| 29 June | Misplaced Childhood | Marillion | 1 |
| 6 July | Born in the U.S.A. | Bruce Springsteen | 4 |
| 13 July | Born in the U.S.A. | Bruce Springsteen | 4 |
| 20 July | Born in the U.S.A. | Bruce Springsteen | 4 |
| 27 July | Born in the U.S.A. | Bruce Springsteen | 4 |
| 3 August | Brothers in Arms | Dire Straits | 2 |
| 10 August | Brothers in Arms | Dire Straits | 2 |
| 17 August | Now 5 | Various Artists | 5 |
| 24 August | Now 5 | Various Artists | 5 |
| 31 August | Now 5 | Various Artists | 5 |
| 7 September | Now 5 | Various Artists | 5 |
| 14 September | Now 5 | Various Artists | 5 |
| 21 September | Like a Virgin | Madonna | 1 |
| 28 September | Hounds of Love | Kate Bush | 2 |
| 5 October | Hounds of Love | Kate Bush | 2 |
| 12 October | Like a Virgin | Madonna | 1 |
| 19 October | Hounds of Love | Kate Bush | 1 |
| 26 October | The Love Songs | George Benson | 1 |
| 2 November | Once Upon a Time | Simple Minds | 1 |
| 10 November | The Love Songs | George Benson | 1 |
| 16 November | Promise | Sade | 2 |
| 23 November | Promise | Sade | 2 |
| 30 November | The Greatest Hits of 1985 | Various Artists | 1 |
| 7 December | Now 6 | Various Artists | 2 |
| 14 December | Now 6 | Various Artists | 2 |
| 21 December | Now – The Christmas Album | Various Artists | 2 |
| 28 December | Now – The Christmas Album | Various Artists | 2 |

## Year-end charts
### Best-selling singles

Based on sales from 5 January to 28 December 1985.
| No. | Title | Artist | Peak position |
| 1 | "The Power of Love" | Jennifer Rush | 1 |
| 2 | "I Know Him So Well" | Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson | 1 |
| 3 | "Into the Groove" | Madonna | 1 |
| 4 | "19" | Paul Hardcastle | 1 |
| 5 | "Frankie" | Sister Sledge | 1 |
| 6 | "Dancing in the Street" | David Bowie and Mick Jagger | 1 |
| 7 | "Move Closer" | Phyllis Nelson | 1 |
| 8 | "A Good Heart" | Feargal Sharkey | 1 |
| 9 | "Take On Me" | a-ha | 2 |
| 10 | "Love & Pride" | King | 2 |
| 11 | "I Want to Know What Love Is" | Foreigner | 1 |
| 12 | "Easy Lover" | Philip Bailey and Phil Collins | 1 |
| 13 | "Axel F" | Harold Faltermeyer | 2 |
| 14 | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | Band Aid | 1 |
| 15 | "I Got You Babe" | UB40 and Chrissie Hynde | 1 |
| 16 | "Crazy for You" | Madonna | 2 |
| 17 | "Saving All My Love for You" | Whitney Houston | 1 |
| 18 | "Solid" | Ashford & Simpson | 3 |
| 19 | "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" | Dead or Alive | 1 |
| 20 | "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" | Eurythmics | 1 |
| 21 | "I'm Your Man" | Wham! | 1 |
| 22 | "Trapped" | Colonel Abrams | 3 |
| 23 | "Cherish" | Kool & the Gang | 4 |
| 24 | "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" | Tears for Fears | 2 |
| 25 | "Merry Christmas Everyone" | Shakin' Stevens | 1 |
| 26 | "You'll Never Walk Alone" | The Crowd | 1 |
| 27 | "If I Was" | Midge Ure | 1 |
| 28 | "Nikita" | Elton John | 3 |
| 29 | "Dancing in the Dark" | Bruce Springsteen | 4 |
| 30 | "1999"/"Little Red Corvette" | Prince | 2 |
| 31 | "Holding Out for a Hero" | Bonnie Tyler | 2 |
| 32 | "Kayleigh" | Marillion | 2 |
| 33 | "Last Christmas"/"Everything She Wants" (Remix) | Wham! | 2 |
| 34 | "A View to a Kill" | Duran Duran | 2 |
| 35 | "We Are the World" | USA for Africa | 1 |
| 36 | "Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)" | Red Box | 3 |
| 37 | "Part-Time Lover" | Stevie Wonder | 3 |
| 38 | "Money for Nothing" | Dire Straits | 4 |
| 39 | "Don't Break My Heart" | UB40 | 3 |
| 40 | "We Close Our Eyes" | Go West | 5 |
| 41 | "Nightshift" | The Commodores | 3 |
| 42 | "That Ole Devil Called Love" | Alison Moyet | 2 |
| 43 | "We Don't Need Another Hero" | Tina Turner | 3 |
| 44 | "Tarzan Boy" | Baltimora | 3 |
| 45 | "See the Day" | Dee C. Lee | 3 |
| 46 | "Kiss Me" | Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy | 4 |
| 47 | "I Feel Love (Medley)" | Bronski Beat and Marc Almond | 3 |
| 48 | "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" | Frankie Goes to Hollywood | 2 |
| 49 | "Suddenly" | Billy Ocean | 4 |
| 50 | "Shout" | Tears for Fears | 4 |

### Best-selling albums

Based on sales from 5 January to 28 December 1985.
| No. | Title | Artist | Peak position |
| 1 | Brothers in Arms | Dire Straits | 1 |
| 2 | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | 1 |
| 3 | Like a Virgin | Madonna | 1 |
| 4 | Born in the U.S.A. | Bruce Springsteen | 1 |
| 5 | Songs from the Big Chair | Tears for Fears | 2 |
| 6 | Now 6 | Various Artists | 1 |
| 7 | Now – The Christmas Album | Various Artists | 1 |
| 8 | Now 5 | Various Artists | 1 |
| 9 | Hits 2 | Various Artists | 1 |
| 10 | The Secret of Association | Paul Young | 1 |
| 11 | Alf | Alison Moyet | 1 |
| 12 | Hits 3 | Various Artists | 2 |
| 13 | Love Songs | George Benson | 1 |
| 14 | Hounds of Love | Kate Bush | 1 |
| 15 | Be Yourself Tonight | Eurythmics | 3 |
| 16 | Private Dancer | Tina Turner | 6 |
| 17 | Promise | Sade | 1 |
| 18 | Make It Big | Wham! | 3 |
| 19 | Diamond Life | Sade | 4 |
| 20 | Misplaced Childhood | Marillion | 1 |
| 21 | Eliminator | ZZ Top | 3 |
| 22 | The Singles Collection | Spandau Ballet | 3 |
| 23 | Boys and Girls | Bryan Ferry | 1 |
| 24 | Go West | Go West | 9 |
| 25 | Agent Provocateur | Foreigner | 1 |
| 26 | Reckless | Bryan Adams | 7 |
| 27 | The Kenny Rogers Story | Kenny Rogers | 4 |
| 28 | Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II | Billy Joel | 7 |
| 29 | The Greatest Hits of 1985 | Various Artists | 1 |
| 30 | The Unforgettable Fire | U2 | 9 |
| 31 | Out Now | Various Artists | 2 |
| 32 | Hits Out of Hell | Meat Loaf | 2 |
| 33 | Welcome to the Pleasuredome | Frankie Goes to Hollywood | 5 |
| 34 | The Age of Consent | Bronski Beat | 5 |
| 35 | Under a Blood Red Sky | U2 | 11 |
| 36 | Once Upon a Time | Simple Minds | 1 |
| 37 | The Dream of the Blue Turtles | Sting | 3 |
| 38 | Madonna – The First Album | Madonna | 6 |
| 39 | Dream into Action | Howard Jones | 2 |
| 40 | The Love Album | Various Artists | 7 |
| 41 | The Collection | Ultravox | 2 |
| 42 | The Hits Album | Various Artists | 1 |
| 43 | Greatest Hits | Queen | 14 |
| 44 | Voices from the Holy Land | BBC Welsh Chorus with Aled Jones | 6 |
| 45 | Ice on Fire | Elton John | 3 |
| 46 | All Through the Night | Aled Jones | 2 |
| 47 | Now 4 | Various Artists | 2 |
| 48 | Requiem | Various Artists | 4 |
| 49 | Love Hurts | Elaine Paige | 8 |
| 50 | Face Value | Phil Collins | 22 |
Notes:
* ↑ Reached number 1 in 1984
* ↑ Reached number 2 in 1984
* ↑ Reached number 8 in 1986
* ↑ Reached number 1 in 1984
* ↑ Reached number 1 in 1984
* ↑ Reached number 4 in 1984
* ↑ Reached number 2 in 1983
* ↑ Reached number 1 in 1981
* ↑ Reached number 1 in 1981

## Classical music: new works

* Peter Maxwell Davies – An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise
* Andrew Lloyd Webber – Requiem
* Elizabeth Maconchy – String Quartet No. 13, Quartetto corto
* John Rutter – Requiem

## Film and Incidental music

* Michael Nyman – A Zed and Two Noughts directed by Peter Greenaway.

## Musical films

* Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire, with Phil Daniels

## Births

* 6 January – Ben Haenow, singer
* 11 January – Newton Faulkner, singer
* 2 March – Luke Pritchard, singer (The Kooks)
* 4 February – Bashy, recording artist and actor
* 3 April – Leona Lewis, singer
* 2 May – Lily Allen, singer, songwriter
* 4 May – Jme, grime MC
* 21 May
** Kano, rapper, songwriter
** Mutya Buena, singer and former member of (Sugababes)
* 7 June – Charlie Simpson, singer and musician (Busted, Fightstar)
* 8 June – Jamie Shaw, singer (One True Voice)
* 15 June – Nadine Coyle, singer (Girls Aloud)
* 27 June – Glenn Ball, singer (Pop!)
* 5 July – Nick O'Malley, musician (Arctic Monkeys)
* 8 July – Jamie Cook, musician (Arctic Monkeys)
* 17 July – Tom Fletcher, singer (McFly)
* 23 July – Matthew Murphy, musician (The Wombats)
* 10 September – Matt Johnson, singer (One True Voice)
* 28 September – Hannah Lewis, singer (Pop!)
* 5 October – Nicola Roberts, singer (Girls Aloud)
* 9 October – Frankmusik, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, remixer
* 10 October – Marina Diamandis, singer-songwriter (Marina and the Diamonds)
* 1 November – Dizzee Rascal, rapper
* 19 December – Lady Sovereign, singer, musician
* 23 December – Harry Judd, drummer (McFly)
* 25 December – Leon Pisani, singer (V)

## Deaths

* 11 January – Kenny Clare, jazz drummer, 55
* 6 February – Neil McCarthy, actor and pianist, 62 (motor neurone disease)
* 7 February – Matt Monro, singer, 54
* 27 February
** J. Pat O'Malley, singer and film actor, 86
** Ray Ellington, singer, 68
* 28 February – David Byron, singer (Uriah Heep), 38 (alcohol-related)
* 19 April – Ivan Menzies, operatic baritone, 88
* 2 May – Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte, manager of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 77
* 9 May – Reginald Dixon, theatre organist, 80
* 2 July – Hector Nicol, actor and singer, 64
* 30 July – Peter Knight, conductor, arranger and composer, 68
* 11 September – William Alwyn, composer, 79
* 25 October – Gary Holton, singer-songwriter, musician and actor, 33 (alcohol and drug overdose)
* 18 December – Jolyon Jackson, musician and composer, 37 (Hodgkins' disease)
* 12 December – Ian Stewart, musician, founding member and road manager for (The Rolling Stones), 47 (heart attack)
* 30 December – Bob Pearson, singer and pianist with his brother Alf (half of Bob and Alf Pearson), 78

## Music awards
### Brit Awards

The 1985 Brit Awards winners were:
* Best British comedy recording: Neil (also known as Nigel Planer) – "Hole In My Shoe"
* Best British producer: Trevor Horn
* Best classical recording: Antonio Vivaldi's – "The Four Seasons"
* Best international artist: Prince and the Revolution
* Best soundtrack: "Purple Rain"
* British album: Sade – "Diamond Life"
* British female solo artist: Alison Moyet
* British group: Wham!
* British male solo artist: Paul Young
* British single: Frankie Goes to Hollywood – "Relax"
* British Video: Duran Duran – "The Wild Boys"
* Outstanding contribution: The Police
* Special Award: Bob Geldof and Midge Ure