1985 Was one of the Best Years for New Wave Albums
Hard to believe that 1985 was forty years ago, but what an awesome year for album releases! You had mega-hits from Tears for Fears, a-ha and Talking Heads. There were break through albums from Simple Minds, INXS and Cure. There were also albums from would be legends of New Wave like New Order, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and the The Smiths. There were even two albums from Duran Duran spin-off bands; The Power Station and Arcadia! There was also an album that had renewed interest nearly 40 years later due to being featured in Netflix’s Stranger Things series; Hounds of Love. Let’s dive in and look at the albums that shaped New Wave in 1985 with our thoughts on each. 1985 was also when the soundtrack to The Breakfast Club was released which included the mega-hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. We did not include this album in our countdown since it wasn’t a studio album and only had two songs on it. But here we go into the countdown starting with our #26 New Wave album of 1985.
#26 Voices Carry – ‘Til Tuesday
Featuring the single “Voices Carry” which reached #8 on the Billboard Charts and also earned the band a Best New Artist Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. The second single, “Looking Over My Shoulder” topped out at #61 on the charts. “Voices Carry” made our list of top New Wave One-Hit Wonder songs by American artists.
David: The lead single was huge and their music video was everywhere, but the rest of the album was pretty meh.
Colton: I didn’t know that ‘Til Tuesday had a second song until we started working on this list, upon that, ‘Voices Carry’ wasn’t that big of a hit.
#25 Fine Young Cannibals – Fine Young Cannibals
Thier debut album, featuring the single “Johnny Come Home,” which was a hit in several countries but not the US, as well as a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds. Formed by former members of The Beat (known as the English Beat in the US)
David: Former members of The Beat joined with singer Roland Gift for this debut album. I like the cover of “Suspicious Minds”, but Gift’s voice ends up being a bit grating for me on their single.
Colton: The Fine Young Cannibals’ debut featuring an amazing Elvis cover.
#24 What a Life! – Divinyls
Divinyls second album was a big hit in their native Australia, reaching number four on the charts. It barely registered here in the US peaking at #91. However, “Pleasure and Pain” has become an 80’s alternative classic and still resonates today.
Colton: A mediocre album in general, but The Divinyls’s best, simply because their most popular song, ‘Pleasure and Pain’ is on it
David: Not much here other than “Pleasure and Pain” which has become a classic over the years.
#23 Hounds of Love – Kate Bush
Kate Bush’s biggest album which has sold 1.1 million copies worldwide. Lead single, “Running up That Hills” charted higher in 2022 than it did originally due to it being featured in Stranger Things. Album also featured the title track and “Cloudbursting”.
Colton: Kate Bush’s talent for songwriting shines out from Hounds of Love, from her international hit ‘Running Up That Hill’ to ‘Jig of Life.’
David: “Running up That Hill” and “Hounds of Love” are decent. “Cloudbursting” is a snoozer. Side two, which I guess was supposed to be a concept album is unlistenable to me.
#22 Vive Le Rock – Adam Ant
Adam Ant‘s third solo album and his last for several years as it wasn’t very successful, not even hitting the top 40 in the UK. Album was preceded by the single “Apollo 9” and also featured the title track.
David: More rock guitar than prior releases, I guess he was going for a “rockers in space” vibe after the success of “Apollo 9” single. The tribal beats seen on prior albums are not present here. Other than they two singles, album is sadly mediocre as I am a huge Adam Ant fan.
Colton: Although Adam Ant is a marvelous music man, Vive Le Rock, lacks his trademark tribal drums
#21 So Red the Rose – Arcadia
The only album from this Duran Duran spinoff featuring Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor. Led by singles “Election Day” and “The Promise” which interestingly features Sting with backing vocals. The album made it to #23 on the US charts primarily due to Duran Duran mania.
David: I was shocked to learn this was a platinum seller, as I don’t remember it being that big. It’s definitely not as good as the other Duran Duran spin off album by The Power Station. “Election Day” is a great song and the pairing with Sting on “The Promise” is decent. Rest of the album not so much.
Colton: Arcadia, the other half of Duran Duran (the other being Power Station), doesn’t produce as big of a splash as Power Station.
#20 Be Yourself Tonight – Eurythmics
This was a huge album from the duo from Britain, with the album hitting #9 in the US and #3 in the UK and spawning four singles. This album moved away from their synth heavy earlier albums to a more pop feel with a lot of R&B elements. Eurythmics were deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Colton: ‘Would I Lie to You?’ is my favourite song by the Eurythmics, and the only song off this album that is worth listening to.
David: Not as good as their first two albums. Other than “Would I Lie to You” I don’t care for this album.
#19 Here’s to Future Days – Thompson Twins
The band’s fifth album and last as a trio, wasn’t as successful as their prior effort Into the Gap after parting with long-time producer Alex Sadkin and enlisting Nile Rodgers. The album included two top-ten hits in “Lay Your Hands on Me” and “King for A Day”. Sadly this would be the last Thompson Twins album as a trio.
David: This album was a major let down after ‘Into the Gap’ for me. The two main songs were decent but not great. “Don’t Mess with Dr. Dream” is kind of a beating for me and the rest of the album is uneven.
Colton: The Thompson Twins are an amazing band, however, this album fails to capture their glory
#18 Love – The Cult
Their commercial breakthrough with three UK top 40 singles including the 80’s classic “She Sells Sanctuary”. Also includes “Rain” and “Revolution”. This album laid the foundation for the band’s success in the US a few years later.
Colton: The Cult shows musical variation, however, the excessive use of the words ‘yeah’ in the lyrics is almost comedic.
David: The hardest rocking album on our list. “She Sells Sanctuary” is a classic. Album gets a little monotonous in places.
#17 Cupid and Psyche 85 – Scritti Politti
No doubt over what year this album was released! This album peaked at #5 on the UK charts and produced three top-20 hits on the UK charts. Suprisingly, “Perfect Way” was not one of these hit but it became a smash in the US, reaching #11 on the Hot 100 for their only US hit.
David: Probably the most surprising album for me. I actually enjoyed the album overall. Had never heard anything other from Scritti Politti other than “Perfect Way” and “Wood Beez”. “Word Girl” has reggae influences and I think “Lover to Fall” is very underrated.
Colton: A tragically underrated album from a surprising source.
#16 Youthquake – Dead or Alive
This album reached #9 in the UK and charted in US propelled by the infectious “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” which was a #1 hit in the UK and a Top 20 hit in the US. Also includes the singles “Lover Come Back to Me”, “In Too Deep” and “My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me to the Doctor)”. #16 and the rest of the way is where it gets difficult to rank these albums.
Colton: Spinning you right ’round, Dead or Alive makes you wanna do nothing but dance.
David: Definitely the most danceable album of ’85, but not a lot of depth or variation to the music. The singles are all pretty good and “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” is definitely one of most memorable New Wave songs of the year. Rest of the album is decent but a bit one-note.
#15 The Power Station – The Power Station
Our other Duran Duran spin-off and one of the oddest stories of the decade. Vocalist Robert Palmer, after recording the album, only performed live once with the band on Saturday Night Live. He bailed on the band days before their world tour and also perform for Live Aid. Richard Blade’s autobiography “World in My Eyes” recounts the day the band visited KROQ for an appearance and many of Duran Duran’s fans had waited for hours to get a glimpse of their heroes and screamed in delight which apparently annoyed Palmer who snuck out in the chaos to depart the group. “Some Like it Hot” and “Get it On” were both Top-10 hits in the US for the band. “Communication” was also released as a single.
David: This was an outstanding album, much better than the other DD offshoot, Arcadia’s album. Notable songs all great. “Murderess” and “Lonely Tonight” are decent as well.
Colton: Despite the rocky beginnings and trouble with keeping a singer, Power Station does not disappoint with their only album.
#14 Hunting High and Low – a-ha
From this album is arguably the greatest music video of all-time for “Take on Me”, which became a global smash after the video. The song was previously released twice in the UK before the video was released and failed to chart either time. The song eventually hit #1 in the US and #2 in the UK. It was one of the Top-10 songs of the year in the US. The album also had the “The Sun Always Shines on TV” as well as the title track as singles of note.
Colton: Everybody alive knows of the greatest music video fo all time, from the Olso, Norway, based band, but not as many know of their other songs, which Hunting High and Low provides.
David: “Take on Me” is great and its music video was epic 80’s. “The Sun Always Shines on TV” is pretty good but the title track is not my favorite. Rest of the album is ok, but nothing that stands out. Album ranks this high due to how huge “Take on Me” was as I’d actually rather listen to The Power Station or Youthquake.
1985 New Wave Album Countdown Will Continue
We will soon post our top 13 New Wave and classic alternative albums for the year of 1985. Everyone one of our remaining albums are released by 80’s legends. These are all iconic albums and 1985 was such an awesome year for New Wave music.
