List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1985

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Cyndi Lauper, studio badge, and the sweatshirt given to all attendees at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California on January 28, 1985, during the recording of "We Are the World". We Are The World Cyndi-Glenn Francis.jpg
Cyndi Lauper, studio badge, and the sweatshirt given to all attendees at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California on January 28, 1985, during the recording of "We Are the World".

These are the Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits of 1985. The two longest running number-one singles of 1985 are "We Are the World" by USA for Africa and "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie which each logged four weeks at number-one. "Say You, Say Me" logged two weeks at number-one in 1985 and two more additional weeks in 1986, reaching a total of four. "Like a Virgin" by Madonna concluded a six-week run that started in 1984.

Contents

That year, 17 acts first hit number one, such as Foreigner, USA for Africa, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, Bryan Adams, Paul Young, Huey Lewis and the News, John Parr, Dire Straits, Ready for the World, a-ha, Whitney Houston, Jan Hammer, Starship, Marilyn Martin, and Mr. Mister. George Michael, having already hit number one with Wham!, also earns his first number one song as a solo act. Madonna, Wham!, Phil Collins, and Tears for Fears were the only acts to have more than one song reach number one, with Phil Collins having the most with three, while the others have two.

This was also a record year for British acts with 13 hits reaching the top spot. As of 2022 this record remains unbroken.

Chart history

Key
The yellow background indicates the #1 song on Billboard 's 1985 Year-End Chart of Pop Singles.
No.Issue dateSongArtist(s)Ref.
561January 5"Like a Virgin" Madonna [1] [2]
January 12 [3] [4]
January 19 [5] [6]
January 26 [7] [8]
562February 2"I Want to Know What Love Is" Foreigner [9] [10]
February 9 [11] [12]
563February 16"Careless Whisper" Wham! featuring George Michael [13] [14]
February 23 [15] [16]
March 2 [17] [18]
564March 9"Can't Fight This Feeling" REO Speedwagon [19] [20]
March 16 [21] [22]
March 23 [23]
565March 30"One More Night" Phil Collins [24] [25]
April 6 [26] [27]
566April 13"We Are the World" USA for Africa [28] [29]
April 20 [30] [31]
April 27 [32] [33]
May 4 [34] [35]
567May 11"Crazy for You"Madonna [36] [37]
568May 18"Don't You (Forget About Me)" Simple Minds [38] [39]
569May 25"Everything She Wants"Wham! [40] [41]
June 1 [42] [43]
570June 8"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Tears for Fears [44] [45]
June 15 [46] [47]
571June 22"Heaven" Bryan Adams [48] [49]
June 29 [50] [51]
572July 6"Sussudio"Phil Collins [52] [53]
573July 13"A View to a Kill" Duran Duran [54] [55]
July 20 [56] [57]
574July 27"Everytime You Go Away" Paul Young [58] [59]
575August 3"Shout"Tears for Fears [60] [61]
August 10 [62] [63]
August 17 [64] [65]
576August 24"The Power of Love" Huey Lewis and the News [66] [67]
August 31 [68] [69]
577September 7"St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" John Parr [70]
September 14 [71] [72]
578September 21"Money for Nothing" Dire Straits [73] [74]
September 28 [75] [76]
October 5 [77] [78]
579October 12"Oh Sheila" Ready for the World [79] [80]
580October 19"Take On Me" a-ha [81] [82]
581October 26"Saving All My Love for You" Whitney Houston [83] [84]
582November 2"Part-Time Lover" Stevie Wonder [85] [86]
583November 9"Miami Vice Theme" Jan Hammer [87] [88]
584November 16"We Built This City" Starship [89] [90]
November 23 [91] [92]
585November 30"Separate Lives"Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin [93] [94]
586December 7"Broken Wings" Mr. Mister [95] [96]
December 14 [97] [98]
587December 21"Say You, Say Me" Lionel Richie [99] [100]
December 28 [101] [102]

Number-one artists

List of number-one artists by total weeks at number one
PositionCountryArtistWeeks at No. 1
1Flag of the United States.svg  US Madonna5
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Wham!
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Tears for Fears
4Flag of the United States.svg  US/Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL/Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN USA for Africa4
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Phil Collins
6Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK George Michael3
Flag of the United States.svg  US REO Speedwagon
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Dire Straits
9Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Foreigner2
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Bryan Adams
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Duran Duran
Flag of the United States.svg  US Huey Lewis and the News
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK John Parr
Flag of the United States.svg  US Starship
Flag of the United States.svg  US Mr. Mister
Flag of the United States.svg  US Lionel Richie
17Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Simple Minds1
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK Paul Young
Flag of the United States.svg  US Ready for the World
Flag of Norway.svg  NOR a-ha
Flag of the United States.svg  US Whitney Houston
Flag of the United States.svg  US Stevie Wonder
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  CZE Jan Hammer
Flag of the United States.svg  US Marilyn Martin

See also

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References

  1. "January 5, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  2. DeKnock, Jan (1985-01-04). "It's a New Year, but Songs of the Old are Still Ringing Out". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  3. "January 12, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  4. DeKnock, Jan (1985-01-11). "She's No. 1 in Two Countries, but Look out Madonna". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  5. "January 19, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  6. DeKnock, Jan (1985-01-18). "Bruce Springsteen Gets Up off Canvas to Push Prince Aside". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  7. "January 26, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  8. DeKnock, Jan (1985-01-25). "Three Contenders Fight for Crown, but Fourth is Moving Up". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  9. "February 2, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  10. DeKnock, Jan (1985-02-01). "Foreigner Improves on Recipe". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  11. "February 9, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  12. DeKnock, Jan (1985-02-08). "Madonna Reigns Supreme, but There is a Contender for the Throne". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  13. "February 16, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  14. DeKnock, Jan (1985-02-15). "Wham Hits the Top of the Charts Again, the Second Time in Three Months". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  15. "February 23, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  16. DeKnock, Jan (1985-02-22). "Wham is Poised to Sweep the Competition Off the Top of the Charts". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  17. "March 2, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  18. DeKnock, Jan (1985-03-01). "It's a Double Wham for That British Duo". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  19. "March 9, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  20. DeKnock, Jan (1985-03-08). "Can't Fight With REO Speedwagon as they Take Over Top of Charts". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  21. "March 16, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  22. DeKnock, Jan (1985-03-15). "Musical Formula Will For Success". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  23. "March 23, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  24. "March 30, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  25. DeKnock, Jan (1985-03-29). "Phil Collins is First Artist This Year to Wear Three Crowns". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  26. "April 6, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  27. DeKnock, Jan (1985-04-05). "Madonna Sets Pace for Female Soloists". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  28. "April 13, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  29. DeKnock, Jan (1985-04-12). "'We Are the World' has Reached the Top, but Could be Flattened Soon". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  30. "April 20, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  31. DeKnock, Jan (1985-04-19). "Suddenly, 'We Are the World' is Starting to Turn Faster and Faster on Charts". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  32. "April 27, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  33. DeKnock, Jan (1985-04-26). "'World' to Turn Overseas; Book to Feed Relief Fund". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  34. "May 4, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  35. DeKnock, Jan (1985-05-04). "'We Are the World' Successfully Spinning Around the Globe". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  36. "May 11, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  37. DeKnock, Jan (1985-05-10). "Madonna Pulls Out of a Stall to Capture the No. 1 Spot". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  38. "May 18, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  39. DeKnock, Jan (1985-05-17). "'Don't You' Pushes Up to No. 1 Spot". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  40. "May 25, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  41. DeKnock, Jan (1985-05-24). "Life at Top of the Charts Can Be Sweet, but Very Short". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  42. "June 1, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  43. DeKnock, Jan (1985-05-31). "Wham's 'Make It Big' Puts 3 Singles Atop The Charts". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  44. "June 8, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  45. DeKnock, Jan (1985-06-07). "International Artists Continue to Scale to Top of Charts". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  46. "June 15, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  47. DeKnock, Jan (1985-06-14). "Good News For No. 1 Tears For Fears, But Look Out Below". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  48. "June 22, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  49. DeKnock, Jan (1985-06-21). "Bryan Adams' Ballad 'Heaven' Hits Top". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  50. "June 29, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  51. DeKnock, Jan (1985-06-28). "Once Again, 'Heaven' Keeps Bryan Adams on Cloud 1". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  52. "July 6, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  53. DeKnock, Jan (1985-07-05). "For Third Time, Phil Collins Captures Top Spot on Album, Singles Charts". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  54. "July 13, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  55. DeKnock, Jan (1985-07-12). "For Third Time, Song From Film Soundtrack Takes Top Honors". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  56. "July 20, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  57. DeKnock, Jan (1985-07-19). "Duran Duran at the Top for Second Week". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  58. "July 27, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  59. DeKnock, Jan (1985-07-26). "It May Sound Like Hall & Oates, But It's Paul Young Rocking the Top". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  60. "August 3, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  61. DeKnock, Jan (1985-08-02). "Tears For Fears Has a Reason to 'Shout'". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  62. "August 10, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  63. DeKnock, Jan (1985-08-09). "Tears For Fears No. 1 for Second Week With 'Shout'". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  64. "August 17, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  65. DeKnock, Jan (1985-08-16). "Tears for Fears' 'Shout' stays in the No. 1 Spot for a Third Week". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  66. "August 24, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  67. DeKnock, Jan (1985-08-23). "Huey Lewis and the News Rise to No. 1 Spot on 'Power of Love'". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  68. "August 31, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
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  70. "September 7, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  71. "September 14, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  72. DeKnock, Jan (1985-09-13). "'St. Elmo's Fire' Smokes out Tina Turner for Top Spot". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  73. "September 21, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  74. DeKnock, Jan (1985-09-20). "Not for Nothing is Dire Straits Back On the Top Again". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  75. "September 28, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  76. DeKnock, Jan (1985-09-27). "Dire Straits' Quirky Rocker in the Money, But Kool Hot". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  77. "October 5, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  78. DeKnock, Jan (1985-10-04). "Dire Straits Continues on Top and Likely to Remain There". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  79. "October 12, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  80. DeKnock, Jan (1985-10-11). "Pop Fans Show They're Ready for the World". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  81. "October 19, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  82. DeKnock, Jan (1985-10-18). "a-ha Takes The Prize, but There's a Contender in The Wings". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  83. "October 26, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  84. DeKnock, Jan (1985-10-25). "Whitney Houston's ' Saving All My Love For You' Hits the Top". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  85. "November 2, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  86. DeKnock, Jan (1985-11-01). "Shuffling at the Top Moves Wonder into the No. 1 Spot". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  87. "November 9, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  88. DeKnock, Jan (1985-11-08). "'Miami Vice' Makes Some Chart History". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  89. "November 16, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  90. DeKnock, Jan (1985-11-15). "Starship's 'We Built This City' Zooms From No. 5 to Top Spot". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  91. "November 23, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  92. DeKnock, Jan (1985-11-22). "Starship Single Clings to No. 1 For 2nd Week". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  93. "November 30, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  94. DeKnock, Jan (1985-11-29). "'Separate Lives' No. 1 as Expected". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  95. "December 7, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  96. DeKnock, Jan (1985-12-06). "In an Upset, 'Broken Wings' Soars to Top". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  97. "December 14, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  98. DeKnock, Jan (1985-12-13). "'Wings' Still Flying High on The Charts". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  99. "December 21, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  100. DeKnock, Jan (1985-12-20). "Lionel Richie's 'Say You, Say Me' Hits the Top, Naturally". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.
  101. "December 28, 1985". Billboard Hot 100 .
  102. DeKnock, Jan (1985-12-27). "Lionel Richie Blocks Eddie Murphy to Take Command". Chicago Tribune . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2009-04-19.

Additional sources