This is a list of the European Hot 100 Singles and European Top 100 Albums number ones of 1985, as published by Eurotipsheet magazine (renamed Music & Media in April 1986).
† | Indicates best-performing single and album of 1985 [1] |
Issue date | Song | Artist | Album | Artist | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 January | "Ghostbusters" | Ray Parker Jr. | Private Dancer | Tina Turner | [2] |
14 January | "I Just Called to Say I Love You" | Stevie Wonder | Welcome to the Pleasuredome | Frankie Goes to Hollywood | [3] |
21 January | "Ghostbusters" | Ray Parker Jr. | Make It Big | Wham! | [4] |
28 January | Arena | Duran Duran | [5] | ||
4 February | "Like a Virgin" | Madonna | [6] | ||
11 February | Welcome to the Pleasuredome | Frankie Goes to Hollywood | [7] | ||
18 February | Diamond Life | Sade | [8] | ||
25 February | [9] | ||||
4 March | [10] | ||||
11 March | "Easy Lover" | Philip Bailey and Phil Collins | [11] | ||
18 March | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | [12] | ||
25 March | [13] | ||||
1 April | [14] | ||||
8 April | [15] | ||||
15 April | [16] | ||||
22 April | "We Are the World" † | USA for Africa | [17] | ||
29 April | [18] | ||||
6 May | [19] | ||||
13 May | [20] | ||||
20 May | [21] | ||||
27 May | [22] | ||||
3 June | [23] | ||||
10 June | Brothers in Arms † | Dire Straits | [24] | ||
17 June | [25] | ||||
24 June | [26] | ||||
1 July | "Live Is Life" | Opus | [27] | ||
8 July [lower-alpha 1] | [28] | ||||
15 July [lower-alpha 1] | |||||
22 July [lower-alpha 2] | "A View to a Kill" | Duran Duran | [29] | ||
29 July [lower-alpha 2] | "Live Is Life" | Opus | |||
5 August | [30] | ||||
12 August | [31] | ||||
19 August | "Tarzan Boy" | Baltimora | [32] | ||
26 August | [33] | ||||
2 September | [34] | ||||
9 September | [35] | ||||
16 September | [36] | ||||
23 September | [37] | ||||
30 September | Like a Virgin | Madonna | [38] | ||
7 October | Brothers in Arms† | Dire Straits | [39] | ||
14 October | "Into the Groove" | Madonna | [40] | ||
21 October | "Part-Time Lover" | Stevie Wonder | [41] | ||
28 October | [42] | ||||
4 November | [43] | ||||
11 November | [44] | ||||
18 November | Like a Virgin | Madonna | [45] | ||
25 November | "Take On Me" | A-ha | Brothers in Arms† | Dire Straits | [46] |
2 December | [47] | ||||
9 December | [48] | ||||
16 December | Promise | Sade | [49] | ||
23 December | [50] | ||||
30 December | No chart published |
"Tarzan Boy" is the debut single by Italian-based act Baltimora. The song was written by Maurizio Bassi and Naimy Hackett, and released in 1985 as the lead single from Baltimora's debut album Living in the Background. The song was remixed and re-released in 1993, and has been covered by several artists throughout the years.
Be Yourself Tonight is the fourth studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 29 April 1985 by RCA Records.
"Easy Lover" is a song performed by Philip Bailey of the band Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins of the band Genesis, jointly written and composed by Bailey, Collins, and Nathan East. The song appears on Bailey's solo album, Chinese Wall. Collins has performed the song in his live concerts, and it appears on both his 1990 album, Serious Hits... Live!, and his 1998 compilation album, ...Hits. It is Bailey's only US Top 40 hit as a solo artist.
"I Won't Let You Go" is a song by Swedish singer Agnetha Fältskog, released as the lead single from her second English solo studio album, Eyes of a Woman (1985). The song was composed by Fältskog with lyrics by producer Eric Stewart, formerly of the group 10cc.
"Nikita" is a song by English musician Elton John from his 19th studio album, Ice on Fire (1985). It was released as the album's lead single on 4 October 1985, charting at number three on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number seven in the United States, and reaching the top 10 worldwide, topping the charts of eight countries. The song features George Michael on backing vocals and Nik Kershaw on guitar.
"(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena", also known simply as "Maria Magdalena", is a song recorded by German singer Sandra for her debut studio album The Long Play (1985). The song, written by Hubert Kemmler, Markus Löhr, Michael Cretu and Richard Palmer-James, was released as the lead single from The Long Play on 15 July 1985 by Virgin Records, and was a major chart hit in Europe, reaching number one in multiple countries. It remains Sandra's signature song.
"You're My Heart, You're My Soul" is a song by German pop duo Modern Talking, released as the lead single from their debut studio album, The 1st Album (1985). The single was released in September 1984 and entered the West German top 10 on 28 January 1985. It took another five weeks for the single to top the chart, spending six weeks at the summit and 25 weeks within the top 100, eventually reaching gold status for shipping over 500,000 units domestically. "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" is considered their best-selling single to date with worldwide sales said to exceed eight million copies.
"The Riddle" is a song by the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released in 1984 as the lead single from his second studio album of the same name. Kershaw described the lyrical content as being nondescript to fill as a "guide vocal" for the production. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top 10 in countries like Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. An accompanying music video was made for the song and features references to Lewis Carroll's book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).
"Brother Louie" is a song by German pop duo Modern Talking, released as the lead single from their third studio album, Ready for Romance (1986). It was their fourth consecutive single to top the German Singles Chart, after "You're My Heart, You're My Soul", "You Can Win If You Want" and "Cheri, Cheri Lady".
The Singles Collection is a greatest hits album by English pop band Spandau Ballet, released on 4 November 1985 by Chrysalis Records. The album peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) within six weeks of release. It is the band's best-selling album in the United Kingdom, though despite its success, the album was released without the band's approval as they were leaving Chrysalis Records and signed to CBS Records for their next album.
"Square Rooms" is a song by American singer and actor Al Corley. It was the first single from his debut album of the same name. First released in 1984; the song was a hit single in Continental Europe, and had a moderate success in the United States in 1985.
"L'Aziza" is the name of a 1985 song recorded by French singer Daniel Balavoine and released as a single from his album Sauver l'amour in October 1985. The song was very successful, particularly after the singer's death, topping the chart in France for two months. This song was played at 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
"You Can Win If You Want" is a song by German pop duo Modern Talking, released as the second and final single from their debut studio album, The 1st Album (1985). The single was released on 13 March 1985 and entered the top 10 in Germany on 13 May 1985. After spending three weeks within the top five, the single reached the top spot, eventually going gold for sales in excess of 250,000 units in Germany alone. The single peaked at number eight in France, where it also reached a gold status for sales of 500,000 units.
"Tchiki boum" is a song by French band Niagara. Originally issued as their debut single in January 1986, it was included on their debut album Encore un dernier baiser. Written by Muriel Laporte who also performs the vocals, the song met with success, reaching number 13 on the French singles chart. It was the only single released by Niagara as a trio, as guitarist José Tamarin left after its release and the band has remained a duo from then on.