In 1985, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. The chart, which in 1985 was published under the title Hot Adult Contemporary, has undergone various name changes during its history but has again been published as Adult Contemporary since 1996. [1] In 1985, 19 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by radio stations. [1]
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In the year's first issue of Billboard the number one song was "Do What You Do" by Jermaine Jackson, which was in its third week at number one. [2] It held the top spot for a single week in 1985 before being replaced by "All I Need" by the actor Jack Wagner, best known for his role as Frisco Jones on the soap opera General Hospital . [3] While continuing his acting career, Wagner released several albums in the 1980s. [3] [4] Two acts tied for the highest number of weeks at number one in 1985, each spending six weeks atop the chart. Kool & The Gang spent six consecutive weeks at number one with "Cherish", the longest unbroken run at number one during the year. The British singer Phil Collins spent three weeks in the top spot with "One More Night" and the same length of time at number one with "Separate Lives", a duet with the American vocalist Marilyn Martin. The only act other than Collins with more than one number one in its own right was the family group DeBarge, [5] who topped the chart with both "Rhythm of the Night" and "Who's Holding Donna Now", although Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder each achieved one solo chart-topper and also reached number one as part of the charity supergroup USA for Africa. [6]
Collins was one of a number of British acts to top the chart during 1985, as the American music market continued to feel the effects of the so-called Second British Invasion. [7] [8] Another was Wham!, whose song "Careless Whisper" spent five weeks in the top spot. [9] In the duo's native United Kingdom, the song was released as a solo single by frontman George Michael, but their American label decided to release it under the name Wham! featuring George Michael. [10] It was one of several of the year's AC chart-toppers which also reached number one on Billboard's pop listing, the Hot 100. Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love for You" was a triple chart-topper, reaching the top spot on the Hot 100, the AC chart and the Hot Black Singles listing. [11] [12] Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover" went one better, topping the same three charts [13] [14] and also the Hot Dance/Disco Club Play listing in the form of a remix. [15] USA for Africa's "We Are the World", a charity single intended to relieve starving people in Africa, particularly those feeling the effects of a lengthy famine in Ethiopia, [16] became the fastest-selling American pop single in history [17] and topped the Hot 100, Hot Adult Contemporary and Hot Black Singles listings, [18] [19] as well as the Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales chart. [20] The final number one of 1985 was "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, which occupied the top spot for the final four weeks of the year.
