Top 1985 Singles Ranked

 

Rank

Artist

 

1

 Tears for Fears

 Everybody Wants to Rule the World

2

 Propaganda

 Dr. Mabuse

3

 The Art of Noise

 Legs

4

 Madonna

 Into the Groove

5

 Book of Love

 Boy

6

 Scritti Politti

 Absolute

7

 The Smiths

 How Soon is Now

8

 Siouxsie and the Banshees

 Cities in Dust

9

 Duran Duran

 A View to a Kill

10

 New Order

 The Perfect Kiss

11

 Propaganda

 P-Machinery

12

 Doppelganger

 Communication Breakdown

13

 Prefab Sprout

 Appetite

14

 Shelia E.

 A Love Bizarre

15

 The Cure

 In Between Days

16

 Grace Jones

 Slave to the Rhythm

17

 Big Audio Dynamite

 E=MC2

18

 a-ha

 The Sun Always Shines on TV

19

 Chris Isaak

 Livin' for Your Lover

20

 Pet Shop Boys

 West End Girls

21

 Falco

 Rock Me Amadeus [Club Remix]

22

 Yello

 Angel No

23

 Book of Love

 I Touch Roses

24

 Mary Jane Girls

 In My House

25

 Echo & The Bunnymen

 Bring on the Dancing Horses

26

 The Smiths

 Barbarism Begins at Home

27

 Del Amitri

 Deceive Yourself (In Ignorant Heaven)

28

 Howard Jones

 Things Can Only Get Better

29

 The Cure

 Push

30

 Cherrelle

 Artificial Heart

31

 Sade

 Smooth Operator

32

 Depeche Mode

 Fly on the Windscreen

33

 Rosanne Cash

 I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me

34

 The Armoury Show

 Castles in Spain

35

 The Colourfield

 Pushing Up Daisies

36

 Hoodoo Gurus

 Bittersweet

37

 Kate Bush

 Cloudbusting

38

 Paul Young

 I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down

39

 Scritti Politti

 Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)

40

 Chris Isaak

 Dancin'

41

 Strawberry Switchblade

 Jolene

42

 Atlantic Starr

 Freak-A-Ristic

43

 Tears for Fears

 Mothers Talk

44

 The Cure

 The Baby Screams

45

 The Chameleons

 Perfume Garden

46

 UB40

 I Got You Babe

47

 New Order

 Love Vigilantes

48

 Midge Ure

 That Certain Smile

49

 Simon F

 A Million Miles from Happiness

50

 The Smiths

 Nowhere Fast

51

 Propaganda

 Frozen Faces

52

 Bryan Ferry

 Don't Stop the Dance

53

 Fetchin Bones

 Kitchen of Life

54

 New Order

 Sub-Culture

55

 a-ha

 Take on Me

56

 Tears for Fears

 Shout

57

 Chris Isaak

 Voodoo

58

 The Cure

 Close to Me

59

 Yello

 Koladi-Ola

60

 Aretha Franklin

 Freeway of Love

61

 The Rave-Ups

 Positively Lost Me

62

 Talking Heads

 Television Man

63

 Scritti Politti

 Perfect Way

64

 Kate Bush

 Running Up That Hill

65

 The Cure

 The Blood

66

 Propaganda

 The Murder of Love

67

 Sade

 Never as Good as the First Time

68

 Katrina and the Waves

 Walking on Sunshine

69

 Prefab Sprout

 When Love Breaks Down

70

 The Dream Academy

 The Love Parade

71

 The Church

 Columbus

72

 9.9

 All of Me for All of You

73

 Emmylou Harris

 Bad News

74

 Kate Bush

 The Morning Fog

75

 The Smiths

 Well I Wonder

76

 Prefab Sprout

 Bonny

77

 Godley and Creme

 Cry

78

 Propaganda

 Duel

79

 Alexander O'Neal

 Innocent

80

 Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

 I Wonder If I Take You Home

81

 Strawberry Switchblade

 Since Yesterday

82

 Big Audio Dynamite

 Medicine Show

83

 Madonna

 Dress You Up

84

 Rosanne Cash

 Hold On

85

 Loose Ends

 Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)

86

 Midge Ure

 If I Was

87

 Propaganda

 Dream Within a Dream

88

 Tina Turner

 One of the Living

89

 Oingo Boingo

 Stay

90

 Dolly Parton

 Think About Love

91

 Joan Armatrading

 Temptation

92

 The Smiths

 The Headmaster Ritual

93

 Tears for Fears

 Head Over Heels

94

 Talking Heads

 And She Was

95

 Yello

 Oh, Yeah

96

 René & Angela

 I'll Be Good

97

 Prefab Sprout

 Goodbye Lucille

98

 Killing Joke

 Eighties

99

 APB

 So Many Broken Hearts

100

 Falco

 Nothing Sweeter Than Arabia

101

 Tina Turner

 We Don't Need Another Hero

102

 Eurythmics

 Would I Lie to You

103

 Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal

 Saturday Love

104

 Go West

 Eye to Eye

105

 Yello

 Vicious Games

106

 The Adventures

 Send My Heart [Across the Sea Mix]

107

 Wham!

 Everything She Wants

108

 Chris Isaak

 Back on Your Side

109

 The Judds

 Love is Alive

110

 Golden Palominos Featuring Michael Stipe

 Boy (Go)

111

 Joan Armatrading

 One Night

112

 Cameo

 Attack Me with Your Love

113

 Scritti Politti

 Hypnotize

114

 Dire Straits

 Walk of Life

115

 Whitney Houston

 Thinking About You

116

 Shriekback

 Nemesis

117

 New Order

 Sooner Than You Think

118

 Aretha Franklin

 Who's Zoomin' Who

119

 Malcolm McLaren

 Eiffel Tower

120

 Chris Isaak

 Tears

121

 Sade

 The Sweetest Taboo

122

 ABC

 Vanity Kills

123

 Yello

 Desert Inn

124

 Simple Minds

 Don't You Forget About Me

125

 INXS

 Shine Like It Does

126

 U2

 The Unforgettable Fire

127

 The Lucy Show

 Come Back to the Living

128

 Dolly Parton

 Don't Call It Love

129

 Big Audio Dynamite

 The Bottom Line

130

 John Cougar Mellencamp

 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock)

131

 Hoodoo Gurus

 Death-Defying

132

 George Clinton

 Double Oh-Oh

133

 R.E.M.

 Driver 8

134

 Simply Red

 Holding Back the Years

135

 Cherrelle

 You Look Good to Me

136

 Suzanne Vega

 Marlene on the Wall

137

 Lone Justice

 Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)

138

 New Order

 This Time of Night

139

 Sting

 Russians

140

 Dolly Parton

 Tie Our Love (In a Double Knot)

141

 George Clinton

 Bullet Proof

142

 Chris Isaak

 Unhappiness

143

 The Chameleons

 P.S. Goodbye

144

 Luther Vandross

 It's Over Now

145

 The Style Council

 The Lodgers

146

 Pat Benatar

 Invincible

147

 R.E.M.

 Can't Get There from Here

148

 Chris Isaak

 The Lonely Ones

149

 Jesse Johnson's Revue

 Be Your Man

150

 Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers

 Real Love

151

 Sly Fox

 Let's Go All the Way

152

 The Style Council

 Shout to the Top!

153

 Falco

 Jeanny (Part 1)

154

 Propaganda

 The Chase

155

 The Jets

 Crush on You

156

 Natalie Cole

 Dangerous

157

 The Knitters

 Silver Wings

158

 Lone Justice

 After the Flood

159

 John Cougar Mellencamp

 Small Town

160

 The Colourfield

 Can't Get Enough of You Baby

161

 Talking Heads

 Road to Nowhere

162

 Orchestral Maoevers in the Dark

 So in Love

163

 The Style Council

 Boy Who Cried Wolf

164

 Dire Straits

 Money for Nothing

165

 Prince & The Revolution

 Raspberry Beret

166

 Suzanne Vega

 Undertow

167

 Paul Hardcastle

 19

168

 Bananarama

 Do Not Disturb

169

 Malcolm McLaren

 Swamp Thing

170

 The Motels

 Shame

171

 ABC

 Be Near Me

172

 Orchestral Maoevers in the Dark

 Secret

173

 The Cure

 A Night Like This

174

 ABC

 Fear of the World

175

 Propaganda

 Sorry for Laughing

176

 Gladys Knight & The Pips

 My Time

177

 Grace Jones

 The Fashion Show

178

 Prince & The Revolution

 Pop Life

179

 Orchestral Maoevers in the Dark

 La Femme Accident

180

 Simple Minds

 All The Things She Said

181

 ABC

 How to Be a Millionaire

182

 Pat Benatar

 Le Bel Age

183

 Marti Jones

 (If I Could) Walk Away

184

 Chris Isaak

 Talk to Me

185

 Whitney Houston

 How Will I Know

186

 Kate Bush

 And Dream of Sheep

187

 Eurythmics

 Better to Have Lost in Love (Than Never to Have Loved at All)

188

 Grace Jones

 Jones the Rhythm

189

 Jane Siberry

 The Taxi Ride

190

 Belouis Some

 Imagination

191

 Suzanne Vega

 The Queen and the Soldier

192

 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

 Don't Come Around Here No More

193

 The Style Council

 Homebreakers

194

 Orchestral Manoevers in the Dark

 Hold You

195

 Simple Minds

 Alive and Kicking

196

 Scritti Politti

 Word Girl (Flesh and Blood)

197

 a-ha

 Train of Thought

198

 The Dream Academy

 Life in a Northern Town

199

 The Coolies

 Scarborough Fair

200

 Eurythmics

 There Must Be an Angel (Playing With My Heart)

201

 Prefab Sprout

 Hallelujah

202

 Propaganda

 Jewel

203

 Chris Isaak

 Pretty Girls Don't Cry

204

 The Lucy Show

 The Twister

205

 Suzanne Vega

 Neighborhood Girls

206

 Howard Jones

 Like to Get to Know You Well

207

 Grace Jones

 Ladies and Gentlemen: Miss Grace Jones

208

 a-ha

 The Blue Sky

209

 Patti Labelle

 New Attitude

210

 Sade

 Maureen

211

 Lone Justice

 Ways to Be Wicked

212

 The Sisters of Mercy

 Black Planet

213

 Chris Isaak

 Funeral in the Rain

214

 Go West

 We Close Our Eyes

215

 X

 Burning House of Love

216

 Beastie Boys

 She's on It

217

 The Coolies

 The Sounds of Silence

218

 Golden Palominos Featuring Bob Mould

 Omaha

219

 Lone Justice

 East of Eden

220

 Simple Minds

 Sanctify Yourself

221

 Chris Isaak

 Another Idea

222

 Grace Jones

 Don't Cry -- It's Only the Rhythm

223

 The Time

 Grace

224

 Paul Young

 Everytime You Go Away

225

 Sade

 Is It a Crime

226

 Tears for Fears

 Listen

227

 Minimal Compact

 Shouts and Kisses

228

 Grace Jones

 The Crossing (Ooh the Action...)

229

 Anna Domino

 Sixteen Tons

230

 The Waterboys

 The Whole of the Moon

231

 The Thompson Twins

 Lay Your Hands on Me

232

 Propaganda

 The Last Word (Strength to Dream)

233

 Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin

 Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves

234

 INXS

 This Time

235

 The Family

 High Fashion

236

 Eurythmics

 It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)

237

 Mr. Mister

 Kyrie

238

 Scritti Politti

 Don't Work That Hard

239

 a-ha

 Living a Boy's Adventure Tale

240

 Lone Justice

 Don't Toss Us Away

241

 Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle

 Never Knew Love Like This

242

 Rosanne Cash

 Second to No One

243

 Prefab Sprout

 Faron

244

 Del Amitri

 Cease Fire

245

 The Family

 The Screams of Passion

246

 Killing Joke

 Love Like Blood

247

 Howard Jones

 Life in One Day

248

 Everything But the Girl

 Kid

249

 Oingo Boingo

 Just Another Day

250

 Del Amitri

 Heard Through a Wall

251

 The Church

 Roman

252

 Kate Bush

 Hounds of Love

253

 Yello

 Desire

254

 a-ha

 Love Is Reason

255

 Scritti Politti

 Small Talk

256

 Hoodoo Gurus

 Show Some Emotion

257

 The Colourfield

 Take

258

 The Cure

 Kyoto Song

259

 John Cougar Mellencamp

 Between a Laugh and a Tear

260

 INXS

 Good + Bad Times

261

 Eurythmics and Elvis Costello

 Adrian

262

 The Dream Academy

 In Places on the Run

263

 Talking Heads

 The Lady Don't Mind

264

 Sting

 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free

265

 Rosanne Cash

 Never Be You

266

 Eurythmics

 Here Comes That Sinking Feeling

267

 Hoodoo Gurus

 The Other Side of Paradise

268

 Heart

 These Dreams

269

 The Damned

 Is It a Dream

270

 The Judds

 Cry Myself to Sleep

271

 Eurythmics

 Conditioned Soul

272

 The Chameleons

 Singing Rule Britannia

273

 The Damned

 Eloise

274

 Menudo

 Hold Me

275

 Jane Siberry

 One More Colour

276

 Lone Justice

 Wait 'Til We Get Home

277

 The Cure

 Sinking

278

 a-ha

 I Dream Myself Alive

279

 Anna Domino

 Take That

280

 Stevie Wonder

 Part-Time Lover

281

 UB40

 Don't Break My Heart

282

 Hoodoo Gurus

 Hayride to Hell

283

 Jason & The Scorchers

 Shop It Around

284

 Howard Jones

 No One Is to Blame

285

 Marti Jones

 Talk to Me

286

 John Cougar Mellencamp

 The Face of the Nation

287

 Hoodoo Gurus

 Mars Needs Guitars

288

 Cheap Trick

 Tonight It's You

289

 George Strait

 The Chair

290

 The Church

 Disenchanted

291

 Golden Palominos Featuring Michael Stipe

 Clustering Train

292

 The Dream Academy

 Bound to Be

293

 Kate Bush

 The Big Sky

294

 Oingo Boingo

 Weird Science

295

 Talking Heads

 Stay up Late

296

 Lone Justice

 Pass It On

297

 Mr. Mister

 Broken Wings

298

 Stevie Nicks

 I Can't Wait

299

 The Chameleons

 Return of the Roughnecks

300

 Tears for Fears

 Broken

301

 The Church

 Already Yesterday

302

 Oingo Boingo

 Dead Man's Party

303

 The Style Council

 Walls Come Tumbling Down

304

 Rosanne Cash

 Halfway House

305

 Pat Benatar

 Sex As a Weapon

306

 Eurythmics

 I Love You Like a Ball and Chain

307

 René & Angela

 Save Your Love (For #1)

308

 John Cougar Mellencamp

 Lonely Ol' Night

309

 Chris Isaak

 Gone Ridin'

310

 The Church

 Youth Worshipper

311

 Hoodoo Gurus

 Like Wow-Wipeout!

312

 ABC

 A to Z

313

 LL Cool J

 Dear Yvette

314

 Lone Justice

 Soap, Soup and Salvation

315

 Kate Bush

 Mother Stands for Comfort

316

 Howard Jones

 Look Mama

317

 Bryan Ferry

 Sensation

318

 Tin Tin

 Kiss Me

319

 Marvin Gaye

 Sanctified Lady

320

 Kenny G. & Kashif

 Love on the Rise

321

 Madonna

 Angel

322

 LL Cool J

 Rock the Bells

323

 Kate Bush

 Watching You Without Me

324

 Alexander O'Neal

 If You Were Here Tonight

325

 Heart

 Never

326

 Minimal Compact

 Raging Souls

327

 Stephanie Mills

 Stand Back

328

 Evelyn "Champagne" King

 High Horse

329

 Chris Isaak

 Western Stars

330

 The Family

 Yes

331

 Stevie Wonder

 Overjoyed

332

 Sade

 War of the Hearts

333

 Everything But the Girl

 Are You Trying to Be Funny?

334

 The Replacements

 Kiss Me on the Bus

335

 The Smiths

 Asleep

336

 The Damned

 Grimly Fiendish

337

 The Powerstation

 Get It on (Bang a Gong)

338

 Jason & The Scorchers

 White Lies

339

 Suzanne Vega

 Cracking

340

 Tackhead

 What's My Mission Now

341

 The Church

 Night of Light

342

 Rosanne Cash

 Pink Bedroom

343

 Cherrelle

 High Priority

344

 Anna Domino

 Rhythm

345

 Heart

 What About Love

346

 Marti Jones

 Show and Tell

347

 10,000 Maniacs

 Can't Ignore the Train

348

 The Moody Blues

 Your Wildest Dreams

349

 Kate Bush

 Waking the Witch

350

 Madonna

 Crazy for You

351

 Orchestral Maoevers in the Dark

 Crush

352

 Stevie Wonder

 Go Home