Supergroups and movie music excite Rock fans in 1985.

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Events that shaped Album Rock during that year

Big Year For Supergroups

One trend in Rock marking 1985 was supergroups - rock bands made up of members from other successful groups. The Firm and The Power Station led the way. Paul Rodgers, former frontman of Bad Company, and Jimmy Page, former guitarist from Led Zeppelin, led the group to their first, self·titled album in 1985. The album was an immediate success with Rock fans as the track Radioactive reached number one on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart in March, with tracks Satisfaction Guaranteed and Closer also getting heavy airplay on Rock radio.

photo courtesy of last.fm
Radioactive video courtesy of YouTube

Singer Robert Palmer, seeing some moderate success in the late 1970's, made a comeback as the lead singer of the supergroup The Power Station in 1985. Joining with former Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members, brothers John and Andy Taylor, Palmer and company enjoyed tracks Some Like It Hot and Get It On, cover of the T·Rex single, getting airplay and gaining popularity with fans. Both were from their self·titled debut album. The Taylors would return to Duran Duran in late 1986, but the Power Station produced a reunion album, Living In Fear, 11 years later.

photo courtesy of wikimedia
Some Like It Hot video courtesy of YouTube

A Night At The Movies, A Day On The Radio

Another trend marking Rock radio in 1985 was tracks from popular movies. Led by the top box office film of the year, Back To The Future, many popular films produced successful Album Rock radio tracks, arguably more than in any other year! Some of the movies and their popular songs include Back To The Future, producing the Huey Lewis & The News' hits The Power Of Love, a Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart number one, and Back In Time; the film The Breakfast Club, providing Simple Minds' Don't You (Forget About Me), another Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart number one; St. Elmo's Fire, yielding John Parr's St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion); and Rocky IV, giving Rock radio Survivor's Burning Heart.

The Power Of Love
by Huey Lewis & the News
from Back To The Future

(Don't You) Forget About Me
by Simple Minds
from The Breakfast Club

St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)
by John Parr
from St. Elmo's Fire

Burning Heart
by Survivor
from Rocky IV

Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
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All rock tracks listed on Billboard Magazine's Top Rock Tracks chart that year.

Title Artist Peak Date Of Entry
The Boys Of Summer Don Henley # 1 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Run To You Bryan Adams # 1 see 1984 list for chart entry date
I Want To Know What Love Is Foreigner # 1 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Do It Again The Kinks # 4 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Call To The Heart Giuffria # 3 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Easy Lover Philip Bailey # 5 see 1984 list for chart entry date
We Belong Pat Benatar # 3 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Naughty Naughty John Parr # 6 see 1984 list for chart entry date
It's Only Love Bryan Adams # 7 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Born In The U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen # 8 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Spellbound Triumph # 10 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Old Man Down The Road John Fogerty # 1 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Perfect Strangers Deep Purple # 12 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Sunset Grill Don Henley # 7 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Knocking At Your Back Door Deep Purple # 7 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Valotte Julian Lennon # 2 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Tender Years John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band # 10 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Too Late For Goodbyes Julian Lennon # 11 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Understanding Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band # 5 see 1984 list for chart entry date
High On You Survivor # 8 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Can't Fight This Feeling REO Speedwagon # 5 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Had A Dream Roger Hodgson # 4 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Diamond Field Pat Benatar # 20 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Our Love Krokus # 22 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Turn Up The Radio Autograph # 17 see 1984 list for chart entry date
If I Had A Rocket Launcher Bruce Cockburn # 16 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Rockin' At Midnight The Honeydrippers # 8 see 1984 list for chart entry date
The Heat Is On Glenn Frey # 4 1985-01-05
Eye On You Billy Squier # 29 1985-01-05
Stranger In Town Toto # 7 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Wire U2 # 31 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid # 32 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Don't Worry Baby Los Lobos # 28 see 1984 list for chart entry date
In The Name Of Love U2 # 2 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Stone In Your Heart Molly Hatchet # 26 see 1984 list for chart entry date
What I See Planet P Project # 25 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Tonight David Bowie # 32 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Heaven (Must Be There) Euro Gliders # 21 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Money Changes Everything Cyndi Lauper # 37 1985-01-05
I Don't Want To Know REO Speedwagon # 5 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Catch My Fall Billy Idol # 24 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Kids Wanna Rock Bryan Adams # 42 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Sea Of Love The Honeydrippers # 11 see 1984 list for chart entry date
The Price Twisted Sister # 19 1985-01-05
Just Got Lucky Dokken # 27 1985-01-05
Summer Of '69 Bryan Adams # 40 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Tooth And Nail Foreigner # 47 1985-01-05
Hello Again The Cars # 22 see 1984 list for chart entry date
I Can't Hold Back Survivor # 1 see 1984 list for chart entry date
Jail Break AC/DC # 33 see 1984 list for chart entry date
California Girls David Lee Roth # 3 1985-01-19
That Was Yesterday Foreigner # 4 1985-01-19
Somebody Bryan Adams # 1 1985-01-19
Rock & Roll Girls John Fogerty # 5 1985-01-19
In Jeopardy Roger Hodgson # 30 1985-01-19
Ooh·Ooh Song Pat Benatar # 22 1985-01-19
Tenderness General Public # 39 1985-01-19
Gear Jammer George Thorogood # 26 1985-01-19
Only The Young Journey # 3 1985-01-26
Why Can't I Have You The Cars # 11 1985-01-26
Playing To Win LRB # 15 1985-01-26
All She Wants To Do Is Dance Don Henley # 1 1985-01-26
Underground Angel City # 35 1985-01-26
Dangerous Moments Martin Briley # 31 1985-01-26
Radioactive The Firm # 1 1985-02-02
Method Of Modern Love Daryl Hall & John Oates # 42 1985-02-02
Reaction To Action Foreigner # 44 1985-02-02
Just Another Night Mick Jagger # 1 1985-02-09
This Is Not America David Bowie & Pat Methany Group # 7 1985-02-09
One More Night Phil Collins # 4 1985-02-09
Restless Heart John Waite # 28 1985-02-09
Let's Talk About Me Alan Parsons Project # 10 1985-02-09
Follow My Heart Triumph # 13 1985-02-09
Injured In The Game Of Love Donnie Iris # 28 1985-02-09
Living On A Thin Line The Kinks # 24 1985-02-09
Breakaway The Cars # 19 1985-02-09
Easy Street David Lee Roth # 14 1985-02-16
Beat Of A Heart Scandal Featuring Patty Smythe # 36 1985-02-16
Do Me Right Giuffria # 41 1985-02-16
I'm On Fire Bruce Springsteen # 4 1985-02-16
I'd Lie To You For Your Love Danny Spanos # 42 1985-02-16
Heartline Robin George # 40 1985-02-16
Say It Again Santana # 15 1985-02-16
Nobody's Home Deep Purple # 20 1985-02-23
The Man With The Horn Phil Collins # 38 1985-02-23
Don't You (Forget About Me) Simple Minds # 1 1985-02-23
(Wearing Down) Like A Wheel Elliot Easton # 36 1985-02-23
Hungry For Heaven Dio # 30 1985-03-02
Shades Of 45 Gary O. # 23 1985-03-02
Lucky Greg Kihn # 24 1985-03-02
Forever Man Eric Clapton # 1 1985-03-09
Lonely At The Top Mick Jagger # 9 1985-03-09
Closer The Firm # 19 1985-03-09
Piece By Piece The Tubes # 25 1985-03-09
Along Comes A Woman Chicago # 10 1985-03-09
Don't Come Around Here No More Tom Petty # 2 1985-03-16
Will The Wolf Survive Los Lobos # 26 1985-03-16
I Drink Alone George Thorogood # 13 1985-03-16
Magical John Parr # 28 1985-03-16
Satisfaction Guaranteed The Firm # 4 1985-03-16
Everybody's Crazy Michael Bolton # 38 1985-03-16
Everybody Wants To Rule The World Tears For Fears # 2 1985-03-23
Talk To Me Fiona # 12 1985-03-23
Tore Down A La Rimbaud Van Morrison # 19 1985-03-23
We Are The World U.S.A. For Africa # 27 1985-03-23
Inside Out Phil Collins # 9 1985-03-30
Vox Humana Kenny Loggins # 18 1985-03-30
Centerfield John Fogerty # 4 1985-03-30
She's Waiting Eric Clapton # 11 1985-03-30
I'm A Fighter Johnny Van Zant # 16 1985-03-30
Rebels Tom Petty # 5 1985-04-06
Just A Gigolo David Lee Roth # 25 1985-04-06
Things Can Only Get Better Howard Jones # 21 1985-04-06
Don't Lose My Number Phil Collins # 33 1985-04-06
One Lonely Night REO Speedwagon # 17 1985-04-13
Driving With Your Eyes Closed Don Henley # 9 1985-04-13
Trapped Bruce Springsteen # 1 1985-04-13
I Don't Want To Know REO Speedwagon # 42 1985-04-13
A Sort Of Homecoming U2 # 45 1985-04-13
Trouble In Paradise Huey Lewis & The News # 11 1985-04-20
Walking On Sunshine Katrina And The Waves # 21 1985-04-20
Little Sheila Slade # 13 1985-04-20
White Lies Jason & The Scorchers # 34 1985-04-20
Say You're Wrong Julian Lennon # 3 1985-04-20
Lonely In Love Giuffria # 43 1985-04-20
Lucky In Love Mick Jagger # 5 1985-04-27
Alone Again Dokken # 20 1985-04-27
Smuggler's Blues Don Henley # 13 1985-04-27
Heaven Bryan Adams # 27 1985-04-27
Days Are Numbers The Alan Parsons Project # 30 1985-04-27
Would I Lie To You The Eurhythmics # 2 1985-04-27
Go For Soda Kim Mitchell # 12 1985-05-04
Some Like It Hot The Power Station # 34 1985-05-04
Bang A Gong The Power Station # 19 1985-05-04
Sussudio Phil Collins # 10 1985-05-04
Only Lonely Bon Jovi # 28 1985-05-04
Voices Carry Til Tuesday # 14 1985-05-04
The Confessor Joe Walsh # 8 1985-05-11
Tough All Over John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band # 1 1985-05-11
All You Zombies The Hooters # 11 1985-05-11
Wake Up (Next To You) Graham Parker And The Shot # 19 1985-05-11
See What Love Can Do Eric Clapton # 20 1985-05-11
Little By Little Robert Plant # 1 1985-05-18
Baby Please Don't Go Willy & The Poor Boys # 35 1985-05-18
Ways To Be Wicked Lone Justice # 29 1985-05-18
Modern Girl Meatloaf # 41 1985-05-18
Raspberry Beret Prince & The Revolution # 40 1985-05-18
Cannonball Supertramp # 4 1985-05-25
Sentimental Street Night Ranger # 3 1985-05-25
Glory Days Bruce Springsteen # 3 1985-05-25
Shout Tears For Fears # 6 1985-05-25
Everytime You Go Away Paul Young # 14 1985-05-25
Money For Nothing Dire Straits # 1 1985-06-01
What About Love Heart # 3 1985-06-01
Walk Of Life Dire Straits # 6 1985-06-01
You're The Only Love Paul Hyde & Payolas # 37 1985-06-01
Black Cars Gino Vanelli # 34 1985-06-01
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free Sting # 2 1985-06-08
Not Enough Love In The World Don Henley # 17 1985-06-08
Sixes And Sevens Robert Plant # 18 1985-06-08
Make It Better (Forget About Me) Tom Petty # 12 1985-06-08
People Get Ready Jeff Beck And Rod Stewart # 5 1985-06-15
Lay It Down Ratt # 11 1985-06-15
You've Got To Believe In Love Van Zant # 27 1985-06-15
Everything I Need Men At Work # 28 1985-06-15
Tight Connection To My Heart Bob Dylan # 19 1985-06-15
Willie & The Hand Jive George Thorogood # 25 1985-06-15
Three Sunrises U2 # 16 1985-06-22
Deep Cuts The Knife Helix # 20 1985-06-22
Road To Nowhere Talking Heads # 25 1985-06-22
A View To A Kill Duran Duran # 42 1985-06-22
The Power Of Love Huey Lewis & The News # 1 1985-06-29
Invincible Pat Benatar # 4 1985-06-29
The Fire Still Burns Russ Ballard # 15 1985-06-29
Never Surrender Corey Hart # 8 1985-06-29
St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) John Parr # 2 1985-06-29
Slave To Love Bryan Ferry # 19 1985-06-29
Smokin' In The Boys Room Motley Crue # 7 1985-07-06
Fortress Around Your Heart Sting # 1 1985-07-06
Can't Get There From Here R.E.M. # 14 1985-07-06
In And Out Of Love Bon Jovi # 37 1985-07-06
Stand On It Bruce Springsteen # 32 1985-07-06
I Love You Like A Ball & Chain The Eurhythmics # 36 1985-07-13
Life In One Day Howard Jones # 36 1985-07-13
Diana Bryan Adams # 21 1985-07-13
C-I-T-Y John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band # 9 1985-07-20
Y&T Summertime Girls # 16 1985-07-20
And She Was Talking Heads # 11 1985-07-20
We Don't Need Another Hero Tina Turner # 29 1985-07-20
Shame The Motels # 10 1985-07-27
Cry Godley & Creme # 6 1985-07-27
Back In Time Huey Lewis & The News # 3 1985-07-27
You're Only Human Billy Joel # 26 1985-07-27
Tonight It's You Cheap Trick # 8 1985-08-03
No Looking Back Michael McDonald # 4 1985-08-03
Lie For A Lie Nick Mason & Rick Fenn # 21 1985-08-03
And We Danced The Hooters # 3 1985-08-03
Every Step Of The Way John Waite # 4 1985-08-10
Head Over Heels Tears For Fears # 7 1985-08-10
Gets Us All In The End Jeff Beck # 20 1985-08-10
Burning House Of Love X # 27 1985-08-10
Still In Love Taxxi # 36 1985-08-10
Lonely Ol' Night John Cougar Mellencamp # 1 1985-08-17
Four In The Morning Night Ranger # 13 1985-08-17
Kayleigh Marillion # 14 1985-08-17
So Far Away Dire Straits # 29 1985-08-17
I Got You Babe UB40 # 40 1985-08-17
Lovin' Every Minute Of It Loverboy # 3 1985-08-24
One World Dire Straits # 8 1985-08-24
When Your Heart Is Weak Cock Robin # 28 1985-08-24
One In A Million Eddie & The Tide # 22 1985-08-24
Broken Wings Mr. Mister # 4 1985-08-24
Bad U2 # 19 1985-08-24
Dancing In The Streets Mick Jagger & David Bowie # 3 1985-08-31
What Do I Know Saga # 24 1985-08-31
Say It Isn't So The Outfield # 18 1985-08-31
Rock 'N' Roll Children Dio # 26 1985-08-31
One Night Love Affair Bryan Adams # 7 1985-08-31
Sink The Pink AC/DC # 44 1985-08-31
I'm Goin' Down Bruce Springsteen # 9 1985-09-07
We Built This City Starship # 1 1985-09-07
Never Heart # 2 1985-09-07
Driver 8 R.E.M. # 22 1985-09-07
You're In Love Ratt # 34 1985-09-07
After The Fire Roger Daltrey # 3 1985-09-14
R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. John Cougar Mellencamp # 6 1985-09-14
Small Town John Cougar Mellencamp # 2 1985-09-14
I Knew The Bride Nick Lowe # 27 1985-09-14
You Belong To The City Glenn Frey # 1 1985-09-21
Rain On The Scarecrow John Cougar Mellencamp # 16 1985-09-21
Bad Times Michael McDonald # 38 1985-09-21
Stop Jon Butcher Axis # 31 1985-09-21
Test Of Time The Romantics # 44 1985-09-21
Talk To Me Quarterflash # 41 1985-09-21
Lay Your Hands On Me Thompson Twins # 14 1985-09-28
Look At Little Sister Stevie Ray Vaughan # 17 1985-09-28
Tears Are Falling Kiss # 20 1985-09-28
The Way You Do The Things Hall & Oates # 43 1985-09-28
Miami Vice Theme Jan Hammer # 29 1985-09-28
Under A Raging Moon Roger Daltrey # 10 1985-10-05
Cruzados Motorcycle Girl # 15 1985-10-05
Home Sweet Home Motley Crue # 38 1985-10-05
Love Is The Seventh Wave Sting # 19 1985-10-05
Hits Of The Year Squeeze # 39 1985-10-05
The Big Money Rush # 4 1985-10-12
Men Without Shame Phantom, Rocker & Slick # 7 1985-10-12
Remo's Theme (What If) Tommy Shaw # 18 1985-10-12
Stay Up Late Talking Heads # 24 1985-10-12
Sleeping Bag Z.Z. Top # 1 1985-10-19
Alive & Kicking Simple Minds # 2 1985-10-19
Endlessly Joe Lynn Turner # 19 1985-10-19
This Time INXS # 11 1985-10-19
When Love Breaks Down Prefab Sprout # 42 1985-10-26
Blondes In Black Cars Autograph # 38 1985-10-26
Tonight She Comes The Cars # 1 1985-11-02
You're A Friend Of Mine Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne # 16 1985-11-02
Let The Music Do The Talking Aerosmith # 18 1985-11-02
To Live And Die In L.A. Wang Chung # 21 1985-11-02
Strength The Alarm # 12 1985-11-02
Face The Face Pete Townshend # 3 1985-11-09
Go Asia # 7 1985-11-09
Can't Stop Rockin' Z.Z. Top # 8 1985-11-09
Silent Running Mike & The Mechanics # 1 1985-11-09
Burning Heart Survivor # 11 1985-11-09
Talk To Me Stevie Nicks # 1 1985-11-16
Territories Rush # 30 1985-11-16
Hold On Yes # 27 1985-11-16
Running Up That Hill Kate Bush # 34 1985-11-16
Pleasure And Pain Divinyls # 12 1985-11-16
Dangerous Loverboy # 23 1985-11-16
Sex As A Weapon Pat Benatar # 5 1985-11-23
Change It Stevie Ray Vaughan # 17 1985-11-23
Manhattan Project Rush # 10 1985-11-23
Stages Z.Z. Top # 1 1985-11-23
Good Friends Joni Mitchell # 28 1985-11-23
Sun City Artists United Against Apartheid # 41 1985-11-23
Don't Run Wild The Del Fuegos # 46 1985-11-23
Give Blood Pete Townshend # 5 1985-11-30
Spies Like Us Paul McCartney # 31 1985-11-30
Justice & Independence John Cougar Mellencamp # 28 1985-11-30
Goodbye Night Ranger # 16 1985-11-30
I Can't Wait Stevie Nicks # 6 1985-11-30
All American Boy Y&T # 48 1985-11-30
Life In A Northern Town The Dream Academy # 7 1985-11-30
Let Me Down Easy Roger Daltrey # 11 1985-12-07
Leader Of The Pack Twisted Sister # 32 1985-12-07
Mind Games Triumph # 49 1985-12-07
One Vision Queen # 19 1985-12-14
Kyrie Mr. Mister # 1 1985-12-14
My Hometown Bruce Springsteen # 6 1985-12-14
Sara Starship # 12 1985-12-14
Day By Day The Hooters # 3 1985-12-21
So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star Tom Petty # 9 1985-12-21
Beat's So Lonely Charlie Sexton # 24 1985-12-21
Sheila Aerosmith # 20 1985-12-21
The Hunter Dokken # 25 1985-12-21
Needles And Pins Tom Petty # 17 1985-12-28
Christmas Time Bryan Adams # 31 1985-12-28
Silent Night Bon Jovi # 24 1985-12-28
Sanctify Yourself Simple Minds # 3 1985-12-28

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