Dang, 1985 is an awesome year for music

Reply #62 posted 09/22/16 7:09am

Live Aid alone is why 1985 is so good. It didn't have full artist participation but nevertheless contained a plethora of talent, both past and present united and putting on a show under one cause. The bottom line is that it was fun and is emblematic of a time where we as a people were much more unified.

We can argue on whether or not the money went to the right place and that charities are scams but none of that blame falls on any of the artists who participated. They did their part and that's in defense of all the musical charity that went on that year from "We Are The World" to Live Aid to Farm Aid to "Sun City" as well as the precursor to all of the above in "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

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Reply #63 posted 10/02/16 11:15am

namepeace said:

MotownSubdivision said:

namepeace said:

Fair point, the 70's sound on all the charts bled over into the early 80's. Many of the chart-toppers in '82 were holdover acts from the 70s. But 1982 saw 1999 andThriller, drop, along with a bunch of 80's classics, like "I Ran," "Tainted Love," "Don't You Want Me," "Only The Lonely," "Sexual Healing."

That's the reason I;'d argue for '82-'84 being the best stretch of the decade. Overall, IMHO 1982 is a stronger year than 1985.

1981 planted the seeds for what was yet to come later in the decade. '82 is where the flowers continued growing before blooming in 1983 and doing so en masse and sprouting fruit in 1984. Like vainandy said, the early 80's were great years, particularly on the black side which was experimental and progressive. However, nothing was really lighting the world on fire those years, sure soft rock was big but nothing extraordinary. Record sales were down and labels were making major cuts to stay afloat. The early 80's were years of transition for music; from 1980-82, the industry didn't really know its identity or what it wanted to be other than financially healthy although the ground was being laid for the explosive years the 80's are remembered for. [Edited 9/16/16 6:51am] [Edited 9/16/16 8:55am]

I understand; I think we're having a chicken-egg dialogue: what makes a year better -- the year the music was released, or, the year(s) the music hit big? There are valid reasons for either side; I take the former.

You make good points about the early 80's,yet and still, you had the two titans of the decade, Prince and Michael Jackson, releasing 2 of the top 10 albums of the entire decade (if not rock music all-time) in the same year. I can't think of any albums released in 1985 that match 1999 or Thriller, and I think there is a critical mass of singles from '82 that belong in the 80's canon of pop classics. Taken as a whole, 1982 is my year in the trio, as opposed to 1985.

Fun dialogue!

Wow... I completely overlooked this.

1999 and Thriller were practically 1983 albums since they were released so late in 1982 (the latter was released on the last day of November that year). However, like you said, it's more so the year of an album's release rather than the year an album blows up although the success of an album still contributes to the value of a year which is why I place 1983 above 1982 (among other reasons) as well as 1984 above both of them.

Even so, I think one has to take both theories into consideration and it goes beyond albums but centers on the music at large. Look at 1984: Michael didn't release a solo project (unless one counts the Motown released Farewell My Summer Love which gave MJ another album on the chart) but Prince did. However, Thriller was still the most popular album of the year despite being 2 years old at the time and there was also the Victory album and the even more successful tour (the highest grossing of the year) of which Mike made primary contributions including the album's most successful single ("State of Shock" reached #3 on the pop chart) and being the major selling point of the tour. Prince who actually released a solo album in 1984(as well as starred in a movie) also went on tour which adds to the greatness of the year. On the sorta- flip side, Madonna was on the rise with her debut but didn't blow up until late in the year with the November release of Like a Virgin which itself didn't blow up till 1985.

Outside of the Big 3, you had Huey Lewis and the News who released Sports in September 1983 yet took a near 10 month climb up the charts before hitting #1 in June the following year, making it the only non-Michael Jackson/Bruce Springsteen/Prince/soundtrack album to top the charts in 1984. Speaking of Springsteen, besides having a #1 blockbuster album with Born in the U.S.A. which is enough reason for him to mentioned, he also came in 2nd place only behind the Jacksons themselves for the highest grossing tour of the year as well as the highest grossing tour of 1985.

For soundtracks which were at a premium of commercial success in 1984, you have the obvious representatives in the album category with the #1 Footloose and Purple Rain and in the single category with #1 film tracks like Phil Collins' "Against All Odds", "Ghostbusters" and Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" but also the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack released in December though its singles wouldn't register till 1985. "New Attitude" in particular is the most notable since it helped relaunch Patti Labelle's career that year.

There's also "Do They Know it's Christmas" which dropped in December and set the stage for music being used as a platform for charity in 1985 with "We Are The World", "Sun City", Farm Aid and of course, Live Aid. 1985 is remembered as the year for humanitarian music but it all started in 1984.

There are many more examples but you get the idea.
[Edited 10/2/16 19:17pm]

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Reply #64 posted 10/02/16 7:52pm

As for 1985 itself, it had:

-"We Are The World" (Say what you will about the song as a piece of music but it was tremendous simply having that level of talent and star power on a single song) and the charity records that followed
-Motown Returns to the Apollo
-Live Aid and to a lesser extent, Farm Aid
-Great albums from Prince, Phil Collins, Tears For Fears, Heart and others as well as carry overs from 1984 with Born in the U.S.A., Like A Virgin (which blew up this year and took Madonna to the next level), Wham!'s Make It Big, Don Henley's Building the Perfect Beast and of course, Purple Rain among others
-Great, memorable songs from Foreigner ("I Want to Know What Love Is"), Stevie Wonder ("Part-Time Lover"), the hits from No Jacket Required and Songs From the Big Chair, to name a few as well as more soundtrack hits from Huey Lewis ("The Power of Love"), the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, Tina Turner ("We Don't Need Another Hero"), John Parr ("St. Elmo's Fire") and the Miami Vice theme and one-off hits from one hit wonders like Katrina and the Waves ("I'm Walking on Sunshine"), Flint, Michigan's Ready For The World ("Oh Sheila"), Ashford and Simpson (a 1984 carryover in "Solid"), the Mary Jane Girls ("In My House"), A-Ha ("Take On Me"), Teena Marie ("Lovergirl"), Philip Bailey (a 1984 carryover with Phil Collins in "Easy Lover"), the aforementioned John Parr and Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme) among others
-The first year of Rock in Rio
-Whitney Houston's debut
-LL Cool J debuts with Radio, one of hip hop's pioneering seminal albums
-The Patti Labelle special on Thanksgiving

1985 was dope.
[Edited 10/3/16 10:25am]

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Reply #65 posted 10/03/16 9:43am

namepeace

MotownSubdivision said:

Wow... I completely overlooked this. 1999 and Thriller were practically 1983 albums since they were released so late in 1982 (the latter was released on the last day of November that year). However, like you said, it's more so the year of an album's release rather than the year an album blows up although the success of an album still contributes to the value of a year which is why I place 1983 above 1982 (among other reasons) as well as 1984 above both of them.

Valid point. Thriller really didn't become THRILLER until 1983, when the videos detonated. 1999 was more of a slow burn.

Even so, I think one has to take both theories into consideration and it goes beyond albums but centers on the music at large. Look at 1984: Michael didn't release a solo project (unless one counts the Motown released Farewell My Summer Love which gave MJ another album on the chart) but Prince did. However, Thriller was still the most popular album of the year despite being 2 years old at the time and there was also the Victory album and the even more successful tour (the highest grossing of the year) of which Mike made primary contributions including the album's most successful single ("State of Shock" reached #3 on the pop chart) and being the major selling point of the tour.

There's no dispute about 1984. The other releases MJ made were icing on the cake.

Prince who actually released a solo album in 1984(as well as starred in a movie) also went on tour which adds to the greatness of the year. On the sorta- flip side, Madonna was on the rise with her debut but didn't blow up until late in the year with the November release of Like a Virgin which itself didn't blow up till 1985.

That's why I take '84 over all the other years.

Outside of the Big 3, you had Huey Lewis and the News who released Sports in September 1983 yet took a near 10 month climb up the charts before hitting #1 in June the following year, making it the only non-Michael Jackson/Bruce Springsteen/Prince/soundtrack album to top the charts in 1984. Speaking of Springsteen, besides having a #1 blockbuster album with Born in the U.S.A. which is enough reason for him to mentioned, he also came in 2nd place only behind the Jacksons themselves for the highest grossing tour of the year as well as the highest grossing tour of 1985.

That's the reason I like 83 in the trio.

For soundtracks which were at a premium of commercial success in 1984, you have the obvious representatives in the album category with the #1 Footloose and Purple Rain and in the single category with #1 film tracks like Phil Collins' "Against All Odds", "Ghostbusters" and Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" but also the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack released in December though its singles wouldn't register till 1985.
"New Attitude" in particular is the most notable since it helped relaunch Patti Labelle's career that year.

No doubt, 1984 from beginning to end, due to some bleedover from '83 and the strength of output from all corners of the pop scene, as well as it being arguably the greatest "crossover" year music has ever seen, makes it the best year in pop music. ever. I'd put 1983 in that trinity as well.

There's also "Do They Know it's Christmas" which dropped in December and set the stage for music being used as a platform for charity in 1985 with "We Are The World", "Sun City", Farm Aid and of course, Live Aid. 1985 is remembered as the year for humanitarian music but it all started in 1984. There are many more examples but you get the idea. [Edited 10/2/16 19:17pm]

Indeed. No doubt about '84. Or '83. I take '82 over '85, though '85 was a strong year, it rode the '84 tide but creatively and commercially couldn't sustain the momentum.

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder

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Reply #66 posted 10/03/16 12:08pm

purplethunder3
121

avatar

MotownSubdivision said:
As for 1985 itself, it had: -"We Are The World" (Say what you will about the song as a piece of music but it was tremendous simply having that level of talent and star power on a single song) and the charity records that followed -Motown Returns to the Apollo -Live Aid and to a lesser extent, Farm Aid -Great albums from Prince, Phil Collins, Tears For Fears, Heart and others as well as carry overs from 1984 with Born in the U.S.A., Like A Virgin (which blew up this year and took Madonna to the next level), Wham!'s Make It Big, Don Henley's Building the Perfect Beast and of course, Purple Rain among others -Great, memorable songs from Foreigner ("I Want to Know What Love Is"), Stevie Wonder ("Part-Time Lover"), the hits from No Jacket Required and Songs From the Big Chair, to name a few as well as more soundtrack hits from Huey Lewis ("The Power of Love"), the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, Tina Turner ("We Don't Need Another Hero"), John Parr ("St. Elmo's Fire") and the Miami Vice theme and one-off hits from one hit wonders like Katrina and the Waves ("I'm Walking on Sunshine"), Flint, Michigan's Ready For The World ("Oh Sheila"), Ashford and Simpson (a 1984 carryover in "Solid"), the Mary Jane Girls ("In My House"), A-Ha ("Take On Me"), Teena Marie ("Lovergirl"), Philip Bailey (a 1984 carryover with Phil Collins in "Easy Lover"), the aforementioned John Parr and Jan Hammer (Miami Vice theme) among others -The first year of Rock in Rio -Whitney Houston's debut -LL Cool J debuts with Radio, one of hip hop's pioneering seminal albums -The Patti Labelle special on Thanksgiving 1985 was dope. [Edited 10/3/16 10:25am]

Live Aid was pretty amazing. I remember ditching work that day and going to places where I could watch it on cable on a big screen. Everywhere I went all over town, people were glued to their TV sets, just like others were all over the world.

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0

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Reply #67 posted 10/03/16 3:18pm

namepeace said:

MotownSubdivision said:

Wow... I completely overlooked this. 1999 and Thriller were practically 1983 albums since they were released so late in 1982 (the latter was released on the last day of November that year). However, like you said, it's more so the year of an album's release rather than the year an album blows up although the success of an album still contributes to the value of a year which is why I place 1983 above 1982 (among other reasons) as well as 1984 above both of them.

Valid point. Thriller really didn't become THRILLER until 1983, when the videos detonated. 1999 was more of a slow burn.

Even so, I think one has to take both theories into consideration and it goes beyond albums but centers on the music at large. Look at 1984: Michael didn't release a solo project (unless one counts the Motown released Farewell My Summer Love which gave MJ another album on the chart) but Prince did. However, Thriller was still the most popular album of the year despite being 2 years old at the time and there was also the Victory album and the even more successful tour (the highest grossing of the year) of which Mike made primary contributions including the album's most successful single ("State of Shock" reached #3 on the pop chart) and being the major selling point of the tour.

There's no dispute about 1984. The other releases MJ made were icing on the cake.

Prince who actually released a solo album in 1984(as well as starred in a movie) also went on tour which adds to the greatness of the year. On the sorta- flip side, Madonna was on the rise with her debut but didn't blow up until late in the year with the November release of Like a Virgin which itself didn't blow up till 1985.

That's why I take '84 over all the other years.

Outside of the Big 3, you had Huey Lewis and the News who released Sports in September 1983 yet took a near 10 month climb up the charts before hitting #1 in June the following year, making it the only non-Michael Jackson/Bruce Springsteen/Prince/soundtrack album to top the charts in 1984. Speaking of Springsteen, besides having a #1 blockbuster album with Born in the U.S.A. which is enough reason for him to mentioned, he also came in 2nd place only behind the Jacksons themselves for the highest grossing tour of the year as well as the highest grossing tour of 1985.

That's the reason I like 83 in the trio.

For soundtracks which were at a premium of commercial success in 1984, you have the obvious representatives in the album category with the #1 Footloose and Purple Rain and in the single category with #1 film tracks like Phil Collins' "Against All Odds", "Ghostbusters" and Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" but also the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack released in December though its singles wouldn't register till 1985.
"New Attitude" in particular is the most notable since it helped relaunch Patti Labelle's career that year.

No doubt, 1984 from beginning to end, due to some bleedover from '83 and the strength of output from all corners of the pop scene, as well as it being arguably the greatest "crossover" year music has ever seen, makes it the best year in pop music. ever. I'd put 1983 in that trinity as well.

There's also "Do They Know it's Christmas" which dropped in December and set the stage for music being used as a platform for charity in 1985 with "We Are The World", "Sun City", Farm Aid and of course, Live Aid. 1985 is remembered as the year for humanitarian music but it all started in 1984. There are many more examples but you get the idea. [Edited 10/2/16 19:17pm]

Indeed. No doubt about '84. Or '83. I take '82 over '85, though '85 was a strong year, it rode the '84 tide but creatively and commercially couldn't sustain the momentum.

I see what you mean. With 1982-84 you finish off stronger than you otherwise would with 1983-85 in a comparison between the 2 but 1983-85 is still a white hot streak on its own terms.

You have [pop] music on the rise again and reaching the summit of the mountain in 1983, the music scene erupting and setting things ablaze from the explosion in 1984 and then while the fire still rages, the lava pours down in 1985 adding more fuel to the flames and gradually cooling off into 1986.

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Reply #68 posted 10/04/16 1:15pm

namepeace

MotownSubdivision said:
namepeace said:

I see what you mean. With 1982-84 you finish off stronger than you otherwise would with 1983-85 in a comparison between the 2 but 1983-85 is still a white hot streak on its own terms.

Very nice way to tie a bow on it.

1985 was a tremendous year all around.

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder

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Reply #69 posted 10/08/16 9:08am

MotownSubdivis ion	namepeace said: MotownSubdivision said: namepeace said: I see what you mean. With 1982-84 you finish off stronger than you otherwise would with 1983-85 in a comparison between the 2 but 1983-85 is still a white hot streak on its own terms. Very nice way to tie a bow on it. 1985 was a tremendous year all around. An incredible year. We could use a 1985 these days.
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Reply #70 posted 10/18/16 11:04pm

avatar

MotownSubdivision said:
namepeace said:

Very nice way to tie a bow on it.

1985 was a tremendous year all around.

An incredible year. We could use a 1985 these days.

Well, Bruno Mars just released his "24K Magic" which almost sounds like it could have been made in 1985! lol

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...

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Reply #71 posted 10/18/16 11:06pm

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Katrina and the Waves ("I'm Walking on Sunshine"): this song has got to be the most profitable one hit wonders ever! It was used in so many movies and commercials, I am sure the band still lives a comfortable life off that hit... lol

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...

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Reply #72 posted 10/19/16 6:09am

scratchtasia

funkaholic1972 said:

Katrina and the Waves ("I'm Walking on Sunshine"): this song has got to be the most profitable one hit wonders ever! It was used in so many movies and commercials, I am sure the band still lives a comfortable life off that hit...

They actually had two more US top 40 hits and two more UK top 40 hits--with four different songs. (And a Canadian top 40 hit with yet another song.) "Do You Want Crying" is my favorite. But I know what you mean--"Walking on Sunshine" is the one that has endured, and it's used EVERYWHERE.

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Reply #73 posted 10/19/16 6:18am

MotownSubdivis ion	funkaholic1972 said: MotownSubdivision said: namepeace said: Very nice way to tie a bow on it. 1985 was a tremendous year all around. An incredible year. We could use a 1985 these days. Well, Bruno Mars just released his "24K Magic" which almost sounds like it could have been made in 1985! Sounds more like 1980-82 to me.
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Reply #74 posted 10/19/16 8:41am

Comser	^ like the Bar-Kays, Fatback, Cameo, Lakeside
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Reply #75 posted 10/19/16 11:14am

avatar

scratchtasia said:

funkaholic1972 said:

Katrina and the Waves ("I'm Walking on Sunshine"): this song has got to be the most profitable one hit wonders ever! It was used in so many movies and commercials, I am sure the band still lives a comfortable life off that hit...

They actually had two more US top 40 hits and two more UK top 40 hits--with four different songs. (And a Canadian top 40 hit with yet another song.) "Do You Want Crying" is my favorite. But I know what you mean--"Walking on Sunshine" is the one that has endured, and it's used EVERYWHERE.

Never knew that, as far as I know in The Netherlands I believe only "I'm walking on sunshine" was a (big) hit. Well, I guess that means even less worries about the band's retirement savings! wink

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...

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Reply #76 posted 10/19/16 11:26am

avatar

MotownSubdivision said:
funkaholic1972 said:

Well, Bruno Mars just released his "24K Magic" which almost sounds like it could have been made in 1985!

Sounds more like 1980-82 to me.

To me it sounds like '82-'85.

1980-1982 feautured more of a mix of electronic (drum machine, synth bass) and acoustic instruments (guitar, slap bass) whereas by 1985 (almost) completely electronic productions became more and more the standard. Also the gloss factor (reverb/delays/other FX) was more developed by '85.

I guess we could agree on "somewhere between 1980-1985" though. Golden years! wink

[Edited 10/19/16 11:28am]

[Edited 10/19/16 11:30am]

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...

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Reply #77 posted 10/19/16 3:21pm

bonatoc

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I see these one-hit-wonder commercial bozos that are Stock, Aitken and W.C. mentioned,
and no "Steve McQueen"?

Prefab Sprout?

"Meat is murder"?

There's more to life than F.M. radio (which I'm a huge fan nonetheless).

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams

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Reply #78 posted 10/19/16 3:30pm

bonatoc

avatar

MotownSubdivision said:
Live Aid alone is why 1985 is so good. It didn't have full artist participation but nevertheless contained a plethora of talent, both past and present united and putting on a show under one cause. The bottom line is that it was fun and is emblematic of a time where we as a people were much more unified. We can argue on whether or not the money went to the right place and that charities are scams but none of that blame falls on any of the artists who participated. They did their part and that's in defense of all the musical charity that went on that year from "We Are The World" to Live Aid to Farm Aid to "Sun City" as well as the precursor to all of the above in "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

I've learned to distrust this kind of things.
I don't think there is a catholic redemption in the rocker suddenly realizing, while takng the sun in Ibiza, that people die from hunger in the world.

It puts Rock and Pop in the spot where the establishement wants to keep it.
The good-hearted, revolutionary chant, "Tomorrow will be better".
Artists, naive as they can sometimes be, fall for it because they have huge egoes.
Meanwhile, the average western kid has his poster heroes, and the machine can keep its work.
Soon he'll have to work, and Bruce won't be his Saint Patron anymore,
just a singer to be fan of.

Ain't no Bono gonna save us.

That said, Sting has been essential at the end of the eighties to bring the rainforest issue to the public.
Artists can move things a bit, but they often turn into mediatic events that are most welcomed by the politic: they hide what's really going on. While you stare at the guy in the spotlight, nothing much changes around.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams

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Reply #79 posted 10/22/16 2:04pm

Missmusicluver
72

Oh yes it was! Not only did you have so many great albums released that year, but Live Aid just topped the year off. The 80's is my fave decade of music. I think the years between 82-87 were the strongest music wise. Went through elementary, middle and high school during this decade. Lots of fun memories!! cool biggrin

Love is God, God is love, girls and boys love God above~
The only Love there is, is the Love We Make~
Prince4Ever

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Reply #80 posted 10/22/16 2:27pm

bonatoc said:

MotownSubdivision said:

Live Aid alone is why 1985 is so good. It didn't have full artist participation but nevertheless contained a plethora of talent, both past and present united and putting on a show under one cause. The bottom line is that it was fun and is emblematic of a time where we as a people were much more unified. We can argue on whether or not the money went to the right place and that charities are scams but none of that blame falls on any of the artists who participated. They did their part and that's in defense of all the musical charity that went on that year from "We Are The World" to Live Aid to Farm Aid to "Sun City" as well as the precursor to all of the above in "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

The outcome of the event is beside the point. Live Aid was still instrumental in raising awareness for Africa's poverty and musically was a spectacular show for the sheer amount of talent and star power present. I'm not saying that LA is the greatest humanitarian effortin history but it most certainly was unique and awe-inspiring how such a project could be orchestrated and executed.

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