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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
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{{1980s in music (UK)}}
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{{YYYY music|1985}}
{{YYYY music|1985}}
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The biggest British musical event of 1985 was the [[Live Aid]] concert in London's [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] on 13 July. Held to follow up the previous year's [[charity record]] "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]", the biggest-selling single ever at the time, popular acts such as [[The Who]], [[U2]] and [[Queen (band)|Queen]] performed in front of an estimated audience of 1.9 billion viewers. It raised £150 million to help famine in [[Ethiopia]], and a similar event would happen 20 years later in 2005, with [[Live 8]].
The biggest British musical event of 1985 was the [[Live Aid]] concert in London's [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] on 13 July. Held to follow up the previous year's [[charity record]] "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]", the biggest-selling single ever at the time, popular acts such as [[The Who]], [[U2]] and [[Queen (band)|Queen]] performed in front of an estimated audience of 1.9 billion viewers. It raised £150 million to help famine in [[Ethiopia]], and a similar event would happen 20 years later in 2005, with [[Live 8]].


After the huge success of [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]]'s "Do They Know It's Christmas?", several more charity songs reached number 1 this year. [[USA for Africa]], inspired by Band Aid, released "[[We Are the World]]", a song written by [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Lionel Richie]], while [[David Bowie]] and [[Mick Jagger]] released a cover of "[[Dancing In The Street]]", the [[music video]] being premiered at Live Aid and all proceeds going to the charity. In May, a [[Bradford City stadium fire|fire at a football stadium in Bradford]] killed 56 people, and [[supergroup (bands)|supergroup]] [[The Crowd (music)|The Crowd]] released a charity cover of popular football anthem "[[You'll Never Walk Alone (song)|You'll Never Walk Alone]]" in tribute.
After the huge success of [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]]'s "Do They Know It's Christmas?", several more charity songs reached number 1 this year. [[USA for Africa]], inspired by Band Aid, released "[[We Are the World]]", a song written by [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Lionel Richie]], while [[David Bowie]] and [[Mick Jagger]] released a cover of "[[Dancing in the Street]]", the [[music video]] being premiered at Live Aid and all proceeds going to the charity. In May, a [[Bradford City stadium fire|fire at a football stadium in Bradford]] killed 56 people, and [[supergroup (bands)|supergroup]] [[The Crowd (music)|The Crowd]] released a charity cover of popular football anthem "[[You'll Never Walk Alone (song)|You'll Never Walk Alone]]" in tribute.


British rock band [[Dire Straits]] released their album ''[[Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits album)|Brothers in Arms]]'' in May, one of the first ever albums to be released on [[compact disc]] and the format's first million-seller.<ref name="Marshall">{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=Lee |title=The International Recording Industries|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1138822856}}</ref> It went on to become the UK's best-selling album of the entire decade and remains one of the top ten [[List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom|best-selling albums of all time]] in the UK. Four singles were released from the album, including the UK number 4 hit and US number 1 "[[Money for Nothing (song)|Money for Nothing]]", which referenced American music channel [[MTV]] and had a groundbreaking video featuring early [[computer-generated imagery]]. When a [[MTV Europe|European version]] of MTV launched in 1987, it was the first video ever played on the channel.
British rock band [[Dire Straits]] released their album ''[[Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits album)|Brothers in Arms]]'' in May, one of the first ever albums to be released on [[compact disc]] and the format's first million-seller.<ref name="Marshall">{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=Lee |title=The International Recording Industries|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1138822856}}</ref> It went on to become the UK's best-selling album of the entire decade and remains one of the top ten [[List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom|best-selling albums of all time]] in the UK. Four singles were released from the album, including the UK number 4 hit and US number 1 "[[Money for Nothing (song)|Money for Nothing]]", which referenced American music channel [[MTV]] and had a groundbreaking video featuring early [[computer-generated imagery]]. When a [[MTV Europe|European version]] of MTV launched in 1987, it was the first video ever played on the channel.
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However, the Christmas number one went to [[Shakin' Stevens]] with the song "[[Merry Christmas Everyone]]". It had been intended to be released in 1984, but was kept back a year due to the Band Aid charity single. Still a widely known Christmas song in the 21st century, it re-entered the chart in Christmas 2007 on [[music download|downloads]] alone, at number 22.
However, the Christmas number one went to [[Shakin' Stevens]] with the song "[[Merry Christmas Everyone]]". It had been intended to be released in 1984, but was kept back a year due to the Band Aid charity single. Still a widely known Christmas song in the 21st century, it re-entered the chart in Christmas 2007 on [[music download|downloads]] alone, at number 22.


[[John Rutter]], hitherto best known for his popular modern carols, acknowledged his classical roots with his ''[[Requiem (Rutter)|Requiem]]'', which was premièred in October in Sacramento, California. Less than eight months earlier, [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s ''[[Requiem (Webber)|Requiem]]'' had its première in New York. [[Paul Miles-Kingston]], the boy soprano who won a silver disc for his recording of the "Pie Jesu" from that work, became Head Chorister of Winchester Cathedral in the same year. The prolific [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] (who had moved to Orkney in 1971) produced one of his most popular works, ''[[An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise]]'', notable for featuring the bagpipes as a lead instrument. Veteran Welsh composer [[Daniel Jones (composer)|Daniel Jones]], produced his 12th symphony, at the age of 73, whilst 80-year-old [[Michael Tippett]] ''began'' work on his last opera, ''[[New Year (opera)|New Year]]''.
[[John Rutter]], hitherto best known for his popular modern carols, acknowledged his classical roots with his ''[[Requiem (Rutter)|Requiem]]'', which was premièred in October in Sacramento, California. Less than eight months earlier, [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s ''[[Requiem (Webber)|Requiem]]'' had its première in New York. [[Paul Miles-Kingston]], the boy soprano who won a silver disc for his recording of the "Pie Jesu" from that work, became Head Chorister of [[Winchester Cathedral]] in the same year. The prolific [[Peter Maxwell Davies]] (who had moved to Orkney in 1971) produced one of his most popular works, ''[[An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise]]'', notable for featuring the bagpipes as a lead instrument, as well as the [[Symphony No. 3 (Davies)|Symphony No 3]], which like its predecessors shows the influence of [[Jean Sibelius|Sibelius]]. Veteran Welsh composer [[Daniel Jones (composer)|Daniel Jones]], produced his 12th symphony, at the age of 73, whilst 80-year-old [[Michael Tippett]] ''began'' work on his last opera, ''[[New Year (opera)|New Year]]''.

==Events==
*[[19 February]] – The first performance of [[Peter Maxwell Davies]]' [[Symphony No. 3 (Davies)|Symphony No 3]] takes place at Manchester's [[Free Trade Hall]], by the [[BBC Philharmonic|BBC Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Edward Downes]] conducting.
*[[24 February]] – The first performance of [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s ''Requiem'' takes place in [[Saint Thomas Church (Manhattan)|St Thomas Church]], Manhattan, conducted by [[Lorin Maazel]], with soloists [[Plácido Domingo]], [[Sarah Brightman]] and [[Paul Miles-Kingston]].
*[[10 March]] – ''[[An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise]]'' by Peter Maxwell Davies is premiered in Boston by the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]].
*[[14 March]] – Movements 1, 2, 4 and 7 of [[John Rutter]]'s Requiem receive their first performance in [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], California, conducted by the composer.
*[[15 March]] – [[Jesus & Mary Chain]] perform a gig at [[North London Polytechnic]] which lasts less than 20 minutes after they appear late on stage. A riot ensues, resulting in audience members storming the stage and smashing up the band's equipment, causing £8000 worth of damage.
*[[15 March]] – ''Song Offerings'' for soprano and eight players by [[Jonathan Harvey (composer)|Jonathan Harvey]] is performed for the first time at the [[Queen Elizabeth Hall]].
*[[2 May]] – The last surviving member of the family of [[Savoy opera]] directors, Dame [[Bridget D'Oyly Carte]], dies of cancer at the age of 77.
*[[13 July]] – The benefit concert [[Live Aid]] is held at London's [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] and Philadelphia's [[John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia)|John F. Kennedy Stadium]]. 72,000 people attend at Wembley and the event raises over £150 million in aid of famine relief.
*[[7 September]] – The first performance of [[Robin Holloway]]'s Viola Concerto takes place at the [[BBC Proms|Proms]], with soloist [[Rivka Golani]] and the [[BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra]], conductor [[Vernon Handley]].
*[[26 September]] – The Symphony No 12 by [[Daniel Jones (composer)|Daniel Jones]] is premiered at [[St David's Hall]], Cardiff by the [[BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra]], conducted by Erich Begal.
*[[13 October]] – The first complete performance of John Rutter's ''Requiem'' takes place in Dallas, Texas, conducted by the composer.


==Charts==
==Charts==
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| 16 March
| 16 March
|-
|-
| 23 March || rowspan=4 | "[[Easy Lover]]" || rowspan=4 | [[Philip Bailey]] and [[Phil Collins]] || rowspan=4 | 4
| 23 March || rowspan=4 | "[[Easy Lover (Philip Bailey and Phil Collins song)|Easy Lover]]" || rowspan=4 | [[Philip Bailey]] and [[Phil Collins]] || rowspan=4 | 4
|-
|-
| 30 March
| 30 March
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| 27 July || "[[There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)]]" || [[Eurythmics]] || 1
| 27 July || "[[There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)]]" || [[Eurythmics]] || 1
|-
|-
| 3 August || rowspan=4 | "[[Into the Groove]]" || rowspan=4 | [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] || rowspan=4 | 4
| 3 August || rowspan=4 | "[[Into the Groove]]" || rowspan=4 | [[Madonna]] || rowspan=4 | 4
|-
|-
| 10 August
| 10 August
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| 24 August
| 24 August
|-
|-
| 31 August || "[[I Got You Babe]]" || [[UB40]] and [[Chrissie Hynde]] || 1
| 31 August || "[[I Got You Babe#UB40 and Chrissie Hynde version|I Got You Babe]]" || [[UB40]] and [[Chrissie Hynde]] || 1
|-
|-
| 7 September || rowspan=4 | "[[Dancing in the Street#Bowie/Jagger version|Dancing in the Street]]" || rowspan=4 | [[David Bowie]] and [[Mick Jagger]] || rowspan=4 | 4
| 7 September || rowspan=4 | "[[Dancing in the Street#David Bowie and Mick Jagger version|Dancing in the Street]]" || rowspan=4 | [[David Bowie]] and [[Mick Jagger]] || rowspan=4 | 4
|-
|-
| 14 September
| 14 September
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| 12 January
| 12 January
|-
|-
| 20 January || ''[[Alf (album)|Alf]]'' || [[Alison Moyet]] || 1
| 19 January || ''[[Alf (album)|Alf]]'' || [[Alison Moyet]] || 1
|-
|-
| 27 January || rowspan=3 | ''[[Agent Provocateur (album)|Agent Provocateur]]'' || rowspan=3 | [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]] || rowspan=3 | 3
| 26 January || rowspan=3 | ''[[Agent Provocateur (album)|Agent Provocateur]]'' || rowspan=3 | [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]] || rowspan=3 | 3
|-
|-
| 2 February
| 2 February
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| 14 September
| 14 September
|-
|-
| 21 September || ''[[Like a Virgin (album)|Like a Virgin]]'' || [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] || 1
| 21 September || ''[[Like a Virgin (album)|Like a Virgin]]'' || [[Madonna]] || 1
|-
|-
| 28 September || rowspan=2 | ''[[Hounds of Love]]'' || rowspan=2 | [[Kate Bush]] || rowspan=2 | 2
| 28 September || rowspan=2 | ''[[Hounds of Love]]'' || rowspan=2 | [[Kate Bush]] || rowspan=2 | 2
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!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 3
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 3
| "[[Into the Groove]]"
| "[[Into the Groove]]"
| [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]
| [[Madonna]]
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
|-
|-
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|-
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 6
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 6
| "[[Dancing in the Street#Bowie/Jagger version|Dancing in the Street]]"
| "[[Dancing in the Street#David Bowie and Mick Jagger version|Dancing in the Street]]"
| {{Sortname|David|Bowie}} and [[Mick Jagger]]
| {{Sortname|David|Bowie}} and [[Mick Jagger]]
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
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|-
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 10
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 10
| "[[Love and Pride]]"
| "[[Love & Pride]]"
| [[King (new wave band)|King]]
| [[King (new wave band)|King]]
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 2
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|-
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 12
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 12
| "[[Easy Lover]]"
| "[[Easy Lover (Philip Bailey and Phil Collins song)|Easy Lover]]"
| {{Sortname|Philip|Bailey}} and [[Phil Collins]]
| {{Sortname|Philip|Bailey}} and [[Phil Collins]]
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
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|-
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 15
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 15
| "[[I Got You Babe]]"
| "[[I Got You Babe#UB40 and Chrissie Hynde version|I Got You Babe]]"
| [[UB40]] and [[Chrissie Hynde]]
| [[UB40]] and [[Chrissie Hynde]]
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
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|-
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 18
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 18
| "[[Solid (song)|Solid]]"
| "[[Solid (Ashford & Simpson song)|Solid]]"
| [[Ashford & Simpson]]
| [[Ashford & Simpson]]
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 3
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|-
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 36
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 36
| "Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)"
| "[[Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)]]"
| [[Red Box (band)|Red Box]]
| [[Red Box (band)|Red Box]]
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 3
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!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 3
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 3
| ''[[Like a Virgin (album)|Like a Virgin]]''
| ''[[Like a Virgin (album)|Like a Virgin]]''
| [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]
| [[Madonna]]
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1
|-
|-
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!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 39
!scope=row style="text-align:center;"| 39
| ''[[Dream into Action]]''
| ''[[Dream into Action]]''
| {{Sortname|Howard|Jones|Howard Jones (musician)}}
| {{Sortname|Howard|Jones|Howard Jones (British musician)}}
| align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 2
|-
|-
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*[[Peter Maxwell Davies]] – ''[[An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise]]''
*[[Peter Maxwell Davies]] – ''[[An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise]]''
*[[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] – ''[[Requiem (Lloyd Webber)|Requiem]]''
*[[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] – ''[[Requiem (Lloyd Webber)|Requiem]]''
*[[Elizabeth Maconchy]] – String Quartet No. 13, ''Quartetto corto''
*[[John Rutter]] – ''[[Requiem (Rutter)|Requiem]]''
*[[John Rutter]] – ''[[Requiem (Rutter)|Requiem]]''


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==Musical films==
==Musical films==
*''[[Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire]]'', with [[Phil Daniels]]
*''[[Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire]]'', with [[Phil Daniels]]

==Births==
==Births==
*[[6 January]] - [[Ben Haenow]], singer
*[[6 January]] – [[Ben Haenow]], singer
*[[11 January]] - [[Newton Faulkner]], singer
*[[11 January]] – [[Newton Faulkner]], singer
*[[2 March]] - [[Luke Pritchard]], singer ([[The Kooks]])
*[[2 March]] – [[Luke Pritchard]], singer ([[The Kooks]])
*[[3 April]] - [[Leona Lewis]], singer
*[[4 February]] – [[Bashy]], recording artist and actor
*[[2 May]] - [[Lily Allen]], singer, songwriter
*[[3 April]] – [[Leona Lewis]], singer
⚫
*[[2 May]] – [[Lily Allen]], singer, songwriter
*[[4 May]] – [[Jme]], grime MC
*[[21 May]]
*[[21 May]]
**[[Kano (rapper)|Kano]], rapper
**[[Kano (British musician)|Kano]], rapper, songwriter
**[[Mutya Buena]], singer and former member of ([[Sugababes]])
**[[Mutya Buena]], singer and former member of ([[Sugababes]])
*[[7 June]] - [[Charlie Simpson]], singer and musician ([[Busted (band)|Busted]], [[Fightstar]])
*[[7 June]] – [[Charlie Simpson]], singer and musician ([[Busted (band)|Busted]], [[Fightstar]])
*[[15 June]] - [[Nadine Coyle]], singer ([[Girls Aloud]])
*[[15 June]] – [[Nadine Coyle]], singer ([[Girls Aloud]])
*[[5 July]] - [[Nick O'Malley]], musician ([[Arctic Monkeys]])
*[[5 July]] – [[Nick O'Malley]], musician ([[Arctic Monkeys]])
*[[8 July]] - [[Jamie Cook]], musician ([[Arctic Monkeys]])
*[[8 July]] – [[Jamie Cook]], musician ([[Arctic Monkeys]])
*[[17 July]] - [[Tom Fletcher]], singer ([[McFly]])
*[[17 July]] – [[Tom Fletcher]], singer ([[McFly]])
*[[23 July]] - [[Matthew Murphy]], musician ([[The Wombats]])
*[[23 July]] – [[Matthew Murphy]], musician ([[The Wombats]])
*[[5 October]] - [[Nicola Roberts]], singer ([[Girls Aloud]])
*[[5 October]] – [[Nicola Roberts]], singer ([[Girls Aloud]])
*[[9 October]] - [[Frankmusik]], singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, remixer
*[[9 October]] – [[Frankmusik]], singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, remixer
*[[10 October]] - [[Marina Diamandis]], singer-songwriter ([[Marina and the Diamonds]])
*[[10 October]] – [[Marina Diamandis]], singer-songwriter ([[Marina and the Diamonds]])
*[[1 November]] - [[Dizzee Rascal]], rapper
*[[1 November]] – [[Dizzee Rascal]], rapper
*[[19 December]] - [[Lady Sovereign]], singer, musician
*[[19 December]] – [[Lady Sovereign]], singer, musician
*[[23 December]] - [[Harry Judd]], drummer ([[McFly]])
*[[23 December]] – [[Harry Judd]], drummer ([[McFly]])
*[[25 December]] – Leon Pisani, singer ([[V (group)|V]])


==Deaths==
==Deaths==
*[[11 January]] – [[Kenny Clare]], jazz drummer, 55
*[[6 February]] - [[Neil McCarthy (actor)|Neil McCarthy]], actor and pianist, 62 (motor neurone disease)<ref>[http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/49042 "McCARTHY, Neil"]. BFI Film & TV Database. Retrieved July 2, 2012.</ref>
*[[6 February]] – [[Neil McCarthy (actor)|Neil McCarthy]], actor and pianist, 62 (motor neurone disease)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090113201929/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/49042 "McCARTHY, Neil"]. BFI Film & TV Database. Retrieved 2 July 2012.</ref>
⚫
*[[7 February]] - [[Matt Monro]], singer, 54
*[[7 February]] – [[Matt Monro]], singer, 54
*[[27 February]]
*[[27 February]]
**[[J. Pat O'Malley]], singer and film actor, 86
** [[J. Pat O'Malley]], singer and film actor, 86
**[[Ray Ellington]], singer, 68
** [[Ray Ellington]], singer, 68
*[[28 February]] - [[David Byron]], singer ([[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]]), 38 (alcohol-related)
*[[28 February]] – [[David Byron]], singer ([[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]]), 38 (alcohol-related)
*[[19 April]] - [[Ivan Menzies]], operatic baritone, 88
*[[19 April]] – [[Ivan Menzies]], operatic baritone, 88
*[[2 May]] – Dame [[Bridget D'Oyly Carte]], manager of the [[D'Oyly Carte Opera Company]], 77
*[[30 July]] - [[Peter Knight (composer)|Peter Knight]], conductor, arranger and composer, 68
*[[11 September]] - [[William Alwyn]], composer, 79
*[[9 May]] – [[Reginald Dixon]], theatre organist, 80
*[[25 October]] - [[Gary Holton]], singer-songwriter, musician and actor, 33 (alcohol and drug overdose)
*[[2 July]] – [[Hector Nicol]], actor and singer, 64
*[[18 December]] - [[Jolyon Jackson]], musician and composer, 37 (Hodgkins' disease)
*[[30 July]] – [[Peter Knight (composer)|Peter Knight]], conductor, arranger and composer, 68
*[[11 September]] – [[William Alwyn]], composer, 79
⚫
*[[12 December]] - [[Ian Stewart (musician)|Ian Stewart]], musician, founding member and road manager for ([[The Rolling Stones]]), 47 (heart attack)<ref>[http://www.beggarsbanquetonline.com/decades.htm Retrieved 6 February 2007]</ref>
*[[30 December]] - [[Bob and Alf Pearson|Bob Pearson]], singer and pianist with his brother Alf (half of Bob and Alf Pearson), 78
*[[25 October]] – [[Gary Holton]], singer-songwriter, musician and actor, 33 (alcohol and drug overdose)
*[[18 December]] – [[Jolyon Jackson]], musician and composer, 37 (Hodgkins' disease)
⚫
*[[12 December]] – [[Ian Stewart (musician)|Ian Stewart]], musician, founding member and road manager for ([[The Rolling Stones]]), 47 (heart attack)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.beggarsbanquetonline.com/decades.htm |title=Retrieved 6 February 2007 |access-date=16 April 2013 |archive-date=3 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203015627/http://www.beggarsbanquetonline.com/decades.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[30 December]] – [[Bob and Alf Pearson|Bob Pearson]], singer and pianist with his brother Alf (half of Bob and Alf Pearson), 78


==Music awards==
==Music awards==
===BRIT Awards===
===Brit Awards===
The 1985 [[BRIT Awards]] winners were:
The 1985 [[Brit Awards]] winners were:
* Best British comedy recording: Neil (also known as [[Nigel Planer]]) - "[[Hole In My Shoe]]"
* Best British comedy recording: Neil (also known as [[Nigel Planer]]) - "[[Hole In My Shoe]]"
* Best British producer: [[Trevor Horn]]
* Best British producer: [[Trevor Horn]]
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{{Music of the United Kingdom}}
{{Music of the United Kingdom}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:1985 In British Music}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1985 in British Music}}
⚫
[[Category:1985 in British music| ]]
[[Category:1985 in music|British music]]
[[Category:1985 in music|British music]]
⚫
[[Category:1985 in British music| Music]]
[[Category:British music by year]]
[[Category:British music by year]]

Revision as of 20:30, 29 May 2024

1980s in music in the UK
Events
1985 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
List of years in British music
+...

This is a summary of 1985 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

Summary

The biggest British musical event of 1985 was the Live Aid concert in London's Wembley Stadium on 13 July. Held to follow up the previous year's charity record "Do They Know It's Christmas?", the biggest-selling single ever at the time, popular acts such as The Who, U2 and Queen performed in front of an estimated audience of 1.9 billion viewers. It raised £150 million to help famine in Ethiopia, and a similar event would happen 20 years later in 2005, with Live 8.

After the huge success of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", several more charity songs reached number 1 this year. USA for Africa, inspired by Band Aid, released "We Are the World", a song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, while David Bowie and Mick Jagger released a cover of "Dancing in the Street", the music video being premiered at Live Aid and all proceeds going to the charity. In May, a fire at a football stadium in Bradford killed 56 people, and supergroup The Crowd released a charity cover of popular football anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" in tribute.

British rock band Dire Straits released their album Brothers in Arms in May, one of the first ever albums to be released on compact disc and the format's first million-seller.[1] It went on to become the UK's best-selling album of the entire decade and remains one of the top ten best-selling albums of all time in the UK. Four singles were released from the album, including the UK number 4 hit and US number 1 "Money for Nothing", which referenced American music channel MTV and had a groundbreaking video featuring early computer-generated imagery. When a European version of MTV launched in 1987, it was the first video ever played on the channel.

Jennifer Rush entered the top 75 in June with the power ballad "The Power of Love", which remained in the chart for months without entering the top 40. When it finally did in September, it quickly hit number 1, where it remained for five weeks and was the biggest selling single of the year. It sold over a million copies, however it would be the last single of the decade to do so, and there would not be another million-seller until 1991.

Many songs this year competed for the Christmas number one single, and the entire top 3 from 1984 re-entered the chart this year; Paul McCartney's "We All Stand Together" at number 32, Wham!'s "Last Christmas" at number 6, and Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" at number 3. There were also attempts from Bruce Springsteen with a cover of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", and ventriloquist Keith Harris released a cover of "White Christmas" with his green puppet Orville the Duck.

However, the Christmas number one went to Shakin' Stevens with the song "Merry Christmas Everyone". It had been intended to be released in 1984, but was kept back a year due to the Band Aid charity single. Still a widely known Christmas song in the 21st century, it re-entered the chart in Christmas 2007 on downloads alone, at number 22.

John Rutter, hitherto best known for his popular modern carols, acknowledged his classical roots with his Requiem, which was premièred in October in Sacramento, California. Less than eight months earlier, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem had its première in New York. Paul Miles-Kingston, the boy soprano who won a silver disc for his recording of the "Pie Jesu" from that work, became Head Chorister of Winchester Cathedral in the same year. The prolific Peter Maxwell Davies (who had moved to Orkney in 1971) produced one of his most popular works, An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise, notable for featuring the bagpipes as a lead instrument, as well as the Symphony No 3, which like its predecessors shows the influence of Sibelius. Veteran Welsh composer Daniel Jones, produced his 12th symphony, at the age of 73, whilst 80-year-old Michael Tippett began work on his last opera, New Year.

Events

Charts

Number one singles

[2]

Chart date
(week ending)		 Song Artist(s) Weeks
5 January "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid 2
12 January
19 January "I Want to Know What Love Is" Foreigner 3
26 January
2 February
9 February "I Know Him So Well" Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson 4
16 February
23 February
2 March
9 March "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Dead or Alive 2
16 March
23 March "Easy Lover" Philip Bailey and Phil Collins 4
30 March
6 April
13 April
20 April "We Are the World" USA for Africa 2
27 April
4 May "Move Closer" Phyllis Nelson 1
11 May "19" Paul Hardcastle 5
18 May
25 May
1 June
8 June
15 June "You'll Never Walk Alone" The Crowd 2
22 June
29 June "Frankie" Sister Sledge 4
6 July
13 July
20 July
27 July "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" Eurythmics 1
3 August "Into the Groove" Madonna 4
10 August
17 August
24 August
31 August "I Got You Babe" UB40 and Chrissie Hynde 1
7 September "Dancing in the Street" David Bowie and Mick Jagger 4
14 September
21 September
28 September
5 October "If I Was" Midge Ure 1
12 October "The Power of Love" Jennifer Rush 5
19 October
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 November "A Good Heart" Feargal Sharkey 2
23 November
30 November "I'm Your Man" Wham! 2
7 December
14 December "Saving All My Love for You" Whitney Houston 2
21 December
28 December "Merry Christmas Everyone" Shakin' Stevens 1

Number one albums

[3]

Chart date
(week ending)		 Album Artist(s) Weeks
5 January Hits 1 Various Artists 2
12 January
19 January Alf Alison Moyet 1
26 January Agent Provocateur Foreigner 3
2 February
9 February
16 February Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 1
23 February Meat Is Murder The Smiths 1
2 March No Jacket Required Phil Collins 5
9 March
16 March
23 March
30 March
6 April The Secret of Association Paul Young 1
13 April Hits 2 Various Artists 6
20 April
27 April
4 May
11 May
18 May
25 May Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 2
1 June
8 June Our Favourite Shop The Style Council 1
15 June Boys and Girls Bryan Ferry 2
22 June
29 June Misplaced Childhood Marillion 1
6 July Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 4
13 July
20 July
27 July
3 August Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 2
10 August
17 August Now 5 Various Artists 5
24 August
31 August
7 September
14 September
21 September Like a Virgin Madonna 1
28 September Hounds of Love Kate Bush 2
5 October
12 October Like a Virgin Madonna 1
19 October Hounds of Love Kate Bush 1
26 October The Love Songs George Benson 1
2 November Once Upon a Time Simple Minds 1
10 November The Love Songs George Benson 1
16 November Promise Sade 2
23 November
30 November The Greatest Hits of 1985 Various Artists 1
7 December Now 6 2
14 December
21 December Now – The Christmas Album 2
28 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

Based on sales from 5 January to 28 December 1985.[4][5]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 "The Power of Love" Jennifer Rush 1
2 "I Know Him So Well" Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson 1
3 "Into the Groove" Madonna 1
4 "19" Paul Hardcastle 1
5 "Frankie" Sister Sledge 1
6 "Dancing in the Street" David Bowie and Mick Jagger 1
7 "Move Closer" Phyllis Nelson 1
8 "A Good Heart" Feargal Sharkey 1
9 "Take On Me" a-ha 2
10 "Love & Pride" King 2
11 "I Want to Know What Love Is" Foreigner 1
12 "Easy Lover" Philip Bailey and Phil Collins 1
13 "Axel F" Harold Faltermeyer 2
14 "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid 1
15 "I Got You Babe" UB40 and Chrissie Hynde 1
16 "Crazy for You" Madonna 2
17 "Saving All My Love for You" Whitney Houston 1
18 "Solid" Ashford & Simpson 3
19 "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Dead or Alive 1
20 "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" Eurythmics 1
21 "I'm Your Man" Wham! 1
22 "Trapped" Colonel Abrams 3
23 "Cherish" Kool & the Gang 4
24 "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Tears for Fears 2
25 "Merry Christmas Everyone" Shakin' Stevens 1
26 "You'll Never Walk Alone" The Crowd 1
27 "If I Was" Midge Ure 1
28 "Nikita" Elton John 3
29 "Dancing in the Dark" Bruce Springsteen 4
30 "1999"/"Little Red Corvette" Prince 2
31 "Holding Out for a Hero" Bonnie Tyler 2
32 "Kayleigh" Marillion 2
33 "Last Christmas"/"Everything She Wants" (Remix) Wham! 2
34 "A View to a Kill" Duran Duran 2
35 "We Are the World" USA for Africa 1
36 "Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)" Red Box 3
37 "Part-Time Lover" Stevie Wonder 3
38 "Money for Nothing" Dire Straits 4
39 "Don't Break My Heart" UB40 3
40 "We Close Our Eyes" Go West 5
41 "Nightshift" The Commodores 3
42 "That Ole Devil Called Love" Alison Moyet 2
43 "We Don't Need Another Hero" Tina Turner 3
44 "Tarzan Boy" Baltimora 3
45 "See the Day" Dee C. Lee 3
46 "Kiss Me" Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy 4
47 "I Feel Love (Medley)" Bronski Beat and Marc Almond 3
48 "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" Frankie Goes to Hollywood 2
49 "Suddenly" Billy Ocean 4
50 "Shout" Tears for Fears 4

Best-selling albums

Based on sales from 5 January to 28 December 1985.[6][7]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 Brothers in Arms Dire Straits 1
2 No Jacket Required Phil Collins 1
3 Like a Virgin Madonna 1
4 Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 1
5 Songs from the Big Chair Tears for Fears 2
6 Now 6 Various Artists 1
7 Now – The Christmas Album Various Artists 1
8 Now 5 Various Artists 1
9 Hits 2 Various Artists 1
10 The Secret of Association Paul Young 1
11 Alf Alison Moyet 1
12 Hits 3 Various Artists 2
13 Love Songs George Benson 1
14 Hounds of Love Kate Bush 1
15 Be Yourself Tonight Eurythmics 3
16 Private Dancer Tina Turner 6
17 Promise Sade 1
18 Make It Big Wham! 3[a]
19 Diamond Life Sade 4[b]
20 Misplaced Childhood Marillion 1
21 Eliminator ZZ Top 3
22 The Singles Collection Spandau Ballet 3
23 Boys and Girls Bryan Ferry 1
24 Go West Go West 9[c]
25 Agent Provocateur Foreigner 1
26 Reckless Bryan Adams 7
27 The Kenny Rogers Story Kenny Rogers 4
28 Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II Billy Joel 7
29 The Greatest Hits of 1985 Various Artists 1
30 The Unforgettable Fire U2 9[d]
31 Out Now Various Artists 2
32 Hits Out of Hell Meat Loaf 2
33 Welcome to the Pleasuredome Frankie Goes to Hollywood 5[e]
34 The Age of Consent Bronski Beat 5[f]
35 Under a Blood Red Sky U2 11[g]
36 Once Upon a Time Simple Minds 1
37 The Dream of the Blue Turtles Sting 3
38 Madonna – The First Album Madonna 6
39 Dream into Action Howard Jones 2
40 The Love Album Various Artists 7
41 The Collection Ultravox 2
42 The Hits Album Various Artists 1
43 Greatest Hits Queen 14[h]
44 Voices from the Holy Land BBC Welsh Chorus with Aled Jones 6
45 Ice on Fire Elton John 3
46 All Through the Night Aled Jones 2
47 Now 4 Various Artists 2
48 Requiem Various Artists 4
49 Love Hurts Elaine Paige 8
50 Face Value Phil Collins 22[i]

Notes:

  1. ^ Reached number 1 in 1984
  2. ^ Reached number 2 in 1984
  3. ^ Reached number 8 in 1986
  4. ^ Reached number 1 in 1984
  5. ^ Reached number 1 in 1984
  6. ^ Reached number 4 in 1984
  7. ^ Reached number 2 in 1983
  8. ^ Reached number 1 in 1981
  9. ^ Reached number 1 in 1981

Classical music: new works

Film and Incidental music

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Music awards

Brit Awards

The 1985 Brit Awards winners were:

See also

References

  1. ^ Marshall, Lee (2015). The International Recording Industries. Routledge. ISBN 978-1138822856.
  2. ^ "1985 The Number One Singles". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ "1985 The Number One Albums". Official Charts Company.
  4. ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 18 January 1986. p. 10.
  5. ^ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1986). "Top 100 singles: 1985". BPI Year Book 1986 (8th ed.). British Phonographic Industry. pp. 48–49. ISBN 0-906154-07-3.
  6. ^ "Top 100 Albums". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 18 January 1986. p. 11.
  7. ^ Scaping (1986). "Top 100 Albums: 1985". pp. 50–51.
  8. ^ "McCARTHY, Neil". BFI Film & TV Database. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Retrieved 6 February 2007". Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
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