Photo: Big D2112 from USA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)
As we continue our exploration and drive back into the 1980s in our rock and roll DeLorean, we turn to the half way point as we land in the year 1985. Its sad, but it doesn’t really seem that long ago. Nonetheless,1985 was an interesting year. There were really no huge blockbuster albums released. No new Van Halen, in fact its the year David Lee Roth quits Van Halen to embark on his solo career. No new Springsteen, no Black Sabbath, no really big time progressive rock albums or anything really that special. There were still many great albums and a few new bands, but for the most part, 1985 is probably one of the most forgettable years of the decade. Still there were some high points.
1985 was the year of the benefit. There big events occurred in which musical artists joined forces to combat world hunger and poverty. In January, the world saw the release of the single “We are The World,” and the accompanying album and video that was played on MTV just about every 15 minutes. In the summer of 1985, the dual Live Aid concerts were hosted on two continents. An event staged to raise money for starving kids in Ethopia. Also an event that saw an incredible Queen performance and one of the worst performances ever by Led Zeppelin with Phil Collins on the drums. The Live Aid concert inspired a concert for the American Framer fueled by comments Bob Dylan made on the stage at Live Aid. That concert called Farm Aid would continue to be staged every year since.
We had a tough time picking a top 10 for this year. Let us know what you think.
# 50 – The Confessor – Joe Walsh
# 49 – Theater of Pain – Motley Crüe
# 48 – Meat Is Murder –The Smiths
# 47 – The Head on the Door – The Cure
# 46 – Bad Moon Rising – Sonic Youth
# 45 –A Cappella – Todd Rundgren
# 44 – Cut The Crap – The Clash
# 43 – Tim – The Replacements
# 42 – Seven the Hard Way – Pat Benatar
# 41 – Invasion of Your Privacy – Ratt
# 40 – Voices Carry – Til’ Tuesday
# 39 – New Day Rising –Hüsker Dü
# 38 – Around The World In A Day – Prince
# 37 – Heart – Heart
# 36 – This Nation’s Saving Grace – The Fall
# 35 – Love Bomb – The Tubes
# 34 – Songs from the Big Chair – Tears For Fears
# 33 – No Jacket Required – Phil Collins
# 32 – This Is Big Audio Dynamite – Big Audio Dynamite
# 31 – Marching Out – Yngwie Malmsteen
# 30 – 7800° Fahrenheit – Bon Jovi
# 29 – Done With Mirrors – Aerosmith
# 28 – Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers of Prevention
# 27 – The Firm –The Firm
# 26 – Old Ways – Neil Young
# 25 – Maverick – George Thorogood and the Destroyers
# 24 – Fables of the Reconstruction – R.E.M.
# 23 – Sacred Heart – Dio
# 22 – Love – The Cult
# 21 – Wide Awake In America Live EP – U2
# 19 – No Lookin’ Back – Michael McDonald
# 18 – Listen Like Thieves – INXS
# 17 – Rock A Little – Stevie Nicks
# 16 – Crazy from the Heat – David Lee Roth
# 15 – Dog Eat God – Joni Mitchell
# 14 – Riptide – Robert Palmer
# 13 – Scarecrow – John Cougar Mellencamp
# 12 – Shaken ‘n’ Stirred – Robert Plant
# 11 – Fly On The Wall – AC/DC
# 10 – Lone Justice – Lone Justice
# 9 – Hounds of Love – Kate Bush
# 8 – The Dream of the Blue Turtles – Sting
# 7 – Soul To Soul – Steve Ray Vaughan
# 6 – Behind The Sun – Eric Clapton
# 5 – Afterburner – ZZ Top
# 4 – Centerfield – John Fogerty
# 3 – Rain Dogs – Tom Waits
# 2 – Brothers In Arms – Dire Straits
# 1 – Power Windows – Rush
More Fantastic Classic Rock Albums Released in 1985
These are listed in chronological order in which they came out throughout the year
Best Rock Albums – January 1985
Silvertone – Chris Isaak
Stella -Yello
Tales of the New West – The Beat Farmers
Phantasmagoria – The Damned
The Power Station- The Power Station
Best Rock Albums – February 1985
The Breakfast Club – Soundtrack
Hell Awaits – Slayer
Knee Deep in the Hoopla – Starship
In Square Circle – Stevie Wonder
Best Rock Albums – March 1985
Metal Heart – Accept
We Are The World – U.S.A. For Africa
First and Last and Always – The Sisters of Mercy
Dream into Action – Howard Jones
Disturbing the Peace – Alcatrazz
Scream for Help – John Paul Jones
The Secret of Association – Paul Young
Equator – Uriah Heep
Night Time – Killing Joke
Best Rock Albums – April 1985
Be Yourself Tonight – Eurythmics
Mr. Bad Guy – Freddie Mercury
Katrina and the Waves – Katrina and the Waves
Best Rock Albums – May 1985
Low-Life – New Order
On a Storyteller’s Night – Magnum
Brother Where You Bound – Supertramp
Soldiers Under Command – Stryper
Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega
Best Rock Albums – June 1985
Hunting High and Low – a-ha
Boys and Girls – Bryan Ferry
Crush – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Innocence Is No Excuse – Saxon
Empire Burlesque – Bob Dylan
Best Rock Albums – July 1985
Mask of Smiles – John Waite
Ain’t Love Grand! – X
Flash – Jeff Beck
Under a Raging Moon – Roger Daltrey
Best Rock Albums – August 1985
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti – Squeeze
Nervous Night – The Hooters
Freaky Styley – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Under Lock and Key – Dokken
She’s The Boss – Mick Jagger
Best Rock Albums – September 1985
Asylum – Kiss
The History Mix Volume 1 – Godley & Creme
Beyond Appearances – Santana
For the Working Class Man – Jimmy Barnes
A Sense of Wonder – Van Morrison
Rescue You – Joe Lynn Turner
Best Rock Albums – October 1985
Standing on the Edge – Cheap Trick
That’s Why I’m Here – James Taylor
Picture Book – Simply Red
Mike + The Mechanics – Mike + The Mechanics
Best Rock Albums – November 1985
Ice on Fire – Elton John
Come Out and Play – Twisted Sister
Welcome to the Real World – Mr. Mister
Astra – Asia
Dinosaur – Dinosaur Jr.
Go West – Go West
I Am the Night – Pantera
Best Rock Albums – December 1985
Stereotomy – Alan Parsons Project
Club Ninja – Blue Öyster Cult
Fine Young Cannibals – Fine Young Cannibals
Hero – Clarence Clemons
Best Albums of The Year Series
1970’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1971’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1972’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1973’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1974’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1975’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1976’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1977’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1978’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
