Welcome back to the Top 40 Countdown! If you missed the previous posts, you can go ahead and check out songs 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. I hope you’ve been enjoying these songs this week. There will be quite a few familiar ones today. So let’s Returh to the week ending January 12, 1985, and see what was topping the charts in the U.K.
10. “The Power of Love” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
9. “Everything Must Change” by Paul Young
8. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
7. “Shout” by Tears for Fears
6. “Nellie the Elephant” by Toy Dolls
5. “We All Stand Together” by Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus
4. “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner
3. “Like a Virgin” by Madonna
2. “Last Christmas” by Wham!
1. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid
Well, that’s a wrap. The next countdown will be back in the U.S. Until next time, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.
Follow @returntothe80s
Wow, Spandau Ballet did songs other than “True”?! I actually like this one better.
This is a cover of George and Ira Gershwin’s popular song from the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. It has been covered many times, including this version, from Bronski Beat’s debut album, which reached up to #16 on this chart.
The novelty act, Black Lace, is back with another hit! This is similar to Buster Poindexter’s “
Sal Solo had been the lead vocalist of Classix Nouveaux, as part of the New Romantic movement. He embraced the Roman Catholic faith after a pilgrimage to San Damiano, a small village in Italy near Piacenza. He began a solo career, scoring a hit with this song, which would peak at #15. After 1987, Solo stopped recording music commercially, and became active in youth ministry in the Catholic Church in the UK.
Here is the song from Chess that I did know about already, and love! Murray Head raps the verses and the chorus is sung by Anders Glenmark, a Swedish singer, songwriter and producer. For fans of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show, Murray Head is the brother of Anthony Stewart Head, who played Giles.
Smiley Culture was a reggae rapper. We did not hear this style music in the U.S. at this point. This was the supposedly autobiographical tale of how Smiley Culture was arrested for the possession of cannabis, but then let off in return for an autograph when the policeman recognized him as a famous reggae artist. In a cruel twist of irony, Smiley Culture died at the age of 48 in 2011 during a police raid on his home.
Nik Kershaw was huge in the U.K. through the mid-80s. He did not break through in the U.S. Most likely, U.S. audiences would mainly have seen him from his 
This was the first song released from the album Here’s to Future Days. It peaked right here at #13 in the U.K., and reached #14 on the U.S. charts. This song and “
Great song from the Emergency album! I owned the cassette, and the whole first side is flawless, in my opinion. I love the funky R&B sound of this song. It peaked at #11 here, and cracked the Top 10 in the U.S., peaking at #9 there.
My long-time readers and podcast listeners know of my love of rap, and how I loved to break out the cardboard and boom box, throw on my parachute pants, and throw down some break dance moves. Well, this is right in my wheelhouse! I love how the Chaka Khan/I Feel For You rap got mixed in here too.
Before this artist became known as Alvin Stardust, he was known as Shane Fenton. He had success in the pre-Beatles era, hitting the UK top 40 with four singles in 1961–62. However, he became better known in the 70s and 80s with his Alvin Stardust persona. This song had reached up to #7 on the U.K. charts.
Love this! This is a novelty song that was a huge hit in the UK, peaking at #2, and spending 30 weeks in the Top 75. I am reading up on these songs before I listen to them, just so I can know the background. In a survey for dotmusic in 2000, this song was rated the 4th most annoying song of all time. That really got my attention! I just had to listen to it. This is from 
When I first saw the song title, I thought this was going to be a Beatles cover. Instead, this is a very good power ballad.
Here is a throwback song by the Welsh singer. This sounds like it came right out of the ’50s. It makes sense that this was a hit, as there was a lot of nostalgia for the 50s and 60s in the 80s.
Very cool funk/R&B song. Council Collective was a collaborative effort put together by The Style Council. It was put together to raise money for striking miners. The proceeds also went to the family of David Wilkie, a Welsh taxi driver who was killed during the miners’ strike.
This song was my introduction to Chaka Khan, and was a big comeback hit for her. It has an iconic introduction by Melle Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Oh by the way, this was written and originally performed by 
To say that this was a smash hit, is just putting it mildly. This was Stevie Wonder’s biggest hit, topping a record 19 charts. This was one of those cases where the song was much bigger than the movie that it was featured in. In this case, it came from the 1984 soundtrack album The Woman in Red. This was actually Wonder’s only #1 hit in the U.K. He made it count though, as it topped the charts for 6 weeks, and it became Motown Records’ biggest-selling single in the UK, a distinction it still holds today.
This is the third song in a row that we all know. This was the first cassingle I ever owned. Whenever I hear this song, the Mad Max type video of this song comes to mind.
Well, I learned something new, which I probably should have known. This song is from the album 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother), which was the soundtrack from the film Nineteen Eighty-Four. I never knew there was a soundtrack for that movie. I’m pretty sure I saw the movie, but I don’t remember it. There’s no need to go back and watch it, seeing that we are living it now.
Great soulful song by the awesome Yazoo singer. In my opinion, she is very underrated (at least in the States).
Well there is no denying which decade this song came from! This is definitely a song that will get stuck in your head. I had never heard of Russ Abbot, but it sounds like he was very popular in the U.K. Not only was he a musician, but he also had his own variety show that aired for 16 years. It started as Russ Abbot’s Madhouse in 1980 on ITV, then was renamed The Russ Abbot Show when it moved over to the BBC.
Next up, we get a good R&B song from Amii Stewart. Stewart is mainly known in the U.S. from her 1979 disco smash “
Oh yeah! Get your funk on! This is yet another act that had only 1 Top 40 hit on the US Hot 100, “Let It Whip”. I do love how we already have a variety of music in this countdown – Pop, R&B, and Funk.
Now, this sounds like a fusion of all three genres that I had just mentioned. There is not much information on The Limit, other than that they were composed of Dutch producers Bernard Oattes and Rob van Schaik. This song peaked at #17 here, and peaked at #7 on the U.S. Billboard Dance/Club Play chart.
This song did not chart in the US, but it peaked at #13 on the UK charts.
Imagination was an English three piece band. They formed in the ’80s, but if you told me this song was released in the early ’70s, I’d believe you.
Wow, I did not know this was a cover song 
Oh hell yeah!! The second video of the Eliminator video trilogy, this may be my favorite one. This is a great song, even without the video. But, you can’t really separate the two anymore. Awesome car, great rockin’ tune, and hot girls. What else could you ask for?!
I had never heard of this song or band before. The band name sounds like something you would come up with after drinking a few rounds with your friends, and saying 2 random words in a sentence, and exclaim, “That would make a great band name!” So, I was expecting a punk rock sound. Instead, it’s a light synth-pop song. Strawberry Switchblade is a Scottish female duo, and this was their only major hit.
Here is a layover from the Christmas season. And this will be far from the last of them. This would be a fun song if it wasn’t sung by an evil pig, who has been convicted several times of sex crimes involving children.
Hey Everybody! Welcome back to this week’s Top 40 Countdown! If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out songs 
We start the top 10 with one of the most iconic sax riffs of the ’80s. This is one of the few Wham! songs co-written by Andrew Ridgeley (the other member of Wham!, kids).
One of the most patriotic songs ever. Right President Reagan. Only if you consider a song about how Vietnam veterans were mistreated, to be patriotic. Oops.
One of my favorite Pat Benatar songs. It was the lead single off of her Tropico album and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Lead single from one of my favorite albums, Reckless.
What do you get when you combine one of the most successful musicians of the ’80s with a lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire? Pure perfection.
Classic Chicago ballad, made memorable by the fake Madonna and fake Billy Idol in the video.
General Hospital knew how to churn out the musicians!Landing at #2 isn’t too shabby for a soap opera actor!
I love the Pointer Sisters! If this song doesn’t get you pumped and moving, you have no soul.
It’s kind of chilling how much Julian sounds like his father, vocally.
A downside of being Michael’s brother is that songs like this get overlooked.
A downside of having a hit called “Ghostbusters” is that songs like this get overlooked.
This was a huge hit for Billy Ocean. It peaked at #2, and was kept out of the top spot by “Careless Whisper”.
A boy band that I can tolerate!
And the hits keep on coming from the Purple Rain soundtrack. Further proof that this was one of the most iconic albums of the ’80s.
Or does Billboard not know that it isn’t Christmas anymore? Or that it is 340 days til Christmas at this point in 1985? It doesn’t matter. I still love this song anyway.
Billboard really had their seasons screwed up! It’s not Christmas anymore (see last song), and this deep freeze we’re in now tells me that we are nowhere near summer either! Wishful thinking, I guess.
Meh. I prefer Plant teamed with Paige.
Oh-we-oh-we-oh! Great start today, as we get our funk on, riding high with Morris Day and The Time from Purple Rain.
Great song by one of the greatest singers of all time. Boring video.
Back to some Funk to get us moving! This was Midnight Star’s only top 40 hit.
Power ballad and big hair. Perfect ’80s combination!
Solid. Solid as a rock. That’s what this song is.
If you like Bob Seger, you’ll like this song. If you don’t like Bob Seger, it’s understandable that you don’t like this song.
This song from The Woman in Red may have flown by you as the airwaves were being flooded with “I Just Called to Say I Love You”.
Classic song by the best duo of the ’80s.
Do I have to spell it out for you? Hall & Oates are so soulful that T-H-E-Y C-A-N S-P-E-L-L T-H-R-O-U-G-H T-H-E E-N-T-I-R-E S-O-N-G A-N-D I-T W-I-L-L S-T-I-L-L S-O-U-N-D G-O-O-D.
Remember when we had to hidey-hide, and jump and run because the old man was down the road? Well fellas, the table has turned. 32 years later, we are the old man down the road.
Mistake No. 1 = “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”
Maybe things would be less depressing if we Returned to a time where we dress in neon again. It would make world a brighter place.
The world would also be a less depressing place if we had fun songs like this.
My innocence was lost when I discovered that Sheena Easton was singing about her poontang in this Prince-penned song.
Great song from a not so great movie.
I’ll take your word for it, Cyndi.
The other song from Eddie and the Cruisers.
My favorite Kool & The Gang song.
I never knew this existed. And yes, it is about THE Bruce.
Return to the 80s 