ARIA Charts Throwback: 25 August 1985

Don’t need to know the way home? Check out the hits of August 1985.

Dire Straits began an eleven-week run at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in August 1985 with the record-breaking Brothers In Arms. Other names making their presence felt in the chart that month included Hoodoo Gurus, Tears For Fears, Eurythmics, Talking Heads, Do Re Mi, AC/DC and more.

At the top of the Singles Chart, a track from one of the year’s biggest movies gave a music legend her second #1 in less than a year.

10. Phil Collins - (Billy) Don't Lose My Number

Phil Collins took out the third Top Ten single from his album No Jacket Required (#1 May ’85) when ‘(Billy) Don't Lose My Number’ peaked at #10 for three straight weeks in August/September 1985. He’d previously scored hits from the album with ‘Sussudio’ (#8 May ’85) and ‘One More Night’ (#2 May ’85).

9. Billy Joel - You're Only Human (Second Wind)

Released as a single from Billy Joel’s compilation Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II (#2 Aug. ’85), ‘You're Only Human (Second Wind)’ peaked at #6 for one week in September 1985. Joel donated all royalties from the song to the National Committee for Youth Suicide Prevention.

8. Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F

German composer Harold Faltermeyer made his only appearance in the ARIA Top 50 when the instrumental ‘Axel F’ hit #6 in August 1985. The track appeared in the Eddie Murphy film Beverly Hills Cop and on its soundtrack (#20 Jun. ’85). A cover of the track by Crazy Frog spent three weeks at #1 in 2005.

7. Mental As Anything - Live It Up

Sydney’s Mental As Anything picked up their biggest hit on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘Live It Up’ peaked at #2 for three weeks in July 1985. Later featured in the film Crocodile Dundee, it became a Top Ten hit in Ireland (#2), the UK (#3), Norway (#4), Germany (#6) and New Zealand (#6). In 1989, Mental As Anything returned to the Top Ten with a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Rock And Roll Music’ (#5 Feb. ’89).

6. Eurythmics - There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)

The second Top Ten single from the Eurythmics’ #1 album Be Yourself Tonight (#1 Jul. ’85) came when ‘There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)’ spent three weeks at #3. It was the follow-up to ‘Would I Lie To You?’ (#1 Jun. ’85). Later in the year, the band released the collaboration with Aretha Franklin, ‘Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves’ (#15 Dec. ’85).

5. The Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town

British trio The Dream Academy made their only appearance in the ARIA Top 50 when ‘Life In A Northern Town’ hit #4 for two weeks in September 1985. The track was later sampled by British house act Dario G on their single ‘Sunchyme’ (#22 Jan. ’98).

4. Madonna - Angel / Into The Groove

After taking out her first #1 on the Singles Chart at the end of 1984 with ‘Like A Virgin’, Madonna scored two more chart-toppers in 1985. Her first new #1 for the year was with the double A-side ‘Angel/Into The Groove’. The single spent four straight weeks at #1 in June/July before being replaced in top spot by…

3. Madonna - Crazy For You

Following four weeks at #1 for ‘Angel’/’Into The Groove’, Madonna replaced herself at #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart with ‘Crazy For You’. Like its predecessor, it spent four weeks at #1. It was featured in the film Vision Quest in which Madonna appeared as a singer in a nightclub. It was her first role in a major motion picture.

2. Models - Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight

The third single released from Models’ fourth studio album, also called Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight (#3 Sept. ’85) became the Melbourne-formed group’s only ARIA #1 when it spent two weeks at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart in September 1985. The single also gave Models some success in America, peaking at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1. Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)

Appearing on the soundtrack of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (#31 Sept. ’85), ‘We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)’ became Tina Turner’s second #1 single on the ARIA Charts when it held top spot for three weeks in August/September 1985. Turner also performed in the film, playing Aunty Entity. She first hit #1 with ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ (#1 Sept. ’84). Turner’s most recent Top 50 appearance was with ‘I Don't Wanna Fight’ (#39 Sept. ’93).