Music from 1985 Trivia

1. Which British space rock band released the live album "Bring Me the Head of Yuri Gagarin" and the concept album "The Chronicle of the Black Sword" in 1985?

From Quiz Scratch and Sniff: 1985 in Music

Answer: Hawkwind

"The Chronicle of the Black Sword" is Hawkwind's 14th studio album. It's at the rockier, catchier end of their oeuvre. The late, great guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton was on form once again, as was Hawkwind stalwart Dave Brock (guitar and vocals), as well as Harvey Bainbridge (keyboards), Alan Davey (bass) guitar, and Danny Thompson (drums). It got to number 65 on the UK Albums Chart. The concept of "The Chronicle of the Black Sword" is based on the adventures of the Michael Moorcock-penned character Elric of Melniboné. Moorcock had been a close associate of Hawkwind since the early days, had written a number of lyrics for the band, and even performed with them. In fact many asked themselves how come the band had never thought of doing a Moorcock-inspired album previously. There were actually two Hawkwind live recordings released in 1985. The aforementioned "Bring Me the Head of Yuri Gagarin" was recorded (badly) in 1973, whereas the other one, "Space Ritual Volume 2", was recorded at the same gig as "Space Ritual" in 1972. Both are for collectors only. About the red herrings: In 1985 Rush released "Power Windows", Scritti Politti released "Cupid & Psyche 85", and Marillion released the disappointing, but very successful, album "Misplaced Childhood".

From Quiz 1985 KROQ Top Ten List

Answer: Oingo Boingo

The band was formed in 1972 in Los Angeles, California, and originally called the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Lead singer Danny Elfman went on to be a successful composer for movies such as "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", "Batman", "Men In Black", and "The Nightmare Before Christmas". "Dead Man's Party" is off the album by the same name released in 1985. The band actually performed the song live in the movie "Back to School".

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1985, Part 2

Answer: Boys who save their pennies

Madonna Louise Ciccone took the pop music world by storm during the 1980s with a series of hit singles and outrageous music videos. One of Madonna's most famous songs was "Material Girl". In this tune, Madonna sang about the virtues of boys "who save their pennies" because they "make my rainy day". In the USA, "Material Girl" climbed to the number two spot in the Billboard charts in the spring of '85.

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1985

Answer: Stolen

"A few stolen moments is all that we share; you've got your family, and they need you there..." With these lyrics, a hit single was born and a career was launched. Whitney Houston enjoyed tremendous success throughout the late 1980s, and "Saving All My Love" proved to be her first number one hit single in the USA. This song topped the Billboard charts in October 1985.

From Quiz Music from the 80s - 1985

Answer: View to a Kill

The song "View to a Kill" by Duran Duran was released on 18 May 1985 and spent 16 weeks on the UK singles chart. It peaked at number two in the UK but reached number one in the USA. The film "View to a Kill" (1985) was the seventh of the franchise to feature Roger Moore in the title role and was also the last time Moore played Bond. The theme to "The Living Daylights" (1987) was recorded by Aha, "Nobody Does It Better", the theme from "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977) by Carly Simon and "For Your Eyes Only" (1981) by Sheena Easton.

From Quiz Who Sang It In 1985

Answer: 9.9

"All Of Me For All Of You" comes off of 9.9's album "All Of Me For All Of You". The song went #5 on the R&b charts Extra Info: The song was produced by the late Richard Fields. The trio is also from Boston.

From Quiz Hits of 1985

Answer: Simple Minds

"Don't You (Forget About Me)" is a song by Simple Minds. It was written for the soundtrack to the movie "The Breakfast Club" (1985). It went to number one in the US and number seven in the UK.

From Quiz #1 Albums of 1985

Answer: Like A Virgin

Although Madonna's self titled debut put her on the musical map, it was the release of "Like A Virgin" that made her a bona fide superstar. This album spent three weeks at number one and included four top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

From Quiz Who Sings What In 1985

Answer: Mary Jane Girls

From Quiz Scratch and Sniff: 1985 in Music

Answer: Slayer

"Hell Awaits" was very much a stepping stone for Slayer. Although it pales in comparison to their later work, in particular the following album "Reign In Blood", back in 1985 it was astounding, and miles apart from their debut, "Show No Mercy". Furthermore, it was mostly the production which let it down as several of the songs were kept in the Slayer live set-list for years. In 1985, Exodus released their brutal debut album "Bonded By Blood". Both Possessed and Onslaught released debut albums including a song called "Death Metal" leading to arguments over who coined the phrase which have raged ever since. Denmark held its own with Artillery's "Fear of Tomorrow", and Destruction did Germany proud with "Infernal Overkill". New Yorkers Whiplash mixed a cocktail of speed metal and thrash, Hirax introduced mental vocals to the genre, and Swiss avant-gardists Celtic Frost were just mental. 1985 was a great year for metalheads. About the red herrings: thrash metal band Anthrax released their second (and best) album "Spreading the Disease". Christian metal band Stryper released "Soldiers Under Command", and Eurythmics helped the "nadir in music" cause with the album "Be Yourself Tonight".

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1985, Part 2

Answer: Sade

Helen Folasade Adu (Sade) sang lead vocals on the hit song "Smooth Operator". Sade was born in Nigeria and was the lead singer for the British group Sade. "Smooth Operator" was a song which concerned a suave man who could break women's hearts from "L.A. to Chicago...to Key Largo". In the USA, this song was released in March 1985; it eventually reached the number five spot on the Billboard singles charts. "Smooth Operator" featured Sade's sultry vocals and Stu Mathewman's exquisite work on saxophone.

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1985

Answer: Beverly Hills Cop

Ex-Eagle Glenn Frey's song "The Heat Is On" was featured in Eddie Murphy's popular 1984 movie "Beverly Hills Cop." This movie starred Murphy as a wisecracking Detroit cop named Axel Foley. When Frey's song was released Stateside in the spring of 1985, it rose to the number two position on the Billboard charts by March of '85. Frey sang these opening lyrics from the tune: "The heat is on, on the street Inside your head, on every beat And the beat's so loud, deep inside The pressure's high, just to stay alive..." "48 Hrs" was released in 1982, "Trading Places" came out in 1983, and "The Golden Child" was released in 1986.

From Quiz Music from the 80s - 1985

Answer: The Untouchables

"Free Yourself" by The Untouchables was released in the UK in April 1985. The song spent 11 weeks on the UK singles chart and reached number 26.

From Quiz Billboard Number one hits of 1985

Answer: Duran Duran

After 20 years of Bond film themes failing to reach the top of the charts, Duran Duran finally had a number one with "A View to a Kill". "Live and Let Die" and "Nobody Does it Better" both made it to number two. "A View to a Kill" was Duran Duran's second number one. The band was undergoing creative differences at the time "A View to a Kill" was made. John and Andy Taylor wanted to produce songs with more of a rock feel, while Simon LeBon and Nick Rhodes wanted to experiment with more abstract material. John and Andy joined Robert Palmer's Power Station and the remaining members formed Arcadia. When the band eventually reunited they were a trio. Roger Taylor was suffering health problems and Andy Taylor pursued a solo career. Survivor was number four behind Duran Duran with the song "The Search is Over". "Alive and Kicking" is a December, 1985, top five hit for Simple Minds. Tears for Fears took "Head Over Heels" to number four in November, 1985.

From Quiz Who Sang It In 1985

Answer: Jack Wagner

"Love Can Take Us All The Way" comes off of Jack Wagner's album "Lighting Up The Night". The song was #15 on the R&b charts. It's one of the best songs ever! Extra Info: Jack starred in the 90's hit show Melrose Place.

From Quiz Hits of 1985

Answer: Madonna

"Material Girl" is from Madonna's 1984 album "Like a Virgin". It reached number two in the US, three in the UK, four in Australia and five in Canada.

From Quiz BRI's Top Ten Hits of 1985

Answer: Crazy for You

Madonna grew up with dreams of becoming a ballet dancer, and actually trained in classical dance under choreographer Alvin Ailey. Her talents soon made her turn to music, and she sang in a few groups before releasing her debut, self-titled solo album in '83. "Crazy for You", off of her second album, "Like a Virgin", was her second number one hit.

From Quiz #1 Albums of 1985

Answer: Wham!

Wham! was comprised of Georgios Kyrriacos Panayiotou, better known as George Michael, and Andrew Ridgely. These two flamboyantly dressed guys hit number one with the album "Make It Big" in 1985. The album spent three weeks at number one and spawned three number one hit singles ("Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Careless Whisper" and "Everything She Wants"). George Michael went on to huge solo success while Andrew became the answer to countless trivia questions.

From Quiz Who Sings What In 1985

Answer: Dead Or Alive

From Quiz Scratch and Sniff: 1985 in Music

Answer: The Smiths

The Smiths' vocalist and lyricist Morrissey really got stuck into what was to become a long and hilarious career as l'enfant terrible of British pop music with "Meat Is Murder" and subsequent interviews. The album itself is a bit odd since the band had, as often happens, put the best stuff on the first album and hadn't quite developed into the sophisticated act they went on to become on the following album, "The Queen Is Dead". Nevertheless, "Meat Is Murder" was undoubtedly the best pop album of the year. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart in February 1985. About the red herrings: fellow-Mancunians The Fall released the brilliant "This Nation's Saving Grace", Leeds' The Mekons came up with a blinder with "Fear and Whiskey", and the brilliantly-named Prefab Sprout released "Steve McQueen".

From Quiz 1985 KROQ Top Ten List

Answer: INXS

In 1977, INXS formed as the Farris Brothers in Sydney, New South Wales. "This Time" is from the "Listen Like Thieves" album. While the song "What You Need" had bigger chart success from the album, as per KROQ's nature, the more obscure song got more airplay than the big hit. Tragically, Hutchence committed suicide in Sydney, Australia in 1997. The group was inducted in the Australian Recording Industry Hall of Fame in 2001.

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1985, Part 2

Answer: Baseball

In the summer of 1985, Bruce Springsteen reached the number five spot on the U.S. Billboard singles charts with his song "Glory Days". The protagonist in this tune reminisced about the "good old days" and mentioned a star baseball pitcher in the opening lyrics. Springsteen sang these words: "I had a friend was a big baseball player Back in high school He could throw that speedball by you Make you look like a fool, boy..."

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1985

Answer: A-ha

The Norwegian group A-ha performed the hit song "Take On Me." In the U.S., this single rose to the number one spot on the Billboard charts in October 1985. Morten Harket sang lead vocals for the band. This song was one of the highlights of the "MTV Generation": the video which accompanied this tune featured an incredible combination of animation and live action. Harket sang these lyrics: "Take on me, take me on I'll be gone in a day or two..."

From Quiz Music from the 80s - 1985

Answer: Steve Arrington

"Feel so Real" by Steve Arrington was released in April 1985 and spent 10 weeks on the UK singles chart, peaking at number five.

From Quiz Billboard Number one hits of 1985

Answer: John Parr

John Parr was 12 years old when he formed a band with two schoolmates called The Silence. They eventually became professional and toured Europe. Parr left and worked with Meat Loaf before going solo. His first top 40 hit was "Naughty Naughty". Soon Parr was on the road with his band The Business opening for Toto. At the end of the tour John received a call from record producer David Foster. Foster wanted Parr to write and record a song for "St Elmo's Fire". Parr and Foster wrote the Grammy nominated song together. The number one hit became part of Billboard history. The week of September 7th, 1985, was the first time three songs from movie soundtracks were the top three songs. In addition to "St Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" the number two song was "Power of Love" from "Back to the Future" and holding down the third spot was Tina Turner's "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)". Harold Faltermeyer was number four the week of May 25, 2005, with "Axel F." from "Beverly Hills Cop".

From Quiz Who Sang It In 1985

Answer: Pat Benatar

"We Belong" comes off of Pat Benatar's album "Tropico". The song became #5 on the U.S. charts. Extra Info: Pat was born in New York.

From Quiz Hits of 1985

Answer: A-Ha

"Take on Me" is a song from A-Ha's 1985 album "Hunting High and Low". It went to number one in the US and Germany and number two in the UK. The video to the song was nominated for Best Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

From Quiz #1 Albums of 1985

Answer: John Fogerty

John Fogerty released "Centerfield" in January of 1985 and it peaked at number one for a week late March. The album's title track peaked at number 44 on the singles chart while the single "The Old Man Down the Road" hit number 10. Here's a little CCR trivia, the band was originally known as the Golliwogs in the late 1950s before Fogerty changed the name.

From Quiz Who Sings What In 1985

Answer: Simple Minds

From Quiz Scratch and Sniff: 1985 in Music

Answer: Killing Joke

Unfortunately, "Night Time" is usually remembered as the album that contained the song "Eighties" which was (allegedly) ripped off by a well-known pop group in the early 1990s. It's a shame since it's a great album and quite an important one for Killing Joke. Important since it's the one on which they managed to get the eclectic mix of genres spot on. Killing Joke released three singles from "Night Time": "Eighties", "Love Like Blood", and "Kings and Queens". They reached number sixty, sixteen, and fifty-eight respectively on the UK Singles Chart. The album got to number eleven on the UK Albums Chart. About the red herrings: Although American hardcore band Black Flag were on their last legs in 1985, they released three top-notch records before imploding: the very accessible "Loose Nut", the avant-garde EP "The Process of Weeding Out", and one of their most accomplished albums, "In My Head". Sonic Youth released the fabulous "Bad Moon Rising", and Dire Straits kept the "1985 is the nadir of music" flag flying with "Brothers In Arms".

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