It's a "Time Machine" trip back to Friday, April 19, 1985. These were the local top 10 singles:

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  • 10

    "Everything She Wants" by Wham!

    (#16 last week) The OTHER George Michael (those of a certain age will remember George Michael, the radio DJ turned TV sportscaster). Only I would love that two of the lead singers in this week's top 10 had the same names as famous radio DJs. :-)

  • 9

    "Some Like It Hot" by Power Station

    (#9 last week) Killer all-star jam! Still gets people up & dancing. I don't remember this as a movie hit, but it was: "National Lampoon's European Vacation". RIP Robert Palmer, who passed on way too young, in 2003 at age 54.

  • 8

    "One Night In Bangkok" by Murray Head

    (#12 last week) For 14 years, the man with perhaps the most unusual name in the history of pop music was a one-hit wonder, but what a hit it was, "Superstar", from "Jesus Christ Superstar", in which Mr. Head starred in several productions of. and now, from another bombastic Broadway production, "Chess", comes this, one of the most unusual hits in history. How many other hits have the lyrics "I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine!"

  • 7

    "Obsession" by Animotion

    (#8 last week) Yet another soundtrack hit, but not this version: the original, by songwriters Holly Knight & Michael Des Barres, was in the schlocky "A Night In Heaven" with Christopher Atkins & the lovely Lesley Ann Warren. BTW, Animotion had one other hit, 1989's "Room To Move", but with a different lead singer (Cynthia Rhodes had replaced Astrid Plane).

  • 6

    "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds

    (#6 last week) The OTHER Jim Kerr & company, from the soundtrack to "The Breakfast Club". Simple Minds were the fourth recording act to be offered the song (the others were Cy Curnin of The Fixx, Bryan Ferry & Billy Idol), & even they initially turned down producer Keith Forsey. Good thing they changed their minds.

  • 5

    "Nightshift" by The Commodores

    (#5 last week) Grammy winner, Best R&B Vocal by a Duo Or Group. A surprise Lionel Richie-less comeback for the Alabama soulsters, 3 years after their last hit with Richie, "Oh No". It's basically a soul version of "Rock & Roll Heaven".

  • 4

    "One More Night" by Phil Collins

    (#4 last week) At the same time this was a hit, a previous hit of his was up for an Oscar: "Against All Odds". But Collins wasn't asked to sing his own hit song by the old-fogie academy, instead recruiting stage veteran Ann Reinking to perform it! Collins is a nice guy. He gave one of my contest winners & I some time before a show at the Spectrum in '85.

  • 3

    "Rhythm Of The Night" by DeBarge

    (#2 last week) Yet ANOTHER movie song ("The Last Dragon")--5 this week. Where have all the soundtrack hits gone in the 2010s? BTW, the family DeBarge has had a lot of bad luck since their heyday in the 80s. Here's wishing nothing but the best for them.

  • 2

    "Crazy For You" by Madonna

    (#3 last week)  Yet ANOTHER soundtrack song, this one from "Vision Quest" starring Matthew Modine. A very important hit for Madonna: it was her first ballad, which meant it was her first biggie on Adult Contemporary radio. Interestingly, she was hired to perform this before she had had any hits on the radio.

  • 1

    "We Are The World" by USA For Africa

    (#1 last week; 5th week at #1) I'm a little stunned at how much I've missed hearing this song, considering how sick I was of it so quickly in 1985. And watching the video is very emotional (loved hearing Stevie & Bruce trade verses); seeing all those great artists together in one room, some no longer with us. A magnificent moment in pop music history. I don't think we'll ever be able to repeat it: there aren't enough mass-appeal artists anymore.

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