8 of the 80s: 3/27/14 (1985)...

I'm back with today's throwback to the 80's, and this week I'm back to 1985, the year the American Food and Drug Administration approved a blood test for AIDS...

George Clinton - "Double Oh-Oh"
from the album Some Of My Best Jokes Are Friends (1985)
Billboard peak: #101
Songwriters: George Clinton, Garry Shider, David Spradley

The audio is atrocious (you can listen to a better non-video here), but you can not beat this video, any time, any where. Please goddess, have someone find the original. I mean, c'mon FREAKING BILLY BARTY IN THE HOUSE HERE.

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Van Morrison - "Tore Down A La Rimbaud"
from the album A Sense Of Wonder (1985)
Billboard peak: #101
Songwriter: Van Morrison

One of the great Irish poet's deep track nuggets, deserved to be brought out from time to time. About the French teen prodigy poet from the 1800s...

Gladys Knight & The Pips - "My Time"
from the album Life (1985)
Billboard peak: #102
Songwriters: Sam Dees, Gladys Knight, Merald Knight

In between her pop "comebacks" came this funky little nugget from Motown's underrated treasure.

Eddie D - "Backstabbin'"
from the single "Backstabbin'" (1985)
Billboard peak: #103
Songwriters: Eddie Drummond, Lawrence Goodman, Donald Robinson

The 80s were the final stand for regional hits - this one would be familiar to those of us in the Philly area.

Russ Ballard - "The Fire Still Burns"
from the album The Fire Still Burns (1985)
Billboard peak: #105
Songwriter: Russ Ballard

Russ, who was part of the group Unit 4 + 2 in this week's 60's recap, shows up again 20 years later with a solo single he took to the top-20 on the rock radio chart.

Jeff Lorber with Audrey Wheeler - "Step By Step"
from the album Step By Step (1984)
Billboard peak: #105
Songwriters: Jeff Lorber, Anita Pointer

The Philly lite-jazz funkster co-wrote this with 1/3 of the Pointer Sisters...

R.E.M. - "Can't Get There From Here"
from the album Fables Of The Reconstruction (1985)
Billboard peak: #110
Songwriters: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe

The then-college rock heroes hadn't broken into the mainstream yet, but you can tell they were on their way with this Britpop-inflected single. Even Michael's voice is coherent.

Wang Chung - "Fire In The Twilight"
from the album The Breakfast Club (Original Soundtrack) (1985)
Billboard peak: #110
Songwriters: Keith Forsey, Jack Hues, Steve Schiff

While Simple Minds went to #1 with their makeover for the hit film Breakfast Club, Wang Chung's equally fun turnabout stopped as low as you can go and still get Billboard ink.