8 of the 80s: 11/27/14 (1985)

It's Thanksgiving Throwback Thursday 80s time, and this week I'm going back to 1985, the year the first version of Microsoft's Windows (Windows 1.0) is released.

Maurice White - "Stand By Me"
from the album Maurice White (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: 50
Songwriters: Ben E.King, Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller


Maurice White. Stand By Me.1985 by capitainfunkk

The leader of Earth Wind & Fire covers the soul classic a year before the Stephen King movie brought the original back into the top-10.

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Sade - "Your Love Is King"
from the album Diamond Life (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #54
Songwriters: Helen Folasade Adu, Stuart Matthewman

When I think of Billboard's ill-conceived decision to include "song sales" into their albums charts, and that nobody buys albums anymore, I think of this flawless cohesive work, and that the business is in no mood to market work like this in a grand scale. And that's why they fail.

Pointer Sisters - "Freedom"
from the album Contact (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #59
Songwriter: David McHugh

I've gotta thank my friend Karl for re-putting this in my brain so I had to include it. Shoulda-coulda made the top-40.

The Family - "The Screams Of Passion"
from the album The Family (1985) and Girl 6 (Original Soundtrack) (1996)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #63
Songwriters: Susannah Melvoin, Paul Peterson, Prince

Another splinter group from the Time, this featured Prince fiance Susannah (sister of the Revolution's Wendy), and their album contained the original version of "Nothing Compares 2 U".

Jermaine Jackson - "(Closest Thing To) Perfect"
from the album Perfect (Original Soundtrack) (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #67
Songwriters: Jermaine Jackson, Michael Omartian, Bruce Sudano

Ah, yes. 1985. Only then could this happen. To tell you the truth, the soundtrack to this cinematic abortion is quite solid, with tracks from the Thompson Twins, Wham!, the Pointer Sisters, and Lou Reed. And this is what gets put out as a single.

Sister Sledge - "Frankie"
from the album When The Boys Meet The Girls (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #75
Songwriter: Denise Rich

This Nile Rodgers-produced retro ditty spent a month at #1 on the British singles chart. Notsomuch here.

Stephanie Mills - "Bit By Bit"
from the album Fletch (Original Soundtrack) (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #78
Songwriters: Harold Faltermeyer, Frankie Golde

I can see them trying to replicate the success of Patti LaBelle's transformation on Beverly Hills Cop on this one. It's cute.

Eugene Wilde - "Gotta Get You Home Tonight"
from the album Eugene Wilde (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #83
Songwriters: Ronald Broomfield, McKinley Horton

I can imagine Marvin Gaye trying to sue from the grave for cribbing his Sexual Healing for this #1 R&B hit.

Happy Turkey Day, Americans!