8 of the 80s: 7/25/13 (1985)....

I'm ready for another 80's throwback, and this week I'm back to 1985, the year Back To The Future premiered, becoming the biggest movie of the year. As always, I've included links to buy anything on CD or MP3 if possible.

Marvin Gaye - "Sanctified Lady"
from the album Dream Of A Lifetime (1985)
Billboard peak: #101
Songwriters: Marvin Gaye, Gordon Banks

This doctored-up track left when Gaye was murdered in 1984 was originally a "Pussy" instead of a "Lady", but Banks covered up his mumble on the demo with turned-up back-up singers and scored a #2 R&B hit posthumously. I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted this released, though.

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Gwen Guthrie - "Padlock"
from the album Portrait (1983) and the EP Padlock (1985)
Billboard peak: #102
Songwriter: Tamy Smith

The woman closely associated with the iconic Paradise Garage dance club helmed by Larry Levan, the late singer had a club hit two years after its release.

Bob Dylan - "Tight Connection To My Heart (Has Anybody Seen My Love)"
from the album Empire Burlesque (1985)
Billboard peak: #103
Songwriter: Bob Dylan

Bob's foray into reggae-lite (with rhythm section of Sly & Robbie) from his most "80's" of albums, cribbing some Bogart movie lines in the process.

Cheyne - "Call Me Mr. Telephone (Answering Service)"
from the single (1985)
Billboard peak: #106
Songwriter: Tony Carasco

This is another Paradise Garage classic from the teen singer who disappeared after this song topped the Billboard dance chart.

R.J.'s Latest Arrival - "Swing Low"
from the album R.J.'s Latest Arrival (1985)
Billboard peak: #107
Songwriter: Ralph James Rice

Rice went from fronting this funk band in the 80s to producing indie-chick Poe's "Angry Johnny" in the 90s.

Run-DMC - "King Of Rock"
from the album King Of Rock (1985)
Billboard peak: #108
Songwriters: Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, Lawrence Smith

I never understood the reverence for their "Walk This Way" as a "trailblazer" since I had been jamming to this a year before.

Bryan Ferry - "Slave To Love"
from the album Boys And Girls (1985)
Billboard peak: #109
Songwriter: Bryan Ferry

I must admit this was my first experience with Ferry, before I knew of a band named Roxy Music.

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

This was the first single from their third set when they were right on the verge of becoming huge. This is probably as fun as they'll ever get...

That's it for this 80's trip...I'll be back tomorrow with another Song of the Day and my top 100 tunes from last week. Cheers!