KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1985

Rank	Artist	Song	Album
1	Depeche Mode	Shake the Disease	Catching Up with Depeche Mode (1985)
2	Felony	Vigilante	Non-album Single (1985)
3	Pet Shop Boys	Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)	Please (1986)
4	The Cure	In Between Days	The Head on the Door (1985)
5	Tears for Fears	Shout	Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
6	Dead or Alive	You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)	Youthquake (1985)
7	A-Ha	Take On Me	Hunting High and Low (1985)
8	INXS	This Time	Listen Like Thieves (1985)
9	Tears for Fears	Everybody Wants to Rule the World	Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
10	Oingo Boingo	Dead Man's Party	Dead Man's Party (1985)
11	Simple Minds	Alive and Kicking	Once Upon a Time (1985)
12	New Order	Perfect Kiss	Low-Life (1985)
13	Adam Ant	Vive Le Rock	Vive Le Rock (1985)
14	Simple Minds	Don't You (Forget About Me)	The Breakfast Club (Soundtrack) (1985)
15	Big Audio Dynamite	The Bottom Line	This Is Big Audio Dynamite (1985)
16	King	Love & Pride	Steps in Time (1984)
17	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	So In Love	Crush (1985)
18	Time Zone	World Destruction	Non-album Single (1984)
19	Depeche Mode	Flexible	Catching Up with Depeche Mode (1985)
20	Sting	If You Love Somebody Set Them Free	The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
21	Tears for Fears	Head Over Heels / Broken (Live)	Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
22	David Bowie	Dancing in the Street (with Mick Jagger)	Non-album Single (1985)
23	Jane Wiedlin	Blue Kiss	Jane Wiedlin (1985)
24	Murray Head	One Night in Bangkok	Chess (Soundtrack) (1984)
25	Mick Jagger	Just Another Night	She's the Boss (1985)
26	Midnight Oil	Kosciusko	Red Sails in the Sunset (1984)
27	Phil Collins	Sussudio	No Jacket Required (1985)
28	Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder	Good-Bye Bad Times	Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder (1985)
29	Talking Heads	Stay Up Late	Little Creatures (1985)
30	John Palumbo	Blowing Up Detroit	Non-album Single (1985)
31	Artists United Against Apartheid	Sun City	Sun City (1985)
32	Scritti Politti	Perfect Way	Cupid & Psyche 85 (1985)
33	ABC	Be Near Me	How to Be a... Zillionaire! (1985)
34	Echo & The Bunnymen	Bring on the Dancing Horses	Songs to Learn & Sing (1985)
35	UB40	I Got You Babe (feat. Chrissie Hynde)	Baggariddim (1985)
36	Arcadia	Election Day	So Red the Rose (1985)
37	Kate Bush	Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)	Hounds of Love (1985)
38	Duran Duran	A View to a Kill	A View to a Kill (Soundtrack) (1985)
39	Oingo Boingo	Weird Science	Weird Science (Soundtrack) (1985)
40	Depeche Mode	It's Called a Heart	Catching Up with Depeche Mode (1985)
41	Talking Heads	Road to Nowhere	Little Creatures (1985)
42	The Power Station	Some Like It Hot	The Power Station (1985)
43	Dead or Alive	My Heart Goes Bang	Youthquake (1985)
44	The Cure	Close to Me	The Head on the Door (1985)
45	New Order	Subculture	Low-Life (1985)
46	The Danse Society	Say It Again	Non-album Single (1985)
47	Oingo Boingo	Just Another Day	Dead Man's Party (1985)
48	Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark	Secret	Crush (1985)
49	Thompson Twins	King for a Day	Here's to Future Days (1985)
50	Falco	Vienna Calling	Falco 3 (1985)
51	Bryan Ferry	Slave to Love	Boys and Girls (1985)
52	King	Won't You Hold My Hand Now	Steps in Time (1984)
53	INXS	What You Need	Listen Like Thieves (1985)
54	Shriekback	Nemesis	Oil and Gold (1985)
55	ABC	Vanity Kills	How to Be a... Zillionaire! (1985)
56	The Alarm	Strength	Strength (1985)
57	The Power Station	Communication	The Power Station (1985)
58	Thompson Twins	Lay Your Hands on Me	Here's to Future Days (1985)
59	Dead or Alive	Lover Come Back to Me	Youthquake (1985)
60	Wang Chung	Fire in the Twilight	The Breakfast Club (Soundtrack) (1985)
61	Eurythmics	Would I Lie to You?	Be Yourself Tonight (1985)
62	Howard Jones	Things Can Only Get Better	Dream into Action (1985)
63	A-Ha	The Sun Always Shines on T.V.	Hunting High and Low (1985)
64	The Armoury Show	Castles in Spain	Waiting for the Floods (1985)
65	The Cult	She Sells Sanctuary	Love (1985)
66	The Power Station	Get It On (Bang a Gong)	The Power Station (1985)
67	Simple Minds	Sanctify Yourself	Once Upon a Time (1985)
68	Pete Townshend	Face the Face	White City: A Novel (1985)
69	Thompson Twins	Don't Mess With Doctor Dream	Here's to Future Days (1985)
70	Gino Vannelli	Black Cars	Black Cars (1984)
71	X	Burning House of Love	Ain't Love Grand (1985)
72	ABC	How to Be a Millionaire	How to Be a... Zillionaire! (1985)
73	Fine Young Cannibals	Johnny Come Home	Fine Young Cannibals (1985)
74	U2	A Sort of Homecoming	The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
75	The Cars	Tonight She Comes	Greatest Hits (1985)
76	Danny Elfman	Gratitude	So-Lo (1984)
77	David Bowie	Loving the Alien	Tonight (1984)
78	Howard Jones	Life in One Day	Dream into Action (1985)
79	General Public	Never You Done That	All the Rage (1984)
80	Nina Hagen	Universal Radio	In Ekstasy (1985)
81	The Dream Academy	The Love Parade	The Dream Academy (1985)
82	The Firm	Radioactive	The Firm (1985)
83	Go West	Eye to Eye	Go West (1985)
84	Graham Parker & The Shot	Break Them Down	Steady Nerves (1985)
85	Baltimora	Tarzan Boy	Living in the Background (1985)
86	Cheech & Chong	Born in East L.A.	Non-album Single (1985)
87	Prince & The Revolution	Raspberry Beret	Around the World in a Day (1985)
88	Lloyd Cole and the Commotions	Perfect Skin	Rattlesnakes (1984)
89	Katrina and the Waves	Walking on Sunshine	Katrina and the Waves (1985)
90	Dead or Alive	In Too Deep	Youthquake (1985)
91	Prince & The Revolution	America	Around the World in a Day (1985)
92	Sting	Love Is the Seventh Wave	The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
93	The Living Daylights	Colleen	Non-album Single (1985)
94	The Boomtown Rats	Dave	In the Long Grass (1984)
95	Eurythmics	I Love You Like a Ball and Chain	Be Yourself Tonight (1985)
96	Siouxsie and The Banshees	Cities in Dust	Tinderbox (1986)
97	Mr. Mister	Broken Wings	Welcome to the Real World (1985)
98	Squeeze	Hits of the Year	Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
99	Phil Collins	Don't Lose My Number	No Jacket Required (1985)
100	Flash and the Pan	Midnight Man	Early Morning Wake Up Call (1984)
101	Nick Heyward	Warning Sign	Warning Sign (1984)
102	David Bowie	This Is Not America (with Pat Metheny Group)	The Falcon and the Snowman (Soundtrack) (1985)
103	Paul Hardcastle	19	Paul Hardcastle (1985)
104	Elton John	Act of War	Ice on Fire (1985)
105	Lone Justice	East of Eden	Lone Justice (1985)
106	The Living Daylights	Kat Box Beach	Non-album Single (1985)
106.7	Video Kids	Woodpeckers From Space	The Invasion of the Spacepeckers (1984)

Notes on Lesser-Known Songs

Rank 2: Felony - Vigilante - Non-album Single (1985)
Felony was an American new wave band from Los Angeles with a dramatic synth-rock track tied to the *Friday the 13th Part V* soundtrack. Its cinematic feel made it a standout for fans of 80s horror scores. It gained traction on KROQ but didn’t chart widely.
Rank 18: Time Zone - World Destruction - Non-album Single (1984)
Time Zone was a project by Afrika Bambaataa and John Lydon (of Public Image Ltd) with an electro-funk track featuring punk vocals and industrial beats. It critiques global issues with a raw, experimental edge. KROQ played it as a cult hit.
Rank 30: John Palumbo - Blowing Up Detroit - Non-album Single (1985)
John Palumbo, from prog-rock band Crack the Sky, released this solo synth-pop single with a gritty, cinematic sound reflecting 80s dystopian themes. Its intense production captures urban tension. KROQ gave it airplay despite no major chart success.
Rank 46: The Danse Society - Say It Again - Non-album Single (1985)
The Danse Society, a British goth-rock band, produced this dark, atmospheric single with pulsing synths and haunting vocals. It’s a lesser-known gem from their post-punk catalog. KROQ featured it for its underground appeal.
Rank 64: The Armoury Show - Castles in Spain - Waiting for the Floods (1985)
The Armoury Show, a Scottish new wave band by ex-members of The Skids, created this dreamy, synth-driven track with poetic lyrics. It’s from their debut album, blending post-punk with pop elements. KROQ played it as a UK import favorite.
Rank 93: The Living Daylights - Colleen - Non-album Single (1985)
The Living Daylights, an obscure LA-based new wave band, delivered this jangly, upbeat track with a pop edge and bright melodies. It reflects their local sound from the 80s LA scene. KROQ supported it for its regional vibe.
Rank 106: The Living Daylights - Kat Box Beach - Non-album Single (1985)
Another by The Living Daylights, this surf-inspired new wave track has a playful, beachy vibe with a modern twist. It captures the 80s California coastal culture. KROQ aired it for its local flavor.
Rank 106.7: Video Kids - Woodpeckers From Space - The Invasion of the Spacepeckers (1984)
Video Kids, a Dutch synth-pop duo, made this whimsical Eurodance track with a space theme and a woodpecker sample. It’s a novelty hit that gained a cult following in Europe. KROQ played it for its oddball charm.

KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1985

About 1985

Notes on Lesser-Known Songs