On this day in 1985: ‘Easy Lover’ by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins was at #1 on the UK singles chart. Bailey was a former vocalist with Earth, Wind & Fire. Phil Collins produced, drummed and sang on the track. ‘Easy Lover’ won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Overall Performance in a Video.
Also on this day in 1985: REO Speedwagon were enjoying their third a final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1985:
1 1 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING REO Speedwagon (Epic)-10 (3 Weeks at #1)
2 3 MATERIAL GIRL –•– Madonna (Sire)-7 (2)
3 5 ONE MORE NIGHT –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-7 (3)
4 2 THE HEAT IS ON –•– Glenn Frey (MCA)-16 (2)
5 6 TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES –•– Julian Lennon (Atlantic)-9 (5)
6 8 LOVERGIRL –•– Teena Marie (Epic)-15 (6)
7 9 PRIVATE DANCER –•– Tina Turner (Capitol)-10 (7)
8 14 HIGH ON YOU –•– Survivor (Scotti Brothers)-9 (8)
9 11 ONLY THE YOUNG –•– Journey (Geffen)-9 (9)
10 10 RELAX –•– Frankie Goes To Hollywood (Island)-17 (10)
11 4 CALIFORNIA GIRLS –•– David Lee Roth (Warner Brothers)-10 (3)
12 7 CARELESS WHISPER –•– Wham! Featuring George Michael (Columbia)-14 (1)
13 18 JUST ANOTHER NIGHT –•– Mick Jagger (Columbia)-7 (13)
14 23 SOMEBODY –•– Bryan Adams (A&M)-8 (14)
15 24 NIGHTSHIFT –•– Commodores (Motown)-9 (15)
16 16 SAVE A PRAYER –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-8 (16)
17 25 I’M ON FIRE –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-6 (17)
18 21 KEEPIN’ THE FAITH –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-9 (18)
19 26 MISSING YOU –•– Diana Ross (RCA)-17 (19)
20 32 CRAZY FOR YOU –•– Madonna (Geffen)-4 (20)
On this day in 1986: Van Halen released their seventh studio album 5150 (pronounced fifty-one-fifty) which became their first album to top the U.S. album chart. 5150 was the first of four albums to be recorded with lead singer Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth who left the band in 1985 for a solo career. The album was named after Eddie Van Halen’s home studio, 5150, in turn named after a California law enforcement term for a mentally disturbed person.
The album sold over 6 million copies in the U.S. and produced three Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and four Top 40 hits on the Mainstream Rock Chart.