On this day in 1985: Jennifer Rush was at #1 on the UK singles chart with ‘The Power Of Love’. The song stayed at #1 in the UK for five weeks and became the biggest selling single of the year and the biggest single ever for a woman in the UK. Celine Dion enjoyed a #1 US hit with her version in 1993.
Also on this day in 1985: Ready For The World went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Oh Sheila.” It would spend one week in the top spot.
The song also hit the top spot on the R&B chart and on the Dance chart. It was the first of two chart toppers for the band on the Billboard R&B chart, preceding their 1986 #1 R&B hit, ‘Love You Down.’
The song is commonly misattributed to Prince, due to similarity to his vocal and musical style, as well as the belief that the song’s lyrics allude to frequent Prince collaborator Sheila E.
The use of a faux British accent during parts of the song was the preference of singer Melvin Riley Jr., who said “I like that kind of accent, so I thought I’d use that sound.”
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1985:
1 3 OH SHEILA –•– Ready For The World (MCA)-11 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 1 MONEY FOR NOTHING –•– Dire Straits (Warner Brothers)-14 (1)
3 4 TAKE ON ME –•– A-Ha (Warner Brothers)-14 (3)
4 6 SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU –•– Whitney Houston (Arista)-9 (4)
5 10 PART-TIME LOVER –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-6 (5)
6 8 LONELY OL’ NIGHT –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-8 (6)
7 9 DANCING IN THE STREET –•– Mick Jagger & David Bowie (EMI-America)-7 (7)
8 2 CHERISH –•– Kool & The Gang (De-Lite)-15 (2)
9 13 MIAMI VICE THEME –•– Jan Hammer (MCA)-6 (9)
10 5 DRESS YOU UP –•– Madonna (Sire)-9 (5)
11 12 FORTRESS AROUND YOUR HEART –•– Sting (A&M)-8 (11)
12 14 I’M GOIN’ DOWN –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-6 (12)
13 20 HEAD OVER HEELS –•– Tears For Fears (Mercury)-5 (13)
14 7 FREEDOM –•– Wham! (Columbia)-12 (3)
15 19 LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT –•– Loverboy (Columbia)-8 (15)
16 11 DON’T LOSE MY NUMBER –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-13 (4)
17 16 CRY –•– Godley & Creme (Polydor)-13 (16)
18 27 I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN –•– Paul Young (Columbia)-6 (18)
19 23 FOUR IN THE MORNING (I Can’t Take Any More) –•– Night Ranger (MCA / Camel)-8 (19)
20 24 THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO / MY GIRL (Live Medley) –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks (RCA)-7 (20)
