4 Smash Hits From 1985 That Deserved No. 1 but Settled for No. 2
Four hit singles from 1985 reached No. 2 on the US pop chart but were kept from the top spot by other major releases. The article revisits the songs and the chart rivals that narrowly outranked them.
“Easy Lover”, by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins, was blocked by Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is”; Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” by Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill”; and Madonna’s “Material Girl” by REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and Collins’ “Against All Odds”. Glenn Frey had two No. 2 singles that year, but the article selects “You Belong to the City”, written with Jack Tempchin for the second season of *Miami Vice*.
- Four 1985 hits peaked at No. 2.
- Chart rivals included Foreigner, Duran Duran and Phil Collins.
- Glenn Frey reached No. 2 twice that year.
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The US pop chart ranks singles by their popularity, and a song reaching No. 2 has been widely heard even if it never tops the list. In 1985, radio, record sales and the growing influence of music videos helped turn songs into major hits.
The four songs came from established artists: Philip Bailey and Phil Collins, Prince, Madonna, and Glenn Frey, formerly of the Eagles. Their chart rivals included Foreigner, Duran Duran and REO Speedwagon, while “Against All Odds” was another Phil Collins hit.
Frey’s “You Belong to the City” was written with Jack Tempchin for the television series Miami Vice. Its link to the show reflects how television soundtracks could help bring new songs to a wide audience.