Billboard published a weekly chart in 1985 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since 2005. [1] In 1985, it was published under the title Hot Black Singles, [2] and 21 different singles reached number one.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 5, the group Midnight Star was at number one with " Operator", the song's third week atop the chart. The track ultimately spent five weeks in the top spot, but would prove to be the group's only chart-topper. [3] It was replaced at number one by " Gotta Get You Home Tonight" by Eugene Wilde, who reached the peak position with his first single to enter the chart. [4] Seven other acts reached number one for the first time during the year: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly with " Back in Stride" in April, the supergroup USA For Africa with " We Are the World" and Whitney Houston with " You Give Good Love" in May, Freddie Jackson with " Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" in June, both Loose Ends with " Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)" and René & Angela with " Save Your Love (For #1)" in July, and Ready for the World with " Oh Sheila" in September. [5] Both Houston and Jackson achieved a second chart-topper before the end of the year. Additionally, the trio Isley-Jasper-Isley had their first chart topper under that name with " Caravan of Love", having previously spent time at number one as part of the Isley Brothers. [6] "We Are the World", a charity single intended to relieve starving people in Africa, particularly those feeling the effects of a lengthy famine in Ethiopia, [7] became the fastest-selling American pop single in history [8] and dominated radio airplay. [9] As a result, it topped the Hot 100, Hot Adult Contemporary, Hot Black Singles, and Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales charts. [10] [11] Houston's " Saving All My Love for You", Ready for the World's "Oh Sheila" and Stevie Wonder's " Part-Time Lover" also topped both the Black Singles chart and the Hot 100. [12]
In addition to Houston and Jackson, Kool & the Gang and Wilde had multiple number ones during 1985. Jackson's "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" tied with "Part-Time Lover" by Wonder for 1985's longest run in the peak position at six weeks each; Jackson's total of eight weeks at number one was the most of any act. In August, Aretha Franklin's " Freeway of Love" became her twentieth chart-topper, extending her record as the artist with the most number ones on the listing; it would prove to be her final appearance atop the chart, 18 years after her first. [13] Diana Ross, another of the biggest stars of black music, [14] also topped the chart for the final time. [15] She spent three weeks at number one with " Missing You", a tribute to singer Marvin Gaye, who had died the previous year. [15] Ross had first topped the chart as one of the Supremes in 1965. [16] The final number one of 1985 was Wilde's " Don't Say No Tonight"; although Wilde gained two number ones in 1985, he would achieve no further chart-toppers in his career. [4]
† | Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end black singles chart [17] |
Billboard published a weekly chart in 1985 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since 2005. [1] In 1985, it was published under the title Hot Black Singles, [2] and 21 different singles reached number one.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 5, the group Midnight Star was at number one with " Operator", the song's third week atop the chart. The track ultimately spent five weeks in the top spot, but would prove to be the group's only chart-topper. [3] It was replaced at number one by " Gotta Get You Home Tonight" by Eugene Wilde, who reached the peak position with his first single to enter the chart. [4] Seven other acts reached number one for the first time during the year: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly with " Back in Stride" in April, the supergroup USA For Africa with " We Are the World" and Whitney Houston with " You Give Good Love" in May, Freddie Jackson with " Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" in June, both Loose Ends with " Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)" and René & Angela with " Save Your Love (For #1)" in July, and Ready for the World with " Oh Sheila" in September. [5] Both Houston and Jackson achieved a second chart-topper before the end of the year. Additionally, the trio Isley-Jasper-Isley had their first chart topper under that name with " Caravan of Love", having previously spent time at number one as part of the Isley Brothers. [6] "We Are the World", a charity single intended to relieve starving people in Africa, particularly those feeling the effects of a lengthy famine in Ethiopia, [7] became the fastest-selling American pop single in history [8] and dominated radio airplay. [9] As a result, it topped the Hot 100, Hot Adult Contemporary, Hot Black Singles, and Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales charts. [10] [11] Houston's " Saving All My Love for You", Ready for the World's "Oh Sheila" and Stevie Wonder's " Part-Time Lover" also topped both the Black Singles chart and the Hot 100. [12]
In addition to Houston and Jackson, Kool & the Gang and Wilde had multiple number ones during 1985. Jackson's "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" tied with "Part-Time Lover" by Wonder for 1985's longest run in the peak position at six weeks each; Jackson's total of eight weeks at number one was the most of any act. In August, Aretha Franklin's " Freeway of Love" became her twentieth chart-topper, extending her record as the artist with the most number ones on the listing; it would prove to be her final appearance atop the chart, 18 years after her first. [13] Diana Ross, another of the biggest stars of black music, [14] also topped the chart for the final time. [15] She spent three weeks at number one with " Missing You", a tribute to singer Marvin Gaye, who had died the previous year. [15] Ross had first topped the chart as one of the Supremes in 1965. [16] The final number one of 1985 was Wilde's " Don't Say No Tonight"; although Wilde gained two number ones in 1985, he would achieve no further chart-toppers in his career. [4]
† | Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end black singles chart [17] |