THE CLASS OF ’85

Taking it back 40 years, I had great nostalgic fun putting together this showcase of 1985’s best dance-oriented music. This was a year where the soul and funk styles of the first half of the decade rubbed shoulders with some electro funk moments, plenty of pop-dance remixes of Top 40 chart hits, and when the very early days of house music began to make themselves apparent.

This is my third year of compiling such mixes. Here’s where to find the 1984 instalment:

https://www.mixcloud.com/djmarkdevlin/the-spirit-of-1984/

And the 1983 episode:

https://www.mixcloud.com/djmarkdevlin/the-spirit-of-83/

Wally Badarou: Chief Inspector
RAH Band: Clouds Across The Moon
Commodores: Nightshift
Ashford And Simpson: Solid
Jenny Burton: Bad Habits (12'' Version)
Princess: Say I’m Your Number One
Change: Lets Go Together (Extended Mix)
Midnight Star: Curious
Jaki Graham: Round and Around (Extended Version)
Loose Ends: Hangin' On A String
Mai Tai: History
Cool Notes: Spend The Night
Barbara Pennington: On A crowded Street
Skipworth & Turner: Thinking About Your Love
René And Angela: I'll Be Good
Prince: Paisley Park
Maze: Twilight
Cameo: Single Life
Aretha Franklin: Who's Zoomin' Who
Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King: Your Personal Touch
Total Contrast: Takes A Little Time
Steve Arrington: Feels So Real
Debarge: Rhythm of The Night
Five Star: All Fall Down
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam: I Wonder If I Can Take You Home
Doug E Fresh: The Show
Madonna: Into The Groove
Cool Notes: In Your Car
Steve Arrington: Dancin' In The Key of Life
D-Train: You're The One For Me (A Paul Hardcastle Labour Of Love Mix)
Paul Hardcastle: 19 (Dance Mix)
Harold Faltermeyer: Axel F
Van Twist: Shaft
Conway Brothers: Turn It Up
Curtis Hairston: I Want Your Lovin (Just a Little Bit)
Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy: Kiss Me
Little Benny & The Masters: Who Comes To Boogie
Aurra: Like I Like It
Prince: Raspberry Beret
Cashmere: Can I
400 Blows: Movin'
Colonel Abrams: Trapped (12'' Vocal Mix)
Ready For The World: Oh Sheila
Sheila E: The Belle of St Mark