1985: Dire Straits, Phil Collins, Prince, Eurythmics & More | The Album Years Podcast (Part 1)

1985 was another sensational year for music. On this first part of our foray into the mid-eighties, we discuss the first album in history to sell over one million copies on CD (Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms fact fans), Phil Collins' smash hit album No Jacket Required, Prince's underrated follow up to 'Purple Rain' and much more (David Sylvian and Van Morrison? Check!).
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:40 Live Aid
00:05:49 Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
00:09:00 Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
00:11:49 Prince and the Revolution - Around the World in a Day
00:18:36 Simple Minds - Once Upon A Time
00:23:54 Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight
00:26:12 Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
00:31:24 Van Morrison - A Sense of Wonder
00:36:00 David Sylvian - Alchemy - An Index of Possibilities
00:38:31 Peter Gabriel - Birdy
Listen to The Album Years on Spotify/Apple Podcasts: thealbumyears.lnk.to/listen
Check out The Album Years website: thealbumyears.com

[@santiagovanegas3812]

One of the many things I love about this show is seeing Tim and Steven occasionally disagree and talk through it in the most respectful, productive, and fascinating way… unlike most content online. They don’t just “agree to disagree”. They actually take the disagreement forward into a new discovery and eventually a third perspective. I love it.

[@afrose71]

Tears for Fears' "Songs from the Big Chair", Kate Bush's "The Hounds of Love", Suzanne Vega's debut, Talking Heads' "Little Creatures"... also FYC's debut, and good albums from New Order, REM, Marillion, The Smiths, and The Cure. I remember '85 fondly.

[@jazzturtle2508]

"Never knowingly owned an Eagles album in my life" good man Steven, may you continue to be blessed.

[@JeffCooper10538]

Around The World In A Day was the album that helped me to properly get into Prince.

[@noticeddamian]

I was 11 when I had to have my tonsils removed in 1985 and my parents looked through my little collection of 7” vinyl (it consisted of pass the dutchie,Adam ant and prince singles)thank god they decided to buy me around the world in a day for my stay in hospital 👍

[@ghwr]

This is so good! Thank you for taking the time to create these wonderful videos.

[@michaelantonyaustin]

1985 produced some amazing work from some of my fav artists - Kate Bush / Hounds Of Love, John Cougar Mellencamo / Scarecrow, RUSH / Power Windows (my intro to the band), Killing Joke / Night Time, A-ha / Hunting High And Low, Grace Jones / Slave To The Rhythm, Oingo Boingo / Dead Man’s Party, Magnum / On A Storyteller’s Night, Level 42 / World Machine, Prefab Sprout / Steve McQueen - that I still listen to regularly today!

[@jamesadkisson7510]

I started working at a chain of record stores in Dallas Texas in 1984. There was one row of CDs. When I left in 1992 there was one row of vinyl albums.

[@jimfarrell4635]

Fables of the Reconstruction by REM and The Wishing Chair by 10,000 maniacs were my albums of 1985. Fables was the first REM album I had heard, and I was hooked. I had been a Prog guy in the 70s, didn't get punk (except The Vapors) and hated the New Romantics (though I appreciate it more now). REM and bands like the Maniacs gave me a new musical home.

[@slowboi1688]

i cant describe how unique prince was! a pure genius and master of music

[@IzzyTush]

"Music never changes but our relationship with it does" 👌🏻

[@cheekyhagrid595]

Another great discussion, maybe someday Åkerfeldt could join you two in some nerd-out.

[@montanezonemusic]

Brilliant idea.

[@youmothershouldknow4905]

My dream is to, yes, add Äkerfeldt to the chat, but also Mike Portnoy and Questlove to the discussion. For me, that would be utter devastation in its awesomeness and clearing of all other pods & YTs from my internet diet. Like Äkerfeldt and Wilson, they are both practitioners of as well as consummate conversationalist about music.

[@rasardo1]

A perfect pop album and one of the very best in 1985: "Steve McQueen" by Prefab Sprout. I love "Around the world in a Day", but his the first excelent album came in 1981 :)

[@prodigalsorcerer1415]

Agreed! Looking forward to this in episode 2. And Hounds of Love as well.

[@GinoFelino]

Steve McQueen is one of my favourite Album ever

[@PTCrucial]

YES. Steve McQueen is indeed a perfect album. I agree 100%

[@markmasercola3958]

perfect!!!

[@irrelevant8639]

They will definitely do that album. They both love Paddy

[@stefanstern3542]

Why do I love 'The Album Years' so much!?!

[@sidnew2739]

Because! - Fair enough. Loving something with an endless talking Wilson and a barely talking Bowness in it is actually super-easy, barely an inconvinience.

[@stefanstern3542]

@@sidnew2739 They're absolutely fabulous, these two! I could listen to them for hours on end!...

[@sspbrazil]

The Style Council’s performance at Live Aid was my favorite, they were on fire.

[@davidbourne6478]

You guys just took me back to the summer of ‘85, when I was 17 and made the trip to Live Aid. I remember all those albums!

[@keaganbaker1494]

Bravo for the timestamps for each album discussed!

[@varchitectinblack3307]

Unlike every other album mentioned in here which I love, Prince’s album was the only one that challenged me to adapt and mature my musical tastes - he was such a genius

[@rupbhatt]

These videos help me to find lot of new music to listen. Thanks Steven and Tim.

[@maxwashingtonsongs3817]

Yeah, people were disappointed with Around the world. That’s my favorite Prince album, tied with Parade, the Gold Experience, and Chaos and Disorder. He tweaked the synths and drum machines like no one else in the 80’s. So unique!

[@Green28142814]

Prince, The Replacements - Tim, Husker Du - New Day Rising, Soul Asylum - Made to Be Broken. 1985 was a great year in Minneapolis.

[@ricobonifacio1095]

This is very enjoyable, thank you guys for doing these. Im a huge music fan and I love to hear people talk about it because I love to as well.

[@normanmorrow4897]

Superb, as always, cheers gents - more power to your elbows!!

[@johannselles]

Well just a big Thank you for this one! A following playlist/link with all the albums from every episode would be amazing😊….

[@amateurmusicresearch1972]

we need more of these videos 😁

[@nickmellor344]

Joni Mitchell’s Dog Eat Dog from ‘85 although much maligned at the time as it didn’t sound like Court and Spark or The Hissing OSL actually has some great songs and the Thomas Dolby production, replete with Linn Drums and Michael Landau’s crystalline Strat riffs, have a nostalgic charm all of their own 40 yrs later.

[@christianwilliamson9752]

Steven I agree. BAD by U2 was the best performance of the show.i was blown away and cried during that performance. I was 16 that year and loved Rush first. And Maiden and Ozzy. Live after death was around this time but U2 Def blew me away.i wasn't that into Queen yet but now I'm a huge fan. The year Freddie died was a huge event and year for me

[@CountBarossa]

Love listening to you both - erudite, passionate and good humour... making me want to dig out so many of these albums... love the Rain Dogs overview, spot on ❤

[@pmxevious]

After listening to the podcast for all these months - it's great to actually SEE you two engage each other. And, you both defy your ages!

[@Stevedrums741]

I was at the Philadelphia end of Live-Aid. I was 15. What an experience though the sunburn nearly got me to the hospital!! Tony banks of Genesis has remarked that - and I'm paraphrasing - that it was the event where rock became safe and it lost something in terms of rebellion. And upon reflection, I think he was right. And while Queen certainly stole the day, U2 was a very close second. Bono's dancing with that fan was pure rock fantasy.

[@SillyCoverSongs]

I have to take issue with the “synth brass” as sussudio had live horns performed by the Pheonix horns (Earth wind and fire’s horn section). I agree there is a ton of 80’s production and it sounds synth but it’s recorded live. There even used to be video footage of it being recorded with the EWF horns. So tight and excellent musically. Even if the lyrics are tosh.

[@Nephilim-81]

Definitely not mainstream, but the Neo Prog giants IQ released “The Wake” and Marillion released “Misplaced Childhood.” God I think those are big albums.

[@bowness1]

Those are discussed in later 1985 episodes.

[@andrejutel9110]

Never realised this had been videoed...always listen to the podcast! Awesome stuff from the boys!

[@craigchapman8220]

I absolutely love this video. Well done!!!! You are great together. New subscriber.

[@ysteinnordli7988]

So happy to discover your great, nerdy channel. Subscribed of course 😄👏

[@bobby666666]

The Prince album actually came out 9 months after Purple Rain. I was shocked as artists didn't normally release follow up albums that quick. I was slightly disappointed, but came round. I have the 20+ minute version of America on 12" and the album version was reduced from that. So pleased that Prince didn't repeat and most of his albums from the 80s differed anyway. I'm so pleased he didn't release an album in the same style as Purple Rain. Parade was even better. The one as album that did disappoint was Controversy. Possibly a transitional album which lead to 1999.

[@bradgrace6653]

I am a sucker for World Machine by Level 42 this year.

[@lindylee1139]

Love listening to you both. A couple of my favorite 1985 albums are by The Waterboys and The Cure.

[@vickyp.3274]

I really enjoyed the discussion!.. Regardless of my music loves of that time...I'll agree with Steven. .. Prince's album, totally different from what I've heard....it's still the most...Purple Rain...of my life!!!... * Love Vegan Steven!!!🫶💜💜💜💜💜💜🌬🌊🌊🪻

[@fluxcapacitor-gg5lv]

Another for Misplaced Childhood!

[@bowness1]

Discussed in a later episode.

[@JohnCregoWorldMusic]

Can't say I know any of these albums as a whole. Bits and pieces of course but I was busy listening to Zappa, Dixie Dregs, Sea Level, Jean-Luc Ponty, Klaatu, City Boy, Brand X, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Pat Travers, and of course all the usual suspects from the 70's. Though I do like hearing them discussed. It might make me go out and dig deeper to see if I've been missing anything. Thanks for sharing your passion and knowledge. Old dogs can learn new tricks after all.

[@JeffCooper10538]

I prefer the next and final Dire Straits studio album to Brothers In Arms. I think the production has aged a lot better and … the title track is sublime.

[@giselaafonso]

Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities. Birdy. Rain Dogs.💎❤

[@jamesjukebox2386]

Other mentions, The Cult Love, Marillion Misplaced childhood, Jesus and Mary chain Psychocandy.

[@lightningstrikes7314]

Prefab Sprout Steve Mcqueen too.

[@aderixon]

Whatever its flaws, it's a tad unfair to have a go at Phil Collins's "synth brass stabs" when that album, like the previous ones, had the EW&F brass section all over it.

[@douglasstruthers8307]

Fascinating discussion. I quite enjoyed the first half of the 80s more than the second half of the decade. I bought Dire Straits' BROTHERS IN ARMS like most everyone else but did prefer the more risk-taking of its predecessor, LOVE OVER GOLD. Will need to check out Prince's AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY. The mid-80s (85 onwards, really) was a time when I was quite enjoying certain songs on albums but not entire albums as I had for such a long time leading up to 1985. Thanks for these Album Years programs. Really enjoying them!

[@hofmanish]

Rush - Power Windows , Tears for Fears - songs from the big chair

[@bowness1]

Both discussed in a future 1985 episode.

[@StefanBoeykens]

Mmmmm - my first CD was Eurythmics greatest hits, but Brothers in Arms is the one that was perfect for the shiny new medium of the Compact Disc.

[@Altres]

Heyday by the Church was the most important album that year. Totally intense yet blissed out with John Squire inspiring jangling head trip guitars.

[@shame69]

A cracking yakfest, matey boys. I eagerly await your deliberations on the likes of these other 1985 releases - 'White City (A Novel)', 'This Nation's Saving Grace', 'History Mix Vol. 1', 'Rum, Sodomy & The Lash', 'Fables Of The Reconstruction Of The Fables', '25 O'Clock', 'Our Favourite Shop', 'Flip Your Wig', 'New Day Rising', 'Meat Is Murder' and that honkin' howling' Dylan stinkeroo 'Empire Burlesque'.

[@Pedro2706]

'History Mix Vol. 1', ..great album-innovative at the time when Godley Creme were untouchable-still sounds great today.

[@winni223]

Also the fact that Brothers in arms was one of the very first digitally recorded albums

[@sirgilmour]

Welcome 'The Hamm' as the first guest of your podcast!!!!

[@Wayner71]

I used to love Knopfler's "Yogi Bear" vocal style.

[@Nobodiesmusic853]

Great videocast, thoroughly enjoyable! I thought it’s worth a mention that Van’s album has a (poorly sung) cover version of a song by none other than the venerable Mr. Mike Westbrook, with lyrics by William Blake. “Let the Slave…” is a real great song that even the “fashionable” sound of the era of “Sense of Wonder” wouldn’t ruin entirely. For those interested, check out the original version on Mike’s album “The Westbrook Blake” or, a later reworked version on “Glad Day”. The singer there is Phil Minton, who is one of the greatest of all time. I heard on the grapevine that Westbrook, a legendary figure in British jazz music, never got any royalties for his music being used on this mainstream album……

[@Audiojunkabus]

(just sayin) In 1985, Ratt released their second studio album, "Invasion of Your Privacy." a commercial success and solidified the band's presence in the glam / hair-band metal scene. This was one of the 1st compact discs I purchased.

[@Moyetniishiswa2000]

Sting’s Dream of the blue turtles?!?

[@bowness1]

Discussed in a future 1985 episode.

[@deshunsmith7828]

Yes my first album I bought as a kid . Great album

[@PsychoGallagher]

Wait, Steven Wilson has a podcast where he talks about music records? Count me in!

[@markmasercola3958]

TR Acapella should be mentioned in the mix especially that you guys appreciate ambition and artists that take risks.

[@MyNameIsBucket]

I kind of hear what they're saying about the Live Aid split. It seems to me that music in the first half of the decade has a dark or insidious undercurrent to it. You can feel it from the lyrics and composition to the engineering and the instrument tones. Everything afterward was brighter, more sterile, more fun. You could say this about almost any genre.

[@markgatland977]

I'm with SW on this, "Once Upon A Time" by Simple Minds is a hill I'll happily die on 😄...it was the logical conclusion after "New Gold Dream" and "Sparkle In The Rain", 2 albums I also love. I remember that phrase that Mike Scott from The Waterboys used about 'The Big Music' which sort of summed up that bombastic U2/Simple Minds/Big Country type rock that was going on. Not all of it worked , but some definitely did, IMHO 😊

[@ChrisRollason]

I started buying CDs in the late '80s, but didn't have a player until 1992, when my parents bought me one for finishing my first Uni course. (bought me nothing for my other two degrees)

[@bobsbigboy_]

vegan for the animals! you're the coolest Steven!

[@HAAKHA]

A perfect human being doesn't ex... wait...

[@mikekaraoke]

Love this review, and have now subbed on your channel! However about the Vinyl taking over CD- that by 1988 ( 5 years after its U.S. release), CD sales had eclipsed vinyl, and sometimes were selling neck and neck and sometimes cassette sales would be abit more until 1994 then CDs took over in sales in 1992. Where in UK you guys from, I'm also in UK in England-Kent 😀 Yea Duran Duran didn't have an album out in 1985 due to their side projects as you know but at least they had the banger James Bond Theme Tune-A View to a Kill! My dad still has both Brothers in Arms/Brothers in Arms on CD, he also still has others like from 1985 like-Hounds of Love Kate Bush + they still have the music stickers on them from Our Price/HMV!

[@periloustemple8290]

I also want to remind you that although I would have never made this connection, Roland & Curt where changed by Bruce's Born in the USA! That blows me away and I sort of get it - but it's integral to how we get Seeds of Love! OMG, Rain Dogs. Blew me away.

[@rloewen]

My glee at hearing Tim didn't get CD until 1989/90 because at the start of that conversation I was feeling like I was a laggard for doing the same. 1M CDs in 1985? Kinda shocked.

[@dirkbogarde44]

If I remember....CD's when they came out were quite expensive...more expensive than vinyl or tapes.

[@bobby666666]

I first purchased the first CD in 1991. So pleased I did as the early CDs were poor in sound and mastering.

[@cirenosnor5768]

@rloewen - There were a *lot* of people who didn’t get CD’s until 89/90 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@andykrikkit]

I believe Dire Straits had some kind of promotional deal with Philips to sell CDs and CD players. Brothers in arms really was THE album to get on CD. The one people would think of as a CD release. It was digitally recorded, and if you bought it on LP you got edited versions of some of the songs to make it short enough for a single disc. To get the full experience you really needed to get the CD.

[@timkolacny967]

While I like all these albums, this discussion really brings into focus that what we consider to be "the 80s" is really two generations with 1985 being the split point. The split can be traced to production values, artists engineering for CD versus vinyl, and a certain "acceptability/mainstream" mindset where a lot of artists shifted to what we might call adult contemporary. Really interesting discussion.

[@marchughes6161]

David Sylvian’s “stop gap” album blows away anything else here

[@ethang.miller4861]

I think the Tom Waits is in that stratosphere, potentially the Prince too.

[@ik8034]

The first cd I ever bought was Kings X "Dogman" in 94. I was still buying vinyl. I'm starting to appreciate some of the 80's bands now in 2024, like Ultravox and OMD, who i never was into in the 80's. I was more into hard rock. metal and prog in the 80's.

[@shaky300]

Good choice and I hope you checked out King's X earlier albums.

[@ik8034]

@@shaky300 oh yes, I already had the earlier albums, Gretchen album drew me in as I'm a massive Rush fan. I saw them live supporting AC/DC.

[@frk75]

1985 is the years the dx7 and many other instruments officially dominated the market, and everybody were using more or less the same presets, and even the samplers, everyone used the sakuachi flute, thats why suddenly everything started to sound "mainstream" and less gutsy.....same for drums, all going for the heavy gated phil collins effect, even drum machines were processed through the same fx chain

[@MichProgNerd]

Would like to hear a discussion on TP’s Southern Accents with ties to Dave Stewart, Misplaced Childhood, Power Windows, EC’s Behind the Sun and Stereotomy.

[@vithouse8037]

Duran not have an album in 1985 but 2 side projects (and great) albums The Power Station and Arcadia " So Red the Rose"...and the only NRO 1 Bond Song with "A view to a Kill".

[@periloustemple8290]

I want to talk about all of it - and want to defend many great songs on Phil and Dire Strait's records, but you are so right about Prince. I am a huge Sparkle in the Rain fan, but that Simple Minds is 1 of the most influential things in my young musical life at the time. Ghost Dancing is a very different use of delay than the big U2 things (I love them, too) - and Jungleland. OMG. Side 2: 1 of the best side 2's of any album. OMG, New Gold Dream is also so amazing! None of this matters that much, of course, but Jim's vocals win at a Jim & Van Morrison level: we love him!

[@lightningstrikes7314]

I know you both will hate these and will send the Prog /Art Rock Police after me for this but if you're looking for the anti-U2 'worthy' bands, there was a nice clutch of brash British Yacht Rock/Steely Dan-inspired pop albums with amazing melodies, grooves and vocals/instrumentation in 85 that scratched a particular itch: Prefab Sprout Steve Mcqueen (the best of the bunch), Scritti Politti Cupid and Psyche, Level 42 World Machine, Go West's debut album and China Crisis (the weakest of the bunch). I think this movement had potential but fizzled out post-Live Aid as Stadium and Arena Rock took over and everything became message orientated and interesting chord changes and catchy melodies were thrown out with the bathwater.

[@bowness1]

Prefab Sprout and Scritti Politti both get a big (positive) mention in later episodes of 1985.

[@hbhmhbhm]

World Machine by Level 42 is a great album even though its a lot smoother and more heavily produced than the earlier stuff

[@lightningstrikes7314]

@@bowness1 Phew! Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[@lightningstrikes7314]

@@hbhmhbhm It was a good 'transition' into a more commercial sound but unfortunately the albums that followed were poor.

[@timparker7784]

Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen stands head and shoulders above Album Years' 1985 picks. Also, a Thomas Dolby audiophile dream production.

[@EHiggins]

I would say it was a peak year, but then came 1986

[@markyexley9440]

Dire Straits were sponsored by Philips on the Live In 85 tour. Pretty certain Philips gave away Brothers In Arms with some models of CD player too.

[@user-kz2di3ot1y]

I worked for HMV in 1985 and nearly all of the sales in the three different shops I worked in were vinyl - with a much smaller number on cassette. Don't even think they sold CDs at the time iirc. On a personal note, pretty sure I bought my first CD and CD player around 1993. Great listen otherwise.

[@craigroberts6374]

I believe Arcadia - So Red The Rose came out in 1985. Kind of Duran Duran dark.

[@bowness1]

A good album (quite Japan in parts). Sadly, we didn't have time to discuss that one (or the truly excellent Boys And Girls by Bryan Ferry).

[@craigroberts6374]

@@bowness1 Right. I forgot about Boys and Girls.

[@weednose939]

the american psycho edits in the sussudio bit are hilarious

[@thedream-workdoesnotthink4512]

Look forward to what yuz have to say on Hounds of Love

[@TheARJAY69]

Brothers in Arms was sequenced for CD. Vinyl version was 9 minutes shorter and not considered definitive by the band.

[@stujor2the2ndcoming]

Around the world in a day is really missing Hello and Girl bSIDES. It would have sold AT LEAST ANOTHER MILLION RECORDS.

[@BrothernoDoubt]

Astral, That's Andy Edwards bro.

[@bowness1]

It is. 🙂

[@jodyrobz]

ATWIAD is a classic and in my top 3 prince albums - ALSO DID TIM LIKE THE TAYLOR SONG!?? as I love that track.

[@tonictonetomrockstar1931]

'86 '87 was the big leap forward to CD for me at least.

[@giselaafonso]

I just bought my first CD in 1991/1992, and because i was forced to.

[@periloustemple8290]

We had to go through these growing pains musically - and still among whatever seems most annoying: a lot of it is of a better quality than many things we have experienced in the last decade (Steven: I am with you. Taylor is a stand out - and I wasn't a real fan until Ryan Adams did 1974, so there's that, I admit.

[@anthonychilds8193]

I know they're talking about albums, but curious in their assessment of Simple Minds' becoming big/mainstream/stadium pop and their opposing views on "Once Upon a Time" they completely ignore the real catalyst in their non-lp/soundtrack/mega-hit "(Don't You) Forget About Me" released prior (same year, but before their full album). Absolutely loved spying "Steve McQueen" ("Two Wheels Good" for me in the states at the time) atop the stack of CDs when they start talking about Sylvian's release. As much as I love Sylvian, there will never be enough conversation about Paddy McAloon/Prefab Sprout and I almost completely skipped DS to get to PM (not realizing at the time of thinking this, it wouldn't be until part 2).

[@Lavagemstomacal]

I'm very interested to see their opinion on the transition of the end 80's and how was the early 90s', I remember that on my parents house we only got a cd player on early to mid 90's

[@michaelantonyaustin]

…Andy Edward’s trashing Astral Weeks is hilarious 😂 I’m now a subscriber of his YT channel too!

[@Polychrome1201]

How can you talk about No Jacket Required without even mentioning Inside Out? smh

[@deshunsmith7828]

My first CD was 1988 U2 rattle and hum and Guns N’ Roses AFD.

[@sidnew2739]

Steven, your music is the greatest I can ever imagine, but calling "One more night" a beautiful ballad is...well...interesting. I am very happy that your own ones are as stellar as they are, given that THIS impresses you. 😁😉 Greetings from Germany, "T.H.C."(hehe) is flawless.

[@Indiediscs]

The Cult Love

[@ekstradycja]

This is funny how it's all seen as for instance for Mark Knopfler it was just another record he made with his band. Suddenly it coincided with CD being seriously introduced but also with all that MTV thing going on...

[@dirtyskoog]

Everything peaked in 1985.

[@vinnyreed723]

Funny Steven says ‘Downtown Train’ could be done by Springsteen given he had ‘Downbound Train’ on Born in the U.S.A. the year before

[@DrittAdrAtta]

Wasn't Boys and Girls by Bryan Ferry released in 1985? Kudos for Sylvian and Gabriel

[@Jackknuckleson]

What album is Tim talking about at 22:37? Is it Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blue? Forgive me of my ignorance.

[@christianwilliamson9752]

My first cd was Genesis. Invisible touch. Don't laugh at me lol

[@Norshammar72]

Where is this filmed? Tims studio or Stevens’?

[@dyarau5315]

Steven Wilson Talking about David Sylvian!?!!! ❤ .