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List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1985

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Four middle-aged men playing musical instruments on a stage in front of an audience
The band Alabama had four number ones in 1985.

Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1985, 51 different songs topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 issues of the magazine, based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1] Only "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)" by Ronnie Milsap managed a second week at the top of the chart.

Alabama, one of the most successful bands in country music history,[2] had the highest number of chart-toppers by a single act in 1985, with four: "(There's A) Fire in the Night", "There's No Way", "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" and "Can't Keep a Good Man Down". When the group achieved its third number one of the year in August, Billboard regarded it as Alabama's seventeenth consecutive Hot Country number one, breaking the record for consecutive chart-toppers previously held by Sonny James.[3] Alabama had released a Christmas single in late 1982 which only peaked at number 35, but the magazine disregarded this for the purposes of the band's number one streak, stating "only a Scrooge would count that against them".[3] The band would eventually extend its streak of consecutive number ones to 21 before its popularity began to wane in the 1990s.[2][4] Earl Thomas Conley, Exile, the Judds and the Oak Ridge Boys each had three number ones in 1985. Additionally Willie Nelson achieved one solo number one, one in collaboration with Ray Charles, and one as a member of the supergroup the Highwaymen, in which he was joined by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.[5]

Having appeared regularly on the Hot Country chart since 1976, Mel McDaniel achieved his first and only number one in 1985 with "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On".[6] Ray Charles also topped the chart for the only time in 1985.[7] Although he was far more associated with the soul and rhythm and blues genres during his lengthy career,[8][9] Charles placed several songs on the country chart during the mid-1980s. He went all the way to the top spot with the Willie Nelson collaboration "Seven Spanish Angels", taken from the album Friendship, on which Charles duetted with a range of contemporary country singers.[10] Gary Morris and Sawyer Brown were also first-time chart-toppers in 1985, with "Baby Bye Bye" and "Step That Step" respectively.[11][12] "Have Mercy" by The Judds was the final number one of the year.

Chart history

[edit]
A dark-skinned man wearing dark glasses and a tuxedo, leaning on a piano
Ray Charles was more associated with the soul and rhythm and blues genres, but in 1985 he had a number one on the country chart.
Singer Mel McDaniel
Mel McDaniel had his only number one in 1985.
A man with long white hair and a beard playing a guitar
Willie Nelson had one solo number one, one in collaboration with Ray Charles, and one as part of supergroup The Highwaymen.
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 5 "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" George Strait [13]
January 12 "The Best Year of My Life" Eddie Rabbitt [14]
January 19 "How Blue" Reba McEntire [15]
January 26 "(There's A) Fire in the Night" Alabama [16]
February 2 "A Place to Fall Apart" Merle Haggard [17]
February 9 "Ain't She Somethin' Else" Conway Twitty [18]
February 16 "Make My Life with You" The Oak Ridge Boys [19]
February 23 "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" Mel McDaniel [20]
March 2 "Baby Bye Bye" Gary Morris [21]
March 9 "My Only Love" The Statler Brothers [22]
March 16 "Crazy for Your Love" Exile [23]
March 23 "Seven Spanish Angels" Ray Charles (with Willie Nelson) [24]
March 30 "Crazy" Kenny Rogers [25]
April 6 "Country Girls" John Schneider [26]
April 13 "Honor Bound" Earl Thomas Conley [27]
April 20 "I Need More of You" The Bellamy Brothers [28]
April 27 "Girls' Night Out" The Judds [29]
May 4 "There's No Way" Alabama [30]
May 11 "Somebody Should Leave" Reba McEntire [31]
May 18 "Step That Step" Sawyer Brown [32]
May 25 "Radio Heart" Charly McClain [33]
June 1 "Don't Call Him a Cowboy" Conway Twitty [34]
June 8 "Natural High" Merle Haggard [35]
June 15 "Country Boy" Ricky Skaggs [36]
June 22 "Little Things" The Oak Ridge Boys [37]
June 29 "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning" Ronnie Milsap [38]
July 6 "She's a Miracle" Exile [39]
July 13 "Forgiving You Was Easy" Willie Nelson [40]
July 20 "Dixie Road" Lee Greenwood [41]
July 27 "Love Don't Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)" Earl Thomas Conley [42]
August 3 "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" Alabama [43]
August 10 "I'm for Love" Hank Williams Jr. [44]
August 17 "Highwayman" The Highwaymen [45]
August 24 "Real Love" Dolly Parton (duet with Kenny Rogers) [46]
August 31 "Love Is Alive" The Judds [47]
September 7 "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" Rosanne Cash [48]
September 14 "Modern Day Romance" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band [49]
September 21 "I Fell in Love Again Last Night" The Forester Sisters [50]
September 28 "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)" Ronnie Milsap [51]
October 5 [52]
October 12 "Meet Me in Montana" Marie Osmond (with Dan Seals) [53]
October 19 "You Make Me Want to Make You Mine" Juice Newton [54]
October 26 "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" The Oak Ridge Boys [55]
November 2 "Some Fools Never Learn" Steve Wariner [56]
November 9 "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" Alabama [57]
November 16 "Hang On to Your Heart" Exile [58]
November 23 "I'll Never Stop Loving You" Gary Morris [59]
November 30 "Too Much on My Heart" The Statler Brothers [60]
December 7 "I Don't Mind the Thorns (If You're the Rose)" Lee Greenwood [61]
December 14 "Nobody Falls Like a Fool" Earl Thomas Conley [62]
December 21 "The Chair" George Strait [63]
December 28 "Have Mercy" The Judds [64]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN 9780898201659.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Alabama Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Grein, Paul (August 3, 1985). "Chart Beat". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Houghton, Cillea (April 23, 2017). "Dixieland Delight: See Alabama Through the Years". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Thompson, Gayle (December 6, 2017). "33 Years Ago: Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson record 'Highwayman'". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  6. ^ "Mel McDaniel Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  7. ^ "Ray Charles Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  8. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Ray Charles Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  9. ^ "Ray Charles". The Independent. June 12, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  10. ^ Erlewine, Steven Thomas. "Friendship review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  11. ^ "Gary Morris Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  12. ^ "Sawyer Brown Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  13. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 5, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  14. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 12, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  15. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 19, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  16. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 26, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  17. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 2, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  18. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 9, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  19. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 16, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  20. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 23, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  21. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 2, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  22. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 9, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  23. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 16, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  24. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 23, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  25. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 30, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  26. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 6, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  27. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 13, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  28. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 20, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  29. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 27, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  30. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 4, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  31. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 11, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  32. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 18, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  33. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 25, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  34. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 1, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  35. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 8, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  36. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 15, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  37. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 22, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 2, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  38. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 29, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  39. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 6, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  40. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 13, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  41. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 20, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  42. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 27, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  43. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 3, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  44. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 10, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  45. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 17, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  46. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 24, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  47. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 31, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  48. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 7, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  49. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 14, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  50. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 21, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  51. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 28, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  52. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 5, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  53. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 12, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  54. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 19, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  55. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 26, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  56. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 2, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  57. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 9, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  58. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 16, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  59. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 23, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  60. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 30, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  61. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 7, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  62. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 14, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  63. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 21, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  64. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 28, 1985". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2010.