A game that anyone can play: the best albums of 1985

Let’s do this alphabetically for once.

a-ha – Hunting High and Low
John Anderson – Tokyo, Oklahoma
Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
Rosanne Cash – Rhythm and Romance
George Clinton – Some Of My Best Jokes Are Friends
Phil Collins – No Jacket Required
The Cure – The Head on the Door
Eurythmics – Be Yourself Tonight
Bryan Ferry – Boys + Girls
Husker Du – Flip Your Wig
Kid Creole and the Coconuts – In Praise of Older Women and Other Crimes
LL Cool J – Radio
Meat Puppets – Up on the Sun
John Cougar Mellencamp – Scarecrow
The Mekons – Fear and Whiskey
Alexander O’Neal – Alexander O’Neal
New Order – Low-Life
Prefab Sprout – Two Wheels Good
Rene & Angela – A Street Called Desire
The Replacements – Tim
Sade – Promise
Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche ’85
The Smiths – Meat is Murder
Talking Heads – Little Creatures
Tears For Fears – Songs For the Big Chair
Luther Vandross – The Night We Fell in Love
Tom Waits – Rain Dogs