When I look back at the rock charts of yesteryear in 1985, “rock” was basically more like pop. It was stuff like Sting’s “The Dream of the Blue Turtles,” with jazz arrangements and songs like, “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” and “Love is the Seventh Wave,” and a dark song called “Russians,” which miraculously made the Top 15 on it. Some decent songs, but not hard rock.
Mick Jagger had a solo record out because he was pissed at Keith. Phil Collins “No Jacket Required,” a disappointing Tom Petty/Heartbreakers record where they explored their “Southern Accents” only to put a drum programmed “Don’t Come Around Here No More” on it.
There was “Money For Nothing” in 1985, but then you’d hear “Walk of Life” on rock radio. John Mellencamp did come to the rescue with a little more attitude and a fantastic “Scarecrow” record.
Then there was Bryan Adams, who decided to buckle down put some guitars up front in the mix and dominate the radio like Mellencamp did, with his first number one album, this week in 1985, with “Reckless.” To put in into perspective, Adams was basically the hardest rocking album on rock radio, pretty much. It was a damn great record, and I talk about it on my latest podcast, and play you a few tracks from album that you likely haven’t heard in years. Check it out!
