The summer of 1985 delivered one of the most eclectic charts of the decade. On this week’s Gen X 80s Top 20 Countdown UK, we dive into the full Top 25 from July 5, 1985; a line-up that blended novelty satire with heartfelt soul, cinematic ballads with punk-turned-goth, and synth-driven anthems with charity singles that carried a nation’s grief.

From Bruce Springsteen’s double-sided power to Madonna’s tender balladry, from Marillion’s stadium-sized drama to Sister Sledge’s pure pop joy, this countdown captures a Britain alive with contrasts. It’s the sound of a summer where humour, heartbreak, and hope all found a place on the same chart.

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Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay