In 1986, I was twenty years old hanging out with my local friends and just working a regular job. If I remember it right, I was working at an office supply manufacturing facility building staplers and scrubbing rulers with steel wool. Nothing glamorous.
A lot of good albums came out this year, especially Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet. Living in New Jersey was the most prominent album for my friends and I. We would go cruising while listening to the album around the country roads of rural New Jersey.
The following is a list of my favorite songs from 1985. I will only list my favorite song from each album, despite liking several. (The list contains affiliate links that if you click, I may earn a commission if purchased within a limited time.)
- Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi. This song is from their Slippery When Wet album released in August of 1986. This song has become an anthem for the young and struggling. Other hit songs on the album include You Give Love a B*ad Name, Wanted Dead or Alive, Never Say Goodbye, and I’ll Die For You. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Fire – Bruce Springsteen. This song is from his Live album released in November of 1986. Other hits on the album include Born to Run, Thunder Road, Spirit in the Night, and Jersey Girl. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Fall on Me – REM. This is from their Life’s Rich Pageant album released in July of 1986. Other songs on the album include Begin the Begin, The Flowers of Guatemala, What if We Give it Away, and Superman. This is my favorite REM album. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- A Question of Lust – Depeche Mode. This song is from their Black Celebration album released in March of 1986. Other songs on the album include Black Celebration, Stripped, and But Noth Tonight. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Wild Wild Life – Talking Heads. This song is from their True Stories album released in September of 1986. Other songs on this album include Love for Sale and Radio Head. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Don’t Get Me Wrong – The Pretenders. This song is from their Get C0lose album released in October of 1986. Other songs on the album include My Baby and Hymn to Her. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Manic Monday – The Bangles. This song was released on their Different Light album released in July of 1985. Other hits on this album include Walk Like an Egyptian and If She Knew What She Wants. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Live to Tell – Madonna. This song is from her True Blue album released in June of 1986. Other hits on this album include Papa Don’t Preach, True Blue, Open Your Heart, and La Isla Bonita. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- True Colors – Cyndi Lauper. This song is from her True Colors album released in September of 1986. Other songs on the album include Change of Heart and Boy Blue. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Higher Love – Steve Winwood. This song is from his Back in the High Life album released in March 1986. Other songs on the album include The Finer Things. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby. This song is from his The Way It Is album released in April of 1986. Other hits on this album include Mandolin Rain and Every Little Kiss. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Your Wildest Dreams – The Moody Blues. This song is from their The Other Side of Life album released in April of 1986. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- The Final Countdown – Europe. This song is from their The Final Countdown album released in May of 1986. Other songs on this album include Heart of Stone and Rock the Night. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Nobody’s Fool – Cinderella. This song is from their Night Songs album released in June of 1986. Other songs on this album include Shake Me and Somebody Save Me. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- I Wanna Go Back – Eddie Money. This song is from his Can’t Hold Back album released in August of 1986. Other songs on this album include Take Me Home Tonight and Bring on the Rain. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Mad About You – Belinda Carlisle. This song is from her Belinda album released in May of 1986. Other songs on this album include Band of Gold and Gotta Get to You. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Battle of the Dragon – Stevie Nicks. This song is from the American Anthem soundtrack released in June of 1986 but is also on her Enchanted box set. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Take My Breath Away – Berlin. This song is from the Top Gun soundtrack released in May of 1986 and also on Berlin’s Millenium Collection – The Best of Berlin album. Other songs on The Best of Berlin include Metro and Sex (I’m a …). Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- If You Leave – Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark. This song is from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack released in February of 1986. Other songs on this album include Pretty in Pink by the Psychedelic Furs. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
- Dreams – Van Halen. This song is from their 5150 album released in March of 1986. Other songs on this album include Why Can’t This Be Love? and Love Walks In. Other available versions include vinyl and a download of this album.
I created a playlist on my Youtube Channnel – Musical Pier entitled “Favorite Songs of 1986” so you can listen to these songs performed by the artists listed. Check it out! Thanks for reading!