Here are the 1985 Hot Black Singles #1s. The category was Hot Soul Singles from July 14th. 1973 until it turned into Black Singles on June 26, 1982. Then, on October 20th, 1984, the category became Hot Black Singles. Eventually, in 1990, it would become Hot R&B Singles.
Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake) – Freddie Jackson, six weeks at #1
Part-Time Lover – Stevie Wonder, six weeks at #1; also #1 pop
Freeway Of Love – Aretha Franklin, five weeks at #1. This was on the Who’s Zoomin’ Who album, considered a comeback for the Queen of Soul, which I bought. The album also contained Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves (with Eurythmics)
Night Shift – Commodores, four weeks at #1. This was post-Lionel Richie, that song with the dead pop stars, namechecked
Mr. Telephone Man – New Edition, three weeks at #1
Missing You – Diana Ross, three weeks at #1
Caravan Of Love – Isley Jasper Isley, three weeks at #1. The group spun off from the Isley Brothers; Chris Jasper was a brother-in-law
Don’t Say No Tonight – Eugene Wilde, three weeks at #1
Back In Stride – Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, two weeks at #1
We Are The World – USA for Africa, two weeks at #1; also #1 pop
Save Your Love (For #1) -René and Angela, two weeks at #1. René Moore and Angela Winbush. This is a club mix with Kurtis Blow; I didn’t find the single version.
Oh Sheila – Ready For The World, two weeks at #1; also #1 pop
You Are My Lady – Freddie Jackson, two weeks at #1
One week at #1
Gotta Get You Home Tonight -Eugene Wilde. Who IS this guy who had two RB Hits in the same year? He was born Ronald Eugene Broomfield; here’s his Wikipedia page
Rhythm of the Night – DeBarge. This song was FUN!
Fresh – Kool and the Gang
You Give Good Love – Whitney Houston. I have her first album on cassette. Cassette?
Hanging On A String (Contemplating) -Loose Ends
Saving All My Love For You – Whitney Houston, also #1 pop
Cherish – Kool and the Gang. Not to be confused with the Association or Madonna songs.