Bookending the year of 1985, we highlight another wave of records now 40 years behind us. From Sade’s smooth Promise and Run-DMC’s genre-bending King of Rock to LL Cool J’s hard-hitting Radio, the year marked key turning points in R&B and hip-hop alike. Meanwhile, The Replacements found cult glory with Tim, The Cure sharpened their sound on The Head on the Door, and, along the way, we reflect on Supertramp’s legacy following the passing of Rick Davies. This WorkTape episode finds us exploring the wide spectrum of sounds that made ’85 unforgettable. Take a listen to relive another chapter of classic pop history.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• Did Supertramp’s progressive spirit help them outlast the pop trends of their era?
• Did Sade’s Promise prove she was more than a one-album wonder after Diamond Life?
• Was King of Rock the first true hip-hop and rock crossover moment?
• Did LL Cool J’s Radio mark the arrival of the solo MC as a force in rap?
• Was Sportin’ Life an underrated swan song for Weather Report?
• Did Stryper walk so Skillet could run?
• Is The Head on the Door the last “true” Cure album?