Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 6

Another month, and new a new Number One. On May 11, 1985, “Crazy for You” (video up top) by American singer Madonna reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. The song was from the soundtrack of the 1985 movie Vision Quest—a movie I never saw and had absolutely no memory of until I read the linked Wikipedia article. The song, which I definitely remember, was released on March 2, 1985. It was written by John Bettis and Jon Lind, and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez. I was already very familiar with Bettis because he worked with Richard Carpenter on many songs for the Carpenters.

It’s hard to remember forty years later, but at teh time Madonna recorded this song she was better known for uptempo songs and her label was reluctant to release this song as a single. The relented, and the song became a hit.

I liked many of Madonna’s songs in those days—and lots of her songs since—and this song is one I also liked. While I don’t remember the movie tie-in at all, I certainly heard the song on the radio at the time. As the 1980s continued, I heard her on the radio a lot, and I liked a lot of them. And yet, I never bought a Madonna album or ordinary single, though I did buy the 12-inch single of “Like A Prayer”—at least I think I did, because if I really did, I no longer have it. When I moved to New Zealand, Nigel had the CD version of The Immaculate Collection, Madonna’s 1990 greatest hits collection. I still have that CD, but haven’t bought anything in the years since. This is sort of thing is actually quite common for me.

“Crazy for You” reached Number One in Australia and Canada, Number 2 in New Zealand, Number 2 in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, as well as Number 2 on their “Adult Contemporary”, and reached Number 2 on the Cash Box “Top 100” chart, and Number One on the USA’s Radio & Records “CHR & Pop Charts”. The song was certified Gold in the USA.

The soundtrack album for Vision Quest reached Number 46 in Australia, Number 42 in Canada, in New Zealand (Platinum), and Number 11 on the “Billboard 200” (3x Platinum), as well as Number 30 on the Cash Box “Top 100 Albums”. It was certified Platinum in the USA. The album didn’t chart in New Zealand or the UK.

This series will return next week, on May 18 with the next Number One from 1985. Is that another song I liked?

Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series:

Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 1 – February 2, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 2 – February 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 3 – March 12, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 4 – March 30, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 5 – April 13, 2025