The Ones That Missed the Cut: 15 More Essential Aussie Songs from 1985

1985 wasn’t just a good year for Australian music — it was an avalanche of talent, a period where rock, pop, new wave, and pub culture collided in a perfect storm of creativity. When I released my original “Top 15 Aussie Songs of 1985” video, one thing became obvious immediately: there were just too many great songs to fit into a single list. Viewers wrote in with dozens of suggestions, and the more I revisited the music of that year, the clearer it became that a follow-up was essential. So here it is — fifteen more tracks that didn’t make the main Top 15, but absolutely deserve their place in the spotlight.

We kick things off with GANGgajang’s timeless anthem “Sounds of Then (This Is Australia).” Few songs capture the feel of this country so vividly, and its staying power in ads, films, and culture shows just how deeply it resonated. From there, we dive into 1985’s rich variety: Olivia Newton-John reinventing herself with glossy, modern pop; Redgum continuing their tradition of politically charged storytelling; and the Dynamic Hepnotics keeping Australia funky with soulful, brass-driven grooves.

New wave and polished synth-pop were still huge in ’85, and bands like Eurogliders, Kids In The Kitchen, and Uncanny X-Men delivered some of their most enduring singles at this point. These songs weren’t just hits — they were part of the soundtrack of suburban bedrooms, school dances, and late-night music TV. Their chart performances (many spending 13–20 weeks in the Top 20) prove how widespread their appeal was.

The list also highlights bands who were sharpening their edge in preparation for even bigger things. INXS’s “This Time” sits right on the cusp of their global breakthrough, blending melodic confidence with the stadium-ready swagger they’d soon become famous for. Hoodoo Gurus appear twice in this countdown, and for good reason — 1985 was a peak creative period for them, and songs like “Bittersweet” and “Like Wow – Wipeout” show both sides of their personality: introspective depth and explosive, joyous rock.

Of course, no list from 1985 would be complete without a dash of Aussie oddity, and Mark “Jacko” Jackson certainly provides it. “I’m an Individual” was loud, cheeky, and impossible to ignore — a novelty hit that somehow captured the mood of the era.

Jimmy Barnes turns up with “Daylight,” a gritty track supercharged by Journey’s Neil Schon, while Eurogliders make a second appearance with the uplifting “Can’t Wait to See You.” And finally, we crown Dragon’s “Speak No Evil” as the number one song that missed the main countdown. Sleek, punchy, and wildly underrated, it’s a perfect example of the band’s under-appreciated mid-80s renaissance.

These songs may not have made the original Top 15, but together they paint an even fuller picture of what made 1985 such a landmark year in Australian music. They bring back memories of Countdown, live pub gigs, milk-bar cassette racks, and the raw excitement of a music scene overflowing with creativity. If the main list showed the year’s biggest hits, this one reveals its deeper treasures.

I’ve put together a playlist with all the full songs — check the link below and enjoy diving back into one of the richest years in Aussie music history.