This week in 1985
1 I Know Him So Well Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson 2 Love and Pride King 3 Solid Ashford and Simpson 4 Dancing in the Dark Bruce Springsteen 5 I Want To Know What Love Is Foreigner 6 1999/Little Red Corvette Prince 7 Things Can Only Get Better Howard Jones 8 Atmosphere Russ Abbot 9 Close (To The Edit) The Art Of Noise 10 A New England Kirsty MacColl
Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson recorded their vocals separately for this classic number one, only getting together for TV appearances and touring after the single was released. ‘I Know Him So Well’ was written by Tim Rice and Abba’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and recorded for a ‘Chess’ concept album ahead of the West End production of their hit musical. Based on the chorus of ‘I Am An A’, a song from Abba’s 1977 tour, ‘I Know Him So Well’ was a major hit on this side of the Atlantic, spending four weeks on top of the UK charts. It remains the biggest selling UK single by a female duo. Among the notable cover versions was a 1987 release by Whitney Houston and her mother Cissy, and a 2011 version for Comic Relief from Peter Kay (as Geraldine McQueen) and Susan Boyle.