The first single from Elton John‘s 1985 album, Ice On Fire, “Wrap Her Up” memorably features falsetto backing vocals from George Michael (then climbing the charts himself with Wham!’s “I’m Your Man”).

Today, two out gay men singing about taking a woman home is the neon pink-hued height of irony, but even back in the mid-’80s when both singers’ public image was heterosexual (Elton was married to a woman the time), “Wrap Her Up” reeked of total camp. I was in middle school in 1985 and even I picked up the peculiar signals (and the single, natch).

The really fun part of “Wrap Her Up” arrives at the end when Elton and George trade vocals, singing names of famous females from Hollywood, history, and pop culture past and present: Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Doris Day, Billie Jean, Samantha Fox, Joan Collins, Kiki Dee (Elton’s occasional duet partner and also “Wrap Her Up” backing vocalist), Katharine Hepburn, Vivian Leigh, Grace Jones, Priscilla Presley, Vanessa Williams, Doris Franfeld, Nancy Reagan, Rita Hayworth, Petula Clark, Julie Andrews, Superwoman, Annie Lennox, Mata Hari, Shirley Temple, (mystery lady), Tallulah Bankhead, Linda Lovelace, Little Eva, Natassia Kinski, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Miss Pat Verness, and Elsie Tanner.

Who doesn’t love a song with a list?

Well, not nearly enough of America, as history would have it. “Wrap Her Up” finished its Billboard Hot 100 run at #20, spending two weeks there in mid-December 1985. Hear here:

The music video is here, with George Michael wrapped up in a fringed-leather jacket and a Bride of Frankenstein chorus line, but the edited vocal track leaves out lots of ladies. Kiki Dee does get a pie in the face though, courtesy of Elton.

The next single taken from Ice On Fire, “Nikita,” on which George Michael also contributed backing vocals, did much better than “Wrap Her Up,” reaching #7 in March 1986. The lesson? Singing about fictional lasses equals greater success.

Purchase Elton John – “Wrap Her Up” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.