1983 in music

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Art . Archaeology . Architecture . Literature . Music . Philosophy . Science +...

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.

Events

January–April

May–August

September–December

Bands formed

Bands disbanded

Bands reformed

Albums released

January – March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
1 Feline The Stranglers -
4 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Eurythmics -
10 ExtendedancEPlay Dire Straits EP
14 Nena Nena -
17 Trouble in Paradise Randy Newman -
18 Cuts Like a Knife Bryan Adams -
20 American Made The Oak Ridge Boys -
Pyromania Def Leppard -
21 The Law of Devil's Land Loudness -
28 Never Surrender Triumph -
31 Another Page Christopher Cross -
? The Art of Falling Apart Soft Cell -
Dancing With Danger Streetheart -
Duck Rock Malcolm McLaren -
Touch the Sky Smokey Robinson -
What Makes a Man Start Fires? Minutemen -
What's Funk? Grand Funk -
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
3 Powerlight Earth, Wind & Fire -
4 Porcupine Echo & The Bunnymen -
11 Lucky Marty Balin -
18 Somewhere in Afrika Manfred Mann's Earth Band -
22 Frontiers Journey -
Kilroy Was Here Styx -
28 War U2 -
? Confusion Is Sex Sonic Youth -
G Force Kenny G -
Kihnspiracy Greg Kihn Band -
Making Contact UFO -
Money and Cigarettes Eric Clapton -
Quick Step and Side Kick/Side Kicks Thompson Twins -
Seal in Red Rufus -
Strong Stuff Hank Williams, Jr. -
Subterranean Jungle Ramones -
Waiting Fun Boy Three -
Youngblood Carl Wilson -
M
A
R
C
H
4 Dazzle Ships Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark -
Thunder and Lightning Thin Lizzy -
True Spandau Ballet -
7 The Hurting Tears For Fears -
11 Metal Health Quiet Riot -
14 Europe Europe -
Script for a Jester's Tear Marillion -
21 The Final Cut Pink Floyd -
Power & the Glory Saxon -
23 Eliminator ZZ Top -
28 Baby Snakes Frank Zappa Soundtrack
Jarreau Al Jarreau -
The Man from Utopia Frank Zappa -
? The Abominable Showman Nick Lowe -
Branigan 2 Laura Branigan -
Dig That Groove Baby Toy Dolls -
The High Road Roxy Music Live EP
If You Leave Me Now Chicago Compilation
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart Van Morrison -
Julio Julio Iglesias -
Legendary Hearts Lou Reed -
Local Hero Mark Knopfler Soundtrack
Naked Eyes Naked Eyes -
No Guts...No Glory Molly Hatchet -
Outside Inside The Tubes -
So Fired Up Le Roux -

April – June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
8 The Luxury Gap Heaven 17 -
11 Sirens Savatage -
13 Murmur R.E.M. -
14 Let's Dance David Bowie -
25 Headhunter Krokus -
27 Whammy! The B-52s -
29 Hootenanny The Replacements -
? Cargo Men At Work -
Faster Than the Speed of Night Bonnie Tyler -
Fastway Fastway -
First Offense Corey Hart -
Flashdance Various Artists Soundtrack
Havana Moon Carlos Santana -
High Land, Hard Rain Aztec Camera -
Information Dave Edmunds -
It Pulp -
It's Only Rock & Roll Waylon Jennings -
Living in Oz Rick Springfield -
The Key Joan Armatrading -
Madness Madness US Compilation
Michael Bolton Michael Bolton -
Midnight at the Lost and Found Meat Loaf -
Out of Step Minor Threat -
Scoop Pete Townshend Compilation of unreleased tracks
Steve Miller Band Live! Steve Miller Band Live
Take It to the Limit Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings -
Violent Femmes Violent Femmes -
M
A
Y
2 Power, Corruption & Lies New Order -
3 "Weird Al" Yankovic "Weird Al" Yankovic -
10 She Works Hard for the Money Donna Summer -
With Sympathy Ministry -
11 Zig-Zag Walk Foghat -
15 Feast The Creatures -
Reach the Beach The Fixx -
Ring of Changes Barclay James Harvest -
16 Piece of Mind Iron Maiden -
21 You Bought It, You Name It Joe Walsh -
23 Confrontation Bob Marley & The Wailers -
25 Holy Diver Dio -
27 Crises Mike Oldfield -
30 Too Low for Zero Elton John -
31 Speaking in Tongues Talking Heads -
Wrap Your Arms Around Me Agnetha Fältskog -
? Back to Mystery City Hanoi Rocks -
Bruiseology The Waitresses -
Burlap & Satin Dolly Parton -
C'est C Bon Carlene Carter -
Cool Kids Kix -
The Eleventh Hour Magnum -
The First Flower Play Dead -
Head First Uriah Heep -
In Your Eyes George Benson -
Learning to Cope with Cowardice Mark Stewart -
Listen A Flock of Seagulls -
Mama Africa Peter Tosh -
Mary Jane Girls Mary Jane Girls -
The Net Little River Band -
Siogo Blackfoot -
J
U
N
E
1 Synchronicity The Police -
3 Your Move America -
4 Another Perfect Day Motörhead -
6 Allies Crosby, Stills & Nash Live +2 new studio tracks
Plays Live Peter Gabriel Live
9 London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1 Frank Zappa -
10 Body Wishes Rod Stewart -
State of Confusion The Kinks -
This Means War Tank -
The Wild Heart Stevie Nicks -
13 Texas Flood Stevie Ray Vaughan debut
16 Old Wave Ringo Starr -
18 Works Pink Floyd Compilation
27 You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll Twisted Sister -
? Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain Kevin Ayers -
Farewell Tour Doobie Brothers Live
Field Day Marshall Crenshaw -
The Fugitive Tony Banks -
Girl At Her Volcano Rickie Lee Jones EP
Hand of Kindness Richard Thompson -
Oil on Canvas Japan Live
Secret Messages Electric Light Orchestra -
Sound Elixir Nazareth -
Staying Alive Bee Gees et al. Soundtrack
Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies -
You Gotta Say Yes to Another Excess Yello -

July – September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
4 You and Me Both Yazoo -
8 Whodini Whodini -
9 Fantastic Wham! -
11 The Look Shalamar -
The Principle of Moments Robert Plant -
15 The Crossing Big Country -
18 No Parlez Paul Young -
21 Burning Farm Shonen Knife -
26 Kill 'em All Metallica -
26 Alpha Asia -
Good for Your Soul Oingo Boingo -
27 Everybody's Rockin' Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks -
Madonna Madonna debut
Album Joan Jett -
All of the Good Ones Are Taken Ian Hunter -
Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks Brian Eno -
Close to the Bone Tom Tom Club -
Burning from the Inside Bauhaus -
Drastic Measures Kansas -
Fire Dances Killing Joke -
Get It Right Aretha Franklin -
Outa Hand Coney Hatch -
Out For Blood Lita Ford -
Private Collection Jon and Vangelis -
Salute Gordon Lightfoot -
The Waterboys The Waterboys -
Works Status Quo Compilation
A
U
G
U
S
T
1 No Frills Bette Midler -
2 Lawyers in Love Jackson Browne -
5 Punch the Clock Elvis Costello and the Attractions -
7 Born Again Black Sabbath -
8 An Innocent Man Billy Joel -
10 Stompin' at the Savoy Rufus Live
12 Queensrÿche Queensrÿche -
15 Flick of the Switch AC/DC -
Next Position Please Cheap Trick -
Rant N' Rave with the Stray Cats The Stray Cats -
20 Passionworks Heart -
22 Construction Time Again Depeche Mode -
23 Ratt EP Ratt -
24 Bent Out of Shape Rainbow -
28 The Present Moody Blues -
30 Mummer XTC -
31 Eyes That See in the Dark Kenny Rogers -
Hello Big Man Carly Simon -
All for One Raven -
Ark The Animals -
Candy Girl New Edition -
Cold Blooded Rick James -
Dirty Looks Juice Newton -
Future Shock Herbie Hancock -
Script of the Bridge The Chameleons -
Torment and Toreros Marc and the Mambas -
White Feathers Kajagoogoo -
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
12 Heads or Tales Saga -
Labour of Love UB40 -
15 Sports Huey Lewis and the News -
16 Warriors Gary Numan -
Little Robbers The Motels -
18 Breaking the Chains Dokken US Remix
Lick It Up Kiss -
20 Time-Line Renaissance -
26 Shout at the Devil Mötley Crüe -
Into Battle with the Art of Noise Art of Noise EP
28 DaDa Alice Cooper -
Righeira Righeira -
Born to Laugh at Tornadoes Was (Not Was) -
Built to Destroy Michael Schenker Group -
Canterbury Diamond Head -
Good For Your Soul Oingo Boingo -
Hard Gang of Four -
In Heat The Romantics -
Johnny 99 Johnny Cash -
Live in Tokyo Public Image Ltd. Live
Mean Streak Y & T -
Mike's Murder Joe Jackson Soundtrack
More Fun in the New World X -
Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker The Joe Perry Project -
One Particular Harbour Jimmy Buffett -
Subject: Aldo Nova Aldo Nova -
Swordfishtrombones Tom Waits -
What's New Linda Ronstadt -
Windows in the Jungle 10cc -

October – December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
3 Genesis Genesis -
6 Right or Wrong George Strait -
7 Uh-Huh John Cougar Mellencamp -
11 Can't Slow Down Lionel Richie -
14 She's So Unusual Cyndi Lauper Debut
Snap! The Jam Compilation
16 Life Thin Lizzy Live
18 Rock 'n Soul Part 1 Hall & Oates -
Voice of the Heart The Carpenters -
20 Deliver Oak Ridge Boys -
23 Without a Song Willie Nelson -
24 Don't Stop Rappin' Too Short -
27 Infidels Bob Dylan -
30 Melissa Mercyful Fate -
31 Head over Heels Cocteau Twins -
Pipes of Peace Paul McCartney -
Alive, She Cried The Doors Live
Caught in the Game Survivor -
Colour by Numbers Culture Club -
1st Streets -
Live from Earth Pat Benatar Live +2 new studio tracks
Man of Steel Hank Williams Jr. -
Metal Circus Hüsker Dü EP
Never Let You Go Rita Coolidge -
No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll Alcatrazz -
Play Dirty Girlschool -
The Revölution by Night Blue Öyster Cult -
Silver (Cliff Richard album) Cliff Richard -
Soul Mining The The -
Standing in the Light Level 42 -
Star Fleet Project Brian May + Friends -
Ziggy Stardust - The Motion Picture David Bowie Live 1973
Zones Hawkwind -
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
4 Hearts and Bones Paul Simon -
6 Break Out Pointer Sisters -
7 90125 Yes -
Under a Blood Red Sky U2 Live
Undercover The Rolling Stones -
8 Keep it Up Loverboy -
10 Rebel Yell Billy Idol -
12 Back to Back Status Quo -
14 Believer Chic -
Touch Eurythmics -
15 It's About Time John Denver -
Bark at the Moon Ozzy Osbourne -
18 Walk Into Light Ian Anderson -
21 Seven and the Ragged Tiger Duran Duran -
23 Who's Greatest Hits The Who Compilation
25 Nocturne Siouxie and the Banshees Live
You Broke My Heart in 17 Places Tracey Ullman -
26 Beauty Stab ABC -
Cloak and Dagger Witchfynde -
Conflicting Emotions Split Enz -
Electric Universe Earth, Wind & Fire -
Greatest Hits Volume II Barry Manilow Compilation
Have You Ever Been In Love Leo Sayer -
Midnight Madness Night Ranger -
Music For Films Volume 2 Brian Eno -
Now That's What I Call Music Various Artists Compilation
The Politics of Dancing (album) Re-Flex -
Treeless Plain The Triffids -
Yentl Barbra Streisand Soundtrack
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
3 The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome Slade -
Show No Mercy Slayer -
5 Balls to the Wall Accept -
6 Japanese Whispers The Cure Compilation
12 Perverted By Language The Fall -
14 Service Yellow Magic Orchestra -
? You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish George Clinton -

Release Date Unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1983.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1 Culture Club "Karma Chameleon" 1983 United Kingdom UK 1 – September 1983, US BB 1 – February 1984, Canada 1 – December 1983, Netherlands 1 – September 1983, Sweden (alt) 1 – October 1983, Switzerland 1 – October 1983, Norway 1 – October 1983, Éire 1 – September 1983, New Zealand 1 for 6 weeks October 1983, Australia 1 for 5 weeks July 1984, Austria 3 – November 1983, Germany 3 – January 1984, South Africa 7 of 1984, Poland 8 – September 1983, Australia 8 of 1983, US CashBox 14 of 1984, POP 15 of 1984, Italy 16 of 1983, KROQ 25 of 1983, US BB 29 of 1984, RYM 49 of 1983, Scrobulate 71 of 80s, Germany 159 of the 1980s, OzNet 979
2 Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" 1983 United States UK 1 – January 1983, US BB 1 – January 1983, Canada 1 – February 1983, Switzerland 1 – March 1983, Republic of Ireland 1 – March 1983, Australia 1 for 5 weeks February 1984, Netherlands 2 – January 1983, Sweden (alt) 2 – March 1983, France 2 – January 1983, US CashBox 3 of 1983, Austria 3 – April 1983, Poland 3 – February 1983, Germany 3 – March 1983, Australia 4 of 1983, RYM 4 of 1983, POP 4 of 1983, Norway 6 – April 1983, Italy 8 of 1983, South Africa 15 of 1983, 15 in 2FM list, Scrobulate 16 of pop, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1983, Acclaimed 33, Europe 40 of the 1980s, Party 53 of 2007, Rolling Stone 58, Germany 139 of the 1980s, OzNet 249, WXPN 620
3 Irene Cara "Flashdance...What a Feeling" 1983 United States US BB 1 – April 1983, US CashBox 1 of 1983, Canada 1 – May 1983, Canada RPM 1 for 3 weeks - June 1983, Sweden (alt) 1 – May 1983, France 1 – July 1983, France SNEP 1 - September 1983, Switzerland 1 – June 1983, Norway 1 – June 1983, Italy 1 for 9 weeks - November 1983, New Zealand 1 for 6 weeks - July 1983, Australia 1 for 7 weeks - June 1983, UK 2 – June 1983, Austria 4 – August 1983, Japan 1 for 2 weeks - August 1983, Germany 4 – June 1983, Netherlands 13 – April 1983, Belgium 20 - May 1983, Poland 21 – July 1983, US BB 6 of 1983, Japan 7 of all time (international songs), Australia 2 of 1983, POP 3 of 1983, South Africa 9 of 1983, Scrobulate 31 of gay, AFI 55, Germany 57 of the 1980s, RYM 121 of 1983, OzNet 243, RIAA 256, Oscar in 1983
4 David Bowie "Let's Dance" 1983 United Kingdom UK 1 – March 1983, US BB 1 – April 1983, Canada 1 – March 1983, Netherlands 1 – March 1983, Sweden (alt) 1 – April 1983, France 1 – March 1983, Switzerland 1 – April 1983, Norway 1 – March 1983, Éire 1 – April 1983, New Zealand 1 for 6 weeks April 1983, Austria 2 – May 1983, Germany 2 – April 1983, US CashBox 4 of 1983, Poland 5 – April 1983, KROQ 6 of 1983, US BB 15 of 1983, Italy 19 of 1983, Australia 24 of 1983, RYM 32 of 1983, Scrobulate 40 of 80s, POP 47 of 1983, Germany 172 of the 1980s, Belgium 258 of all time, Acclaimed 1445
5 The Police "Every Breath You Take" 1983 United Kingdom UK 1 – May 1983, US BB 1 – July 1983, US BB 1 of 1983, Canada 1 – May 1983, Éire 1 – June 1983, US CashBox 2 of 1983, Sweden (alt) 2 – June 1983, Norway 2 – June 1983, KROQ 3 of 1983, Poland 5 – June 1983, South Africa 5 of 1983, Netherlands 6 – May 1983, Switzerland 6 – July 1983, Austria 8 – August 1983, Germany 8 – June 1983, France 10 – May 1983, Australia 10 of 1983, Italy 10 of 1983, Virgin 12, Scrobulate 13 of 80s, US BB 16 of 1983, RYM 16 of 1983, Europe 33 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 38, OzNet 38, RIAA 44, POP 49 of 1983, Poland 68 of all time, TheQ 76, Rolling Stone 84, 90 in 2FM list, Belgium 110 of all time, WXPN 216

Top hits on record

Published popular music

Classical music

Opera

Musical theater

Musical films

Musical television

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Charts

List of no. 1 hits

See also:

References

  1. http://phish.net/setlists/?d=1983-12-02
  2. "The Domestic Dispute that ended the life of Marvin Gaye". trutv.com. Retrieved June 18, 2012.