1983 in music

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

List of years in music (table)

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–April

May–August

September–December

Bands formed

  • See Musical groups established in 1983

Bands disbanded

  • See Musical groups disestablished in 1983

Bands reformed

Albums released

January–March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
1 FelineThe Stranglers-
4 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)Eurythmics-
10 ExtendedancEPlayDire StraitsEP
14 NenaNena-
17 Trouble in ParadiseRandy Newman-
18 Cuts Like a KnifeBryan Adams-
20 American MadeThe Oak Ridge Boys-
PyromaniaDef Leppard-
21 The Law of Devil's LandLoudness-
28 Never SurrenderTriumph-
31 Another PageChristopher Cross-
? The Art of Falling ApartSoft Cell-
Dancing With DangerStreetheart-
Duck RockMalcolm McLaren-
Touch the SkySmokey Robinson-
What Makes a Man Start Fires?Minutemen-
What's Funk?Grand Funk-
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
3 PowerlightEarth, Wind & Fire-
4 PorcupineEcho & The Bunnymen-
8 Michael W. Smith ProjectMichael W. Smith-
11 LuckyMarty Balin-
18 Somewhere in AfrikaManfred Mann's Earth Band-
22 FrontiersJourney-
Kilroy Was HereStyx-
28 WarU2-
? Confusion Is SexSonic Youth-
G ForceKenny G-
KihnspiracyThe Greg Kihn Band-
Making ContactUFO-
Money and CigarettesEric Clapton-
Quick Step and Side Kick/Side KicksThompson Twins-
Rock GoddessRock Goddess-
Seal in RedRufus-
Strong StuffHank Williams, Jr.-
Subterranean JungleRamones-
WaitingFun Boy Three-
YoungbloodCarl Wilson-
M
A
R
C
H
1 Candy GirlNew Edition-
Legendary HeartsLou Reed-
4 Dazzle ShipsOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark-
Thunder and LightningThin Lizzy-
TrueSpandau Ballet-
7 The HurtingTears For Fears-
11 Metal HealthQuiet Riot-
No Rest for the WickedHelix-
14 EuropeEurope-
Script for a Jester's TearMarillion-
21 The Final CutPink Floyd-
Power & the GlorySaxon-
23 EliminatorZZ Top-
28 Baby SnakesFrank ZappaSoundtrack
JarreauAl Jarreau-
The Man from UtopiaFrank Zappa-
? The Abominable ShowmanNick Lowe-
Branigan 2Laura Branigan-
Dig That Groove BabyToy Dolls-
The High RoadRoxy MusicLive EP
If You Leave Me NowChicagoCompilation
Inarticulate Speech of the HeartVan Morrison-
JulioJulio Iglesias-
Local HeroMark KnopflerSoundtrack
Naked EyesNaked EyesTitled "Burning Bridges" in the UK
No Guts...No GloryMolly Hatchet-
Outside InsideThe Tubes-
So Fired UpLe Roux-

April–June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
8 Faster Than the Speed of NightBonnie Tyler-
The Luxury GapHeaven 17-
11 SirensSavatage-
FlashdanceVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
13 MurmurR.E.M.-
Violent FemmesViolent Femmes-
14 Let's DanceDavid Bowie-
25 HeadhunterKrokus-
27 Whammy!The B-52s-
29 HootenannyThe Replacements-
? CargoMen At Work-
FastwayFastway-
Havana MoonCarlos Santana-
High Land, Hard RainAztec Camera-
InformationDave Edmunds-
ItPulp-
It's Only Rock & RollWaylon Jennings-
Living in OzRick Springfield-
The KeyJoan Armatrading-
MadnessMadnessUS Compilation
Michael BoltonMichael Bolton-
Midnight at the Lost and FoundMeat Loaf-
Out of StepMinor Threat-
ScoopPete TownshendCompilation of unreleased tracks
Steve Miller Band Live!Steve Miller BandLive
Take It to the LimitWillie Nelson with Waylon Jennings-
M
A
Y
1 Life's a Riot with Spy vs SpyBilly Braggdebut
2 Power, Corruption & LiesNew Order-
3 "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" Yankovic-
10 She Works Hard for the MoneyDonna Summer-
With SympathyMinistry-
11 Zig-Zag WalkFoghat-
15 FeastThe Creatures-
Reach the BeachThe Fixx-
Ring of ChangesBarclay James Harvest-
16 Piece of MindIron Maiden-
18 In Your EyesGeorge Benson-
21 You Bought It, You Name ItJoe Walsh-
23 ConfrontationBob Marley & The Wailers-
25 Holy DiverDio-
27 CrisesMike Oldfield-
30 Too Low for ZeroElton John-
31 Speaking in TonguesTalking Heads-
Wrap Your Arms Around MeAgnetha Fältskog-
? Back to Mystery CityHanoi Rocks-
BruiseologyThe Waitresses-
Burlap & SatinDolly Parton-
C'est C BonCarlene Carter-
Cool KidsKix-
The Eleventh HourMagnum-
The First FlowerPlay Dead-
Head FirstUriah Heep-
Learning to Cope with CowardiceMark Stewart-
ListenA Flock of Seagulls-
Mama AfricaPeter Tosh-
Mary Jane GirlsMary Jane Girls-
The NetLittle River Band-
SiogoBlackfoot-
J
U
N
E
3 Your MoveAmerica-
4 Another Perfect DayMotörhead-
6 AlliesCrosby, Stills & NashLive +2 new studio tracks
Plays LivePeter GabrielLive
9 London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1Frank Zappa-
RossDiana Ross-
10 Body WishesRod Stewart-
Metal MagicPanteradebut
State of ConfusionThe Kinks-
This Means WarTank-
The Wild HeartStevie Nicks-
13 Texas FloodStevie Ray Vaughandebut
16 Old WaveRingo Starr-
17 SynchronicityThe Police-
18 WorksPink FloydCompilation
27 You Can't Stop Rock 'n' RollTwisted Sister-
? Diamond Jack and the Queen of PainKevin Ayers-
Farewell TourDoobie BrothersLive
Field DayMarshall Crenshaw-
The FugitiveTony Banks-
Girl at Her VolcanoRickie Lee JonesEP
Hand of KindnessRichard Thompson-
Keep it UpLoverboy-
Oil on CanvasJapanLive
Secret MessagesElectric Light Orchestra-
Sound ElixirNazareth-
Staying AliveBee Gees et al.Soundtrack
Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies-
You Gotta Say Yes to Another ExcessYello-

July–September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
1 Into Glory RideManowar-
4 You and Me BothYazoo-
8 WhodiniWhodini-
9 FantasticWham!-
11 The LookShalamar-
The Principle of MomentsRobert Plant-
14 Get It RightAretha Franklin-
15 The CrossingBig Country-
18 No ParlezPaul Young-
21 Burning FarmShonen Knife-
25 Kill 'em AllMetallica-
26 AlphaAsia-
Good for Your SoulOingo Boingo-
27 Everybody's Rockin'Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks-
MadonnaMadonnaDebut
? AlbumJoan Jett-
All of the Good Ones Are TakenIan Hunter-
Apollo: Atmospheres and SoundtracksBrian Eno-
Close to the BoneTom Tom Club-
Burning from the InsideBauhaus-
Drastic MeasuresKansas-
Fire DancesKilling Joke-
Outta HandConey Hatch-
Out For BloodLita Ford-
Private CollectionJon and Vangelis-
SaluteGordon Lightfoot-
The WaterboysThe Waterboys-
WorksStatus QuoCompilation
A
U
G
U
S
T
1 No FrillsBette Midler-
2 Lawyers in LoveJackson Browne-
5 Cold BloodedRick James-
Punch the ClockElvis Costello and the Attractions-
7 Born AgainBlack Sabbath-
8 An Innocent ManBilly Joel-
Script of the BridgeThe Chameleons-
9 ArkThe Animals-
10 Stompin' at the SavoyRufusLive
12 QueensrÿcheQueensrÿcheEP
15 Flick of the SwitchAC/DC-
Next Position PleaseCheap Trick-
Rant N' Rave with the Stray CatsThe Stray Cats-
18 White FeathersKajagoogoo-
20 PassionworksHeart-
22 Construction Time AgainDepeche Mode-
23 RattRattEP
24 Bent Out of ShapeRainbow-
28 The PresentMoody Blues-
30 MummerXTC-
31 Eyes That See in the DarkKenny Rogers-
Hello Big ManCarly Simon-
? All for OneRaven-
Dirty LooksJuice Newton-
Future ShockHerbie Hancock-
The CrackdownCabaret Voltaire-
Torment and TorerosMarc and the Mambas-
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
1 SwordfishtrombonesTom Waits-
12 Heads or TalesSaga-
Labour of LoveUB40-
14 Commodores 13Commodores-
15 SportsHuey Lewis and the News-
16 WarriorsGary Numan-
Little RobbersThe Motels-
18 Breaking the ChainsDokkenUS Remix
Lick It UpKiss-
20 Time-LineRenaissance-
26 Shout at the DevilMötley Crüe-
Into Battle with the Art of NoiseArt of NoiseEP
28 DaDaAlice Cooper-
How Many Times Can We Say GoodbyeDionne Warwick-
RigheiraRigheira-
? Born to Laugh at TornadoesWas (Not Was)-
Built to DestroyMichael Schenker Group-
CanterburyDiamond Head-
Good For Your SoulOingo Boingo-
HardGang of Four-
In HeatThe Romantics-
Johnny 99Johnny Cash-
LandThe Comsat Angels-
Live in TokyoPublic Image Ltd.Live
Mean StreakY & T-
Mike's MurderJoe JacksonSoundtrack
More Fun in the New WorldX-
Once a Rocker, Always a RockerThe Joe Perry Project-
One Particular HarbourJimmy Buffett-
Subject...Aldo NovaAldo Nova-
What's NewLinda Ronstadt-
Windows in the Jungle10cc-

October–December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
1 Ziggy Stardust – The Motion PictureDavid BowieLive 1973
3 GenesisGenesis-
6 Right or WrongGeorge Strait-
8 Feel My SoulJennifer Holliday-
23 Uh-HuhJohn Cougar Mellencamp-
11 Can't Slow DownLionel Richie-
14 She's So UnusualCyndi LauperDebut
Snap!The JamCompilation
16 LifeThin LizzyLive
18 Rock 'n Soul Part 1Hall & OatesCompilation
Voice of the HeartThe Carpenters-
20 DeliverOak Ridge Boys-
21 Soul MiningThe The-
23 Without a SongWillie Nelson-
27 InfidelsBob Dylan-
28 North of a MiracleNick Heyward-
30 MelissaMercyful Fate-
31 Head over HeelsCocteau Twins-
Pipes of PeacePaul McCartney-
Star Fleet ProjectBrian May + FriendsEP
? Alive, She CriedThe DoorsLive
Caught in the GameSurvivor-
Colour by NumbersCulture Club-
1stStreets-
Hell Hath No FuryRock Goddess-
Live from EarthPat BenatarLive +2 new studio tracks
Man of SteelHank Williams Jr.-
Metal CircusHüsker DüEP
Never Let You GoRita Coolidge-
No Parole from Rock 'n' RollAlcatrazz-
Play DirtyGirlschool-
The Revölution by NightBlue Öyster Cult-
SilverCliff Richard-
Standing in the LightLevel 42-
ZonesHawkwind-
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
2 What a Feelin'Irene Cara-
4 Hearts and BonesPaul Simon-
5 Clics ModernosCharly Garcia-
6 Break OutPointer Sisters-
7 90125Yes-
UndercoverThe Rolling Stones-
8 YentlBarbra StreisandSoundtrack
10 Rebel YellBilly Idol-
12 Back to BackStatus Quo-
14 BelieverChic-
TouchEurythmics-
Beauty StabABC-
15 It's About TimeJohn Denver-
Bark at the MoonOzzy Osbourne-
18 Walk Into LightIan Anderson-
21 Seven and the Ragged TigerDuran Duran-
Under a Blood Red SkyU2Live
23 Who's Greatest HitsThe WhoCompilation
25 NocturneSiouxsie and the BansheesLive
You Broke My Heart in 17 PlacesTracey Ullman-
30 Into the UnknownBad Religion-
? Cloak and DaggerWitchfynde-
Conflicting EmotionsSplit Enz-
Electric UniverseEarth, Wind & Fire-
First OffenseCorey Hart-
Greatest Hits Volume IIBarry ManilowCompilation
Have You Ever Been In LoveLeo Sayer-
Midnight MadnessNight Ranger-
Music For Films Volume 2Brian Eno-
Now That's What I Call MusicVarious ArtistsCompilation
StripAdam Ant-
The Politics of DancingRe-Flex-
Treeless PlainThe Triffids-
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
3 The Amazing Kamikaze SyndromeSlade-
Show No MercySlayer-
5 Balls to the WallAccept-
6 Japanese WhispersThe CureCompilation
12 Perverted By LanguageThe Fall-
14 ServiceYellow Magic Orchestra-
20 You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit FishGeorge 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
1Culture Club"Karma Chameleon"1983UK 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, Republic of Ireland 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
2Michael Jackson"Billie Jean"1983UK 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
3Irene Cara"Flashdance...What a Feeling"1983US 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
4David Bowie"Let's Dance"1983UK 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, Republic of Ireland 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
5The Police"Every Breath You Take"1983UK 1 – May 1983, US BB 1 – July 1983, US BB 1 of 1983, Canada 1 – May 1983, Republic of Ireland 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

Significant songs

Classical music

Premieres

Sortable table
ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Ligeti, GyörgySonata for Solo Cello1983-10-24 ParisStilz[10]

Compositions

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Musical television

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Charts

US no. 1 hits

  • Hot 100 no. 1 hits of 1983

See also:

See also

References

  1. Bobbie Johnso (October 19, 2006). "CDs, downloads ... and now band launches the memory-stick single". The Guardian. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  2. Clines, Francis X. (April 8, 1983). "Watt Reverses Ban on Rock Music at Concert". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  3. "Dec 02, 1983 Setlist". phish.net.
  4. "The Domestic Dispute that ended the life of Marvin Gaye". trutv.com. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  5. Brent Mann (2003). 99 Red Balloons: And 100 Other All Time Great One-Hit Wonders. Citadel Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-8065-2516-7.
  6. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (October 17, 1998). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 4.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Munich 1983". Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  9. |- Schott Music
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