1984 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.

List of years in music (table)

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Bands formed

  • See Musical groups established in 1984

Bands disbanded

  • See Musical groups disestablished in 1984

Bands reformed

Albums released

January–March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
4 Defenders of the FaithJudas Priest-
7 Learning to CrawlThe Pretenders-
9 1984Van Halen-
16 Points on the CurveWang Chung-
19 OblivionUtopia-
21 Bon JoviBon JoviDebut
DisillusionLoudnessJapanese version
27 Christine McVieChristine McVie-
Milk and HoneyJohn Lennon & Yoko Ono-
28 All the RageGeneral Public
30 SoftwareGrace Slick-
Somebody's Watching MeRockwell-
? Fistful of MetalAnthrax-
Flex-AbleSteve Vai-
Just a Little LoveReba McEntire-
Lady of the StarsDonovan-
Live Europe '83Joan BaezUK
Mother's SpiritualLaura Nyro-
PenetratorTed Nugent-
Roll OnAlabama-
Slide It InWhitesnakeUK
Tour de Force38 Special-
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
6 Sparkle in the RainSimple Minds-
7 Ammonia AvenueThe Alan Parsons Project-
14 Footloose soundtrackVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Mister HeartbreakLaurie Anderson-
17 Budapest LiveManfred Mann's Earth BandLive
Into the GapThompson Twins-
20 Keep MovingMadness-
The SmithsThe Smiths-
24 Metal QueenLee Aaron-
Wings of TomorrowEurope-
27 Dead Can DanceDead Can Dance-
Human RacingNik Kershaw-
Ricochet DaysModern English-
The WorksQueen-
28 "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D"Weird Al" Yankovic-
? Animal GraceApril Wine-
DeclarationThe Alarm-
The Flat EarthThomas Dolby-
The Great PretenderDolly Parton-
Hail to EnglandManowar-
It's My LifeTalk Talk-
Live at the Grand Opera House BelfastVan MorrisonLive
Mystery WalkM + M-
Parting Should Be PainlessRoger Daltrey-
Rhyme & ReasonMissing Persons-
Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!ToyahCompilation
M
A
R
C
H
2 This Is Spinal TapSpinal Tapsoundtrack
5 Rising ForceYngwie Malmsteen-
9 Human's LibHoward Jones-
10 Psalm 9Trouble-
12 FugaziMarillion-
Love LifeBerlin-
13 Heartbeat CityThe Cars-
14 Body and SoulJoe Jackson-
16 Alchemy: Dire Straits LiveDire StraitsLive
Café BleuThe Style Council-
22 The Dungeons Are CallingSavatageEP
Talk ShowThe Go-Go's-
23 The Icicle WorksThe Icicle Works-
26 Now That's What I Call Music IIVarious ArtistsCompilation
27 About FaceDavid Gilmour-
Love at First StingScorpions-
Out of the CellarRatt-
Run–D.M.C.Run-D.M.C.-
Three of a Perfect PairKing Crimson-
? Against All Odds soundtrackVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
All Those Wasted YearsHanoi RocksLive
Burning the WitchesWarlock-
Deià...VuKevin Ayers-
Great WhiteGreat White-
Meltdown (Steve Taylor album)Steve Taylor-
Minor ThreatMinor ThreatCompilation
My WarBlack Flag-
N.E.W.S.Golden Earring-

April–June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
1 PrimitiveNeil Diamond-
4 VengeanceNew Model Army-
6 LamentUltravox-
8 99 LuftballonsNena-
9 ReckoningR.E.M.-
12 Grace Under PressureRush-
16 At War with SatanVenom-
CrusaderSaxon-
21 History, Mystery & ProphesyLee "Scratch" Perry-
30 Junk CultureOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark-
The Pros and Cons of Hitch HikingRoger Waters-
The TopThe Cure-
? BananaramaBananarama-
Caught in the ActStyxLive
Jermaine JacksonJermaine Jackson-
Keep Your Hands Off My Power SupplySlade-
New SensationsLou Reed-
Self ControlLaura Branigan-
Street TalkSteve Perry-
This Is Spinal TapSpinal TapSoundtrack
M
A
Y
4 Ocean RainEcho & the Bunnymen-
8 HysteriaThe Human League-
LegendBob Marley & The WailersCompilation
10 Stay HungryTwisted Sister-
12 Slades GreatsSladeCompilation
14 Chicago 17Chicago-
Hallowed GroundViolent Femmes-
15 Couldn't Stand the WeatherStevie Ray Vaughan-
Farewell My Summer LoveMichael JacksonCompilation
VicesKick Axe-
23 All Over the PlaceThe Bangles-
29 Fat BoysThe Fat Boys-
Private DancerTina Turner-
30 Nuclear FurnitureJefferson Starship-
? The BoxThe Box-
Breaking CurfewRed Rider-
Civilized ManJoe Cocker-
EdenEverything but the Girl-
From the Promised LandPlay Dead-
Give 'Em The AxeLizzy BordenEP
In the Long GrassThe Boomtown Rats-
Live SentenceAlcatrazzLive
Major MovesHank Williams, Jr.-
Mange ToutBlancmange-
Man on the LineChris de Burgh-
Nick Lowe and His Cowboy OutfitNick Lowe-
Russ BallardRuss Ballard-
Russians and AmericansAl Stewart-
Stealing FireBruce Cockburn-
The SwingINXS-
Ten Thousand LightyearsBoney M.-
Touch DanceEurythmicsRemix EP
Through the FireHagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (HSAS)-
J
U
N
E
4 Born in the U.S.A.Bruce Springsteen-
The Glamorous LifeSheila E.-
8 HyænaSiouxsie and the Banshees-
15 No BrakesJohn Waite-
18 Breaking HeartsElton John-
CamouflageRod Stewart-
From Her to EternityNick Cave and the Bad Seeds-
Goodbye Cruel WorldElvis Costello and the Attractions-
MaskRoger Glover-
19 The AllnighterGlenn Frey-
Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise?Art of Noise
23 In the StudioThe Specials-
25 DiscoveryMike Oldfield-
ParadeSpandau Ballet-
Purple RainPrince and The RevolutionSoundtrack
26 SidewalkIcehouse-
? A Pagan PlaceThe Waterboys-
Rock Will Never DieMichael Schenker GroupLive

July–September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
1 DisillusionLoudnessEnglish version
2 The Last in LineDio-
Rewind (1971–1984)The Rolling StonesCompilation
3 Go InsaneLindsey Buckingham-
6 New EditionNew Edition-
This Is What You Want... This Is What You GetPublic Image Ltd.-
VictoryThe Jacksons-
7 Brilliant TreesDavid Sylvian-
Condition CriticalQuiet Riot-
IconIcon-
9 Ice Cream CastleThe Time-
16 Diamond LifeSadeUK
21 The Yellow and Black AttackStryper-
23 Hard to HoldRick Springfield-
VOASammy Hagar-
27 Ride the LightningMetallica-
Projects in the JunglePantera-
30 Right By YouStephen Stills-
? All Fired UpFastway-
City of New OrleansWillie Nelson-
Double Nickels on the DimeMinutemen-
In Rock We TrustY&T-
King of the DeadCirith Ungol-
Now That's What I Call Music 3Various ArtistsCompilation
Signs of LifeBilly Squier-
Walkin' the Razor's EdgeHelix-
Zen ArcadeHüsker Dü-
A
U
G
U
S
T
4 Haunting the ChapelSlayerEP
10 The Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili PeppersDebut
War and PainVoivod-
17 W.A.S.P.W.A.S.P.Debut
21 Mirror MovesThe Psychedelic Furs-
WarriorScandal-
23 Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect StrangerFrank Zappa-
25 Eyes of InnocenceMiami Sound Machine-
EvoluciónMenudo-
27 Soda StereoSoda Stereo-
Some Great RewardDepeche Mode-
28 The Woman in Red (soundtrack)Various ArtistsSoundtrack
? The Best of KansasKansasCompilation
The BlitzKrokus-
L.A. Is My LadyFrank Sinatra-
PhantomsThe Fixx-
The Story of a Young HeartA Flock of Seagulls-
Two Steps from the MoveHanoi Rocks-
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
3 PowerslaveIron Maiden-
Sentence of DeathDestructionEP
7 Don't Break the OathMercyful Fate-
Under WrapsJethro Tull-
The WarningQueensrÿche-
10 DreamtimeThe Cult-
12 Like ThisThe dB's-
SuddenlyBilly Ocean-
13 AnimalizeKiss-
Swept AwayDiana Ross-
Tooth and NailDokken-
15 No RemorseMotörheadCompilation + 4 new tracks
21 PerspectiveAmerica-
24 TonightDavid Bowie-
27 Forever YoungAlphaville-
? Bachman–Turner OverdriveBachman–Turner Overdrive-
BewitchedAndy Summers & Robert Fripp-
The CatchNazareth-
Cats Without ClawsDonna Summer-
Desert MoonDennis DeYoung-
Don't StopJeffrey Osborne-
Family ManBlack Flag-
The MagazineRickie Lee Jones-
Night on BröckenFates Warning-
No Tellin' LiesZebra-
ReflectionsRick JamesCompilation
Riddles in the SandJimmy Buffett-
Riff RaffDave Edmunds-
Spring Hill FairThe Go-Betweens-
Swept AwayDiana Ross-
The PlanTubeway Army-
Till We Have FacesSteve Hackett-
Vital SignsSurvivor-
What About Me?Kenny Rogers-

October–December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
1 Glorious Results of a Misspent YouthJoan Jett and the Blackhearts-
I Feel for YouChaka Khan-
Red Sails in the SunsetMidnight Oil-
Too Tough to DieRamones-
The Unforgettable FireU2-
2 BathoryBathory-
Let It BeThe Replacements-
8 The Wonderful and Frightening World Of...The Fall-
9 EmotionBarbra Streisand-
March of the SaintArmored Saint-
ShoutDevo-
12 Big Bam BoomHall & Oates-
RattlesnakesLloyd Cole and the Commotions-
15 '74 JailbreakAC/DCEP recorded 1974–76
The Big ExpressXTC-
Sign of the HammerManowar-
Stop Making SenseTalking HeadsSoundtrack
The Age of ConsentBronski Beat-
ValotteJulian Lennon-
16 Geffery MorganUB40-
17 EscapeWhodini-
18 Them or UsFrank Zappa-
19 SteeltownBig Country-
20 Heavy Metal BreakdownGrave Digger-
22 Give My Regards to Broad StreetPaul McCartneySoundtrack
23 Make It BigWham!-
24 HajimemashiteMiyuki Nakajima-
25 Waking Up with the House on FireCulture Club-
29 Perfect StrangersDeep Purple-
Welcome to the PleasuredomeFrankie Goes to Hollywood-
? At the Feet of the MoonThe Parachute Club-
Bad AttitudeMeat Loaf-
Chinese WallPhilip Bailey-
Dream StreetJanet Jackson-
Girls with GunsTommy Shaw-
Italian X RaysSteve Miller Band-
Music from SongwriterKris Kristofferson & Willie NelsonSoundtrack
A Private HeavenSheena Easton-
Sign In PleaseAutograph-
True ColoursLevel 42-
We Want MooreGary MooreLive
Why Not MeThe Judds-
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
1 TreasureCocteau Twins-
4 This Is Hawkwind, Do Not PanicHawkwindLive
5 AlfAlison Moyet-
RecklessBryan Adams-
Wheels Are Turnin'REO Speedwagon-
9 BerserkerGary Numan-
10 The RiddleNik Kershaw-
Thunder SevenTriumph-
Who's LastThe WhoLive
11 So-LoOingo Boingo-
12 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother)EurythmicsSoundtrack
ArenaDuran DuranLive
Hatful of HollowThe SmithsCompilation
The Honeydrippers: Volume OneRobert PlantEP
Like a VirginMadonna-
Teases & DaresKim Wilde-
15 2:00 AM Paradise CafeBarry Manilow-
EmergencyKool & the Gang-
17 Aural SculptureThe Stranglers-
19 Building the Perfect BeastDon Henley-
Word of MouthThe Kinks-
21 Francesco ZappaFrank Zappa-
22 See Ya 'RoundSplit Enz-
29 Real LiveBob DylanLive
30 Rough CuttRough Cutt-
? Brewing Up with Billy BraggBilly Bragg-
The Deed Is DoneMolly Hatchet-
Hits 1Various ArtistsCompilation
IsolationToto-
Kalimba de Luna – 16 Happy SongsBoney M.Compilation
Lay Down the LawKeel-
Lush LifeLinda Ronstadt-
Morbid TalesCeltic Frost-
Now That's What I Call Music 4Various ArtistsCompilation
Planetary InvasionMidnight Star-
TropicoPat Benatar-
Two Minute WarningThe Angels-
ZoolookJean Michel Jarre-
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
3 The Killing FieldsMike OldfieldSoundtrack
7 Agent ProvocateurForeigner-
In the Eye of the StormRoger Hodgson-
12 Deep BreakfastRay Lynch-
21 Thing-FishFrank Zappa-
26 Gates to PurgatoryRunning Wild-
? Beverly Hills CopVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Fantastic Boney M.Boney M.Compilation
Honour & BloodTank-
Live '84Black FlagLive
RemissionSkinny PuppyEP
Slip It InBlack Flag-
Something Heavy Going DownGolden EarringLive
Vulture CultureThe Alan Parsons Project-

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1984.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart entries
1George MichaelCareless Whisper1984UK 1 – Aug 1984 (21 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Dec 1984 (20 weeks), US Radio 1 of 1985 (peak 1 12 weeks), Canada 1 – Dec 1984 (12 weeks), Netherlands 1 – Aug 1984 (14 weeks), Switzerland 1 – Sep 1984 (17 weeks), Poland 1 – Mar 1983 (44 weeks), Republic of Ireland 1 for 3 weeks – Aug 1984, Canada RPM 1 for 2 weeks – Jan 1985, Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Sep 1984, Springbok 1 – Nov 1984 (21 weeks), ARC 2 of 1985 (peak 1 16 weeks), Sweden (alt) 2 – Sep 1984 (21 weeks), France 2 – Aug 1984 (3 weeks), Austria 2 – Nov 1984 (4 weeks), Norway 2 – Aug 1984 (16 weeks), Belgium 2 – Sep 1984 (12 weeks), Italy 2 of 1984
2Stevie WonderI Just Called to Say I Love You1984UK 1 – September 1984, US BB 1 – September 1984, Canada 1 – September 1984, Netherlands 1 – August 1984, Sweden 1 – September 1984, Sweden (alt) 1 – August 1984, Austria 1 – October 1984, Switzerland 1 – September 1984, Norway 1 – September 1984, Poland 1 – January 1984, Italy 1 of 1984, Germany 1 – September 1984, Republic of Ireland 1 – September 1984, New Zealand 1 for 9 weeks October 1984, Australia 1 for 8 weeks June 1985, Oscar in 1984, Australia 6 of 1984, US CashBox 9 of 1984, US BB 18 of 1984, POP 26 of 1984, Germany 52 of the 1980s, Scrobulate 100 of r & b
3Wham!Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go1984UK 1 – May 1984, US BB 1 – October 1984, Canada 1 – October 1984, Netherlands 1 – June 1984, Sweden (alt) 1 – June 1984, Norway 1 – June 1984, Republic of Ireland 1 – June 1984, Australia 1 for 5 weeks March 1985, Switzerland 2 – June 1984, Germany 2 – June 1984, Australia 5 of 1984, US BB 6 of 1984, Austria 6 – July 1984, POP 7 of 1984, US CashBox 19 of 1984, KROQ 20 of 1984, Poland 23 – June 1984, Europe 84 of the 1980s, OzNet 146, RYM 195 of 1984, Germany 230 of the 1980s
4Cyndi LauperGirls Just Want To Have Fun1983Norway 1 – March 1984, Republic of Ireland 1 – February 1984, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks May 1984, Australia 1 for 2 weeks December 1983, UK 2 – January 1984, US BB 2 – January 1984, US BB 2 of 1984, Canada 2 – February 1984, POP 2 of 1984, Netherlands 3 – February 1984, Austria 3 – May 1984, Sweden (alt) 5 – March 1984, Switzerland 6 – April 1984, Germany 6 – March 1984, France 8 – December 1983, Australia 9 of 1984, US CashBox 16 of 1984, Italy 16 of 1984, Party 35 of 2007, RYM 63 of 1983, KROQ 65 of 1984, RIAA 122, Germany 388 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 391
5Frankie Goes to HollywoodRelax1983UK 1 – November 1983, Switzerland 1 – February 1984, Germany 1 – February 1984, TOTP 1, KROQ 1 of 1984, France 2 – November 1983, Norway 2 – February 1984, Sweden (alt) 4 – March 1984, Austria 4 – March 1984, Netherlands 5 – January 1984, Canada 7 – April 1984, US BB 10 – February 1985, US BB 11 of 1985, Italy 11 of 1984, Australia 16 of 1984, POP 16 of 1985, Poland 18 – February 1984, RYM 21 of 1983, Virgin 31, Scrobulate 45 of 80s, Germany 72 of the 1980s, Europe 94 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 270, OzNet 574

Significant hits

Christmas songs

Classical music

  • Samuel Adler – Sonata for viola and piano
  • Elliott Carter
    • Canon for 4, Homage to William, for flute, bass clarinet, violin, and cello
    • Esprit rude/esprit doux, for flute and clarinet
    • Riconoscenza per Goffredo Petrassi, for violin
  • Brian CherneyInto the Distant Stillness
  • George Crumb
    • A Haunted Landscape for orchestra
    • The Sleeper for soprano and piano
  • Mario DavidovskyDivertimento for cello and orchestra
  • Peter Maxwell DaviesSymphony No. 3
  • Ludovico EinaudiAltissimo
  • Lorenzo Ferrero
    • My Blues
    • Ombres, for orchestra and live electronics
  • Frans Geysen
    • A + B = A/B, for keyboard instrument
    • Kataloog in grijs 1, for marimba
    • Late spiegels, for flute, oboe, piano and double bass
    • Omtrent a-b-c, for recorder quintet
    • Tonen-Trappenhuisje voor Hanne, for keyboard instrument
    • Twee orgels, for two organs
  • Karel Goeyvaerts
  • Daron HagenA Walt Whitman Requiem
  • John Harbison – String Quartet no. 1
  • Robin Holloway – Concerto for Viola
  • Mauricio KagelDer Eid des Hippokrates, for piano 3 hands
  • Wojciech KilarAngelus, cantata for soprano, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
  • Ian McDougall – Concerto for Clarinet
  • Elizabeth Maconchy – String Quartet no. 13, Quartetto Corto
  • Ingram MarshallVoces Resonae
  • Henri Pousseur
    • Chronique canine, for 2 pianos
    • Cortège des belles ténébreuses au jardin boréal, for cor anglais, viola, horn, tuba, and 2 percussionists
    • L'étoile des langues, for narrators and 4 singers
    • Litanie du cristal des fleurs, for piano left hand
    • Litanie du miel matinal, for high melody instrument
    • Les noces d'Icare et de Mnémosyne, for variable forces
    • Patchwork des tribus américaines, for wind orchestra
    • Sixième vue sur les jardins interdits, for string trio
    • Sonate des maîtres viennois (‘Dicté par ... no.4’), for piano
    • Tango de Jeanne-la-Sibylle, for piano left hand
  • Steve ReichThe Desert Music
  • Wolfgang Rihm
    • Vorgefühle for orchestra
    • Schattenstück for orchestra
    • Fusées for orchestra
    • Blaubuch: String Quartet No. 6
  • John Serry Sr.Elegy for Organ
  • Tōru Takemitsuriverrun for piano and orchestra
  • Robert Ward – Saxophone Concerto
  • Malcolm Williamson
    • A Pilgrim Liturgy – for soloists, mixed choir & orchestra
    • Cortège for a Warrior for orchestra
    • Hymna Titu for piano solo
    • Symphony No. 7

Ballet

See List of 1984 ballet premieres

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Musical television

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Charts

List of no. 1 hits

List of no. 1 albums

  • List of number-one albums of 1984 (U.S.)

See also

References

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