This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) | - | |
| 10 | ExtendedancEPlay | EP | |
| Trans | - | ||
| 14 | Feline | - | |
| Nena | - | ||
| 17 | Trouble in Paradise | - | |
| 18 | Cuts Like a Knife | - | |
| 20 | American Made | - | |
| Pyromania | - | ||
| 21 | The Law of Devil's Land | - | |
| 28 | Never Surrender | - | |
| 31 | Money and Cigarettes | US | |
| Another Page | - | ||
| ? | Making Contact | - | |
| The Art of Falling Apart | - | ||
| Live Evil | Live | ||
| Touch the Sky | - | ||
| What Makes a Man Start Fires? | - | ||
| What's Funk? | - | ||
| G Force | - | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Powerlight | - | |
| 4 | All the Best | - | |
| Porcupine | - | ||
| 8 | Michael W. Smith Project | Debut | |
| 11 | Lucky | - | |
| 18 | Somewhere in Afrika | UK | |
| 22 | Kilroy Was Here | - | |
| 23 | Subterranean Jungle | - | |
| 28 | Metal Health | - | |
| War | - | ||
| So Fired Up | - | ||
| The Key | - | ||
| ? | Frontiers | - | |
| Confusion Is Sex | Debut | ||
| Kihnspiracy | - | ||
| Quick Step and Side Kick/Side Kicks | - | ||
| Rock Goddess | - | ||
| Seal in Red | - | ||
| Strong Stuff | - | ||
| Waiting | - | ||
| Youngblood | - | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Dazzle Ships | - | |
| Thunder and Lightning | - | ||
| True | - | ||
| 7 | Cool Kids | - | |
| The Hurting | Debut | ||
| Deep Sea Skiving | - | ||
| 11 | No Rest for the Wicked | - | |
| 14 | Europe | Debut | |
| Script for a Jester's Tear | Debut | ||
| 16 | Outside Inside | - | |
| 21 | The Final Cut | - | |
| 23 | Eliminator | - | |
| 28 | Baby Snakes | Soundtrack | |
| Jarreau | - | ||
| The Man from Utopia | - | ||
| 31 | Dancing With Danger | - | |
| ? | Power & the Glory | - | |
| Legendary Hearts | - | ||
| If You Leave Me Now | Compilation | ||
| Local Hero | Soundtrack | ||
| The Abominable Showman | - | ||
| Branigan 2 | - | ||
| Dig That Groove Baby | - | ||
| The High Road | Live EP | ||
| Inarticulate Speech of the Heart | - | ||
| Julio | - | ||
| Naked Eyes | Titled "Burning Bridges" in the UK | ||
| No Guts...No Glory | - | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havana Moon | - | |
| 8 | Faster Than the Speed of Night | - | |
| The Luxury Gap | - | ||
| 11 | Let's Dance | - | |
| Flashdance | Various Artists | Soundtrack | |
| Sirens | - | ||
| Style | - | ||
| 12 | Murmur | Debut | |
| 13 | Mary Jane Girls | Debut | |
| Violent Femmes | - | ||
| 15 | Rock for Light | - | |
| 18 | It | Debut | |
| White Feathers | Debut | ||
| 25 | Headhunter | - | |
| 27 | Whammy! | - | |
| 29 | Cargo | - | |
| Listen | - | ||
| Hootenanny | - | ||
| ? | You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll | UK; US release in June | |
| Midnight at the Lost and Found | - | ||
| Fastway | - | ||
| High Land, Hard Rain | - | ||
| In Outer Space | - | ||
| Information | - | ||
| It's Only Rock & Roll | - | ||
| Living in Oz | - | ||
| Madness | US Compilation | ||
| Michael Bolton | - | ||
| Out of Step | - | ||
| Pride | Robert Palmer | ||
| Scoop | Compilation of unreleased tracks | ||
| Take It to the Limit | - | ||
| Steve Miller Band Live! | Live | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Burlap & Satin | - | |
| Power, Corruption & Lies | - | ||
| 3 | "Weird Al" Yankovic | - | |
| 10 | With Sympathy | Ministry | - |
| 11 | Zig-Zag Walk | - | |
| 16 | Piece of Mind | - | |
| 18 | In Your Eyes | - | |
| 23 | Confrontation | - | |
| 25 | Holy Diver | - | |
| 27 | Crises | - | |
| Duck Rock | - | ||
| 31 | Too Low for Zero | - | |
| Wrap Your Arms Around Me | - | ||
| ? | Another Perfect Day | [11] | |
| Private Collection | - | ||
| Feast | - | ||
| Reach the Beach | - | ||
| Who's Greatest Hits | US Compilation | ||
| Ring of Changes | - | ||
| You Bought It, You Name It | - | ||
| Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy | debut | ||
| Back to Mystery City | - | ||
| Bruiseology | - | ||
| C'est C Bon | - | ||
| The Eleventh Hour | - | ||
| The First Flower | - | ||
| Head First | - | ||
| Learning to Cope with Cowardice | - | ||
| Mama Africa | - | ||
| The Net | - | ||
| Siogo | - | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speaking in Tongues | - | |
| 3 | Your Move | - | |
| 6 | Plays Live | Live | |
| Allies | Live +2 new studio tracks | ||
| 9 | London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1 | - | |
| Ross | - | ||
| 10 | Body Wishes | - | |
| Metal Magic | debut | ||
| Mommy's Little Monster | - | ||
| Oil on Canvas | Live | ||
| State of Confusion | - | ||
| This Means War | - | ||
| The Wild Heart | - | ||
| 13 | Texas Flood | debut | |
| She Works Hard for the Money | - | ||
| 15 | Escapade | - | |
| 16 | Old Wave | - | |
| 17 | Synchronicity | - | |
| 24 | Secret Messages | - | |
| 30 | Keep it Up | - | |
| ? | Works | Compilation | |
| Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain | - | ||
| Farewell Tour | Live | ||
| Field Day | - | ||
| The Fugitive | - | ||
| Girl at Her Volcano | EP | ||
| Hand of Kindness | - | ||
| Sound Elixir | - | ||
| Staying Alive | Soundtrack | ||
| You Gotta Say Yes to Another Excess | - | ||
| Variations on a Theme | - |
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fantastic | Debut | |
| Into Glory Ride | - | ||
| 4 | You and Me Both | - | |
| 5 | Suicidal Tendencies | - | |
| 11 | The Look | - | |
| 14 | Get It Right | - | |
| 15 | The Principle of Moments | - | |
| Burning from the Inside | - | ||
| Fire Dances | - | ||
| The Waterboys | Debut | ||
| 21 | Burning Farm | - | |
| 22 | No Parlez | Debut | |
| 25 | Kill 'em All | Debut | |
| 26 | Good for Your Soul | - | |
| 27 | Everybody's Rockin' | - | |
| It's Your Night | Debut | ||
| Madonna | Debut | ||
| 29 | The Crossing | Debut | |
| - | |||
| ? | Album | - | |
| All of the Good Ones Are Taken | - | ||
| Close to the Bone | - | ||
| Butthole Surfers | Debut EP | ||
| Drastic Measures | - | ||
| Outta Hand | - | ||
| Out For Blood | - | ||
| The Real Macaw | - | ||
| Salute | - | ||
| Works | Compilation | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No Frills | - | |
| 2 | Lawyers in Love | - | |
| 5 | Cold Blooded | - | |
| Punch the Clock | - | ||
| 8 | An Innocent Man | - | |
| Script of the Bridge | - | ||
| 9 | Ark | - | |
| 10 | Stompin' at the Savoy | Live | |
| 12 | Alpha | - | |
| Queensrÿche | EP | ||
| 15 | Next Position Please | - | |
| Rant N' Rave with the Stray Cats | - | ||
| 19 | Flick of the Switch | - | |
| 22 | Construction Time Again | - | |
| 23 | Ratt | EP | |
| 26 | Standing in the Light | [12] | |
| 30 | Mummer | - | |
| 31 | Eyes That See in the Dark | - | |
| Hello Big Man | - | ||
| ? | The Present | - | |
| All for One | - | ||
| Passionworks | - | ||
| Dirty Looks | - | ||
| Future Shock | - | ||
| The Crackdown | - | ||
| Torment and Toreros | - | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swordfishtrombones | - | |
| 2 | Built to Destroy | - | |
| 9 | Born Again | - | |
| 12 | Heads or Tales | - | |
| Labour of Love | - | ||
| 14 | Commodores 13 | - | |
| 15 | Sports | - | |
| 16 | Warriors | - | |
| Little Robbers | - | ||
| 22 | Lick It Up | [13] | |
| 23 | Shout at the Devil | - | |
| 26 | The Golden Section | - | |
| Into Battle with the Art of Noise | EP | ||
| Live in Tokyo | Live | ||
| 28 | How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye | - | |
| Righeira | Debut | ||
| ? | Bent Out of Shape | - | |
| Breaking the Chains | US Remix | ||
| Born to Laugh at Tornadoes | - | ||
| Canterbury | - | ||
| Hard | - | ||
| In Heat | - | ||
| Johnny 99 | - | ||
| Land | - | ||
| Mean Streak | - | ||
| Mike's Murder | Soundtrack | ||
| More Fun in the New World | - | ||
| Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker | - | ||
| One Particular Harbour | - | ||
| Pitt Street Farmers | EP | ||
| Subject...Aldo Nova | - | ||
| Windows in the Jungle | - | ||
| What's New | - |
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Genesis | - | |
| 6 | Right or Wrong | - | |
| 10 | Colour by Numbers | - | |
| 13 | Whodini | - | |
| 14 | She's So Unusual | Debut | |
| Can't Slow Down | - | ||
| Snap! | Compilation | ||
| 18 | Rock 'n Soul Part 1 | Compilation | |
| Voice of the Heart | - | ||
| 20 | Deliver | - | |
| 21 | Silver | - | |
| Soul Mining | - | ||
| 24 | Head over Heels | - | |
| Without a Song | - | ||
| 25 | Uh-Huh | - | |
| 26 | Midnight Madness | - | |
| 27 | Infidels | - | |
| 28 | North of a Miracle | - | |
| Zones | - | ||
| 31 | Pipes of Peace | - | |
| Star Fleet Project | Brian May + Friends | EP | |
| Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two | - | ||
| ? | Live from Earth | Live +2 new studio tracks | |
| No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll | - | ||
| Life | Live | ||
| Ziggy Stardust – The Motion Picture | Live 1973 | ||
| Melissa | - | ||
| Feel My Soul | - | ||
| 1st | - | ||
| Alive, She Cried | Live | ||
| Caught in the Game | - | ||
| Hell Hath No Fury | - | ||
| Man of Steel | - | ||
| Metal Circus | EP | ||
| Never Let You Go | - | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Break Out | [14] | |
| 2 | What a Feelin' | - | |
| 4 | DaDa | - | |
| Electric Universe | - | ||
| Have You Ever Been In Love | - | ||
| Hearts and Bones | - | ||
| 7 | 90125 | [15] | |
| Undercover | - | ||
| Strip | - | ||
| 8 | Play Dirty | - | |
| The Revölution by Night | - | ||
| Yentl | Soundtrack | ||
| 10 | Rebel Yell | - | |
| 11 | First Offense | - | |
| 14 | Beauty Stab | - | |
| Believer | - | ||
| Touch | - | ||
| 15 | It's About Time | - | |
| 18 | Walk Into Light | - | |
| 21 | Seven and the Ragged Tiger | - | |
| Under a Blood Red Sky | Live | ||
| 25 | Back to Back | - | |
| I'm in Love Again | - | ||
| Nocturne | Live | ||
| You Broke My Heart in 17 Places | - | ||
| 28 | Now That's What I Call Music | Various Artists | Compilation |
| 30 | Into the Unknown | - | |
| ? | Cloak and Dagger | - | |
| Conflicting Emotions | - | ||
| Greatest Hits Volume II | Compilation | ||
| Music For Films Volume 2 | - | ||
| Clics Modernos | - | ||
| The Politics of Dancing | - | ||
| Treeless Plain | - | ||
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome | - | ||
| Show No Mercy | - | |||
| Bark at the Moon | - | |||
| 5 | Balls to the Wall | - | ||
| 12 | Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood | - | ||
| Perverted By Language | - | |||
| 14 | Service | - | ||
| 16 | Japanese Whispers | Compilation | ||
| 20 | You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish | - | ||
| ? | Statues In Motion | Statues In Motion | - |
The following songs achieved the highest chart positionsin the charts of 1983.
| # | Artist | Title | Year | Country | Chart Entries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Karma Chameleon" | 1983 | 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, 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 | |||
| 2 | "Billie Jean" | 1983 |  | 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 | "Flashdance... What a Feeling" | 1983 | | 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 | "Let's Dance" | 1983 | 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, 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 | |||
| 5 | "Every Breath You Take" | 1983 | UK 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 |
| Song title | Artist(s) | Release date(s) | US | UK | Highest chart position | Other Chart Performance(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "1999" | January 1983 | 12 | 25 | 2 (Australia) | See chart performance entry 1982 overlap | |||
| "2000 Miles" | November 1983 | n/a | 15 | 11 (Belgium) | 13 (Netherlands [Single Top 100]) – 14 (Ireland) – 30 (Australia) – 36 (New Zealand) | |||
| "99 Luftballons" | Nena[16] | March 1983 | 2 | n/a | See chart performance entry | |||
| "The One Thing" | March 1983 | 30 | n/a | 14 (Australia) | 2 (U.S. Billboard Top Tracks) – 30 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) – 31 (Canada) 1982 overlap | |||
| "All Night Long (All Night)" | September 1983 | 1 | 2 | See chart performance entry | ||||
| "All Time High" | June 1983 | 36 | 75 | 36 (United States) | 1 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) – 1 (Canada Adult Contemporary) – 38 (Canada) – 80 (Australia) | |||
| "Almost Over You" | December 1983 | 25 | 89 | 23 (United States) | 1 (Canada RPM Adult Contemporary) – 4 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) – 23 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) – 35 (Canada) – 68 (Australia) – 86 (U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs) |
| Song title | Artist(s) | Release date(s) | Other Chart Performance(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Cattle and Cane" | February 1983 | 4 (UK INdie Charts) | ||
| "Original Sin" | December 1983 | See chart performance entry | ||
| "Radio Free Europe" | April 1983 | 25 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock) – 78 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100) | ||
| "Rip It Up" | February 1983 | 8 (UK Single Charts) – 23 (Ireland) – 42 (New Zealand) | ||
| "Sunday Bloody Sunday" | March 1983 | 3 (Netherlands [Dutch Top 40]/[Single Top 100]) – 7 (U.S. Billboard Top Tracks) – 11 (Belgium) | ||
| "Synchronicity II" | October 1983 | 12 (Ireland) – 15 (U.S. Cashbox) – 16 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100) – 17 (UK Singles Chart) – 21 (Canada) | ||
| "Temptation" | April 1983 | See chart performance entry | ||
| "This Charming Man" | October 1983 | 1 (UK Indie Charts) – 15 (New Zealand) – 25 (UK Singles Chart) – 52 (Australia) | ||
See main article: 1983 in jazz.