1983

[Frayed Knot]

JONATHAN ARCHER

What a difference 20 years makes – It seems like half a lifetime ago (oh, wait, it was). Darryl Strawberry was a wide-eyed rookie. Bobby Valentine was still a third base coach. President Reagan introduced us to Star Wars, and we were told to “Just Say No”. Sally Ride was the first woman in space. We were introduced to Cabbage Patch Kids. Billy Joel was still seeing his “Uptown Girl” – a move that almost ruined him musically. Luke and Laura got married, and Dallas was the No. 1 show on TV. We found out that Darth Vader was Luke’s father, and saw that the Mercury 7 had “The Right Stuff”. In 1983, people still thought of the Virgin Mary when they heard the term, “Madonna”.

Now, where did I leave those parachute pants?

1983 was a good year for music:

30. Billy Joel - Allentown
29. Rick Springfield - Affair Of The Heart
28. Spandau Ballet - TRUE
27. The Tubes - She's A Beauty
26. Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
25. Stray Cats - Rock This Town
24. Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
23. Naked Eyes - Always Something There To Remind Me
22. Men At Work - Down Under
21. Madness - Our House
20. Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes
19. The Clash - Rock The Casbah
18. The Pretenders - Back On The Chain Gang
17. Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut
16. Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield
15. Herbie Hancock - Rockit
14. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
13. The Kinks - Come Dancing
12. Stray Cats - (She's) Sexy + 17
11. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
10. The Greg Kihn Band - Jeopardy
9. Don Henley - Dirty Laundry
8. Michael Jackson - Thriller
7. Prince - 1999
6. John Cougar Mellencamp - Crumblin' Down
5. Golden Earring - Twilight Zone
4. Toto - Africa
3. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
2. Talking Heads - Burning Down The House
1. Michael Jackson - Beat It





METHEAD

We're gonna have some overlap on our lists.





GF212121

'Head, I'm sure you see that we're talking about that on the Be Yourself Tonight, the Best Tracks of 1985 thread.





LF

Is 30 the best of the list (like our player rankings) or worst?






JONATHAN ARCHER

Sorry - I counted backward to 1, so 30 would be the worst on the list.





METHEAD

Well, I'll post my list anyway since I spent some time compiling it. I'll revise using only Billboard top 100 later. No big deal.





THE BIG TRAIN

I don't know which was released when, but "Billie Jean" had more staying power than "Thriller" or "Beat It" to me.

Did you just stick with the Hot 100?





COOBY

I love playing "Thriller"; it drives my cat beserk!

This is the year my daughter was born so it really takes me back. You're right JA, it was a great year for music!






JONATHAN ARCHER

I don't know which was released when, but "Billie Jean" had more staying power than "Thriller" or "Beat It" to me.


I would agree, that's why Thriller is listed third among those three.

If I agree, then why do I rank Beat It higher than Billie Jean? Three words: Eddie Van Halen



Did you just stick with the Hot 100?

I did use it as a guide for some ideas, but I didn't stick to it. I don't believe Rockit was in the Billboard 100.





THE BIG TRAIN

Now "Rockit" is a summer song.






NORRIN RADD

Ugh, Cap'n... many omissions and some questionable inclusions:

>30. Billy Joel - Allentown
I suppose, but one of Joel's least interesting songs & albums.

>29. Rick Springfield - Affair Of The Heart
no freakin' way. Pretty boy doesn't rate.

>28. Spandau Ballet - TRUE
yup. huge song, huge album. flash in the pan band.

>27. The Tubes - She's A Beauty
I don't recall it.

>26. Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
absolutely. still a classic.

>25. Stray Cats - Rock This Town
ditto.

>24. Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
i hated this song, but it was huge that year.

>23. Naked Eyes - Always Something There To Remind Me
still a 1-hit pop classic.

>22. Men At Work - Down Under
yup. great album.

>21. Madness - Our House
OK.

>20. Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes
i hated him, his music, his hair.

>19. The Clash - Rock The Casbah
are you sure that came out in 83? if so, then absolutely. one of the most important bands of the era. Saw them open for the Who in 83, at Shea Stadium. David Johansen was also on the bill.

>18. The Pretenders - Back On The Chain Gang
definitely. early hit of seminal group.

>17. Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut
they are not worth having 2 songs on this list.

>16. Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield
still a fun pop classic.

>15. Herbie Hancock - Rockit
don't recall it, but he classes up the joint.

>14. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
Poster boys for 1-hit classics.

>13. The Kinks - Come Dancing
all-time fave bands, but i don't remember this coming out in 83?

>12. Stray Cats - (She's) Sexy + 17
see NOTE re: #17.

>11. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
definitely.

>10. The Greg Kihn Band - Jeopardy
if you say so.

>9. Don Henley - Dirty Laundry
he sucked without Eagles.

>8. Michael Jackson - Thriller
wasn't that 82?

>7. Prince - 1999
again, i'm thinking this is earlier, but if 83, then yeah, i guess so, but i much preferred PURPLE RAIN soundtrack a few years later.

>6. John Cougar Mellencamp - Crumblin' Down
feh. 2nd rate Springsteen.

>5. Golden Earring - Twilight Zone
a 1-hit, but feh.

>4. Toto - Africa
huge. defining song for Rosanna's boys.

>3. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
yeah, i'd go along with this one.

>2. Talking Heads - Burning Down The House
just about EVERYTHING from SPEAKING IN TONGUES could be listed here.

>1. Michael Jackson - Beat It
i'd rather set fire to my hair than have this on a list.

OMISSIONS:

* What.. no Bowie? he had LETS DANCE and CHINA GIRL that year.

* Joe Jackson's STEPPIN OUT still gets played on my turntable.

* Bonnie Tyler's recording of Jim Steinman's TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART is a kitsch classic (albeit an acquired taste)

* Where is the Police's SYNCHRONICITY? I'm pretty sure EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE was released in 83

* I didn't much like CULTURE CLUB but they came as close as anybody in defining the period. the answer to DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME was "yes".

* although MR. ROBOTO was probably their nadir, STYX was still a pretty big band and deserves a nod.

* How can you list Adam Ant and forget Billy Idol's WHITE WEDDING?

* Those MTV boys Duran Duran came out with HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF.

*EURYTHMICS' SWEET DREAMS? My favorite album by my favorite artist of that year went unmentioned, while the Stray Cats got 3 songs!

* Also overlooked were Cyndi Lauper's debut album, SHE'S SO UNUSUAL, U2's WAR,

and the following soundtrack albums:

*FLASHDANCE was still going strong, and MANIAC was one of the hit singles of 83 (though i hated it, the movie, and anybody who liked it)

*RISKY BUSINESS also had a great soundtrack, with rock n roll hits mixed between Tangerine Dream. And it was a great movie.

*LOCAL HERO had Dire Straits guitar hero Marc Knopfler doing great atmospheric stuff. And it too was a great movie.

*KOYANNISQATSI had the fascinating, hypnotic Philip Glass describing Life out of balance.

*the TV show WONDER YEARS began, bringing Joe Cocker and classic rock back to the popular culture.





metsmarathon

my god! the wonder years really began in 83?? but i wasn't seven when that started... was i?

imdb to the rescue sez TWY began in 1988.

how, in listing all of 83's achievements, do "V" (which i was too young to watch, but it had me terrified nonetheless) and "War Games" get omitted?





THE BIG TRAIN

"Back On The Chain Gang"

Not really early. This song was recorded after the band was forced to re-form with a new lineup after both the guitarist and the bassist died in seperate incidents -- thus the theme of the song.





GF212121

'She's A Beauty' is a great call. The Tubes may not have been as out-there as they thought they were, but they knew how to write a pop song. The guy who sits behind me at work has about 20 songs on an endless loop, and this is one of them.

The Tubes are also amung the victims if the train wreck known as 'Xanadu.' They were the rock band in the rock vs. swing number. Recently, the show choir at my kids' high school resurrected that number, 'Dancin' To Do.'





THE BIG TRAIN

But no "I'll Talk to You Later."

I didn't know about The Tubes in Xanadu. I should have included them in the Bands in Movies quiz we did.






COOKIE MOM

Steppin' Out MUST be added!





JONATHAN ARCHER

Ugh Norrin:


Quote:
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* although MR. ROBOTO was probably their nadir, STYX was still a pretty big band and deserves a nod.
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This list is for the songs, not the bands - you answer your own question as to why this isn't on the list.


Quote:
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* What.. no Bowie? he had LETS DANCE and CHINA GIRL that year.
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Hated 'em both.


Quote:
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* Bonnie Tyler's recording of Jim Steinman's TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART is a kitsch classic (albeit an acquired taste)
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Exactly - that's why it's off.


Quote:
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* How can you list Adam Ant and forget Billy Idol's WHITE WEDDING?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If White Wedding came out in 83, then my bad - It should be on the list.


Quote:
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EURYTHMICS' SWEET DREAMS? My favorite album by my favorite artist of that year went unmentioned, while the Stray Cats got 3 songs!
Joe Jackson's STEPPIN OUT still gets played on my turntable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See White Wedding....






WIDE BEE GEE

Now here's another issue.

BUSINESS AS USUAL was released in 1981.

Meathead has a song from it ranked in 1982 and Archer in 1983!

Come on Eileen!

ON EDIT: Some sources show this recorrd released in 82. It may have been a stateside thing







GF212121

From Billboard.com:

1982 Who Can It Be Now? Pop Singles No. 1
1983 Down Under Adult Contemporary No. 13







THE BIG TRAIN

Again, half of Night and Day could be included.






THE BIG TRAIN

I catch a paper boy
But things don't really change
I'm standing in the wind
But I never wave bye-bye
But I try
I try

There's no sign of life
It's just the power to charm
I'm lying in the rain
But I never wave bye-bye
But I try
I try

Never gonna fall for
Modern love - walks beside me
Modern love - walks on by
Modern love - gets me to the church on time
Church on time - terrifies me
Church on time - makes me party
Church on time - puts my trust in God and man
God and man - no confessions
God and man - no religion
God and man - don't believe in modern love

It's not really work
It's just the power to charm
I'm still standing in the wind
But I never wave bye bye
But I try
I try

Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love
Modern love - Modern love

Modern love - Modern love, walks beside me
Modern love - Modern love, walks on by

I don't know what it means either.






NORRIN RADD

Quote:
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* although MR. ROBOTO was probably their nadir, STYX was still a pretty big band and deserves a nod.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>CA: " This list is for the songs, not the bands - you answer your own question as to why this isn't on the list."

granted, but the worst STYX song is still more fun to me than the BEST song by Spandau Ballet. But thats me.


Quote:
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* What.. no Bowie? he had LETS DANCE and CHINA GIRL that year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>CA: "Hated 'em both."

and you liked ALLENTOWN? I gave you the benefit of the doubt and assumed you included it because it was a hit song from an important recording artist that year... i never dreamed you LIKED IT! ugh.


Quote:
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* Bonnie Tyler's recording of Jim Steinman's TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART is a kitsch classic (albeit an acquired taste)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>CA: "Exactly - that's why it's off."

fair enough. Still, THAT song just had a Broadway musical built around it this year (granted, an all-time debacle, but still...) How many on your list are even PLAYED any more? by anybody? anywhere?

and while you granted as valid omissions WHITE WEDDING, STEPPIN OUT, and SWEET DREAMS, you do not mention your response to any of my other listed omissions:

* Where is the Police's SYNCHRONICITY? I'm pretty sure EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE was released in 83

* I didn't much like CULTURE CLUB but they came as close as anybody in defining the period. the answer to DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME was "yes".

* Those MTV boys Duran Duran came out with HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF.

* Also overlooked were Cyndi Lauper's debut album, SHE'S SO UNUSUAL, U2's WAR, and...

The following soundtrack albums:

*FLASHDANCE was still going strong, and MANIAC was one of the hit singles of 83 (though i hated it, the movie, and anybody who liked it)

*RISKY BUSINESS also had a great soundtrack, with rock n roll hits mixed between Tangerine Dream. And it was a great movie.

*LOCAL HERO had Dire Straits guitar hero Marc Knopfler doing great atmospheric stuff. And it too was a great movie.

*KOYANNISQATSI had the fascinating, hypnotic Philip Glass describing Life out of balance.




THE BIG TRAIN

I'm putting a pile of money on you not winning the point with Phillip Glass.





WIDE BEE GEE

Other 1983 songs that deserve consideration:

THE POWER AND THE PASSION: Midnight Oil

EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK: Elvis Is King

SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY and NEW YEAR'S DAY : U2

VALLEY GIRL: Frank Zappa (it captured a regrettable moment and all)

RADIO FREE EUROPE: R.E.M.


NR -- Synchronicity is 1984. If HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF is eligible, it deserves its props too!






JONATHAN ARCHER

Ok Norrin,

Quote:
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Those MTV boys Duran Duran came out with HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great video - hated the song. I thought this was for songs, not videos.



Quote:
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Where is the Police's SYNCHRONICITY? I'm pretty sure EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE was released in 83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's a reason why he's referred to as Stink around here.


Quote:
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I didn't much like CULTURE CLUB but they came as close as anybody in defining the period. the answer to DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME was "yes".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, you admit to not liking them, but you're questioning why I don't?


Quote:
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FLASHDANCE was still going strong, and MANIAC was one of the hit singles of 83 (though i hated it, the movie, and anybody who liked it)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Again, you're questioning why it's not on my list, even though you hated it?


Quote:
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RISKY BUSINESS also had a great soundtrack, with rock n roll hits mixed between Tangerine Dream. And it was a great movie.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Agreed. Great soundtrack. Even greater movie. But was any of the songs NEWLY released in 1983?


Quote:
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LOCAL HERO had Dire Straits guitar hero Marc Knopfler doing great atmospheric stuff. And it too was a great movie.

*KOYANNISQATSI had the fascinating, hypnotic Philip Glass describing Life out of balance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know either of these.


Quote:
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Also overlooked were Cyndi Lauper's debut album, SHE'S SO UNUSUAL, U2's WAR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U2 was a great group before they became so farging pretentious, but wasn't War released in 1986?

She's So Unusual came out in 1984.



Oh, and one more thing:

Quote:
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>29. Rick Springfield - Affair Of The Heart
no freakin' way. Pretty boy doesn't rate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pretty boy could play guitar better than anyone gave him credit for.





THE BIG TRAIN

War was definitely 1983. Now let Archer deal with these without getting into a diverting tangent on whether Springfield, John Stamos, or Jack Wagner was General Hospital's greatest gift to pop music:

1 Sunday Bloody Sunday
2 Seconds
3 New Year's Day
4 Like A Song
5 Drowning Man
6 Refugee, The
7 Two Hearts Beat As One
8 Red Light
9 Surrender
10 40





JONATHAN ARCHER

Quote:
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Now let Archer deal with these without getting into a diverting tangent on whether Springfield, John Stamos, or Jack Wagner was General Hospital's greatest gift to pop music:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh please... Let's not bring those two posers into it...

On a side note, When Springfield was on the show, I used to laugh when he would just sit in the audience watching the other castmembers trying to perform on stage in their night club set...


Quote:
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1 Sunday Bloody Sunday
2 Seconds
3 New Year's Day
4 Like A Song
5 Drowning Man
6 Refugee, The
7 Two Hearts Beat As One
8 Red Light
9 Surrender
10 40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Years Day definitely belongs






NORRIN RADD

Cap'n...

there are a number of songs i'd put on a 1983 list because of their cultural impact, either that year or over time, or as examples of work by important artists, without my personally having to like them.

i understand now, however, that we are proceeding from different operating parameters.

but if it were really just about music i liked from 1983, i'd have almost NONE of the songs you listed. And everybody would come up with their own entirely different and idiosyncratic list, with little overlap given the inherent subjectivity of what people "like" as opposed to what they thought was worthy of listing as the "best of that year".

our mileage, therefore, clearly varies...






SOUPCAN

As Norrin pointed out, U2 released War in '83.

On that album were Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day & Seconds.

At least New Years Day should be on there.

On Edit: Read more, post less.






COOKIE MOM

While this isn't from 1983, it's about 1983, so I feel compelled to post these John Mayer lyrics -



83

I've these dreams I'm
Walking home
Home when it used to be
And everything is
As it was
Frozen in front of me

Here I stand
6 feet small
romanticizing years ago
it's a bitter sweet feeling hearing "Wrapped Around Your Finger" on the
radio

and these days
I wish I was 6 again
Oh make me a red cape
I wanna be Superman

Oh, if only my life was more like
1983
all these things would be more like they were at the
start of me

had it made in 83

thinking bout my brother Ben
I miss him every day
He looks just like his brother John
But on an 18 month delay

Here I stand
6 feet small
and smiling cause I'm scared as hell
kind of like my life is like a sequel to a movie
where the actor's names have changed
oh well

well these days
I wish I was 6 again
Oh make me a red cape
I wanna be Superman

Oh, if only my life was more like
1983
all these things would be more like they were at the
start of me
If my life was more like
1983
I'd plot a course to the source of the purest little part of me

and most my memories
have escaped me
or confused themselves with dreams
if heaven's all we want it to be
send your prayers to me
care of 1983

you can paint that house a rainbow of colors
rip out the floorboards
replace the shutters but
that's my plastic in the dirt

whatever happened to my
whatever happened to my
whatever happened to my lunchbox
when came the day that it got
thrown away and don't you think I should have had some say
in that decision