Musical Dice -- Top Songs Of 1983

Top Songs Of 1983

POS

TITLE

ARTIST

PEAK

COMMENTS

HM

Straight From The Heart

Bryan Adams

10

Bryan Adams's first top 40 hit. Later that year, a version of this song would appear as the B-side of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.

HM

Pass The Dutchie

Musical Youth

10

This was Musical Youth's first and only top 40 hit in the U.S. Dutchie is a Jamaican cooking pot. This is the clean version of the original tune, "Pass The Kutchie," where kutchie is a slang for a marijuana joint.

HM

1999

Prince

12

First issued in 1982 (only reaching #44, but top ten Soul), then re-issued after "Little Red Corvette" became a hit. Re-issued again in 1999 (#40).

100

Far From Over

Frank Stallone

10

From the movie "Staying Alive" starring John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes, and Finola Hughes. Frank Stallone is the younger brother of Sylvester Stallone.

99

Burning Down The House

Talking Heads

9

Talking Heads' only top ten hit.

98

It's Raining Again

Supertramp

11

Includes a snippet of the children's song "It's Raining, It's Pouring."

97

Hot Girls In Love

Loverboy

11

96

Lawyers In Love

Jackson Browne

13

95

China Girl

David Bowie

10

The line "Visions of swastikas in my head" was taken out on some radio stations, especially during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

94

Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy

Sammy Hagar

13

Sammy Hagar's first top 40 hit--this before he joined Van Halen.

93

How Am I Supposed To Live Without You

Laura Branigan

12

Written by Michael Bolton. This is the original version. Bolton's own version reached #1 in 1990.

92

She's A Beauty

The Tubes

10

The Tubes' only top ten hit. Probably inspired by frequent visits to strip clubs.

91

I'm Still Standing

Elton John

12

On a personal level, this is a huge favorite of mine by Elton John, and the song I'd dedicate to a lot of people I knew in high school.

90

Faithfully

Journey

12

Written by keyboard player Jonathan Cain for his wife, for all the times he's on the road.

89

Don't Cry

Asia

10

Asia's second and last top ten hit. In 1991, the titles of Asia's first three top 40 hits, appeared as top 40 hits for other artists, but were not the same songs ("Heat Of The Moment" reached #19 for After 7, "Only Time Will Tell" reached #28 for Nelson, and "Don't Cry" reached #10 for Guns 'N' Roses, all in 1991).

88

I Won't Hold You Back

Toto

10

Toto's fourth and final top ten hit.

87

Muscles

Diana Ross

10

Written by Michael Jackson. Diana, most likely in a flippant way, had once stated that the song was really about a pet boa constrictor of Michael's.

86

Cum On Feel The Noize

Quiet Riot

5

Credited as the first Heavy Metal top ten hit. Originally recorded in the '70's by the group Slade, who had two top 40 hits of their own in 1984.

85

Promises Promises

Naked Eyes

11

Not the same song as Dionne Warwick's 1969 #19 hit (see #81 on this list).

84

I'll Tumble 4 Ya

Culture Club

9

The shortest song on this list, clocking in at 2:34

83

I Know There's Something Going On

Frida

13

Produced by Phil Collins. Frida is Anni-Frida Lyngstadt of the group ABBA.

82

The Look Of Love

ABC

18

ABC's first top 40 hit in the U.S. Not to be confused with "The Look Of Love" that was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, originally recorded by Dionne Warwick, but reached #22 for Dusty Springfield in 1967 (from the movie "Casino Royale"), and reached #4 for Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66 in 1968.

81

Always Something There To Remind Me

Naked Eyes

8

First recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1968. Three versions came out that year, none that made the top 40. R.B. Greaves reached #27 with the song in 1969.

80

Human Nature

Michael Jackson

7

Written by Steve Porcaro of the group Toto. This was the record-setting fifth top ten hit from the album "Thriller." Michael Jackson has five songs on this list!

79

Delirious

Prince

8

Single version clocked in at 2:36.

78

All Right

Christopher Cross

12

Featuring Michael McDonald on backup vocals.

77

Our House

Madness

7

This introduced a new genre of music called Ska.

76

Come Dancing

The Kinks

6

Became the Kinks' biggest hit. The Kinks were part of both British Invasions (the one from the mid-60's, which at one point had as many as 14 British acts in the top 40 the same week, and this British Invasion from the early 80's, where in 1983, at one point, there were 18 songs by Brits in the top 40 the same week!).

75

Family Man

Hall & Oates

6

One of the few hits Hall & Oates had that they didn't write.

74

Heart To Heart

Kenny Loggins

15

Throughout the 80's, Kenny Loggins was known as Mr. Movie Soundtrack. But this one was not from a movie.

73

My Love

Lionel Richie

5

72

Suddenly Last Summer

The Motels

9

The Motels' second and final top ten hit.

71

Tonight I Celebrate My Love

Peabo Bryson/Roberta Flack

16

70

(She's) Sexy + 17

The Stray Cats

5

The Stray Cats' third and final top ten hit.

69

Affair Of The Heart

Rick Springfield

9

First of three songs in a row by Australian recording acts.

68

It's A Mistake

Men At Work

6

Poking fun at the world being on the brink of nuclear disaster. Men At Work's fourth and final top ten hit.

67

The Other Guy

The Little River Band

11

66

Solitaire

Laura Branigan

7

Written by Diane Warren, her first top ten hit composition.

65

Too Shy

Kajagoogoo

5

Kajagoogoo's only top 40 hit. In 1985, Chris Hamill, the lead singer, had one top 40 hit of his own, "Never Ending Story" (#17), under the name Limahl (an anagram of his last name).

64

Rock This Town

The Stray Cats

9

The Stray Cats' first hit.

63

Allentown

Billy Joel

17

Allentown is a town in Pennsylvania.

62

Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)

Sheena Easton

9

Beginning with this hit, Sheena Easton started focusing on having dance hits.

61

Goody Two Shoes

Adam Ant

12

Third year in a row that the highest-finishing non-top-ten hit landed in this spot.

60

Heartbreaker

Dionne Warwick

10

Written and produced by the Bee-Gees.

59

Heartlight

Neil Diamond

5

Inspired by the movie "E.T." Neil's 13th and final top ten hit.

58

(Keep Feeling) Fascination

The Human League

8

57

Twilight Zone

Golden Earring

10

About dying, after being shot after a drug deal went bad. Golden Earring's only other top 40 hit, "Radar Love" reached #13 in 1975.

56

Don't Let It End

Styx

6

Styx broke up a few months after this was a hit. They re-formed in 1990.

55

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

Michael Jackson

5

Billie Jean is mentioned in this song, as well as in "Billie Jean.

54

King Of Pain

The Police

3

Inspired by Sting's divorce (while he was on a date with another woman).

53

Is There Something I Should Know

Duran Duran

4

From their self-titled 1981 album. Released as a single after they had hits from their follow-up album "Rio."

52

Upi Can't Hurry Love

Phil Collins

10

Originally a #1 hit for the Supremes in 1966. This became Phil's first top ten hit.

51

Rock The Casbah

The Clash

8

Their only top ten hit in the U.S. ("Should I Stay Or Should I Go" only reached #45 in 1982, and was re-issued after this was a hit, but stalled out at #50 the second time around).

50

Stand Back

Stevie Nicks

5

Stevie's first true solo top ten hit--her three previous top ten hits outside of Fleetwood Mac were all duets ("Whenever I Call You Friend" reached #5 in 1978 with Kenny Loggins, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" reached #3 with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, "Leather And Lace" reached #6 with Don Henley of the Eagles, and "Edge Of Seventeen" only reached #11).

49

One On One

Hall & Oates

7

Top ten Soul as well as Pop.

48

Back On The Chain Gang

The Pretenders

5

From the movie "King Of Comedy." At least partially inspired by Sam Cooke's 1960 #2 hit "Chain Gang." The Pretenders' biggest hit.

47

One Thing Leads To Another

The Fixx

4

In recent years, featured in commercials. This was the Fixx's only top ten hit in the U.S.

46

Little Red Corvette

Prince

6

Prince's first top ten pop hit.

45

Puttin' On The Ritz

Taco

4

Written by Irving Berlin in 1931, #1 for Fred Astaire that year. Irving Berlin was still alive when this remake came out, making him the oldest living songwriter to have a top ten hit composition, at age 95.

44

Der Kommissar

After The Fire

5

Written and originally recorded in German by Falco.

43

True

Spandau Ballet

4

Later sampled in P.M. Dawn's 1991 #1 hit "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss." Spandau Ballet's only top ten hit in the U.S. They had a big rivalry with fellow English group Duran Duran. General concensus: Spandau Ballet had the better-looking guys, but Duran Duran had the real talent.

42

Stray Cat Strut

The Stray Cats

3

The Stray Cats' biggest hit. All their hits were in a "Rockabilly" style.

41

We've Got Tonite

Kenny Rogers/Sheena Easton

6

Originally a #13 hit for Bob Seger in 1979.

40

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Journey

8

Journey's biggest hit that was a rocker, not a ballad.

39

Overkill

Men At Work

3

38

You Are

Lionel Richie

4

37

She Blinded Me With Science

Thomas Dolby

5

Thomas Dolby's only hit in the U.S. He had to bring his birth certificate into court to prove that he wasn't infringing on the Dolby sound system patent (Thomas Dolby is his real name).

36

Steppin' Out

Joe Jackson

6

Joe Jackson's only top ten hit in the U.S. Joe Jackson is a white English singer/songwriter, not related to Michael Jackson.

35

Time (Clock Of The Heart)

Culture Club

2(2)

Perhaps the sub-title was to distinguish the song from "Time" by the Alan Parsons Project.

34

Uptown Girl

Billy Joel

3

Inspired by the sound of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. Billy's then-girlfriend (and future wife), Christie Brinkley was in the video, although Billy says the song was not written specifically for her.

33

Jeopardy

The Greg Kihn Band

2(1)

Their only top ten hit. The game show "Jeopardy!" came back on the air a year later. Coincidence?

32

Tell Her About It

Billy Joel

1(1)

Inspired by the Motown groups like the Temptations and Four Tops.

31

Mr. Roboto

Styx

3

To promote the concept album "Kilroy Was Here," the five band members performed in robot suits, and were acting out a skit, also written by Dennis DeYoung. This ran into major problems, especially on tour in large venues, with the guys acting for 10 minutes without a single note being played, and most everybody getting high and drunk in the heat of summer!! Styx broke up after the tour was over.

30

Truly

Lionel Richie

1(2)

Lionel Richie's first solo hit.

29

The Safety Dance

Men Without Hats

3

Said to be promoting safety on the dance floor?

28

Come On Eileen

Dexy's Midnight Runners

1(1)

The only top 40 hit for Dexy's Midnight Runners. If "Beat It" would have gone to #1 a week sooner, Michael Jackson would have bumped himself out of #1. Instead, "Come On Eileen" bumped "Billie Jean" out of #1, only to be replaced by "Beat It" the following week.

27

Dirty Laundry

Don Henley

3

Don Henley's first solo top 40 hit.

26

Africa

Toto

1(1)

Went to #1 around the time of the Grammy Awards, of which Toto won five in 1983.

25

Never Gonna Let You Go

Sergio Mendesk

4

First top ten hit for Sergio Mendes in 15 years ("The Look Of Love" and "Fool On The Hill" were prior top ten hits in 1968). A young piano player used to be in Sergio Mendes's band, but he was booed off stage. Backstage, Sergio Mendes talked with the young man, and told him that someday, he'll be a great big star. That piano player was the future Elton John!

24

The Girl Is Mine

Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney

2(3)

The first single from the album "Thriller," which became the top album of 1983.

23

Electric Avenue

Eddy Grant

2(5)

22

She Works Hard For The Money

Donna Summer

3

Inspired by a cleaning woman who had fallen asleep on the job, cleaning up the ladies room at the hotel where Donna was staying at the time.

21

Hungry Like The Wolf

Duran Duran

3

Duran Duran's first U.S. top 40 hit.

20

Sexual Healing

Marvin Gaye

3

Top Soul song of 1983.

19

Making Love Out Of Nothing At All

Air Supply

2(3)

Air Supply's eighth and final top ten hit. Written and produced by Jim Steinmann, Meat Loaf's producer. For all three weeks that this song was at #2, the #1 song was "Total Eclipse Of The Heart," another song written and produced by Jim Steinmann.

18

You And I

Eddie Rabbitt/Crystal Gayle

7

On a personal level, this song was the theme song for me and a girl I was dating at the time.

17

Let's Dance

David Bowie

1(1)

Produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic, also featuring guitar work by Stevie Ray Vaughn.

16

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

Culture Club

2(3)

Culture Club's first U.S. hit. #2 for 3 weeks behind "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.

15

Mickey

Toni Basil

1(1)

Even made up in her cheerleader outfit in the video, it wasn't hard to tell that this woman wasn't a spring chicken. When the song reached #1 in December of 1982, Toni Basil had just turned 39. This was her only top 40 hit.

14

Maniac

Michael Sembello

1(2)

From the movie "Flashdance." Michael Sembello was a session musician--his guitar-playing credits can be found all over Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" album, for example.

13

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

The Eurythmics

1(1)

Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox, the duo who made the Eurythmics, used to be married to each other, but were divorced by the time this was a hit. It spent 4 weeks at #2 (behind "Every Breath You Take") before reaching #1.

12

Shame On The Moon

Bob Seger

2(4)

Written and originally recorded by country singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell. Was #2 for 4 weeks behind "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.

11

Baby Come To Me

Patti Austin/James Ingram

1(2)

Initially came out in the spring of 1982, but failed to reach the top 40. It was popularized over that summer on TV's "General Hospital" as Luke and Holly's theme song (Laura was presumed dead at the time). Then the song was re-issued, and reached #1 in January of 1983.

10

Islands In The Stream

Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton

1(2)

Written and produced by the Bee-Gees.

9

Gloria

Laura Branigan

2(3)

Written and originally recorded in Italian by Umberto Tozzi. This was Laura's first top 40 hit. It spent 22 weeks in the top 40, longer than any other song on this list, plus it spent 36 weeks on the entire chart, also longer than any other song on this list, plus, that was even a record for a female, at the time.

8

Beat It

Michael Jackson

1(3)

Featuring Eddie Van Halen on guitar.

7

All Night Long (All Night)

Lionel Richie

1(4)

Lionel Richie's biggest solo hit.

6

Maneater

Hall & Oates

1(4)

The biggest hit for Hall & Oates.

5

Total Eclipse Of The Heart

Bonnie Tyler

1(4)

Written and produced by Jim Steinmann. This was Bonnie Tyler's second and final top ten hit (her other top ten hit was her 1978 #3 hit "It's A Heartache").

4

Down Under

Men At Work

1(4)

Men At Work's biggest hit, which initially only spent 3 weeks at #1, then gave way to "Africa" by Toto, then returned to #1 a week later.

3

Billie Jean

Michael Jackson

1(7)

Michael Jackson's biggest hit, and probably the top dance tune of 1983.

2

Flashdance...What A Feeling

Irene Cara

1(6)

From the movie "Flashdance." This was Irene Cara's second top ten hit (her first, "Fame" topped out at #4).

1

Every Breath You Take

The Police

1(8)

Many people misinterpreted this song to be a tender love song. But it's actually a song about possession and obsession. Sting, in fact, wrote this song, while going through a bitter divorce!