UK Singles Chart: 1983

The Top of the Pops reruns for 1983 only finished a couple of months ago, so this is still fresh in my mind. From reading discussion about it, some people say that 1983 was the 1976 of the 80s.

In some ways they have a point. There is no longer music in the charts you would describe as Punk, and the music considered new wave is quite far removed from the likes of Rich Kids and Tonight. The only acts left from the Punk movement of 1977 are Elvis Costello whose music has now gone in a completely different direction, and the Stranglers who's singles this year include the 10 minute long "Midnight Summers Dream", the type of song Punk went against in the first place.

Although we established that Punk didn't harm the presence of Prog Rock in the charts, it is worth noting we have the likes of Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd in the charts this year. We also saw Prog Rock super group Asia have their only top 40 hit "Don't Cry" this year. Then we had the debut of Marillion with "He Knows You Know". After a decade away, the Moody Blues returned to the charts with their final hit "Blue World".

Elvis Presley added to his total this year with the single "I Can Help" bringing his total to 102, though this would be his final hit of the decade. Cliff Richard added four to his total bringing it to 82.

The success story of the year though was David Bowie. He had a number one with "Lets Dance" and two number twos with "China Girl" and "Modern Love". This brought his total number of hits to 35 and he remained third in terms of most hits, and remained the act with the longest current streak of hits every year dating back to 1972.

There were no hits for Stevie Wonder this year and he remained in fourth place alongside Frank Sinatra and now joined by Elton John who had four hits this year bringing his total to 31. So Lonnie Donegan was now seventh place with 30.

We did have the presence of Motown this year though with Lionel Richie having two hits for the label with "Running With The Night " and "All Night Long". There was also the only hit from Mary Jane Girls with "All Night Long", a different record to the Lionel Richie one of the same name. We also had a Rap/Hip Hop record on Motown, "The Crown", which was the only hit from Gary Byrd & the GB Experience and feature uncredited vocals from Stevie Wonder.

This was also the year the Rocksteady Crew had their only hit with "(Hey You) The Rocksteady Crew" whilst we also had novelty rap records from Kenny Everett with "Snot Rap" and Roland Rat with "Rat Rapping".

This was quite possibly the year the so called big four of the pop world became just that. Spandau Ballet scored their only number one with "True", Duran Duran scored their first number one with "Is There Something I Should Know" and Culture Club scored their second and final number one with "Karma Chameleon" and were yet to have a hit that didn't reach the top three. Wham! were yet to have their first number one, but I guess it's a bit like in the world of tennis Andy Murray was considered one of the big four players long before he won his first grand slam.

It was the year Kajagoogoo had their moment in the spotlight reaching number one with their debut "Too Shy". It was also the year Limahl left the group and began his brief solo career with "Only For Love". Both Kajagoogoo and Limahl would have one more hit the following year before their chart career was over.

Having released what proved to be the biggest selling album of all time, "Thriller", at the end of the previous year, Michael Jackson had five top 40 hits from that album this year including the number one record "Billie Jean".

Disco music still hadn't disappeared from the UK charts. Returning to the charts after four years away was KC & the Sunshine Band who had the number one record "Give It Up" which was also their final hit. Also returning after four years for their final hit was Gloria Gaynor with the record "I Am What I Am". After a 28 year absence, Eartha Kitt returned to the charts with a disco number "Where Is My Man" which was just here second hit, but not her final one.

It is however true to say Disco was starting to go full circle and make way for Funk. Although he failed to make much impact this year, it was the year Prince made his debut with "1999" which reached number 25. His follow up "Little Red Corvette" failed to reach the top 40, but the two record would be released as a double a side two years later and make number two.

In the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal world we would have the final hits from Thin Lizzy with "Thunder And Lightning", Rush with "Countdown / New World Man" and Saxon with "Power And The Glory". Meanwhile, the Americans were starting to hit the UK charts, Twisted Sister had their only two UK hits with "I Am (I'm Me)" and "The Kids Are Back", whilst Kiss had two hits this year with "Creatures Of The Night" and "Lick It Up", but they would return to the charts in later years. We also had Ozzy Osbourne start his solo top 40 career with "Bark At The Moon".

The 2 tone scene was now being kept going by Madness with the only other 2 tone act to chart this years being the Beat who had their final hit with their cover of "Can't Get Used To Losing You".

The genre which had a really strong presence on the charts this year though was Synth Pop. The year began with the debuts of China Crisis with "Christian" and Thompson Twins with "Love On Your Side". Then in February came the debut of Eurythmics with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)".

In March we had arguably the most significant record of them all chart, "Blue Monday" by New Order. We also saw the last of Japans hits with "All Tomorrow's Parties". Three years after Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware left the Human League to form Heaven 17, they final made their chart debut in April with "Temptation".

Vince Clarkes time in Yazoo proved to be as brief as his time in Depeche Mode with their final 80s hit "Nobody's Diary" charting in May. Vince Clarke though would return to the charts in November as part of the Assembly who had their only hit with "Never Never".

September saw the debut of Howard Jones with "New Song" which he followed up in December with "What Is Love".

Away from the synths though, we had the debut of Aztec Camera with "Oblivious" and The Smiths with "This Charming Man".

We had the first act from Iceland this year in the charts. Mezzoforte had their only UK hit with the instrumental "Garden Party".

Despite their being several new significant acts in the charts this year, its probably fair to say most of the music was nothing new, which is probably why 1983 is viewed quite negatively by some people. The fact the most successful act of the year was someone who had been around since the 60s didn't help either.

To give an idea of what is to come in 1984, there was a record just outside the top 40 at the end of the year by a group from Liverpool who were yet to make their chart debut. I think you know who that is, but if you don't you will find out when I post about 1984.