Synchronicity by The Police topped the Rolling Stone Album of the Year readers’ poll in 1983.
But it had some tough competition. Madonna’s debut, Billy Joel’s homage to retro music styles, U2’s War, Talking Heads’ Speaking in Tongues and REM’s Murmur statement.
It’s also most likely the first year your memories of music are fueled by the increasingly popular music videos in rotation on MTV. So let’s look at 1983 through that lens. Check out the videos below and tell us if you think 1983 was the Greatest Year in Music in the comments or across social media with #XPNGreatestYear.
Albums:
Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads
Madonna – Madonna
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
Nena – Nena
Trouble in Paradise – Randy Newman
Cuts Like a Knife – Bryan Adams
Sports – Huey Lewis and the News
Pyromania – Def Leppard
What’s Funk? – Grand Funk Railroad
Powerlight – Earth, Wind & Fire
Kilroy Was Here – Styx
War – U2
Money and Cigarettes – Eric Clapton
Subterranean Jungle – The Ramones
Punch the Clock – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
An Innocent Man – Billy Joel
Kill ‘Em All – Metallica
State of Confusion – The Kinks
Flashdance Soundtrack
Candy Girl – New Edition
Labour of Love – UB40
The Wild Heart – Stevie Nicks
Construction Time Again – Depeche Mode
Texas Flood – Stevie Ray Vaughn
You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll – Twisted Sister
Field Day – Marshall Crenshaw
Hand of Kindness – Richard Thompson
Secret Messages – ELO
Suicidal Tendencies – Suicidal Tendencies
Fantastic – Wham!
Synchronicity – The Police
Dazzle Ships – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Thunder and Lightning – Thin Lizzy
True – Spandau Ballet
The Hurting – Tears for Fears
The Final Cut – Pink Floyd
Eliminator – ZZ Top
Baby Snakes – Frank Zappa
Swordfishtrombones – Tom Waits
Legendary Hearts – Lou Reed
Murmur – REM
Genesis – Genesis
Uh-Huh – John Cougar Mellencamp
Let’s Dance – David Bowie
Whammy! – The B-52’s
Hootenanny – The Replacements
Cargo – Men at Work
First Offense – Corey Hart
Colour By Numbers – Culture Club
Undercover – The Rolling Stones
Amore – The Hooters
Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
High Land, Hard Rain – Aztec Camera
Living in Oz – Rick Springfield
Seven and the Ragged Tiger – Duran Duran
The Key – Joan Armatrading
Out of Step – Minor Threat
Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes
Power, Corruption & Lies – New Order
“Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird Al Yankovic
She Works Hard for the Money – Donna Summer
More Fun in the New World – X
Too Low for Zero – Elton John
