1982 in music

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List of years in music (table)
+...
Years in music: 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
Centuries: 19th century · 20th century · 21st century
Decades: 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Years: 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

This is a list of notable events in music from 1982, a year in which Madonna made her debut and Michael Jackson released Thriller, which still holds the title for the world's best selling album.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–March

April – August

September–December

Also in 1982

Bands formed

Bands disbanded

Albums released

In the US, the RIAA stated that 2,630 albums, 2,710 cassettes and 2,285 singles were released.

January – March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
11 Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful? The Waitresses
15 All for a Song Barbara Dickson
18 Mystical Adventures Jean-Luc Ponty
19 How Could Hell Be Any Worse? Bad Religion
27 Mesopotamia The B-52's EP
29 Friends Shalamar
Picture This Huey Lewis and the News
? Another Day/Another Dollar Gang of Four Compilation
Flex Your Head Various Artists
The David Frizzell and Shelly West Album David Frizzell and Shelly West
Kasim Kasim Sulton
Objects of Desire Michael Franks
Oriental Beat Hanoi Rocks
Repercussion The dB's
Shadows Gordon Lightfoot
The Sisters Sister Sledge
Somewhere over China Jimmy Buffett
Southern Comfort Conway Twitty
Streetheart Streetheart
Yes It's You Lady Smokey Robinson
Anyone Can See Irene Cara
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
12 English Settlement XTC
15 Death Wish II Jimmy Page Soundtrack
16 The Concert in Central Park Simon & Garfunkel Live
24 Swing to the Right Utopia
26 Set Thompson Twins
? 2XS Nazareth
Beautiful Vision Van Morrison
Black on Black Waylon Jennings
The Blue Mask Lou Reed
Bobbie Sue The Oak Ridge Boys
Chase the Dragon Magnum
Gamma 3 Gamma
Green Light Bonnie Raitt
Growing in the Dark Glass Moon
Just Another Day in Paradise Bertie Higgins
Mechanix UFO
Mountain Music Alabama
Nick the Knife Nick Lowe
One from the Heart Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle Soundtrack
Pelican West Haircut One Hundred
Seasons of the Heart John Denver
Times of Our Lives Judy Collins
Weather Report Weather Report
M
A
R
C
H
5 Windows Charlie Daniels Band
8 Hex Enduction Hour The Fall
12 The Gift The Jam
15 Asia Asia
Shoot Out the Lights Richard and Linda Thompson
19 Batteries Not Included After the Fire
Five Miles Out Mike Oldfield
20 Rhythm of Youth Men Without Hats
22 Alligator Woman Cameo
Reel Music The Beatles Compilation
The Number of the Beast Iron Maiden
23 Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet Rick Springfield
24 The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads Talking Heads Live
25 The Blurred Crusade The Church
? Always on My Mind Willie Nelson
The Anvil Visage
Blackout Scorpions
Branigan Laura Branigan
Brilliance Atlantic Starr
Diamond Spandau Ballet
Filth Hounds of Hades Tank
Fun Boy Three Fun Boy Three
The Golden Age of Wireless Thomas Dolby
New Britain Whitehouse
One to One Carole King
Sonic Youth Sonic Youth
The Early Tapes Level 42
The Tunes of Two Cities The Residents
Walk Among Us The Misfits

April – June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
5 All Four One The Motels
8 D.E. 7th Dave Edmunds
Toto IV Toto
9 Broadsword and the Beast Jethro Tull UK
Jump Up! Elton John
12 American Fool John Cougar
14 Diver Down Van Halen
16 1+9+8+2 Status Quo
17 Iron Fist Motörhead
19 Big Science Laurie Anderson
23 Complete Madness Madness Compilation
26 Are You Ready Bucks Fizz
28 Marshall Crenshaw Marshall Crenshaw
Tug of War Paul McCartney
? Abominog Uriah Heep
Angst in My Pants Sparks
Circus Animals Cold Chisel
Extraterrestrial Live Blue Öyster Cult Live
A Flock of Seagulls A Flock of Seagulls
Four Cuts EP Diamond Head EP
Heartbreak Express Dolly Parton
High Notes Hank Williams, Jr.
Ladies of the Eighties A Taste of Honey
Maybe It's Live Robert Palmer Live +4 studio tracks
The Slide Area Ry Cooder
Straight Between the Eyes Rainbow
The Other Woman Ray Parker, Jr.
Time and Tide Split Enz
White Eagle Tangerine Dream
Bill Wyman Bill Wyman
M
A
Y
2 Jinx Rory Gallagher
3 After the Snow Modern English
Pornography The Cure
Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch Frank Zappa
4 Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium Stevie Wonder Compilation
6 The Single Factor Camel
7 Wiped Out Raven
10 Junkyard The Birthday Party
Rio Duran Duran
13 Throwin' Down Rick James
14 Combat Rock The Clash
The Eagle Has Landed Saxon Live
Church of Hawkwind Hawkwind
21 Hot Space Queen
22 Sheffield Steel Joe Cocker
24 The Hunter Blondie
28 I Paralyze Cher
No Fun Aloud Glenn Frey
? Avalon Roxy Music
D. Train D. Train
Death in the Nursery Legend
12 Greatest Hits, Vol. II Neil Diamond Compilation
Get It on Credit Toronto
The Last of the Mohicans Bow Wow Wow EP
Let Me Rock You Peter Criss
Now and Forever Air Supply
The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away William Bootsy Collins
One on One Cheap Trick
Quiet Lies Juice Newton
The Record Fear
Special Forces 38 Special
Street Opera Ashford & Simpson
Sweets From a Stranger Squeeze
Time Pieces: The Best of Eric Clapton Eric Clapton Compilation
Tuckerized Marshall Tucker Band
Tropical Gangsters Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Vinyl Confessions Kansas
World Radio Leo Sayer
J
U
N
E
1 Still Life The Rolling Stones Live
Three Sides Live Genesis Live
3 Strait from the Heart George Strait
5 Private Audition Heart
7 Battle Hymns Manowar
Built for Speed Stray Cats
Chicago 16 Chicago
Screaming Blue Murder Girlschool
8 Eye of the Tiger Survivor
14 All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes Pete Townshend
Metal Massacre Various Artists
15 Abracadabra Steve Miller Band
18 Beat King Crimson
Mirage Fleetwood Mac
21 Daylight Again Crosby, Stills & Nash
22 Nothing to Fear Oingo Boingo
24 Stink The Replacements EP
25 The Lexicon of Love ABC
28 Before I Forget Jon Lord
Pictures at Eleven Robert Plant
? Animation Jon Anderson
Eye in the Sky The Alan Parsons Project
Good Trouble REO Speedwagon
Live It Up David Johansen
Night and Day Joe Jackson
No Control Eddie Money
Nugent Ted Nugent
Somewhere in the Stars Rosanne Cash
Sunshine Dream The Beach Boys
Unlimited Reba McEntire

July – September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
2 Imperial Bedroom Elvis Costello and the Attractions
15 View from the Ground America
16 The Envoy Warren Zevon
17 Screaming for Vengeance Judas Priest
19 Donna Summer Donna Summer
23 Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Soundtrack Various Artists Soundtrack
Emotions in Motion Billy Squier
26 Love and Dancing The Human League Remix
? Billy Idol Billy Idol
Coney Hatch Coney Hatch
Highway Song Live Blackfoot Live
Juggernaut Frank Marino
Jump to It Aretha Franklin
Let Me Tickle Your Fancy Jermaine Jackson
Love Will Turn You Around Kenny Rogers
The Party's Over Talk Talk
Psychopathia Sexualis Whitehouse
Revelations Killing Joke
So Excited! Pointer Sisters
Under the Big Black Sun X
A
U
G
U
S
T
3 Art of Control Peter Frampton
9 I Can't Stand Still Don Henley
11 Vanity 6 Vanity 6
Vacation The Go-Go's
23 Upstairs at Eric's Yazoo
24 Chronic Town R.E.M. EP
25 What Time Is It? The Time
Zipper Catches Skin Alice Cooper
30 Hughes/Thrall Hughes/Thrall
Voyeur Kim Carnes
? Bad to the Bone George Thorogood & the Destroyers
The Cage Tygers of Pan Tang
Cut Golden Earring
Fast Times at Ridgemont High Various Artists Soundtrack
Fiction The Comsat Angels
The Hottest Night of the Year Anne Murray
If That's What It Takes Michael McDonald
Metal Manilla Road
Music for a New Society John Cale
Rock in a Hard Place Aerosmith
Rough Diamonds Bad Company
Shango Santana
Talking Back to the Night Steve Winwood
A Taste of Yesterday's Wine Merle Haggard and George Jones
Too-Rye-Ay Dexy's Midnight Runners
The Unexpected Guest Demon
V Deep The Boomtown Rats
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
1 Garlands Cocteau Twins
4 It's Hard The Who
6 Primitive Man Icehouse
Something's Going On Frida
7 As One Kool & The Gang
8 Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel aka Security
9 Signals Rush
10 I, Assassin Gary Numan
Silk Electric Diana Ross
13 The Dreaming Kate Bush
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) Simple Minds
17 The Philip Lynott Album Philip Lynott
18 Under the Blade Twisted Sister
20 Love over Gold Dire Straits
21 Janet Jackson Janet Jackson
Forever, For Always, For Love Luther Vandross
23 The Nylon Curtain Billy Joel
25 Forever Now The Psychedelic Furs
In the Heat of the Night Imagination
27 A Broken Frame Depeche Mode
Room to Live The Fall
30 Nebraska Bruce Springsteen
? Acting Very Strange Mike Rutherford
The Adventures of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash
Death Penalty Witchfinder General
Dream Maker Conway Twitty
Get Closer Linda Ronstadt
Gowan Larry Gowan
Heartlight Neil Diamond
High Adventure Kenny Loggins
Ice Cream for Crow Captain Beefheart
Madness, Money & Music Sheena Easton
Magic Gillan
Olivia's Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Olivia Newton-John Compilation +2 new tracks
Pressin' On Billy Preston
The Pursuit of Accidents Level 42
Scandal Scandal EP
UB44 UB40
Zombie Birdhouse Iggy Pop

October – December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
2 Restless and Wild Accept
4 H2O Hall & Oates
Winds of Change Jefferson Starship
6 Lionel Richie Lionel Richie
8 Borrowed Time Diamond Head
The Rise & Fall Madness
13 Creatures of the Night Kiss
14 Zapp II Zapp
15 Quartet Ultravox
18 In the Mood for Something Rude Foghat
22 The Dollar Album Dollar
27 1999 Prince
29 Choose Your Masques Hawkwind
Get Nervous Pat Benatar
The Nightfly Donald Fagen
? Absolutely Live Rod Stewart Live
All by Myself Rikk Agnew
Assault Attack The Michael Schenker Group
Black Pearl Pat Travers
Coup d'État Plasmatics
Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Eagles Compilation
...Famous Last Words... Supertramp
Friend or Foe Adam Ant
Heartbreaker Dionne Warwick
Keep On Doing The Roches
Kissing to Be Clever Culture Club
Last Date Emmylou Harris Live
Midnight Love Marvin Gaye
Kim Mitchell Kim Mitchell
An Officer and a Gentleman Various Artists Soundtrack
Power of the Hunter Tank
Radio Romance Eddie Rabbitt
Shabooh Shoobah INXS
Shuttered Room The Fixx
The Sky's Gone Out Bauhaus
Spring Session M Missing Persons
Strawberries The Damned
Twin Barrels Burning Wishbone Ash
Wild Things Run Fast Joni Mitchell
Word of Mouth Toni Basil
WWII Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
The Youth of Today Musical Youth
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
1 Hello, I Must Be Going! Phil Collins
2 Long After Dark Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
5 A Kiss in the Dreamhouse Siouxsie and The Banshees
Gone Troppo George Harrison
7 Living My Life Grace Jones
8 I Could Rule the World if I Could only Get the Parts The Waitresses EP
The Singles: The First Ten Years ABBA Compilation
The John Lennon Collection John Lennon Compilation
12 Showtime! The J. Geils Band Live
13 The Lee Aaron Project Lee Aaron
15 The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect Todd Rundgren
17 Chaka Khan Chaka Khan
19 Coda Led Zeppelin Recorded 1970–'79
24 8th Wonder The Sugarhill Gang
27 Speak of the Devil/Talk of the Devil (UK) Ozzy Osbourne Live
30 Three Lock Box Sammy Hagar
Thriller Michael Jackson
? Before the Storm Samson
Computer Games George Clinton
Dawn Patrol Night Ranger
Don't Play with Fire Peabo Bryson
Going Where the Lonely Go Merle Haggard
Here Comes the Night Barry Manilow
The High and the Mighty Donnie Iris
Identity Crisis Sweet
It's Alright (I See Rainbows) Yoko Ono
Killer on the Rampage Eddy Grant
New Directions Tavares
Oh, No! It's Devo Devo
Pearls II Elkie Brooks
Plastic Surgery Disasters Dead Kennedys
Run for the Roses Jerry Garcia
Saints & Sinners Whitesnake
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
10 Dig the New Breed The Jam Live
11 Slade on Stage Slade Live
29 Trans Neil Young
30 Beatitude Ric Ocasek
? The Distance Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Live Evil Black Sabbath Live
Virgin Steele Virgin Steele
White Heat Dusty Springfield
The Winning Hand Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Brenda Lee & Dolly Parton

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1982.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1 Survivor Eye of the Tiger 1982 United States UK 1 – Jul 1982, US BB 1 – Jun 1982, US CashBox 1 of 1982, Canada 1 – Jun 1982, Norway 1 – Aug 1982, Australia 1 of 1982, Kazakhstan 1 – Jul 1982, Ireland 1 – Sep 1982, Australia 1 for 6 weeks Aug 1983, Netherlands 2 – Sep 1982, Austria 2 – Sep 1982, South Africa 2 of 1982, Sweden (alt) 5 – Aug 1982, Switzerland 6 – Aug 1982, US BB 7 of 1982, France 7 – Jan 1983, POP 7 of 1982, Germany 18 – Jan 1983, Scrobulate 20 of 80s, Italy 23 of 1982, Poland 24 – Jul 1982, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1982, Europe 46 of the 1980s, OzNet 82
2 Men at Work Down Under 1982 Australia UK 1 – Jan 1983, US BB 1 – Nov 1982, Canada 1 – Sep 1982, Switzerland 1 – Jun 1982, Poland 1 – Jan 1983, Ireland 1 – Jan 1983, New Zealand 1 for 2 weeks Feb 1982, Australia 1 for 6 weeks Nov 1982, Netherlands 2 – Mar 1982, Norway 2 – Feb 1983, France 4 – Aug 1982, Sweden (alt) 6 – Feb 1983, US CashBox 8 of 1983, South Africa 8 of 1982, OzNet 8, Germany 10 – Mar 1983, POP 16 of 1983, US BB 21 of 1983, Australia 24 of 1982, Europe 36 of the 1980s, KROQ 70 of 1982, Scrobulate 83 of 80s, RYM 96 of 1981
3 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts I Love Rock 'n' Roll 1982 United States US BB 1 – Feb 1982, Canada 1 – Jan 1982, Netherlands 1 – Apr 1982, Sweden (alt) 1 – Jun 1982, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks Jun 1982, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Mar 1983, Poland 2 – May 1982, Switzerland 3 – Mar 1982, UK 4 – Apr 1982, POP 4 of 1982, US CashBox 5 of 1982, Austria 5 – May 1982, Germany 6 – Apr 1982, Australia 7 of 1982, South Africa 7 of 1982, US BB 8 of 1982, France 10 – Mar 1982, KROQ 71 of 1982, Party 80 of 1999, RIAA 177, Acclaimed 295, Germany 348 of the 1980s, TheQ 463, Rolling Stone 484
4 Dexys Midnight Runners Come On Eileen 1982 United Kingdom UK 1 – Jul 1982, US BB 1 – Feb 1983, Canada 1 – Nov 1982, Switzerland 1 – Nov 1982, Ireland 1 – Aug 1982, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks Nov 1982, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Sep 1983, POP 2 of 1983, Netherlands 4 – Aug 1982, US BB 5 of 1983, France 5 – Jan 1983, Germany 5 – Jan 1983, Austria 9 – Nov 1982, RYM 11 of 1982, US CashBox 12 of 1983, Australia 12 of 1982, Scrobulate 15 of 80s, Party 36 of 2007, Virgin 85, OzNet 117, Germany 244 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 1040
5 Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder Ebony and Ivory 1982 United States United Kingdom UK 1 – Apr 1982 (10 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Apr 1982 (19 weeks), Canada 1 – Apr 1982 (14 weeks), Norway 1 – Apr 1982 (18 weeks), Belgium 1 – Apr 1982 (10 weeks), Germany 1 – May 1982 (5 months), Eire 1 for 3 weeks – Apr 1982, Canada RPM 1 for 5 weeks – May 1982, Germany 1 for 5 weeks – Jun 1982, Spain 1 for 1 week – Jun 1982, Sweden (alt) 2 – Apr 1982 (21 weeks), Switzerland 2 – Apr 1982 (12 weeks), Grammy in 1982 (Nominated), Netherlands 3 – Apr 1982 (9 weeks), Austria 3 – May 1982 (5 weeks), Springbok 3 – May 1982 (13 weeks), US CashBox 4 of 1982, Poland 4 – May 1982 (7 weeks)

Chronological table of US and UK number one hit singles

UK number one singles and artist
(weeks at number one)
U.S. number one singles and artist
(weeks at number one)

"Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (3 weeks in 1981 + 2 weeks in 1982)
"Land of Make Believe" – Bucks Fizz (2)
"Oh Julie" – Shakin' Stevens (1)
"The Model" – Kraftwerk (1)
"Town Called Malice" – The Jam (3)
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" – Tight Fit (3)
"Seven Tears" – Goombay Dance Band (3)
"My Camera Never Lies" – Bucks Fizz (1)
"Ebony and Ivory" – Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (3)
"A Little Peace" – Nicole (2) 500th UK No. 1 single
"House of Fun" – Madness (2)
"Goody Two Shoes" – Adam Ant (2)
"I've Never Been to Me" – Charlene (1)
"Happy Talk" – Captain Sensible (2)
"Come on Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners (4) best selling single of the year
"Eye of the Tiger" – Survivor (4)
"Pass the Dutchie" – Musical Youth (3)
"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" – Culture Club (3)
"I Don't Wanna Dance" – Eddy Grant (3)
"Beat Surrender" – The Jam (2)
"Save Your Love" – Renée and Renato (2 weeks in 1982 + 2 weeks in 1983)

"Physical" – Olivia Newton-John (6 weeks in 1981 + 4 weeks in 1982) best selling single of the year
"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (1)
"Centerfold" – The J. Geils Band (6)
"I Love Rock 'N Roll" – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (7)
"Titles" – Vangelis (1)
"Ebony And Ivory" – Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (7)
"Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (3)
"Eye Of The Tiger" – Survivor (6)
"Abracadabra" – Steve Miller Band (2)
"Hard To Say I'm Sorry" – Chicago (2)
"Jack And Diane" – John Cougar (4)
"Who Can It Be Now?" – Men at Work (1)
"Up Where We Belong" – Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (3)
"Truly" – Lionel Richie (2)
"Mickey" – Toni Basil (1)
"Maneater" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (2 weeks in 1982 + 2 weeks in 1983)
Or see: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1982

Other significant singles

Published popular music

Classical music

Ballet

See List of 1982 ballet premieres

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Musical television

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Charts

List of No. 1 Hits

See also

References