Best 1983

Power, Corruption & Lies is the second studio album by English band New Order, released in May 1983 on Factory Records. The album marked the group's transition from the post-punk sound of their previous band Joy Division toward a more electronic, synth-based approach. It features notable tracks "Age...

Ugly Things was a 1983 zine established by Mike Stax. It became a highly influential publication focused exclusively on 1960s garage rock and psychedelic music. The zine provided detailed coverage of bands, recordings, and cultural trends within this revival scene. It remains notable for its compreh...

The Keith Jarrett Trio's Standards Vol. 1 is a seminal jazz album recorded live in Tokyo during 1974-1975. It presents iconic American pop and jazz standards through the trio’s exceptional improvisational skill and deeply considered interpretations. This collection is notable for its spontaneous mus...

The Motown Story: The First 25 Years is a multi-volume compilation box set released in 1983 to chronicle the history of Motown Records. Spanning the label's first quarter-century, the collection features hit tracks from iconic artists such as Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and the Temptat...

"High Land, Hard Rain" is the debut studio album by the Scottish indie pop band Aztec Camera, released in 1983 on Rough Trade Records. Written primarily by the band's founder, singer, and guitarist Roddy Frame, the album features a blend of jangly guitar-driven pop and folk elements. It includes not...

Head Over Heels is the second studio album by the Scottish band Cocteau Twins, released in October 1983 on the 4AD label. It was the first album recorded as a duo of guitarist Robin Guthrie and vocalist Elizabeth Fraser following the departure of bassist Will Heggie. The album's dense, layered guita...

The Keith Jarrett Trio's Standards Vol. 2 is a landmark jazz album recorded in 1983. It presents meticulously crafted interpretations of American songbook classics—standards from the 1930s and ’40s. The trio’s remarkable musical connection and complex harmonic arrangements are particularly notable f...

The boxing match between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran took place on November 10, 1983, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hagler defended his undisputed middleweight championship against Duran, a formidable opponent who was moving up from lower weight classes. The bout is historica...

The Big Chill soundtrack is a 1983 compilation album of classic 1960s rhythm and blues, soul, and rock tracks that served as a major cultural nostalgia touchstone for baby boomers.

Script for a Jester's Tear is the debut studio album by British neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released in 1983. Recorded with original vocalist Fish, the album is characterized by its lengthy, multi-sectioned compositions, prominent synthesizer solos, and poetic lyrics focusing on alienation...

The 1983 debut studio album by Scottish rock band Big Country, produced by Steve Lillywhite and notable for its distinctive guitar sound designed to mimic bagpipes.

Ekaya is a 1983 jazz album by Abdullah Ibrahim. It represents a significant work within world-jazz, showcasing his distinctive musical style. The recording combines South African jazz traditions with elements of classical music, Arabic scales, and the experiences shaped by his exile. This album is p...

The album Reunion brings together vibraphonist Gary Burton and pianist Chick Corea in a remarkable 1983 ECM recording. It's notable for their sophisticated musical dialogue exploring modal jazz and complex harmonies through collective improvisation. This release is valuable for serious jazz listener...

*Museum* is a 1983 poetry collection by American author Rita Dove. As her second full-length volume of poetry, the book builds upon her earlier works by exploring themes of history, art, and cultural memory. Dove utilizes an ekphrastic approach, examining various cultural artifacts and historical fi...

*River* is a poetry collection by British Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, first published in 1983. The work represents a culmination of Hughes's lifelong fascination with the natural world, specifically focusing on the ecosystem and raw power of waterways. Through vivid and visceral imagery, the poems tra...

Duel to the Death is a Hong Kong action film renowned for its intensely choreographed and brutal one-on-one sword fights, showcasing a highly stylized and violent approach to martial arts combat within a historical setting.

This 1983 album is the inaugural edition of the famous British compilation series, establishing the highly successful format of combining the era's biggest chart-topping pop hits.

Alexis Arguello versus Aaron Pryor II was a 1983 rematch for Pryor's WBA junior-welterweight title, held in Las Vegas. Arguello, a champion in three lower weight divisions, was again attempting to win a world title at 140 pounds after losing their first contest in 1982. Pryor controlled much of the...

Marvin Hagler vs. Roberto Duran was a middleweight championship bout held on November 10, 1983, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Hagler defeated Duran by unanimous decision after 15 rounds and retained the undisputed middleweight title. Duran, already a former lightweight and welterweight champion, c...

“Think of One” is a 2006 album featuring jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis performing unaccompanied works by Duke Ellington, showcasing his technical mastery and nuanced interpretations of the composer’s iconic compositions.

Gary Burton’s *Lyric Suite for Sextet* (1976) features a complex and extended composition showcasing his innovative mallet technique alongside a talented ensemble including Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, and Ron Carter, exploring modal harmonies and improvisational interplay.

Heartplay, featuring Paul Motian and Bill Frisell, is a collaborative album showcasing their understated interplay through modal improvisation and textural explorations, primarily utilizing acoustic instruments like piano, guitar, and drums.

English gothic rock band Bauhaus released this 1983 album, notable for its varied sonic textures and recorded while frontman Peter Murphy was hospitalized for illness.

Siouxsie and the Banshees: Nocturne is a 1983 live video and double album by the English post-punk band. It was recorded on September 30 and October 1, 1983, at the Royal Albert Hall in London during the band's A Kiss in the Dreamhouse tour. The performance features Robert Smith of The Cure on guita...

This summary pamphlet condenses the 1983 report A Nation at Risk, which famously warned about the declining state of public education in America.

Released in 1983, this soundtrack for the romantic drama Flashdance is highly notable for producing multiple hit singles, including Irene Cara's iconic title track.

Big Bird in China is a 1983 Sesame Street television special co-produced with China Central Television. It follows Big Bird and the dog Barkley as they travel through China in search of the legendary Phoenix, guided by a young Chinese girl named Xiao Fu. The program combines a fictional quest with e...

The Dragon Waiting is a 1983 alternate-history fantasy novel by American writer John M. Ford. It depicts a Renaissance Europe in which the Byzantine Empire remains powerful, Christianity never became dominant across the continent, magic is real, and vampires exist as part of society. Its interwoven...

The 1983 debut album by English gothic rock band Alien Sex Fiend, a landmark release of the Batcave scene that emerged from London's early goth club culture.