My rules:
- Only one song per artist/group
- The song must be released that specific year
- Songs from live albums not allowed
- Restricted to only 20 songs
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Some great music was released in 1982, here are my 20 chosen songs.
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Bruce Springsteen – Atlantic City
A song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, which first appeared on Springsteen’s 1982 solo album Nebraska. Springsteen has often played the song in a full band arrangement in concert.
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Van Morrison – Vanlose Stairway
A song written by the Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and included on his 1982 album Beautiful Vision. It has remained a popular concert performance throughout Morrison’s career and has become one of his most played songs.
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Billy Joe Shaver – Old Five And Dimers Like Me
New version recorded for his 1982 album “Billy Joe Shaver”.
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The Clash – Straight To Hell
A song by the Clash, from their album Combat Rock (1982). It was released as a double A-side single with “Should I Stay or Should I Go” on 17 September 1982 in 12″ and 7″ vinyl format.
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Elvis Costello – Man Out of Time
A song written by new wave musician Elvis Costello and performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions on their 1982 album, Imperial Bedroom. With lyrics detailing a political scandal, “Man Out of Time” features a lush arrangement that was a conscious departure from the aggressive style of Costello’s previous work.
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Warren Zevon – The Envoy
The title track from Zevon’s 1982 album.
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Roxy Music – Avalon
A 1982 song by the English rock band Roxy Music. It was released as the second single from their album Avalon. The single, with its B-side, “Always Unknowing”, charted at No. 13 in the UK.
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Richard and Linda Thompson – Wall of Death
A song by from their album Shoot Out the Lights (1982).
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Iron Maiden – Hallowed Be Thy Name
A song written by Steve Harris for the 1982 Iron Maiden album The Number of the Beast. It has been acclaimed as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time and is also considered one of the band’s signature songs.
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Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
A song by English group Dexys Midnight Runners (credited to Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express), released in the United Kingdom on 25 June 1982 as a single from their album Too-Rye-Ay.
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Prince – Little Red Corvette
From the album 1999 (1982). The song was at that point Prince’s highest charting single and his first to reach the top 10 in the U.S., peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also his first single to perform better on the pop chart than the R&B chart.
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Willie Nelson – Always on My Mind
Willie Nelson recorded and released the song in early 1982. It raced to number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart that May, spending two weeks on top and a total of 21 weeks on the chart.
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Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
From the album Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. “Billie Jean” blends post-disco, rhythm and blues, funk and dance-pop. The lyrics describe a woman, Billie Jean, who claims that the narrator is the father of her newborn son, which he denies.
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John Anderson – Wild and Blue
“Wild and Blue” is a song written by John Scott Sherrill, and recorded by American country music artist John Anderson. It was released in September 1982 as the first single and title track from the album Wild & Blue.
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Lou Reed – The Blue Mask
From the album “The Blue Mask” (1982).
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Donald Fagen – I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)
A song written and performed by American songwriter, singer and musician Donald Fagen. It was the first track on his platinum-certified debut solo album The Nightfly, and was released in September 1982 as its first single.
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Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing
A song recorded by American singer Marvin Gaye from his album Midnight Love (1982). It was his first single since his exit from his long-term record label Motown earlier in the year.
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Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message
A song by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. It was released as a single by Sugar Hill Records on July 1, 1982, and was later featured on the group’s first studio album, The Message.
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Robert Wyatt – Shipbuilding
Originally released as a single on Rough Trade on 20 August 1982, but failed to chart. It was re-released on 22 April 1983 when it reached number 35 in the UK Singles Chart, marking the first ever UK Top 40 entry for Rough Trade.
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The Who – I’ve Known No War
From the 1982 album “It’s Hard”.
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Spotify Playlist:
Inspiration:
- Music Lists @ MusicThisDay.com
– - Heartaches by the Number: Country Music’s 500 Greatest Singles, written in 2003 by David Cantwell and Bill Friskics-Warren
- The Heart of Rock and Soul – The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made, by Dave Marsh, 1989
- 1001 Songs: You Must Hear Before You Die, by Robert Dimery, 2015
- 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, by Robert Dimery, 2010
- robertchristgau.com – Lists (Robert Christgau website)