20 Songs Released in 1982 You Must Hear

Posted on by Egil Mosbron


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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Well, they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night
Now they blew up his house, too



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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Send me your picture
Send me your pillow
Send it through Krishna
On the Vanlose stairway



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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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I’ve spent the lifetime making up my mind to be
More than the measure of what I thought others could see
Good luck and fast bucks are too far and too few between



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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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If you can play on the fiddle
How’s about a British jig and reel?



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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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So this is where he came to hide
When he ran from you
In a private detective`s overcoat



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Warren Zevon – The Envoy

The title track from Zevon’s 1982 album.
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Nuclear arms in the Middle East
Israel is attacking the Iraqis
The Syrians are mad at the Lebanese
And Baghdad does whatever she please
Looks like another threat to world peace
For the envoy



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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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Now the party’s over, I’m so tired
Then I see you coming, out of nowhere



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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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Let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time
Let me ride on the Wall Of Death one more time



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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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I’m waiting in my cold cell when the bell begins to chime
Reflecting on my past life and it doesn’t have much time



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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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Poor old Jonny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio



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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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I guess I should’ve known
By the way you parked your car sideways
That it wouldn’t last



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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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Maybe I didn’t love you
Quite as often as I could have



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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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She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said don’t mind, but what do you mean, I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round?



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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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Way across town a phone rings off the wall
If you know he ain’t home why do you keep callin’



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Lou Reed – The Blue Mask

From the album “The Blue Mask” (1982).
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They tied his arms behind his back
To teach him how to swim
They put blood in his coffee
And milk in his gin



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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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Standing tough under stars and stripes
We can tell
This dream’s in sight



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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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Oh, baby now let’s get down tonight (ba-ba-ba, bum)
Ooh baby, I’m hot just like an oven (heal me my darling, heal me my darling)



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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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It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from going under



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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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Is it worth it?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy’s birthday.



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The Who – I’ve Known No War

From the 1982 album “It’s Hard”.
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I’ve known no war
And if I ever do I won’t know for sure
Who’ll be fighting whom



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Inspiration:

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