Where are the Artists Now?

Crafting a success tune typically occurs instantly. “The lyrics, the strings, the chords, everything comes at the moment like a gift that is put right into your head and that’s how I hear it,” Michael Jackson defined in 1994 whereas defending himself towards a copyright lawsuit.

Sometimes it takes some time longer. John Oates made a number of makes an attempt at “Maneater” to get the proper groove. “We try and take chances,” Daryl Hall as soon as stated. “Our new single ‘Maneater’ isn’t something that sounds like anything else on the radio. The idea is to make things better.”

Hall & Oates’ single started 1983 at No. 1. The yr was crammed with superstars like Jackson and Lionel Richie and new artists who lastly caught their huge break, like Eurythmics and Dexys Midnight Runners.

We take a chronological look beneath at 1983’s No. 1 Hit Songs: Where are the Artists Now?

Daryl Hall & John Oates, “Maneater” (January)
From: H20 (1982)

Hall & Oates had already loved a handful of hits at the high of the ’80s — “Private Eyes” and “I Can’t Go for That” each topped the chart — and so they had no plans to decelerate. “Maneater,” which started life as a reggae tune Oates was engaged on with Edgar Winter, was the lead single from 1982’s H20 and have become the duo’s fourth No. 1 single of the decade. (H20 yielded two different Top 10 songs, “One on One” and “Family Man.”)  More hits adopted earlier than issues cooled off in the ’90s. Hall & Oates nonetheless carry out collectively however have not launched an album of unique materials since 2003’s Do It for Love.

Men at Work, “Down Under” (January/February)
From: Business as Usual (1981)

“Down Under” was first launched in 1980, earlier than Men at Work signed with Columbia Records. The tune slowly made its means up the chart, reaching No. 1 in the U.S. in January 1983, whereas additionally hitting that place in different international locations. (They additionally hit No. 1 with “Who Can It Be Now?” in 1982.) The Australian band’s subsequent album, Cargo, was additionally a hit, yielding two extra Top 10 hits. But Men at Work known as it a day in 1985, breaking apart and by no means getting again collectively, although members Colin Hay and Greg Ham toured South America in 1996 and launched a stay hits assortment. Singer-songwriter Hay’s solo profession has been busy with greater than a dozen solo albums and collaborations with artists like Ringo Starr. Ham died in 2012.

Toto, “Africa” (February)
From: Toto IV (1982)

1983 was a good time to be in Toto — “Africa” nudged “Down Under” from the No. 1 spot in February — however it was additionally difficult as a result of a few longtime members had left the band. Even although Toto continued to be profitable, nothing matched the period surrounding the Grammy-winning Toto IV. Toto went by means of many extra lineup modifications over the a long time. Steve Lukather, David Paich and Joseph Williams nonetheless document collectively. Their most up-to-date album, Old Is New, arrived in 2018.

Patti Austin and James Ingram, “Baby, Come to Me” (February)
From: Every Home Should Have One (1981)

When Patti Austin’s duet with James Ingram was first launched in 1981, it did not go anyplace. But after it was utilized in the cleaning soap opera General Hospital, it was reissued in late 1982 and topped the chart in February 1983. It was Austin’s largest hit, however she continued to launch information. She was booked for United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001, however canceled after her mom had a stroke a couple of days earlier. She continues to make music and runs a mentoring program, the Over My Shoulder Foundation.

Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean” (March/April)
From: Thriller (1982)

Jackson was already an enormous star in the ’70s and the early ’80s when 1983 launched him into one other place. 1982’s Thriller included seven singles that made the Top 10. “Billie Jean” was the first to hit the high. Jackson went on to attain 13 No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100, making him one in all the most profitable artists ever. His final album, 2001’s Invincible, debuted at No. 1. He died in 2009 of a cardiac arrest.

Dexys Midnight Runners, “Come On Eileen” (April)
From: Too-Rye-Ay (1982)

Released in the summer season of 1982, Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen” lastly hit No. 1 the subsequent spring. The band launched a follow-up album, Don’t Stand Me Down, two years later however then parted methods till 2012’s One Day I’m Going to Soar. Leader Kevin Rowland trimmed the band’s title to Dexys for an album in 2023.

Michael Jackson, “Beat It” (April/May)
From: Thriller (1982)

Michael Jackson wasn’t out of the high spot for lengthy. He returned to No. 1 at the finish of April with “Beat It,” the third single from Thriller. Jackson’s chart competitors at the time seems on the tune: Jeff and Steve Porcaro of Toto present backing on the hit tune. After the video went into heavy rotation on MTV, Jackson turned unstoppable.

David Bowie, “Let’s Dance” (May)
From: Let’s Dance (1983)

David Bowie grabbed the high spot with the title monitor to Let’s Dance in May 1983. The tune was co-produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic and have become one in all the bestselling songs of Bowie’s profession (and one in all solely two No. 1s). A follow-up pop album in 1984, Tonight, yielded a few hits, however Bowie steered towards a tougher rock sound by the subsequent decade. He died in January 2016, simply days after releasing his solely No. 1 album.

Irene Cara, “Flashdance … What a Feeling” (May/June/July)
From: What a Feelin’ (1983)

The first single to be launched from the Flashdance soundtrack was an exceptional success, however drama quickly adopted after singer Irene Cara turned conscious she wasn’t receiving the royalties stipulated in her recording contract. She sued, gained and continued an performing profession that included roles in City Heat (1984), Certain Fury (1985) and Caged in Paradiso (1989). She launched a 3rd and ultimate album, Carasmatic, in 1987, and died in November 2022 at the age of 63, on account of cardiac issues.

The Police, “Every Breath You Take” (July/August)
From: Synchronicity (1983)

The largest hit of 1983 arrived simply in time for summer season. The Police turned one in all the hottest artists in the world following “Every Breath You Take,” which went to No. 1 all over the place. Other hits from the Synchronicity LP — “King of Pain” and “Synchronicity II” — stored the band on the highway for a yr, however it additionally ended up their final document collectively. The Police cut up up quickly after however reunited in 2007 for a profitable tour. All three members have loved profitable solo careers.

Eurythmics, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” (September)
From: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983)

“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” was launched at the high of the yr as the fourth and ultimate single from Eurythmics’ self-titled album. The tune broke the band, and extra hits adopted, together with “Who’s That Girl?,” “Right by Your Side” and “Here Comes the Rain Again.” By 1990 Dave Stewart was engaged on movie soundtracks and Annie Lennox began releasing solo albums. The pair reunited a couple of instances since then, most lately at the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Michael Sembello, “Maniac” (September)
From: Bossa Nova Hotel (1983)

Another chart-topper from the 1983 film Flashdance, Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” adopted the title monitor to No. 1 in September. The tune additionally appeared on Sembello’s debut album, Bossa Nova Hotel. Even although Sembello’s profession included work with Stevie Wonder, “Maniac” was his solely large hit. He launched 4 extra solo albums, the most up-to-date of which was 2002’s Ancient Future. He’s additionally contributed to movies like Summer Lovers (1982), Cocoon (1985) and Independence Day (1996).

Billy Joel, “Tell Her About It” (September)
From: An Innocent Man (1983)

Billy Joel took over the No. 1 spot for one week in September 1983 with “Tell Her About It.” This was his second No. 1, following “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” however not his final. He’d return to the high of the chart with 1989’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Joel’s final album, a classical work titled Fantasies & Delusions, was launched in 2001. He’s stated he is now not inquisitive about making new music, however he continues to carry out stay.

Bonnie Tyler, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (October)
From: Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983)

Not solely did “Total Eclipse of the Heart” go to No. 1, however the album it seems on, Faster Than the Speed of Night, debuted at No. 1 in the U.Ok. and earned Bonnie Tyler a number of award nominations. More ’80s singles adopted — “Here She Comes,” “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)” — however Tyler’s success was better in Europe and the U.Ok. than in the U.S. Her most up-to-date album, The Best Is Yet to Come, arrived in 2021.

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, “Islands in the Stream” (October/November)
From: Eyes That See in the Dark (1983)

How’s this for star energy? “Islands in the Stream” was written by Bee Gees, and sung by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It appeared on Rogers’ 1983 album, Eyes That See in the Dark, and turned out to be the second No. 1 pop hit for Rogers and Parton, who continued to be large nation stars. Rogers died in 2020, and a posthumous album, Life Is Like a Song, got here in 2023. Parton has launched roughly 50 albums and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Lionel Richie, “All Night Long (All Night)” (November/December)
From: Can’t Slow Down (1982)

While Can’t Slow Down was Lionel Richie’s second solo album, he was used to topping the charts as a songwriter and performer. “All Night Long (All Night)” was one in all his largest hits, and he wasn’t executed but. More Top 10 hits adopted, together with “Hello,” “Stuck on You,” “Running With the Night” and “Penny Lover.” Richie’s chart success ultimately started to dwindle, however he is stored making music; 2012’s Tuskegee is his newest album. He’s gained 4 Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, “Say Say Say” (December)
From: Pipes of Peace (1983)

Michael Jackson, who dominated the center a part of 1983, returned to the high at the finish of the yr with a collaboration with  Paul McCartney. The tune appeared on McCartney’s Pipes of Peace album. He’s continued to document albums and tour. He additionally holds the document for the former Beatle with the most No. 1 solo hits: 9.