The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical albums. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 1983, as well as albums which peaked in 1982 and 1984 but were in the top 10 in 1983. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top ten for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
The first new number-one album of the year was the compilation album Raiders of the Pop Charts. Overall, twenty-one different albums peaked at number-one in 1983, with Michael Jackson (2) having the most albums hit that position.
Background Best-selling albums Michael Jackson had the best-selling album of the year with Thriller. No Parlez by Paul Young came in second place Colour by Numbers by Culture Club, Let's Dance by David Bowie and Fantastic by Wham! made up the top five. Albums by Spandau Ballet, Elaine Paige, Genesis and Lionel Richie were also in the top-ten best selling albums of the year.
Top-ten albums Key SymbolMeaning‡Album peaked in 1982 but still in chart in 1983.♦Album released in 1983 but peaked in 1984.(#)Year-end top-ten album position and rankEnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the album reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered (week ending)Weeksintop10 Single ArtistPeak Peakreached (week ending)WeeksatpeakAlbums in 1982 25Rio ‡Duran Duran 2 1 24The Kids from "Fame" ‡The Kids from "Fame" 1 12 5Kissing to Be Clever ‡Culture Club 5 2 4Olivia's Greatest HitsOlivia Newton-John 8 2 11Hello, I Must Be Going! ‡Phil Collins 2 2 15Heartbreaker ‡Dionne Warwick 3 2 8From the Makers of... ‡Status Quo 4 1 9The Singles: The First Ten Years ‡ABBA 1 1 14The John Lennon Collection ‡John Lennon 1 6 6Pearls II ‡Elkie Brooks 5 1 520 Greatest Love Songs ‡Nat King Cole 7 4 5Love Songs ‡Diana Ross 5 1 3Dig the New Breed ‡The Jam 2 1Albums in 1983 6Raiders of the Pop ChartsVarious artists 1 2 3FriendsShalamar 6 1 8Richard ClaydermanRichard Clayderman 2 1 7Business as UsualMen at Work 1 5 2The Art of Falling ApartSoft Cell 5 1 3FelineThe Stranglers 4 1 2Cacharpaya (Panpipes of the Andes)Incantation 9 1 4Night and DayJoe Jackson 3 1 2Killer on the RampageEddy Grant 7 1 3PorcupineEcho & the Bunnymen 2 1 5VisionsVarious artists 5 2 3Another PageChristopher Cross 4 2 76ThrillerMichael Jackson 1 9 1FrontiersJourney 6 1 3Jane Fonda's Workout RecordJane Fonda 7 1 2Quick Step & Side KickThompson Twins 2 1 4Toto IVToto 4 1 1Lionel RichieLionel Richie 9 1 7 WarU2 1 1 3HotlineVarious artists 3 2 2Thunder and LightningThin Lizzy 4 1 2Dazzle ShipsOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 5 1 10Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)Eurythmics 3 1 22TrueSpandau Ballet 1 1 12The HurtingTears for Fears 1 1 5Chart RunnersVarious artists 4 2 1Script for a Jester's TearMarillion 7 1 3Deep Sea SkivingBananarama 8 3 3The KeyJoan Armatrading 10 3 5The Final CutPink Floyd 1 2 6Faster Than the Speed of NightBonnie Tyler 1 1 2Live!The Kids from "Fame" 8 1 18Let's DanceDavid Bowie 1 3 2White FeathersKajagoogoo 5 1 3CargoMen at Work 8 1 11The Luxury GapHeaven 17 4 2 2Midnight at the Lost and FoundMeat Loaf 7 1 2Power, Corruption & LiesNew Order 4 1 2Night DubbingImagination 9 2 2Dressed for the OccasionCliff Richard 7 1 3Piece of MindIron Maiden 3 1 6Twice As Kool (The Hits of Kool & the Gang)Kool & the Gang 4 3 3Chart Encounters of the Hit KindVarious artists 5 1 3ConfrontationBob Marley & the Wailers 5 1 7CrisesMike Oldfield 6 1 6Too Low for ZeroElton John 7 2 5In Your EyesGeorge Benson 3 1 2Oil on CanvasJapan 5 1 1Plays LivePeter Gabriel 8 1 1What Is Beat? – The Best of The BeatThe Beat 10 1 8SynchronicityThe Police 1 2 4Body WishesRod Stewart 5 3 1Chart StarsVarious artists 7 1 2Secret MessagesElectric Light Orchestra 4 1 20FantasticWham! 1 2 4JulioJulio Iglesias 5 1 6You and Me BothYazoo 1 2 2Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion PictureVarious artists 9 2 4The Principle of MomentsRobert Plant 7 1 9The Very Best of The Beach BoysThe Beach Boys 1 3 31No ParlezPaul Young 1 5 2The LookShalamar 7 1 918 Greatest HitsMichael Jackson and The Jackson 5 1 3 14The CrossingBig Country 3 3 3Punch the ClockElvis Costello and The Attractions 3 1 2AlphaAsia 5 1 2Flick of the SwitchAC/DC 4 1 3Construction Time AgainDepeche Mode 6 1 3Standing in the LightLevel 42 9 2 2Headline HitsVarious artists 5 1 9Labour of LoveUB40 1 1 2Born AgainBlack Sabbath 4 1 2The Hit Squad - Chart TrackingVarious artists 4 1 2Unforgettable – A Musical Tribute to Nat King ColeJohnny Mathis and Natalie Cole 5 1 1Lick It UpKiss 7 1 9GenesisGenesis 1 1 2SilverCliff Richard 7 1 1A Touch More MagicBarry Manilow 10 1 17Colour by NumbersCulture Club 1 5 4Snap!The Jam 2 2 4Voice of the HeartThe Carpenters 6 2 49Can't Slow DownLionel Richie 1 3 4The Two of UsVarious artists 3 1 1Monument: The SoundtrackUltravox 9 1 1North of a MiracleNick Heyward 10 1 7Pipes of PeacePaul McCartney 4 2 1InfidelsBob Dylan 9 1 2UndercoverThe Rolling Stones 3 1 33An Innocent Man ♦Billy Joel 2 1 7StagesElaine Paige 2 1 2Chart Hits '83Various artists 6 1 11Touch ♦Eurythmics 1 2 5Seven and the Ragged TigerDuran Duran 1 1 8Under a Blood Red SkyU2 2 1 1Back to BackStatus Quo 9 1 11Now That's What I Call Music!Various artists 1 5 4Chas'n'Dave's Knees Up Jamboree Bag No. 2Chas & Dave 7 2 2Formula 30Various artists 6 2
See also 1983 in British music List of number-one albums from the 1980s (UK)
References General
Specific
External links 1983 album chart archive at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)