Billboard published a weekly chart in 1983 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since 2005.[1] In 1983, it was published under the title Hot Black Singles,[2] and 13 different singles reached number one.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 1, "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye was at number one, its ninth week in the top spot.[3] It spent one further week atop the chart for a total of ten weeks at number one, the longest-running chart-topper on the listing since 1962.[4] The track was replaced at number one in the issue dated January 15 by "The Girl Is Mine" by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. The duet was the first of three number ones for Jackson in the first half of the year, all taken from his album Thriller,[5] regarded as the worldwide best-selling album of all time.[6][7] "The Girl Is Mine" spent three weeks at number one and after one week out of the top spot, Jackson returned to number one in the issue dated February 12 with "Billie Jean". This track spent nine consecutive weeks at number one, the longest chart-topping run of 1983. Not until 1994, when "Bump n' Grind" by R. Kelly spent 12 weeks at number one, would another song spend as long atop the chart.[8] "Billie Jean" has been included on various lists of the greatest songs of all time, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.[9] Jackson spent one further week at number one in May with "Beat It"; he was the only act with more than one number one during the year and his total of 13 weeks in the top spot was the highest of any act.
Several acts topped the chart in 1983 for the first time, beginning with McCartney in January.[10] In April, George Clinton achieved his first solo number one with "Atomic Dog";[11] he had previously experienced considerable success in the 1970s as the leader of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective.[12] His track was replaced in the top spot by "Candy Girl", the debut single by teenaged vocal group New Edition.[13][14] The group Mtume gained its first number one with "Juicy Fruit", which had the year's second-longest run in the top spot, spending eight weeks in the peak position.[15] The song has gone on to be sampled by many acts and called "one of the most recognizable samples in hip-hop history".[16][17] Finally, family vocal group DeBarge topped the chart for the first time in December with "Time Will Reveal",[18] which was the final number one of 1983. "Billie Jean", "Beat It", and "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie also topped Billboard's pop singles chart, the Hot 100.[19][20]
Chart history
| † | Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end black singles chart[21] |
See also
References
Works cited
- Whitburn, Joel (1983). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop, 1955–1982. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-051-5.
- Whitburn, Joel (1988). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942–1988. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 9780898201154.
- Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942–1995. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-115-4.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-160-4.