Charlie's 80s Blog

This Day In 80s Music, December 2nd

On this day in 1983: MTV aired the full 14-minute version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video for the first time. Now regarded as the most influential pop music video of all time, in 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the first music video to ever receive this honor, for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.

Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1983, the day ‘Thriller’ premiered on MTV:

1 1 ALL NIGHT LONG (All Night) Lionel Richie (Motown)-11 (3 weeks at #1)
2 2 SAY SAY SAY –•– Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (Columbia)-7 (2)
3 3 UPTOWN GIRL –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-10 (3)
4 4 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM –Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (RCA)-14 (1)
5 5 CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE –•– Quiet Riot (Pasha)-11 (5)
6 7 LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-10 (6)
7 10 SAY IT ISN’T SO –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-5 (7)
8 12 HEART AND SOUL –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-12 (8)
9 14 CRUMBLIN’ DOWN –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-7 (9)
10 13 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-8 (10)

11 17 CHURCH OF THE POISON MIND –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-6 (11)
12 6 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART –•– Bonnie Tyler (Columbia)-20 (1)
13 9 SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER –•– The Motels (Capitol)-13 (9)
14 24 UNION OF THE SNAKE –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-4 (14)
15 8 ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER –•– The Fixx (MCA)-13 (4)
16 20 WHY ME? –•– Irene Cara (Geffen)-6 (16)
17 15 TELEFONE (Long Distance Love Affair) –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-15 (9)
18 11 DELIRIOUS –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-13 (8)
19 18 TONIGHT, I CELEBRATE MY LOVE –•– Peabo Bryson / Roberta Flack (Capitol)-21 (16)
20 16 MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL –•– Air Supply (Arista)-18 (2)

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