A History of Pop Music – Albums 1982

12th March 2021 Philthetestmanager 20th Century, Arts, History, Music 0

Featured Album:

This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in.

I will select a featured album for each year and the link for the whole album, Plus list the songs on it.

As before, it is not just about the songs and tunes, it is very much about memories, and good ones, I hope.

Not everyone will like my choices of course, and you may remember some from each particular year that you feel should have been included, so do please post a link to the song.

In 1982, I finished my tour in Gibraltar and was posted back to the UK, sunny Perham Down, next to Tidworth. I also received my second stripe and was an immensely proud soldier. Late March we were told we would go to the Falklands. So, my squadron flew out from Brize to Ascension Island for a couple of days (jeez was that place hot), then by sea, on a not very much converted ship mainly used for school children’s trips. I have far too many bad memories of that tour to talk about it. I returned home safe and sound to welcome our second born. Do not remember much about the news at the time, far too busy working.

Track listing

The following track listing is for the original 1982 UK release (Stiff Records, HIT-TV1).

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	“Embarrassment“	Mike Barson Lee Thompson	2:59
2.	“Shut Up“	Graham McPherson Chris Foreman	2:48
3.	“My Girl“	Mike Barson	2:38
4.	“Baggy Trousers“	Graham McPherson Chris Foreman Mike Barson	2:26
5.	“It Must Be Love“	Labi Siffre	3:19
6.	“The Prince“	Lee Thompson	2:27
7.	“Bed and Breakfast Man”	Mike Barson	2:29
8.	“Night Boat to Cairo“	Graham McPherson Mike Barson	3:13
Total length:			22:24

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	“House of Fun“	Mike Barson Lee Thompson	2:47
2.	“One Step Beyond“	Cecil Campbell	2:17
3.	“Cardiac Arrest“	Cathal Smyth Chris Foreman	2:52
4.	“Grey Day“	Mike Barson	3:30
5.	“Take It or Leave It”	Mike Barson Lee Thompson	3:17
6.	“In the City”	Graham McPherson Mike Barson Cathal Smyth Chris Foreman Bill Crutchfield Daisuke Inoue	2:55
7.	“Madness”	Cecil Campbell	2:35
8.	“The Return of the Los Palmas 7“	Mike Barson Daniel Woodgate Mark Bedford	2:29
Total length:			22:49

Personnel

Madness

Graham “Suggs” McPherson– vocals
Mike Barson– keyboards, harmonica, vibraphone, marimba, tubular bells
Chris Foreman– guitars
Chas Smash– vocals, trumpet
Lee Thompson– saxophones, vocals
Mark Bedford– bass
Dan Woodgate– drums, percussion

Complete Madness is the first greatest hits album by ska/pop group Madness. It was released in 1982 and included Madness’ biggest hits from their first three studio albums and the stand-alone singles. Complete Madness spent 99 weeks on the UK charts, peaking at number 1.

More writings on this album here: Complete Madness

So, on we go with 1982:

The top 10 sellers for 1982 are below, worst year so far, but gets a little better for a few years more.

The Top 10 Albums with a You Tube hyperlink on the title:

Top Tip: Right-click and open in new tab

Top Albums of 1982
1	Barbra Streisand	Love Songs
2	Kids From Fame	The Kids From Fame
3	Madness	Complete Madness
4	ABC	Lexicon Of Love
5	Duran Duran	Rio
6	John Lennon	The John Lennon Collection
7	Dire Straits	Love Over Gold
8	Haircut One Hundred	Pelican West
9	The Human League	Dare
10	Roxy Music	Avalon

I did catch a few episodes of the Kids from Fame, but far too American for my liking. Of the albums I bought, that would be Duran Duran (Rio, Hungry like the wolf, Save a prayer). Roxy Music’s Avalon (More than this, Avalon), Human league (but that was from the previous year). Enjoyed the Dire Straits, but better to come.

I just liked Madness, whacky and fun, and it was a year that needed some cheering up.

I was struggling again to find some albums for this year, so I looked through the list and I have to say did not buy any of them, but thought them worth a mention:

Dexys Midnight Runners –Too Rye Ay (Come on Eileen, some good fun tracks)

Prince – 1999

Michael Jackson – Thriller – Only because songs from this were non-stop on the radio.

Bangles – Bangles – Very good-looking girls and good tunes.

A Flock of Seagulls – A Flock of Seagulls – Just in case anyone did like them and their hair. Please post pics if you had a haircut like them.

Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast – Not a big fan of heavy metal, but there are times when a bit of this can clear your head out.

I really could not find anything much at all to list for this year, just so dire.

Overall, I think one of the worst years to date, with just those few exceptions above.

Scoring:

As you know I like to review your “tunes” that you post.

*Note. Anyone scoring a Morrissey (lowest score possible) will be reported and blocked.

Hat tips to: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/ratings/8-all-music-highest-rated/1982/1 these give the top 100 selling charts for each year.