We dialed up the Melochronometer, the valves warmed to a friendly amber glow, and when the digital readout settled we found ourselves in 1983. What a place to land. Out in the world, Return of the Jedi was packing cinemas, Sally Ride had just become the first American woman in space, and Michael Jackson stopped the nation cold by moonwalking across the Motown 25 stage. Closer to home, New Zealand and Australia had just opened a new era of trade with the CER agreement, and Kiwi airwaves couldn’t get enough of DD Smash’s “Outlook for Thursday.” And the music everywhere was every bit as restless. This ten-song trip catches the year’s glorious contradictions: the synth-pop future arrives with Yazoo’s aching “Nobody’s Diary” and Duran Duran’s shimmering “The Reflex,” while Aztec Camera’s “Oblivious” and Yes’s reinvented “Changes” show new wave and prog both finding fresh footing. There’s fire in the heartland with John Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses” and Johnny Cash’s brooding “Highway Patrolman,” Paul Simon quietly turns global on “Hearts and Bones,” and Malcolm McLaren drags township rhythms onto the dancefloor with “Soweto.” With Cold War dread thick in the air — you can hear it in U2’s simmering “Seconds” — Peter Gabriel dives in to close the show live with “I Go Swimming.” Ten songs, one year, and proof of just how much ground pop was covering in 1983.
Tracklist
- Aztec Camera — Oblivious — High Land, Hard Rain
- Yes — Changes — 90125 (Deluxe Version)
- U2 — Seconds — War (Remastered)
- John Mellencamp — Pink Houses — Uh-Huh! (Bonus Track) [2005 Remaster]
- Yazoo — Nobody's Diary — You and Me Both
- Johnny Cash — Highway Patrolman — Johnny 99
- Duran Duran — The Reflex — Seven And The Ragged Tiger
- Paul Simon — Hearts and Bones — Hearts and Bones [Bonus Tracks]
- Malcolm McLaren — Soweto — Duck Rock
- Peter Gabriel — I Go Swimming — Plays Live
