List of Black Singles number ones of 1983

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.

Singer Michael Jackson on stage with backing dancers
Michael Jackson (center, pictured in 1988) had three number ones in 1983.

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

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Lionel Richie (pictured in 1984) spent seven weeks at number one with "All Night Long (All Night)".
 
"Atomic Dog" was the first solo number one for George Clinton (pictured in 2007).
 
Aretha Franklin (pictured in 1968) topped the chart for the 19th time with "Get It Right".
Key
Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end black singles chart[21]
Chart history
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 1 "Sexual Healing" † Marvin Gaye [3]
January 8 [22]
January 15 "The Girl Is Mine" Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney [23]
January 22 [24]
January 29 [25]
February 5 "Outstanding" The Gap Band [26]
February 12 "Billie Jean" Michael Jackson [27]
February 19 [28]
February 26 [29]
March 5 [30]
March 12 [31]
March 19 [32]
March 26 [33]
April 2 [34]
April 9 [35]
April 16 "Atomic Dog" George Clinton [36]
April 23 [37]
April 30 [38]
May 7 [39]
May 14 "Candy Girl" New Edition [40]
May 21 "Beat It" Michael Jackson [41]
May 28 "Save the Overtime (For Me)" Gladys Knight and the Pips [42]
June 4 "Juicy Fruit" Mtume [43]
June 11 [44]
June 18 [45]
June 25 [46]
July 2 [47]
July 9 [48]
July 16 [49]
July 23 [50]
July 30 "She Works Hard for the Money" Donna Summer [51]
August 6 [52]
August 13 [53]
August 20 "Get It Right" Aretha Franklin [54]
August 27 [55]
September 3 "Cold Blooded" Rick James [56]
September 10 [57]
September 17 [58]
September 24 [59]
October 1 [60]
October 8 [61]
October 15 "Ain't Nobody" Rufus & Chaka Khan [62]
October 22 "All Night Long (All Night)" Lionel Richie [63]
October 29 [64]
November 5 [65]
November 12 [66]
November 19 [67]
November 26 [68]
December 3 [69]
December 10 "Time Will Reveal" DeBarge [70]
December 17 [71]
December 24 [72]
December 31 [73]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Molanphy, Chris (April 14, 2014). "I Know You Got Soul: The Trouble With Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Chart". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  2. ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xii.
  3. ^ a b "R & B Chart for January 1, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  4. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 803–808.
  5. ^ Tucker, Ken (February 15, 2008). "Thriller: Can't beat it". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  6. ^ Crookes, Del (May 4, 2012). "Adele's 21 overtakes sales of Thriller in UK album list". Newsbeat. BBC. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Daly, Rhian (August 20, 2018). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' is no longer the best-selling album of all time in the US". NME. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2004, pp. 808–811.
  9. ^ "Experience the Music: One Hit Wonders and the Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012.
  10. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 388.
  11. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 123.
  12. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 450.
  13. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 427.
  14. ^ Leight, Elias (July 3, 2020). "The 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time". Rolling Stone Australia. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 417.
  16. ^ Wood, Mikael (January 10, 2022). "James Mtume, musician and producer famously sampled by Notorious B.I.G., dies at 76". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  17. ^ Tingen, Paul (November 2013). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Mikey Donaldson". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  18. ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 113.
  19. ^ Whitburn 1983, p. 5.
  20. ^ Whitburn 1988, pp. 212, 349.
  21. ^ "Billboard.com – Year End Charts – Year-end Singles – Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. December 11, 2007. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  22. ^ "R & B Chart for January 8, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  23. ^ "R & B Chart for January 15, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "R & B Chart for January 22, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  25. ^ "R & B Chart for January 29, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  26. ^ "R & B Chart for February 5, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  27. ^ "R & B Chart for February 12, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  28. ^ "R & B Chart for February 19, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  29. ^ "R & B Chart for February 26, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "R & B Chart for March 5, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  31. ^ "R & B Chart for March 12, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  32. ^ "R & B Chart for March 19, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  33. ^ "R & B Chart for March 26, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  34. ^ "R & B Chart for April 2, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  35. ^ "R & B Chart for April 9, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  36. ^ "R & B Chart for April 16, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  37. ^ "R & B Chart for April 23, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  38. ^ "R & B Chart for April 30, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  39. ^ "R & B Chart for May 7, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  40. ^ "R & B Chart for May 14, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  41. ^ "R & B Chart for May 21, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  42. ^ "R & B Chart for May 28, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  43. ^ "R & B Chart for June 4, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  44. ^ "R & B Chart for June 11, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  45. ^ "R & B Chart for June 18, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  46. ^ "R & B Chart for June 25, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  47. ^ "R & B Chart for July 2, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  48. ^ "R & B Chart for July 9, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  49. ^ "R & B Chart for July 16, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  50. ^ "R & B Chart for July 23, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  51. ^ "R & B Chart for July 30, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  52. ^ "R & B Chart for August 6, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  53. ^ "R & B Chart for August 13, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  54. ^ "R & B Chart for August 20, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  55. ^ "R & B Chart for August 27, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  56. ^ "R & B Chart for September 3, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  57. ^ "R & B Chart for September 10, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  58. ^ "R & B Chart for September 17, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  59. ^ "R & B Chart for September 24, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  60. ^ "R & B Chart for October 1, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  61. ^ "R & B Chart for October 8, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  62. ^ "R & B Chart for October 15, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  63. ^ "R & B Chart for October 22, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  64. ^ "R & B Chart for October 29, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  65. ^ "R & B Chart for November 5, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  66. ^ "R & B Chart for November 12, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  67. ^ "R & B Chart for November 19, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  68. ^ "R & B Chart for November 26, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  69. ^ "R & B Chart for December 3, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  70. ^ "R & B Chart for December 10, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  71. ^ "R & B Chart for December 17, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  72. ^ "R & B Chart for December 24, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  73. ^ "R & B Chart for December 31, 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.

Works cited

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