1983 Rewind: The Week The Police Ruled the World

For the week ending August 27, 1983, the Billboard Hot 100 was loaded with some of the most iconic songs of the decade. At the top, The Police were wrapping up their legendary run with “Every Breath You Take” before yielding to a new wave of contenders. Hot on their heels, Eurythmics’ synth-driven “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” was climbing fast, while Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” was burning up the charts thanks to the Flashdance craze. The rest of the Top 10 offered a mix of pure 80s variety: Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money”, Men at Work’s “It’s a Mistake”, and Taco’s quirky “Puttin’ on the Ritz” stood alongside classic rock staples like Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back” and Billy Joel’s “Tell Her About It.” Further down the list, radio was buzzing with Lionel Richie, Culture Club, Duran Duran, Def Leppard, and Journey—all proving that pop, rock, R&B, and new wave were all thriving together

On this week’s podcast, Rob and Dave will dive into the chart and each pick a personal favorite. The fun twist is in their contrasting styles: Dave leans into the big anthems and timeless pop moments, while Rob often digs a little deeper, spotlighting tracks that might not have hit No. 1 but still capture the spirit of the era. Together, they’ll break down what makes these songs stand out—whether it’s the infectious hooks, the MTV-ready videos, or the way the tracks still hold up decades later. By the end, listeners will get not only a countdown snapshot of late-summer ’83, but also two very different perspectives on which hits truly defined that moment.

Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/iq8iShjXOLb

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/totally-80s-and-90s-recall/id1662282694

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11dk5TUoLUk4euD1Te1EYG?si=b37496eb6e784408

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1960c8f9-158d-43ac-89a6-d868ea1fe077/totally-80s-and-90s-recall

YouTube Podcasts: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH9lGakNgCDZUkkHMUu88uXYMJu_33Rab&si=xo0EEVJRSwS68mWZ

Playlists:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2yh3ZhZTTG8LM1VTfLk3kZ?si=j8A9XwpJQxCPmJMTAPrFmg

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/billboard-hot-100-aug-26th-1983/pl.u-aZb0az5tV4ar0B?ls

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/4b00c57ff79d41cdb44cecd6b63dc85csune?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_aGXtXvI00q6iksJ6WenxXwqSZ

Keywords: Billboard Hot 100, 1983 Music, The Police, Every Breath You Take, 80s Pop Music, 80s Music History, Synth-Pop, Michael Jackson, Eurythmics.

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