1982 was a year when the 1980s were starting to feel like The ‘80s.
The Reagan years were picking up steam, pop and new wave ruled the airwaves, and college rock, post-punk, and the last salvos from older musical greats could all be heard – if you knew where to listen.
MTV was still new but already reshaping how bands had to look as well as sound. Synths and drum machines crept into everything from pop to punk. Hardcore punk was hitting its suburban stride, while hip hop — still “new” to much of white America — exploded from block parties into a cultural earthquake with The Message.
Prince threw a neon-drenched party with 1999, Michael Jackson made global history with Thriller, and Duran Duran practically lived on MTV with Rio.
And meanwhile, Midnight Oil and a new band from Athens, Georgia called R.E.M. delivered the best musical releases of the year overall.
All told, 18 albums from 1982 made the cut for the Best 1,000 Albums Ever project — a year in music when the headphones of your first-gen Walkman didn’t stand a chance.
The 18 Best Albums of 1982
Midnight Oil – 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (#55 of best 1,000 albums ever)
You take what you get to get what you please.
R.E.M. – Chronic Town (#273)
Suspicion yourself, suspicion yourself, don’t get caught.
Yaz – Upstairs at Eric’s(#360)
Can’t stop now, don’t you know I ain’t never gonna let you go, don’t go.
Duran Duran – Rio (#376)
A scent and a sound, I’m lost and I’m found, and I’m hungry like the wolf.
The Clash – Combat Rock(#395)
Rock the Casbah.
Michael Jackson – Thriller (#435)
It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark.
Stray Cats – Built For Speed(#486)
We’re gonna rock this town, rock it inside out.
Descendents – Milo Goes To College (#494)
I wanna be stereotyped, I wanna be classified, I wanna be a clone – I want a suburban home.
Bad Religion – How Could Hell Be Any Worse? (#554)
In this world today, there ain’t nobody to thank.
Adam Ant – Friend Or Foe (#616)
Don’t drink, don’t smoke, what do you do?
Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain(#665)
You have no scars on your face and you cannot handle pressure.
Devo – Oh No! It’s Devo (#695)
Peek-a-boo! I can see you.
Prince – 1999 (#701)
I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message (#751)
Don’t push me, ‘cause I’m close to the edge.
Chuck Berry – The Great Twenty-Eight (#793)
Go Johnny, go, go.
Led Zeppelin – Coda(#849)
Ooh, it’s my love. Ooh, it’s my own true love.
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger (#870)
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night.
Berlin – Pleasure Victim (#893)
Riding on the Metro.