Top 100 Best Selling R&B Soul Songs of 1983

Below is a list of the best selling Soul R&B songs from 1983, sorted by the most popular or best selling first. Click "year" to sort by year. Place mouse on to see information about song. Click song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available). Click checkbox to add song to playlist. Click checkbox at top of column to add all songs below it to playlist. Click label to list songs from that record label. Following on from the top 100 chart are listings of hundreds of other lesser-known Soul R&B songs from 1983.

(Songs are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)

Songs Loading...
showing 1-100 of 891 records Next >
‹r› i
artist discography/bio
read song lyrics, etc.
year
record label
1 record label: Epic 823
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US #1, US AC #9
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Thriller
 		Michael Jackson Billie Jean
1983 Epic
2 record label: Motown 1698
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #1, US dance #5, US AC #1
written by: Lionel Richie
album: Can't Slow Down
comments: [Motown Sound]
 		Lionel Richie All Night Long
1983 Motown
3 record label: Epic 3258
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #3, US rock #14
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Thriller
 		Michael Jackson Beat It
1983 Epic
4 record label: Parlophone 6062
chart position: RandB #2, US #1, UK #2, US dance #2, US AC #3, US rock #24
written by: Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
album: Pipes of Peace
 		Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney Say, Say, Say
1983 Parlophone
5 record label: EMI America 8158
chart position: RandB #14, US dance #1, UK #1, US #1, US rock #8
written by: David Bowie
album: Let's Dance
 		David Bowie Let's Dance
1983 EMI America
6 record label: Casablanca 811 440 7
chart position: RandB #2, UK #2, US #1, US dance #1, US AC #4
written by: Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey & Irene Cara
album: Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture
comments: [disco dance]
 		Irene Cara Flashdance ... What a Feeling!
1983 Casablanca
7 record label: Portrait 03793
chart position: RandB #18, UK #2, US #2, US dance #6, US rock #12
written by: Eddy Grant
album: Killer on the Rampage
 		Eddy Grant Electric Avenue
1983 Portrait
8 record label: De lite 829
chart position: RandB #1, UK #2, US #2, US AC #2
written by: Charles Smith, James
album: In the Heart
comments: Joanna / Tonight was released as a double a side in the UK
 		Kool & the Gang Joanna
1983 De lite
9 record label: Mercury 812 370 7
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, US dance #3, UK #25
written by: Donna Summer & Michael Omartian
album: She Works Hard for the Money
comments: [disco dance]
 		Donna Summer She Works Hard for the Money
1983 Mercury
10 record label: Motown 1710
chart position: RandB #6, UK #9, US #7, US AC #6, US rock #49
written by: Lionel Richie & Cynthia Weil
album: Can't Slow Down
comments: [Motown Sound]
 		Lionel Richie Running with the Night
1983 Motown
11 record label: Motown 1657
chart position: RandB #2, UK #43, US #4, US AC #1
written by: Brenda Harvey Richie & Lionel Richie
album: Lionel Richie
comments: [Motown Sound]
 		Lionel Richie You Are
1983 Motown
12 record label: Mirage 99810
chart position: RandB #2, US #8, US dance #1, UK #14
written by: Chris Barbosa & Ed Chisolm
album: Let the Music Play
comments: [disco dance]
 		Shannon Let the Music Play
1983 Mirage
13 record label: Capitol 5242
chart position: RandB #5, UK #2, US #16, US AC #4
written by: Gerry Goffin & Michael Masser
album: Born to Love
comments: [love ballad]
 		Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson Tonight, I Celebrate My Love
1983 Capitol
14 record label: Dep 600 968
chart position: UK #1, US #34, US rock #41
written by: Neil Diamond
album: Labour of Love
comments: [Reggae]
 		UB40 Red Red Wine
1983 Dep
15 record label: Epic 3017 (UK)
chart position: UK #1, US #18, US dance #24
written by: Harry Wayne Casey and Deborah Carter
album: All in a Night's Work
 		KC & The Sunshine Band Give It Up
1983 Epic
16 record label: Epic 924
chart position: RandB #3, US #4, UK #10, US dance #44, US AC #24, US rock #42
written by: Rod Temperton
album: Thriller
 		Michael Jackson Thriller
1983 Epic
17 record label: Epic 3427
chart position: RandB #5, US #5, UK #8
written by: Michael Jackson
album: Thriller
 		Michael Jackson Wanna Be Startin' Somethin
1983 Epic
18 record label: CBS 3371 (UK)
chart position: UK #1, US #70
written by: Marvin Gaye, Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
album: No Parlez
 		Paul Young Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)
1983 CBS
19 record label: Motown 1677
chart position: RandB #6, UK #70, US #5, US AC #1
written by: Lionel Richie
album: Lionel Richie
comments: [Motown Sound]
 		Lionel Richie My Love
1983 Motown
20 record label: RCA 375 (UK)
chart position: US #2, US dance #1, RandB #45, UK #69, US AC #8, US rock #18
written by: Daryl Hall
album: Rock 'n' Soul: Part 1
 		Hall & Oates Say It Isn't So
1983 RCA
21 record label: Warner 29746
chart position: RandB #15, US #6, UK #54, US dance #61, US rock #17
written by: Prince
album: 1999
 		Prince Little Red Corvette
1983 Warner
22 record label: Columbia 03181
chart position: RandB #34, UK #2, US dance #1, US #46
written by: Paul Jabara & Paul Shaffer
album: Success
 		The Weather Girls It's Raining Men
1983 Columbia
23 record label: RCA 13421
chart position: RandB #8, UK #63, US #7, US AC #4
written by: Daryl Hall
album: H2O
 		Hall & Oates One on One
1983 RCA
24 record label: Streetwise 1108
chart position: RandB #1, UK #1, US dance #17, US #46
written by: Maurice Starr
album: Candy Girl
comments: [pop soul]
 		New Edition Candy Girl
1983 Streetwise
25 record label: AandM 2540
chart position: RandB #28, US #4, US AC #1
written by: Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
comments: [love ballad] (sung by Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller)
Sergio Mendes Never Gonna Let You Go
1983 A&M
26 record label: Capitol 5322
chart position: RandB #3, US dance #1, UK #6, US #26
written by: Al Green, Willie Mitchell & Al Jackson Jr.
album: Private Dancer
 		Tina Turner Let's Stay Together
1983 Capitol
27 record label: Warner 29555
chart position: RandB #1, UK #8, US dance 6, US #22
written by: David Wolinski (as Hawk Wolinski)
album: Live Stompin' At The Savoy
 		Rufus (and Chaka Khan) Ain't Nobody
1983 Warner
28 record label: Warner 29503
chart position: RandB #18, US #8
written by: Prince
album: 1999
 		Prince Delirious
1983 Warner
29 record label: Epic 654672 7
chart position: RandB #27, US #7, US AC #2
written by: Steve Porcaro & John Bettis
album: Thriller
 		Michael Jackson Human Nature
1983 Epic
30 record label: Epic 4136
chart position: RandB #46, UK #11, US #10, US AC #37
written by: James Ingram & Quincy Jones
album: Thriller
 		Michael Jackson P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
1983 Epic
31 record label: Streetwise 1110
chart position: RandB #13, UK #2, US dance #1, US #104
written by: Arthur Baker
album: Gonna Get You
 		Freeez I.O.U.
1983 Streetwise
32 record label: Solar 9819 (UK)
chart position: RandB #10, UK #8, US #22, US dance #18, US rock #41
written by: Marquis Dair, Joey Gallo & Leon Sylvers III
album: The Look
 		Shalamar Dead Giveaway
1983 Solar
33 record label: Warner 29563
chart position: RandB #21, UK #11, US #30, US AC #4
written by: James Newton Howard & David Paich
album: In Your Eyes
 		George Benson Lady Love Me (One More Time)
1983 Warner
34 record label: Gordy 1660
chart position: RandB #5, US #17, US AC #1
written by: El DeBarge
album: All This Love
comments: [Motown Sound] [love ballad]
 		DeBarge All This Love
1983 Gordy
35 record label: Warner 29720
chart position: RandB #6, US #21, UK #28, US AC #2
written by: Jay Graydon, Al Jarreau & David Foster
album: Jarreau
 		Al Jarreau Mornin'
1983 Warner
36 record label: Gordy 1705
chart position: RandB #1, US #18, US AC #12
written by: El DeBarge & Bunny DeBarge
album: In a Special Way
comments: [Motown Sound] [love ballad]
 		DeBarge Time Will Reveal
1983 Gordy
37 record label: Columbia 38 04054
chart position: RandB #6, UK #8, US dance #1, US #71
written by: Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell & Michael Beinhorn
album: Future Shock
comments: instrumental
 		Herbie Hancock Rockit
1983 Columbia
38 record label: Arista 9116
chart position: RandB #12, US #12, US AC #10
written by: Ray Parker Jr
album: Woman Out of Control
 		Ray Parker Jr (aka Raydio) I Still Can't Get Over Loving You
1983 Arista
39 record label: AandM 9298 (UK)
chart position: RandB #4, UK #18, US #30, US dance #31
written by: Raymond Jones
album: Stay with Me Tonight
 		Jeffrey Osborne Stay with Me Tonight
1983 A&M
40 record label: Tabu 03956
chart position: RandB #2, US dance #3, UK #13, US #55
written by: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
album: On the Rise
 		The S.O.S. Band Just Be Good to Me
1983 Tabu
41 record label: Qwest 9394
chart position: RandB #5, US #19, UK #44, US AC #10
written by: James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Rod Temperton & Quincy Jones
album: It's Your Night
 		James Ingram & Michael McDonald Yah Mo B There
1983 Qwest
42 record label: Columbia 03566
chart position: RandB #4, US #17, UK #47, US dance #31
written by: Wayne Vaughn, Wanda Vaughn & Maurice White
album: Powerlight
comments: [disco funk]
 		Earth, Wind & Fire Fall in Love with Me
1983 Columbia
43 record label: Columbia 03563
chart position: RandB #2, US #23, US AC #6
written by: Dana Walden, Rocky Maffitt & Michael Day
album: Modern Heart
comments: [love ballad]
 		Champaign Try Again
1983 Columbia
44 record label: Geffen 29464
chart position: RandB #41, US #13, US dance #7, UK #86
written by: Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara & Keith Forsey
album: What a Feelin'
 		Irene Cara Why Me?
1983 Geffen
45 record label: Planet 13639
chart position: RandB #13, UK #25, US dance #2, US #48, US AC #15
written by: Richard Feldman, John Black & Nan O'Byrne
album: Break Out
 		The Pointer Sisters I Need You
1983 Planet
46 record label: Island 99882
chart position: RandB #71, UK #4
written by: Bob Marley & Noel George Williams
album: Confrontation
comments: [Reggae]
 		Bob Marley & the Wailers Buffalo Soldier
1983 Island
47 record label: Atlantic 89786
chart position: RandB #32, UK #19, US dance #29, US #40, US AC #5
written by: Rod Temperton & Derek Bramble
album: Bodies and Souls
 		The Manhattan Transfer Spice of Life
1983 Atlantic
48 record label: Sugar Hill 522001
chart position: RandB #47, UK #7, US dance #9, US #101
written by: Sylvia Robinson & Mel Glover
album: Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five
 		Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five White Lines (Don't Do It)
1983 Sugar Hill
49 record label: AandM 2561
chart position: RandB #3, US #25, UK #54, US AC #29
written by: Jeffrey Osborne, Don Freeman & Michael Sembello
album: Stay with Me Tonight
 		Jeffrey Osborne Don't You Get So Mad
1983 A&M
50 record label: Arista 9073
chart position: RandB #7, US #27, UK #99, US AC #4
written by: Steve Goldman
album: How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye
comments: [love ballad]
 		Dionne Warwick & Luther Vandross How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye
1983 Arista
51 record label: Sound of NY 602
chart position: RandB #10, US dance #2, UK #13, US #101
written by: Mike Cleveland (as Michael Cleveland)
 		Indeep Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life
1983 Sound of NY
52 record label: Warner 29442
chart position: UK #7, US AC #30
written by: Dan Hill and Michael Masser
album: In Your Eyes
comments: [ballad]
 		George Benson In Your Eyes
1983 Warner
53 record label: Boardwalk 183
chart position: RandB #46, UK #6, US dance #66
written by: Bobby Eli & Len Barry
album: Love Town
 		Booker Newberry III Love Town
1983 Boardwalk
54 record label: Motown 1312
chart position: RandB #69, UK #6
written by: Gary Byrd & Stevie Wonder
comments: [Motown Sound]
 		Gary Byrd & the GB Experience The Crown
1983 Motown
55 record label: Mercury 814088
chart position: RandB #9, UK #14, US #43
written by: Donna Summer & Michael Omartian
album: She Works Hard for the Money
 		Donna Summer Unconditional Love
1983 Mercury
56 record label: Epic 3424 (UK)
chart position: RandB #1, UK #34, US #45, US dance #30
written by: James Mtume
album: Juicy Fruit
 		Mtume Juicy Fruit
1983 Epic
57 record label: Gordy 1645
chart position: RandB #2, US #31
written by: Randy DeBarge, El DeBarge & Bunny DeBarge
album: All This Love
comments: [Motown Sound]
 		DeBarge I Like It
1983 Gordy
58 record label: Gordy 1690
chart position: RandB #11, UK #13, US dance #8, US #101
written by: Rick James
album: Mary Jane Girls
comments: [Motown Sound]
 		Mary Jane Girls All Night Long
1983 Gordy
59 record label: Island 101 (UK)
chart position: UK #13, US dance #2, RandB #72
written by: David Joseph
album: The Joys of Life
comments: [disco, dance, boogie]
 		David Joseph You Can't Hide (Your Love from Me)
1983 Island
60 record label: Silver Blue 404294
chart position: RandB #82, UK #13, US dance #3, US #102
written by: Jerry Herman
album: I Am Gloria Gaynor
comments: [disco]
 		Gloria Gaynor I Am What I Am
1983 Silver Blue
61 record label: Gordy 1687
chart position: RandB #1, US dance #17, UK #93, US #40
written by: Rick James
album: Cold Blooded
comments: [Motown Sound] [funk]
 		Rick James Cold Blooded
1983 Gordy
62 record label: Arista 1042
chart position: RandB #5, US #103, UK #79, US Dance #28
written by: Kashif
album: Kashif [1983 album]
comments: [funk soul boogie]
 		Kashif I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)
1983 Arista
63 record label: RCA 13638
chart position: UK #8
written by: Tony Williams and Mandy Newton
 		The Funk Masters It's Over
1983 RCA
64 record label: RCA 13568
chart position: RandB #15, US dance #17, UK #46, US #31
written by: Marc Jordan & John Capek
album: Ross [1983 album]
 		Diana Ross Pieces of Ice
1983 RCA
65 record label: Profile 5017
chart position: UK #4, US Dance #9
written by: Wally Holmes (as Waldo Holmes)
comments: [disco dance]
 		Forrest Rock the Boat
1983 Profile
66 record label: Chrysalis 2 (UK)
chart position: UK #10
written by: Derek Bramble
album: David Grant
 		David Grant Watching Me, Watching You
1983 Chrysalis
67 record label: Arista 9034
chart position: RandB #1, UK #74, US #61, US dance #9
written by: Luther Vandross & Marcus Miller
album: Get It Right
 		Aretha Franklin Get It Right
1983 Arista
68 record label: Qwest 29618
chart position: RandB #6, US #45, US AC #5
written by: Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman
album: It's Your Night
comments: [ballad]
 		Patti Austin & James Ingram How Do You Keep the Music Playing
1983 Qwest
69 record label: Warner 29649
chart position: RandB #3, US dance #7, US #43, US AC #35
written by: Kashif
album: In Your Eyes
 		George Benson Inside Love (So Personal)
1983 Warner
70 record label: Total Experience 704
chart position: RandB #1, US dance #24, US #51, UK #68
written by: Raymond Calhoun
album: Gap Band IV
comments: [disco funk boogie]
 		The Gap Band Outstanding
1983 Total Experience
71 record label: Columbia 38 03761
chart position: RandB #1, US dance #18, US #66
written by: R. Smith, J. Gallo, B. Knight, G. Knight, S. L. Dees
album: Visions
 		Gladys Knight & the Pips Save the Overtime (For Me)
1983 Columbia
72 record label: De lite 831
chart position: RandB #49, UK #15, US #103
written by: Ronald Bell, James Taylor, Kool And The Gang
album: In the Heart
 		Kool & the Gang Straight Ahead
1983 De lite
73 record label: CBS 223 136
chart position: UK #2, US #45, US dance #42
written by: John Hurley
album: No Parlez
comments: charted as Love of the Common People / Come Back and Stay in US dance charts
 		Paul Young Love of the Common People
1983 CBS
74 record label: RCA 13424
chart position: RandB #76, UK #43, US #40, US AC #13
written by: Bill Wray, Diana Ross & Rob Mounsey
album: Silk Electric
 		Diana Ross So Close
1983 RCA
75 record label: RCA 13396
chart position: RandB #2, US #49
written by: Kashif (as Kashif Saleem)
album: Get Loose
 		Evelyn King (aka Evelyn Champagne King) Betcha She Don't Love You
1983 RCA
76 record label: Geffen 7 29525
chart position: RandB #2, US #49
written by: David Foster, Maurice White & Allee Willis
album: Feel My Soul
comments: [ballad]
 		Jennifer Holliday I Am Love
1983 Geffen
77 record label: Arista 1040
chart position: RandB #43, US #41, US AC #5
written by: Barry Gibb & Albhy Galuten
album: Heartbreaker
 		Dionne Warwick Take the Short Way Home
1983 Arista
78 record label: MCA 52250
chart position: RandB #2, US #50
written by: Lena Agree
album: Try It Out
 		Klique Stop Doggin' Me Around
1983 MCA
79 record label: Motown 1694
chart position: RandB #20, UK #93, US #54, US AC #8
written by: Milan Williams
album: Commodores 13
comments: [Motown Sound] [love ballad]
 		The Commodores Only You
1983 Motown
80 record label: Vanguard 35241
chart position: RandB #7, US dance #5, US #79
written by: Gordon Bahary, Joseph Saulter & Errol Moore
album: Twilight 22
comments: [hip hop]
 		Twilight 22 Electric Kingdom
1983 Vanguard
81 record label: T Neck 03797
chart position: RandB #3, UK #52, US #101
written by: Ronald Isley, Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper
album: Between the Sheets
comments: [slow jam]
 		The Isley Brothers Between the Sheets
1983 T Neck
82 record label: CBS 3636 (UK)
chart position: UK #4, US #22, US dance #42, AC #40, Rock # 33
written by: Jack Lee
album: No Parlez
comments: charted as Love of the Common People / Come Back and Stay in US dance charts
 		Paul Young Come Back and Stay
1983 CBS
83 record label: Prelude 8068
chart position: US dance #12, RandB #20, UK #23
written by: James
album: Music
 		D Train Music
1983 Prelude
84 record label: Tamla 1684
chart position: RandB #35, US #48, US AC #5
written by: Dave DeLuca & Ted Munda
comments: [Motown Sound] [love ballad]
 		Smokey Robinson & Barbara Mitchell (High Inergy) Blame It On Love
1983 Tamla
85 record label: Cotillion 99855
chart position: RandB #13, US #40
written by: Gary Benson & Frank Wildhorn
album: Sixteen
comments: [love ballad]
 		Stacy Lattisaw Miracles
1983 Cotillion
86 record label: WEA 9871 (UK)
chart position: RandB #66, UK #36, US #63, US AC #10
written by: Jay Graydon, Trevor Veitch & Greg Mathieson
album: Jarreau
 		Al Jarreau Trouble in Paradise
1983 WEA
87 record label: Solar 69828
chart position: RandB #2, US dance #44, US #66
written by: Bill Simmons, Reggie Calloway & Vincent Calloway
album: No Parking on the Dance Floor
 		Midnight Star Freak-A-Zoid
1983 Solar
88 record label: Capitol 8543
chart position: RandB #25, UK #22, US dance #17
written by: Lillo Thomas
album: The Other Side of the Rainbow
comments: [disco, dance, boogie]
 		Melba Moore Mind Up Tonight
1983 Capitol
89 record label: Chrysalis 42712
chart position: RandB #75, UK #19, US dance #40
written by: Derek Bramble & David Grant
album: David Grant
 		David Grant Stop and Go
1983 Chrysalis
90 record label: Tabu 04161
chart position: RandB #5, UK #81, US #65
written by: Terry Lewis & Jimmy Jam (as James Harris III)
album: On The Rise
 		The S.O.S. Band Tell Me If You Still Care
1983 Tabu
91 record label: Solar 69790
chart position: RandB #8, US dance #15, US #61
written by: Reggie Calloway
album: No Parking on the Dance Floor
 		Midnight Star Wet My Whistle
1983 Solar
92 record label: Arista 1031
chart position: RandB #5, US dance #2
written by: Jeffrey Cohen & Narada Michael Walden
album: Too Tough
 		Angela Bofill Too Tough
1983 Arista
93 record label: Mirage 99937
chart position: RandB #10, US dance #14, US #64, UK #89
written by: David Frank & Mic Murphy
album: Sweat
 		The System You Are in My System
1983 Mirage
94 record label: Sound Town 0004
chart position: RandB #4, US #90
written by: Homer Banks & Chuck Brooks (as Charles Brooks)
album: City Slicker
comments: [ballad]
 		J. Blackfoot Taxi
1983 Sound Town
95 record label: MCA 52203
chart position: UK #6
written by: Dennis Seaton, Kelvin Grant, Michael Grant, Patrick Waite and Freddie Waite
album: The Youth of Today
comments: [Reggae]
 		Musical Youth Never Gonna Give You Up
1983 MCA
96 record label: Mercury 814 581 7
chart position: RandB #5, US #76
written by: Eumir Deodato
album: Fever
comments: [love ballad]
 		Con Funk Shun Baby I'm Hooked (Right Into Your Love)
1983 Mercury
97 record label: Streetwise 1115
chart position: RandB #47, UK #26, US Dance #5, US #104
written by: Andy Stennett, Arthur Baker, John Rocca and Peter Maas
album: Gonna Get You
 		Freeez Pop Goes My Love
1983 Streetwise
98 record label: Columbia 04210
chart position: RandB #10, US #57, UK #92, US dance #36
written by: Martin Page
album: Electric Universe
 		Earth, Wind & Fire Magnetic
1983 Columbia
99 record label: Polydor 622 (UK)
chart position: UK #10
written by: Wally Badarou, Mark King, Lindup and Phil Gould
album: Standing in the Light
 		Level 42 The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)
1983 Polydor
100 record label: Columbia 03939
chart position: RandB #4, UK #63, US #72
written by: Skip Anderson, Stephen Horton & Steve Williams [Steven Richard Williams]
album: Forever by Your Side
 		The Manhattans Crazy
1983 Columbia


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next >






Log in to use playlist feature
(no registration required)





☰