Billboard Black Singles Chart – May 28, 1983

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Pexels
Enjoy the rundown of this week's most popular soul songs 42 years ago, according to Billboard online! 1983 was the year that seemed to be some kind of renaissance year for soul music. Exciting new artists (D-Train, Jonzun Crew, Mtume) popped up, old ones returned refreshed (Cameo, Gladys Knight, Chi-Lites) and two soul artists turned into real mega stars (Prince, Michael Jackson). However, the first house records were already successful in the underground scene (but not charted yet), most particularly Clear by Cybetron and within a few years the musical landscape would change radically.

A stain on MTV's reputation is definitely that they did not show a single black artist in their early years. They defended themselves by calling themselves a "rock station", which was only partly true. In an interview with MTV, David Bowie complained about this and the interviewer mumbled something completely incoherent. It was only when Michael Jackson became a mega-artist in 1983 that the music channel was forced to change its mind. Nowadays is incomprehensible that it took two years before a video of a black artist was shown on the most popular music station.

Tracklist:

"D" Train – Music
Bar-Kays – She Talks To Me With Her Body
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Nona Hendryx – Keep It Confidential
Prince – Little Red Corvette
George Benson – Inside Love (So Personal)
Jonzun Crew – Space Cowboy
Al Jarreau – Mornin’
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
George Clinton – Atomic Dog [Edit]
Earth, Wind & Fire – Side By Side
Cameo – Style
Irene Cara – Flashdance… What A Feeling
Deniece Williams – Do What You Feel
Debarge – All This Love
Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly – Love Is The Key
Champaign – Try Again
Lakeside – Raid
Chi-Lites – Bottom's Up
Lionel Richie – My Love
Mtume – Juicy Fruit
New Edition – Candy Girl
Isley Brothers – Between The Sheets
Michael Jackson – Beat It
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Save The Overtime (For Me)

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