Split Enz will See Ya Round
The ninth and final studio album from Split Enz, See Ya Round, is released. Originally slated to be a farewell EP by the remaining band members following the departure of Tim Finn (and new drummer recruit Paul Hester), it blossoms into a full-length album thanks to new original material by Hester, bassist Nigel Griggs, and a jam or two between all the band members. Though Split Enz embarks on a lengthy farewell tour (and releases a double album of some of the best performances from that tour), this remains the group’s final studio album.
2010: The Year We Make Contact soundtrack
A&M Records releases David Shire’s soundtrack from the movie 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Available only briefly – the label doesn’t keep the title in print after the movie proves not to be a blockbuster – the soundtrack has yet to be reissued in any form and is an exceedingly rare collectors’ item. The album includes a version of the theme tune by Andy Summers of The Police. 
Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward
Mute Records releases the Depeche Mode album Some Great Reward, featuring the single “People Are People”, which becomes the group’s signature song for years to come.
Julian Lennon: Valotte
Atlantic Records releases Julian Lennon‘s debut album, Valotte, featuring the singles “Too Late For Goodbyes” and “Valotte”.
Dave Edmunds: Riff Raff
Scotti Bros. Records releases the Dave Edmunds album Riff Raff, again pairing Edmunds with producer Jeff Lynne of ELO fame. The album includes the singles “Breaking Out” and “S.O.S.”
Wendy Carlos: Digital Moonscapes
CBS Records releases Wendy Carlos‘ instrumental album Digital Moonscapes. Performed entirely on synthesizers (credited on the album to the “LSI Philharmonic Orchestra”), the album includes one track (“Io”) which was originally composed for, and dropped from, a scene in the movie Tron (for which Carlos also composed the soundtrack).
Lindsey Buckingham: Go Insane
Warner Bros. Records releases Lindsey Buckingham‘s second solo album, Go Insane, featuring the single of the same name.
(Who’s Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise
Having already made a unique sample-based production sound evident on such albums as Yes’ 90125, Art Of Noise releases its first album, (Who’s Afraid Of?) The Art Of Noise, on ZTT Records. The single “Close (To The Edit)”, accompanied by a manic, surreal music video, becomes an immediate hit. At this time, the “band” consists of Anne Dudley, Trevor Horn, J.J. Jeczalik and Gary Langan.
Star Trek III: The Soundtrack For Spock
Atlantic Records releases James Horner‘s soundtrack from Star Trek III: The Search For Spock, including an instrumental “pop version” of the movie’s main theme.
Indiana Jones And The Tempo Of Doom
Polydor Records releases an album of John Williams‘ soundtrack from Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, including the movie’s unique rendition of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes”.
I.R.S. Records releases Weird Al Yankovic: In 3-D
Scotti Bros. Records releases Weird Al Yankovic‘s second album, In 3-D, featuring the singles “Eat It” and “I Lost On Jeopardy”.
Split Enz displays Conflicting Emotions
The eighth album from Split Enz, Conflicting Emotions, is released. Despite the catchy single “Strait Old Line”, the album doesn’t sell as well is the group’s previous three albums (perhaps a side-effect of lower exposure due to the previous album’s lead single being artificially strangled by radio programmers). This is the last album to feature founding member Tim Finn; his younger brother Neil elects to keep the band together to continue recording.
Big Country: The Crossing
POlygram Records releases the Big Country album The Crossing, featuring the singles “In A Big Country” and “Fields of Fire”.
Tim Finn goes solo
Recording solo material with elements of funk, R&B and reggae that he deemed unsuitable for the band that made him famous, Split Enz, Tim Finn releases his first solo album, Escapade. Slightly more in line with mainstream musical tastes than Split Enz’s usual quirky output, Escapade quickly makes the top ten – and goes platinum – in Australia, where it is first released.
Electric Light Orchestra: Secret Messages
Electric Light Orchestra‘s ninth album, the science fiction/time travel concept album Secret Messages, is released, featuring the single “Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King”. Originally a double album (slated to include the legendary lost song “Beatles Forever“), Secret Messages is pared down to a single LP late in production, and the resulting orphan tracks become the source of most of the group’s unreleased songs for several box sets to come.
The Police: Synchronicity
A&M Records releases the fifth and final Police album Synchronicity, featuring the singles “Synchronicity I”, “Synchronicity II”, “Every Breath You Take”, “King Of Pain” and “Wrapped Around Your Finger”.
Return Of The Sound Of The Jedi
RSO Records releases an LP of selections from John Williams’ soundtrack from Return Of The Jedi, a surprisingly downscaled released compared to the first two movies’ double-album soundtracks.
Dave Edmunds: Information
CBS Records releases the Dave Edmunds solo album Information, featuring the singles “Slipping Away” and “Information” (both produced by Jeff Lynne of ELO fame).
R.E.M.: Murmur
I.R.S. Records releases R.E.M.‘s debut album Murmur, featuring the single “Radio Free Europe”.
Kelly Groucutt: Kelly
Electric Light Orchestra bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt goes solo, releasing an album of distinctly ELO-esque tunes on the Polygram label. Virtually all of Groucutt’s bandmates appear on his first album, with the notable exception of ELO frontman Jeff Lynne.
Exporting the Compact Disc
For the first time, Compact Disc players and pre-recorded CDs appear in the English-speaking world (having been available in Japan since late 1982. The first label to embrace the new digital format is CBS Records, which publishes 16 existing titles on CD ranging from classical to rock. The technology has been developed jointly by Philips and Sony since the 1970s.
Journey: Frontiers
Columbia Records releases the Journey album Frontiers, featuring the singles “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”, “Send Her My Love” and “Faithfully”.
Donald Fagen: The Nightfly
Warner Bros. Records releases the first solo album by Donald Fagen, The Nightfly, featuring the singles “I.G.Y.” and “New Frontier”.
Depeche Mode: A Broken Frame
Mute Records releases the second album by Depeche Mode, A Broken Frame, featuring the singles “See You” and “The Meaning Of Love”.
Peter Gabriel: Security
Geffen Records releases the fourth self-titled Peter Gabriel album, though it’s given a subtitle of Security to avoid confusion with Gabriel’s three previous self-titled albums. The album includes the hit single “Shock The Monkey”.
Wall Of Voodoo: Call Of The West
IRS Records releases the second Wall Of Voodoo album, Call Of The West, featuring the single “Mexican Radio”.
Steve Winwood: Talking Back To The Night
Island Records releases the second solo album by Steve Winwood, Talking Back To The Night, featuring the singles “Still In The Game” and “Valerie”.
Fleetwood Mac: Mirage
Warner Bros. Records releases the 13th Fleetwood Mac album, Mirage, the band’s first studio recording since 1979. With the hits “Hold Me”, “Gypsy”, “Can’t Go Back” and “Love In Store”, the album climbs the charts quickly, but the band quickly disperses to solo careers again, not recording any further new material until 1987’s Tango In The Night.
Star Trek II soundtrack
Atlantic Records releases an album of selections from James Horner‘s soundtrack to Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.