7th March 2023 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of one of the all-time great debut albums, The Hurting by Tears for Fears featuring the hit singles ‘Mad World’, ‘Change’ and ‘Pale Shelter’. I have remixed the album for the occasion in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround and instrumental stereo, all fully approved by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The Dolby Atmos mix is available for streaming on supported platforms, but the 5.1 and instrumental stereo mixes are included (along with the Atmos mix) on a standalone blu-ray audio disc issued by Virgin/UMR and exclusively for sale via Super Deluxe Edition. The blu-ray additionally features the original stereo master. As if that wasn’t enough my stereo mixes of two recently rediscovered earlier recordings of ‘Mad World’ & ‘Watch Me Bleed’ made at sessions with producer Mike Howlett prior to the album versions will also be exclusive to the blu-ray. These tracks were found on the multitrack reels, possibly having never been mixed before. Even Roland and Curt had not heard them for 40 years!

This superior three-LP box set reissues all of altoist Art Pepper's small-group dates for the Pacific Jazz label. Virtually all of the music has since been reissued on CD (part of it as The Artistry of Pepper and part of it under trumpeter Chet Baker's name), but the Mosaic box, which has an attractive booklet, is the definitive treatment of this chapter in Pepper's musical story. The great altoist is heard in a sextet with Baker and tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, on a version of "Tenderly" with Chet Baker's big band, with Baker and tenor Phil Urso in a different sextet, sharing the spotlight with tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins in a quintet, and heading a nonet playing arrangements by Shorty Rogers. The music is very much in the cool/bop tradition, but Pepper is instantly recognizable (he never sounded that much like Charlie Parker) and even at this early stage, he was at the top of his form. All 26 performances are quite enjoyable and swinging, making this hard-to-find set worth the search.

The Gambian / Norwegian Friendship Orchestra (established 1980 in Bergen) was a jazz group with musicians from Western Norway and The Gambia, known as one of the first national initiatives in world music.

For the First Time Anywhere is a compilation album by American rock and roll singer Buddy Holly. The album was released in February 1983 (see 1983 in music).

After summing up his maverick tendencies on Scary Monsters, David Bowie aimed for the mainstream with Let's Dance. Hiring Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers as a co-producer, Bowie created a stylish, synthesized post-disco dance music that was equally informed by classic soul and the emerging new romantic subgenre of new wave, which was ironically heavily inspired by Bowie himself.

The legendary Charlie Parker fronts the Charlie Parker Quartet for Parker Plus Strings, recorded live at the Apollo Theatre,

Immediately upon their debut at the 1969 Marlboro Festival, four brilliant young American musicians calling themselves the Cleveland Quartet were hailed as a chamber ensemble of exceptional quality.

ommy's Little Monster is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Social Distortion, released in 1983.

Vigilante (Vigilant) is the eleventh and last studio album by the duo Colón - Lavoe, it was recorded in 1982 as part of the soundtrack of the homonymous film and published in 1983 by the Fania Records label.

In 1983, the Bongos signed with RCA Records and made their label debut with the five-song EP Numbers with Wings.

Star People is a 1983 album recorded by Miles Davis and issued by Columbia Records. It is the second studio recording released after the trumpeter's six-year hiatus, the first to feature electric guitarist John Scofield (who was recommended by saxophonist Bill Evans), and the last to be produced by long-standing producer Teo Macero.

„A roller coaster“, „with parabolic orbits of rim-shots, rolls, and cymbal washes wiping down the sides. Jack DeJohnette again illustrates why he’s one of the leading drummers of this era” Down Beat, 1983

The first album on the Island Records label and the first album produced by Tom himself. Swordfishtrombones was a new milestone in Waits' musical career.

Lick It Up is the 11th studio album by American rock band Kiss.

Alpha is the second studio album by British rock band Asia, released on 26 July 1983 in the United States and on 12 August 1983 in the United Kingdom by Geffen Records.