In 1976, BBC Radio One Icon John Peel created a music chart called the Festive Fifty. From 1982 the chart only consisted of the year’s top tracks chosen by the listeners. It would traditionally broadcast over Christmas Eve and Day.

This year saw New Order lose the number one spot (which they had since 1982) to make way for The Smiths, with their big single "How Soon Is Now?". The album cover is a photograph entitled “Embrace New Mexico” (1984) by Denis Piel. Some tracks were removed because of 8tracks’ two tracks per artist policy.

38 tracks