1981’s Biggest Artists and Songs |
| Christopher Cross (1980 Best New Artist Grammy Winner & Grammy for Album of the Year, presented in 1981) Sailing (Grammy for Record of the Year) |
| New Artists in the Pop Charts Included: Sheena Easton, Phil Collins (solo), Loverboy, Stevie Nicks (solo), Lionel Richie, The Oak Ridge Boys, Al Jarreau, Steve Winwood (solo), The Go-Gos, Billy Squire, Luthor Vandross, Debbie Harry (solo), Marty Balin (solo) and Lee Ritenour |
1981’s Retro Top 10 Hits |
| 1. Betty Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes |
| 2. Flash’s Theme (Flash) – Queen |
| 3. Ah! Leah! – Donnie Iris |
| 4. Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton |
| 5. I Love A Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt |
| 6. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton |
| 7. Private Eyes – Hall and Oates |
| 8. Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne |
| 9. Fire and Ice – Pat Benatar |
| 10. Hearts – Marty Balin |
1981’s ‘One Hit Wonders’ |
| 1. Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith |
| 2. Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through – Jim Steinman |
| 3. Tempted – Squeeze |
| 4. Precious To Me – Phil Seymour |
| 5. Seven Year Ache – Rosanne Cash |
| 6. Teacher Teacher – Rockpile |
| 7. Sausalito Summernight – Diesel |
| 8. Sweet Baby – Stanley Clark & George Duke |
| 9. Shaddap You Face – Joe Dolce |
| 10. A Woman’s Got The Power – The A’s |
1981’s Dance Top 10 Hit List |
| 1. Let’s Groove – Earth Wind and Fire |
| 2. When She Was My Girl – Four Tops |
| 3. Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith |
| 4. Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It) – Kool and the Gang |
| 5. She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton |
| 6. Don’t The Music – Yarbrough & Peoples |
| 7. We’re In This Love Together – Al Jarreau |
| 8. Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside |
| 9. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) – Ray Parker Jr & Raydio |
| 10. Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – Gap Band |
1981’s Pop Dance Top 10 Hit List |
| 1. Super Freak – Rick James |
| 2. Celebration – Kool and the Gang |
| 3. Give It To Me Baby – Rick James |
| 4. Physical – Olivia Newton-John |
| 5. Morning Train (9 to 5) – Sheena Easton |
| 6. Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go-Gos |
| 7. Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores |
| 8. Slow Hand – Pointer Sisters |
| 9. Stars On 45 – Stars On 45 |
| 10. This Little Girl – Gary U.S. Bonds |
1981’s Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List |
| 1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey |
| 2. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield |
| 3. Back In Black – AC/DC |
| 4. Start Me Up – Rolling Stones |
| 5. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police |
| 6. Urgent – Foreigner |
| 7. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da – The Police |
| 8. Rapture – Blondie |
| 9. Fashion – David Bowie |
| 10. Tempted – Squeeze |
1981’s Album Rock Top 10 Hit List |
| 1. Don’t Stand So Close To Me – The Police |
| 2. While You See a Chance – Steve Winwood |
| 3. Back In Black – AC/DC |
| 4. The Stroke – Billy Squire |
| 5. Stop Draggin My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty |
| 6. Skateaway – Dire Straits |
| 7. The Voice – The Moody Blues |
| 8. Burnin For You – Blue Oyster Cult |
| 9. Who’s Makin Love – The Blues Brothers |
| 10. The Waiting – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers |
| More of 1981’s Album Rock |
| Fade Away – Bruce Springsteen |
1981’s Bubblegum Pop Music Top Ten |
| 1. Physical – Olivia Newton-John |
| 2. Morning Train – Sheena Easton |
| 3. De do do do, De Da Da Da – The Police |
| 4. Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton |
| 5. The Tide Is High – Blondie |
| 6. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police |
| 7. Step By Step – Eddie Rabbitt |
| 8. Shaddap You Face – Joe Dolce |
| 9. My Girl (Gone Gone Gone) – Chilliwack |
| 10. Theme From ‘Greatest American Hero’ – Joey Scarbury |
PCM’s 1981 Top 10 Hit List |
| 1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey |
| 2. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind and Fire |
| 3. Super Freak – Rick James |
| 4. Give It To Me Baby – Rick James |
| 5. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield |
| 6. Start Me Up – Rolling Stones |
| 7. Back In Black – AC/DC |
| 8. I Love You – Climax Blues Band |
| 9. Celebration – Kool and The Gang |
| 10. She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton |
