1981 in British music

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Part of a series of articles on
British music

BPI • OCC

Charts
Singles chart (#1s; Records)
Albums chart (#1s)
Download chart (#1s)

Awards
BRIT Awards • Mercury Prize
NME Awards

Periods
Pre-1950 • 1950s & 60s
1970s • 1980s
1990s - Present

Origins and influences
Overview
England • Scotland • Wales
Ireland • Caribbean

Genres
Classical • Britpop • Brithop
Opera • Rock • Jazz

Major music publications
NME • Melody Maker
Music Week • Record Collector
Record Mirror • Record Retailer
Smash Hits • Sounds
Q • Kerrang! • fRoots

Other links
Bands • Musicians
Festivals • Venues

Timeline
1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995
1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000
2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005
2006 • 2007 • 2008 • (full list)
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1980s in music in the UK
List of number one singles
Summaries and charts:
1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
←1979 1990→

This is a summary of 1981 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

Contents

[edit] Charts

[edit] Number 1 singles

[edit] Number 1 albums

[edit] End of Year Charts

[edit] Top 40 Singles of 1981

Position Song Title Artist Sales Highest Position
1 Tainted Love Soft Cell 1
2 Stand And Deliver Adam & the Ants 1
3 Prince Charming Adam & the Ants 1
4 This Old House Shakin' Stevens 1
5 Vienna Ultravox 2
6 One Day In Your Life Michael Jackson 1
7 Making Your Mind Up Bucks Fizz 1
8 Shaddup You Face Joe Dolce Music Theatre 1
9 The Birdie Song The Tweets 2
10 You Drive Me Crazy Shakin' Stevens 2
11 Ghost Town The Specials 1
12 Being With You Smokey Robinson 1
13 It's My Party Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin 1
14 Woman John Lennon 1
15 Happy Birthday Altered Images 2
16 Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart) Ottawan 3
17 Stars On 45 Starsound 2
18 Green Door Shakin' Stevens 1
19 Imagine John Lennon 1
20 Jealous Guy Roxy Music 1
21 Kids In America Kim Wilde 2
22 Japanese Boy Aneka 1
23 Chi Mai (Theme From The TV Series The Life And Times Of David Lloyd George) Ennio Morricone 2
24 Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar) Julio Iglesias 1
25 Hooked On Classics Royal Philharmonic Orchestra arranged and conducted by Louis Clark 2
26 Souvenir Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 3
27 Can Can Bad Manners 3
28 Ant Music Adam & the Ants 2
29 Do The Hucklebuck Coast to Coast 5
30 Hold On Tight The Electric Light Orchestra 4
31 More Than In Love Kate Robbins And Beyond 2
32 Body Talk Imagination 4
33 Love Action (I Believe In Love) Human League 3
34 Stars On 45 (Volume 2) Starsound 2
35 Lately Stevie Wonder 3
36 In The Air Tonight Phil Collins 2
37 Going Back To My Roots Odyssey 4
38 Under Your Thumb Godley & Creme 3
39 Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder 2
40 Kings Of The Wild Frontier Adam & the Ants 2

[edit] Top 10 albums

[edit] Classical music

[edit] New works

[edit] Births

[edit] Deaths