1981 in music

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of years in music (Table)
… 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 – 1981 – 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 …
Related time period or subjects
… 1978 • 1979 • 1980 – 1981 – 1982 • 1983 • 1984 … … 1950s • 1960s • 1970s – 1980s – 1990s • 2000s • 2010s … … 19th century – 20th century – 21st century …
Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Science more

See also:

[edit] Events

January 10 - Revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith
February 14 - Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career
February 15 - Blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield is found dead in San Francisco. The cause of death was ruled an accidental drug overdose
March 14 - Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clapton's 60 city tour of the US is canceled.
April 4- the Zorros record single "Too Young" at Richmond Recorders Melbourne Australia.
April 4 - British pop group Bucks Fizz win Eurovision Song Contest with "Making Your Mind Up"
April 7 - Former Who manager Kit Lambert dies after falling down a flight of stairs in his mother's home in London. Lambert managed the band between 1964 and 1967.
April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli.
April 17 - Eric Clapton is released from St. Paul's Hospital in Minnesota following a month-long treatment for bleeding ulcers.
April 18 - Yes announces that they're breaking up. (They would however reunite frequently in years to come).
April 20 - The Mamas and the Papas' John Phillips is sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to drug possession charges. Phillips' sentence would be suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours of community service.
April 22 - Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from bruised ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington.
April 25 - Paul McCartney's backing band, Wings, breaks up
May 2 - Working as a local wedding singer 12 months previously, British vocalist Sheena Easton hits NO.1 in the US with "Morning Train (9 to 5)"
May 11 - The musical Cats begins its 8949 performance run on London's West End.
May 20 - Alice Cooper's daughter, Calico Cooper, is born.
August 1 - MTV debuts on cable television in the United States, playing music videos 24 hours a day.
August, UK - the success of Stars On 45 leads to a short-lived medley craze. The most successful imitator of the Stars On 45 format is, rather unexpectedly, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra whose "Hooked On Classics (Parts 1&2)" reaches number two in the charts.
August 23 - The Violent Femmes are discovered by members of The Pretenders busking outside the Milwaukee venue where The Pretenders will be playing, and invited to play a 10-minute acoustic set as a second opening act that night.
September 19 - Simon and Garfunkel perform a free reunion concert in New York City's Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans.
September 25 - The Rolling Stones open their US tour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
November 18 - While sitting in Tom's Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song "Tom's Diner".
The organ at the famous Heinävesi Church in Finland is renewed, using locks from the original organ.
Alice Cooper drastically changes his appearance, leaving behind his trademark make-up and donning a Military uniform.
Synth pop enjoys mainstream popularity in the UK, with groups such as Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Human League releasing hit singles and albums.
Menudo's golden era (1981-1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia.
U2 appears on the Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television appearance
Phil Collins releases his first solo album (although he won't leave the band Genesis until 1995)
Hal Willner "invents" the modern tribute album with Amacord Nino Rota

[edit] Bands formed

[edit] Bands disbanded

The Buzzcocks (they reform in 1989)
Cluster (they reform in 1989)
Josef K
Generation X
Good Rats
Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Toots & The Maytals (they reform in the early 90s)
Klaatu
Rockpile
The Slits
Wings
MFSB
Raydio
Taveners
Throbbing Gristle
City Boy
Luv' (they reform in 1989, 1993 and 2005)
Steely Dan (They reform in 1993)

[edit] Albums released

1234 - Ronnie Wood
4 - Foreigner
7 - Madness
9 to 5 and Odd Jobs - Dolly Parton
81 Demo - Anthrax (band)
Alles ist gut - D.A.F.
Almost Blue - Elvis Costello
Amarcord Nino Rota - Various artists
Amy Grant In Concert - Amy Grant
And Don't the Kids Just Love It - Television Personalities
Another Day/Another Dollar - Gang of Four
Another Ticket - Eric Clapton
Anthem - Toyah
Architecture and Morality - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls - Pat Metheny
As Far as Siam - Red Rider
The Ascension - Glenn Branca
Atomkraft? Nein, Danke! - Earthstar
Bad Habits - Billy Field
Bad Religion - Bad Religion
Bad Reputation - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks - Hanoi Rocks
Barbecue King - Jorma Kaukonen
The Baron - Johnny Cash
Beauty and the Beat - The Go Gos
Behind the Gardens-Behind the Walls-Under the Trees - Andreas Vollenweider
Being With You - Smokey Robinson
Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
The Best of Blondie - Blondie
The Best Of Minnie Riperton - Minnie Riperton
Beyond the Valley of 1984 - Plasmatics
The Beauty and the Beat - The Go-Go's
Big City - Merle Haggard
Black and White - The Pointer Sisters
Black President - Fela Kuti
The Blasters - The Blasters
Block to Block - De Press
Blythe Spirit - Arthur Blythe
Bobby & the Midnites - Bobby and the Midnites
The Border - Ry Cooder
Border Wave - Doug Sahm, Sir Douglas Quintet
Brasil (with João Gilberto, Gilberto Gil and Maria Bethânia) - Caetano Veloso
Breaker - Accept
Breakin' Away - Al Jarreau
Brown Rice and Kerosine - Redgum
Buchenwald - Whitehouse
Bucks Fizz - Bucks Fizz
Burning Blue Soul - The The
Butt Rockin' - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Captured - Journey
The Catherine Wheel - David Byrne
Chances Are - Bob Marley and the Wailers
Changestwobowie - David Bowie
Chariots of Fire - Vangelis
The Chieftains 10 : Cotton-Eyed Joe - The Chieftains
Circle of Love - Steve Miller Band
Coconut Telegraph - Jimmy Buffett
A Collection of Great Dance Songs - Pink Floyd
The Completion Backward Principle - The Tubes
Computer World - Kraftwerk
Connections & Disconnections - Funkadelic
Controversy - Prince
Come an' Get It - Whitesnake
Cool Night - Paul Davis
Coup de Grace - Mink DeVille
Coup de Tete - Kip Hanrahan
Cowboy Jubilee - Riders in the Sky
Cruisin' For a Bruisin' - Mike Bloomfield
Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty - Felt
Curiosum - Cluster
Dad Loves His Work - James Taylor
Damaged - Black Flag
Dangerous Acquaintances - Marianne Faithfull
Dare - Human League
Dark Continent - Wall of Voodoo
Dead Set - The Grateful Dead
Deaf - You've Got Foetus On Your Breath
The DeBarges - DeBarge
Deceit - This Heat
Dedicated to Peter Kürten - Whitehouse
Dedication - Gary U.S. Bonds
The Deep End - The Swimming Pool Qs
Defunkt - Defunkt
Denim and Leather - Saxon
Deuce - Kurtis Blow
Devo Live - Devo
Diary of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
Difficult to Cure - Rainbow
Directions - Miles Davis
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC
Discipline - King Crimson
Don't Say No - Billy Squier
Don't Stop - Billy Idol
Drama of Exile - Nico
Dreamtime - Tom Verlaine
Duran Duran - Duran Duran
Earthshaker - Y&T
East Side Story - Squeeze
El Loco - ZZ Top
Electric Rendezvous - Al Di Meola
Electronic Eden - The Brains
Escape - Journey
Escape Artist - Garland Jeffreys
The Electric Spanking of War Babies - Funkadelic
El Rayo X - David Lindley
Exit...Stage Left (live album) - Rush
Extended Play - The Pretenders
Evangeline - Emmylou Harris
Face Dances - The Who
Face Value - Phil Collins
Fair Warning - Van Halen
Faith - The Cure
Fancy Free - The Oak Ridge Boys
Fire of Love - The Gun Club
Fire of Unknown Origin - Blue Öyster Cult
Fiyou on the Bayou - The Neville Brothers
Flowers of Romance - Public Image Ltd.
For Those About to Rock We Salute You - AC/DC
For Those Who Think Young - Rough Trade
The Fox - Elton John
Freelancing - James Blood Ulmer
Freetime - Spyro Gyra
Freeze Frame - J. Geils Band
French Record - Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places - Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Friday Night in San Francisco - John McLaughlin with Al Di Meola and Paco DeLucia
From the Lion's Mouth - The Sound
Frozen Alive! - Albert Collins
Fuck 'Em if They Can't Take a Joke - The Dictators
Generic Flipper - Flipper
Get Lucky - Loverboy
Ghost in the Machine - The Police
Give the People What They Want - Jimmy Cliff
Give the People What They Want - The Kinks
Go for It - Shalamar
The Golden Age of Wireless - Thomas Dolby
Golden Down - Willie Nile
Gonna Ball - The Stray Cats
Gospel according to the meninblack- The Stranglers
Great American Music - Good Rats
Great gonzos : the Best Of Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
Handful Of Earth - Dick Gaughan
Happy Birthday - Altered Images
Hard N' Heavy - Anvil
Hard Promises - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Hardware - Krokus
Healing - Todd Rundgren
Heaven Up Here - Echo and the Bunnymen
Herbie Hancock Trio - Herbie Hancock Trio
Here Comes the Night - David Johansen
High 'N' Dry - Def Leppard
Higher Plane - Al Green
Hooligans - The Who
Honi Soit - John Cale
Hot! Live and Otherwise - Dionne Warwick
I Could Rule The World If I Could Only Get The Parts - The Waitresses
I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Icehouse - Icehouse
If I Should Love Again - Barry Manilow
In Concert Volume Two - Amy Grant
In God We Trust, Inc. - Dead Kennedys
In Our Lifetime - Marvin Gaye
In the Garden - Eurythmics
In the Pocket - The Commodores
Individuellos - La Düsseldorf
Inner City Front - Bruce Cockburn
The Innocent Age - Dan Fogelberg
Insect and Individual Silenced - Nurse With Wound
Intensities in 10 Cities (live) - Ted Nugent
Invictus Means Unconquered - David Allan Coe
It's Time To Love - Teddy Pendergrass
The Jacksons Live! - The Jacksons
Jane Siberry - Jane Siberry
Joy - The Minutemen (band)
The Judgement of Paris - Kevin Dunn and the Regiment of Women
Juice - Juice Newton
Juju - Siouxie and the Banshees
Jumpin' Jive - Joe Jackson
Killers - Iron Maiden
Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde
King Cool - Donnie Iris
Kiss Me Deadly - Generation X
Kix - Kix
Koo Koo - Debbie Harry
Land Speed Record - Husker Du
Law and Order - Lindsey Buckingham
The League of Gentlemen - Robert Fripp with the League of Gentlemen
Let the Power Fall : An Album of Frippertronics - Robert Fripp
Let Them Eat Jellybeans - Various Artists from Alternative Tenticles Records
Level 42 (debut) - Level 42
Little Lost Girls - The Runaways
Live at Lyceum - Cabaret Voltaire
Live in Tasmania - John Fahey
Living in the Fast Lane - Mike Bloomfield
Long Distance Voyager - Moody Blues
The Lounge Lizards - The Lounge Lizards
Love All the Hurt Away - Aretha Franklin
Love Is Only Feeling - Donovan
Lustwandel - Hans-Joachim Roedelius
Made in America - The Carpenters
Magic, Murder and the Weather - Magazine (band)
Magic Window - Herbie Hancock
Maiden Japan EP - Iron Maiden
The Man with the Horn - Miles Davis
Mark of the Mole - The Residents
Mask - Bauhaus (band)
Material - Moebius & Plank
Mecca for Moderns - The Manhattan Transfer
The Michael Schenker Group - The Michael Schenker Group
Minor Threat and In My Eyes - Minor Threat
Mistaken Identity - Kim Carnes
The Mob Rules - Black Sabbath
Modern Times - Jefferson Starship
Month of Parturition (Ringetsu) - Miyuki Nakajima
Movement - New Order
Moving Pictures - Rush
M.S.G. II - The Michael Schenker Group
Mummy Dust - Bruce Cockburn
Music from "The Elder" - Kiss
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts - David Byrne & Brian Eno
The Nature of the Beast - April Wine
Never Too Late- Status Quo
Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
New Chapter - Aswad
New Traditionalists - Devo
Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports - Nick Mason
Nightclubbing - Grace Jones
Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) - Billy Ocean
Nightwalker - Gino Vannelli
Nine Tonight - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
No Sleep 'til Hammersmith - Motörhead
Non-Stop! - James Brown
Non-stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell
October - U2
Odyshape - The Raincoats
Of Skins and Heart - The Church
Offramp - Pat Metheny
One Night at Budokan - The Michael Schenker Group
Only a Lad - Oingo Boingo
Only Jesus - Dion DiMucci
Original Sufferhead - Fela Kuti
Out Where the Bright Lights Are Glowing - Ronnie Milsap
Paradise Theater - Styx (band)
Parlez-Nous a Boire - Beausoleil
Party - Iggy Pop
Party Mix - The B-52s
Passage - William Ackerman
Penis Envy - Crass
Penthouse and Pavement - Heaven 17
Performance - Ashford and Simpson
Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Pirates - Rickie Lee Jones
Place Without a Postcard - Midnight Oil
Play Me Out - Helen Reddy
Playing With A Different Sex - The Au Pairs
Pleasant Dreams - The Ramones
The Plimsouls - The Plimsouls
Point of Entry - Judas Priest
Positive Touch - The Undertones
The Post - Bobby Womack
Power of Love - Arlo Guthrie
Prayers On Fire - The Birthday Party
Precious Time - Pat Benatar
Pretenders II - The Pretenders
Prince Charming - Adam and the Ants
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Psychedelic Jungle - The Cramps
Public Service - Bad Religion
The Punch Line - The Minutemen (band)
Punk's Not Dead - The Exploited (debut)
Quarterflash - Quarterflash
Quiero Ser - Menudo
Rage in Eden - Ultravox
Rainbow Stew / Live at Anaheim Stadium - Merle Haggard
Raise - Earth, Wind & Fire
Re-ac-tor - Neil Young
Reckoning - The Grateful Dead
Red - Black Uhuru
Red Mecca - Cabaret Voltaire
Reflections - Gil Scott Heron
Restless Eyes - Janis Ian
Rit - Lee Ritenour
Rock 'n' Groove - Bunny Wailer
Rock 'n' Roll Adult - Garland Jeffreys
Rock Till You Drop - Raven
Rockihnroll - Greg Kihn Band
Roman Gods - The Fleshtones
Round Trip - The Knack
Seduzir - Djavan
See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang,Yeah. City All Over! Go Ape Crazy! - Bow Wow Wow
Send Me a Lullaby - The Go Betweens
Seven Year Itch - Rosanne Cash
Shake It Up - The Cars
Share Your Love - Kenny Rogers
She Shot Me Down - Frank Sinatra
Shock Tactics - Samson
Shot of Love - Bob Dylan
Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar - Frank Zappa
Signals, Calls and Marches - Mission of Burma
Slates - The Fall
Solid Gold - Gang of Four (band)
Something Special - Kool and the Gang
Somewhere in England - George Harrison
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Willie Nelson
Songs for the Mama That Tried - Merle Haggard
Songs in the Attic - Billy Joel
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call - Simple Minds
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash - The Replacements (debut)
Sound Affects - The Jam
Speak & Spell - Depeche Mode
Special Forces - Alice Cooper
Stahlwerksinfonie - Die Krupps
Standing Hampton - Sammy Hagar
Standing Together - Midnight Star
Stands for Decibels - The DB's
Stars on Long Play - Stars on 45
Stray Cats - The Stray Cats
Step by Step - Eddie Rabbit
Still-Joy Division
Street Songs - Rick James
Strictly Personal - The Romantics
Take It Off - Chic
Take My Time - Sheena Easton
Take No Prisoners - Molly Hatchet
Talk Talk Talk - Psychedelic Furs
Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones
Teddy Boys Don't Knit - Vivian Stanshall
Temporary Music - Material
There Goes the Neighborhood - Joe Walsh
There Must Be a Better World Somewhere - B.B. King
This Heat - Deceit
Three Quartets - Chick Corea
Time - Electric Light Orchestra
The Time - The Time
Time Will Tell : A Tribute to Bob Marley - Bunny Wailer
Tin Drum - Japan
Tinseltown Rebellion - Frank Zappa
Tokyo....Live - Al Green
Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
Tongue Twisters - Shoes (band)
Too Fast for Love - Mötley Crüe
Too Late the Hero - John Entwistle
Torch - Carly Simon
Trio - Trio
Trombipulation - Parliament
Trust - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Turn Back - Toto
Underneath the Colours - INXS
The Unknown Kurt Weill - Teresa Stratas
The Visitors - ABBA
Voyeur' - David Sanborn
Waiata - Split Enz
Walking Under Ladders - Joan Armatrading
Wanted Dread and Alive - Peter Tosh
Was - Was (Not Was)
Welcome to Hell - Venom
Wenn Der Südwind Weht - Hans-Joachim Roedelius
Wha'ppen? - The English Beat
What Cha Gonna Do For Me - Chaka Khan
What's THIS For...! - Killing Joke
When Two Worlds Collide - Jerry Lee Lewis
White Lace & Black Leather - Helix
Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Diana Ross
Wild-Eyed Southern Boys - .38 Special
Wild Gift - X (U.S. band)
Wild Things - The Creatures
Word of Mouth - Jaco Pastorius
Wünsche fliegen übers Meer - Die Flippers
Working Class Dog - Rick Springfield
World of Stone - Hunters and Collectors
You Are What You Is - Frank Zappa
You Want It You Got It - Bryan Adams
You're the Guy I Want to Share My Money With - Laurie Anderson,William S. Burroughs and John Giorno
Zebop! - Santana

[edit] Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1981.

#	Artist	Title	Year	Chart Entries
1	Kim Carnes	Bette Davis Eyes	1981	US BB 1 - April 1981, Canada 1 - April 1981, France 1 - Jun 1981, Switzerland 1 - Jun 1981, Norway 1 - Jun 1981, Germany 1 - Jun 1981, Australia 1 for 5 weeks May 1982, Grammy in 1981, US CashBox 2 of 1981, Austria 2 - July 1981, South Africa 2 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 4 - May 1981, Italy 5 of 1981, Australia 6 of 1981, UK 10 - May 1981, Holland 16 - May 1981, RYM 16 of 1981, Germany 18 of the 1980s, OzNet 45, Scrobulate 66 of 80s, RIAA 268, Acclaimed 738
2	Soft Cell	Tainted Love	1981	UK 1 - August 1981, Canada 1 - November 1981, France 1 - August 1981, Australia 1 for 3 weeks Jan 1983, Austria 2 - December 1981, Switzerland 2 - November 1981, Germany 2 - Jan 1982, Scrobulate 2 of 80s, Australia 3 of 1982, Sweden (alt) 4 - October 1981, RYM 4 of 1981, Holland 5 - October 1981, South Africa 5 of 1982, US BB 8 - May 1982, US BB 15 of 1982, POP 18 of 1982, Germany 37 of the 1980s, KROQ 38 of 1982, Virgin 41, US CashBox 50 of 1982, Party 142 of 2007, Acclaimed 163, Belgium 242 of all time, OzNet 451, WXPN 745
3	Phil Collins	In the Air Tonight	1981	Holland 1 - February 1981, Sweden (alt) 1 - February 1981, Austria 1 - April 1981, Switzerland 1 - April 1981, UK 2 - Jan 1981, France 2 - Mar 1981, Germany 2 - Mar 1981, Canada 3 - Jun 1981, Norway 4 - Mar 1981, OzNet 7, Poland 12 - August 1982, Europe 13 of the 1980s, RYM 15 of 1981, POP 16 of 1981, US BB 19 - July 1981, Australia 23 of 1981, Italy 23 of 1981, US BB 27 of 1981, Germany 44 of the 1980s, Scrobulate 60 of pop, TheQ 87, Belgium 230 of all time, Acclaimed 1238
4	John Lennon	Woman	1981	UK 1 - Jan 1981, Canada 1 - Jan 1981, Éire 1 - February 1981, New Zealand 1 for 5 weeks February 1981, US BB 2 - Jan 1981, Switzerland 2 - Mar 1981, Austria 4 - Mar 1981, Norway 5 - February 1981, France 7 - Mar 1981, Germany 7 - February 1981, US CashBox 16 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 18 - February 1981, Holland 21 - Mar 1981, RYM 22 of 1981, US BB 30 of 1981, Italy 34 of 1981, POP 34 of 1981, Virgin 59, OzNet 139, Germany 213 of the 1980s
5	Stars On 45	Stars On 45	1981	US BB 1 - May 1981, Holland 1 - Jan 1981, Austria 1 - May 1981, Switzerland 1 - May 1981, Germany 1 - Mar 1981, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks Jun 1981, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Jun 1982, UK 2 - April 1981, Australia 2 of 1981, Germany 5 of the 1980s, Sweden (alt) 7 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 13 of 1981, Italy 54 of 1981

[edit] Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit singles

US Number One Singles and Artist (Weeks at Number One)	UK Number One Singles and Artist (Weeks at Number One)
"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon (1 week in 1980+ 4 weeks in 1981) "The Tide Is High" - Blondie (1) "Celebration" - Kool & The Gang (2) "9 To 5" - Dolly Parton (2) "I Love A Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt (2) "Keep On Loving You" REO Speedwagon (1) "Rapture" - Blondie (2) "Kiss On My List" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (3) "Morning Train (9 To 5)" - Sheena Easton (2) "Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes (9, best selling single of the year) "Stars on 45 Medley" - Stars On 45 (1) "The One That You Love" - Air Supply (1) "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield (2) "Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9) "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" - Christopher Cross (3) "Private Eyes" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (2) "Physical" - Olivia Newton-John (6 weeks in 1981 + 4 weeks in 1982)	"There's No One Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir (1 week in 1980 + 1 week in 1981) "Imagine" - John Lennon (4) "Woman" - John Lennon (2) "Shaddup You Face" - Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3) "Jealous Guy"- Roxy Music (2) "This Ole House" - Shakin' Stevens (3) "Making Your Mind Up" - Bucks Fizz (3) "Stand And Deliver" - Adam & The Ants (5) "Being With You" - Smokey Robinson (2) "One Day In Your Life" - Michael Jackson (2) "Ghost Town" - Specials (3) "Green Door"- Shakin' Stevens (4) "Japanese Boy" - Aneka (1) "Tainted Love" - Soft Cell (2 - best selling single of 1981) "Prince Charming" - Adam & The Ants (4) "It's My Party" - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (4) "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" - The Police (1) "Under Pressure" - Queen & David Bowie (2) "Begin the Beguine" - Julio Iglesias (1) "Don't You Want Me" - Human League (3 weeks in 1981 + 2 weeks in 1982)

US Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)

UK Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)

"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon (1 week in 1980+ 4 weeks in 1981)
"The Tide Is High" - Blondie (1)
"Celebration" - Kool & The Gang (2)
"9 To 5" - Dolly Parton (2)
"I Love A Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt (2)
"Keep On Loving You" REO Speedwagon (1)
"Rapture" - Blondie (2)
"Kiss On My List" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (3)
"Morning Train (9 To 5)" - Sheena Easton (2)
"Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes (9, best selling single of the year)
"Stars on 45 Medley" - Stars On 45 (1)
"The One That You Love" - Air Supply (1)
"Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield (2)
"Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9)
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" - Christopher Cross (3)
"Private Eyes" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (2)
"Physical" - Olivia Newton-John (6 weeks in 1981 + 4 weeks in 1982)

"There's No One Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir (1 week in 1980 + 1 week in 1981)
"Imagine" - John Lennon (4)
"Woman" - John Lennon (2)
"Shaddup You Face" - Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3)
"Jealous Guy"- Roxy Music (2)
"This Ole House" - Shakin' Stevens (3)
"Making Your Mind Up" - Bucks Fizz (3)
"Stand And Deliver" - Adam & The Ants (5)
"Being With You" - Smokey Robinson (2)
"One Day In Your Life" - Michael Jackson (2)
"Ghost Town" - Specials (3)
"Green Door"- Shakin' Stevens (4)
"Japanese Boy" - Aneka (1)
"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell (2 - best selling single of 1981)
"Prince Charming" - Adam & The Ants (4)
"It's My Party" - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (4)
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" - The Police (1)
"Under Pressure" - Queen & David Bowie (2)
"Begin the Beguine" - Julio Iglesias (1)
"Don't You Want Me" - Human League (3 weeks in 1981 + 2 weeks in 1982)

[edit] Other significant singles of the year

"A Life of Illusion" - Joe Walsh
"A Lucky Guy" - Rickie Lee Jones
"A Woman Needs Love(Just Like You Do)" - Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio
"A.D. 1928/Rockin' the Paradise" - Styx (band)
"Abacab" - Genesis (band)
"Absolute Beginners" - The Jam
"The Adultress" - The Pretenders
"Too Fast, Too Loud, Too Young" - The Zorros
"African and White" - China Crisis
"After the Glitter Fades" - Stevie Nicks
"Aie a Mwana" - Bananarama
"Ain't Even Done With the Night" - John Cougar
"One of Us" - ABBA
"All Stood Still" - Ultravox
"Alone With You" - Sunnyboy
"Always" - Tom Verlaine
"And The Band Played On" - Saxon (band)
"Angel of the Morning" - Juice Newton
"Animal Crackers" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts
"Antmusic" - Adam & the Ants
"Back in Black" - AC/DC
"Backfired" - Debbie Harry
"Bad Habits" - Billy Field
"Beautiful World" - Devo
"The Best of Times" - Styx
"Better Things" - The Kinks
"Big Science" - Laurie Anderson
"Black Limousine" - The Rolling Stones
"Body Talk" - Imagination
"Boys and Girls" - The Human League
"The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) - The Greg Kihn Band
"Burnin' For You" - Blue Öyster Cult
"Cambodia" - Kim Wilde
"Can You Feel It" - The Jacksons
"Can't Get Enough of You" - Eddy Grant
"Centerfold" - The J. Geils Band
"Ceremony" - New Order
"Chant No.1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)" - Spandau Ballet
"Chariots of Fire" - Vangelis
"Charlotte Sometimes" - The Cure
"Chemistry" - Mondo Rock
"Chequered Love" - Kim Wilde
"Chi Mai" - Ennio Morricone
"Christmas Wrapping" - The Waitresses
"Coldest Night of the Year" - Bruce Cockburn
"Coming in Hot" - Peter Tosh
"Computer Love" - Kraftwerk
"Cool Love" - Pablo Cruise
"Cool Night" - Paul Davis
"Cool World" - Mondo Rock
"Controversy" - Prince
"Counting The Beat" - Swingers
"Crazy Train" - Ozzy Osbourne
"The Crusher" - The Cramps
"Dancing With Myself" - Billy Idol
"Days Are OK" - The Motels
"Demolition Man" - The Police
"Destroyer" - The Kinks
"Do Me, Baby" - Prince
"Don't Let Him Go" - REO Speedwagon
"Don't Stand So Close to Me" - The Police
"Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
"Don't Stop the Music" - Yarborough and Peoples
"Don't Want To Wait Anymore" - The Tubes
"Don't You Want Me" - The Human League
"Double Dutch Bus" - Frankie Smith
"Dumb Waiters" - The Psychedelic Furs
"Edge of Seventeen" - Stevie Nicks
"Electro-Cuties" - Funkadelic
"Elvira" - The Oak Ridge Boys
"Errol" - Australian Crawl
"Europa and the Pirate Twins" - Thomas Dolby
"Every Woman in the World" - Air Supply
"Everybody Salsa" - Modern Romance
"Fade to Grey" - Visage
"Fascist Architecture" - Bruce Cockburn
"Find Your Way Back" - Jefferson Starship
"Fire (song)" - U2
"Fire and Ice" - Pat Benetar
"Fits Ya Good" - Bryan Adams
"Five Guys Named Moe" - Joe Jackson
"Fly Away" - Peter Allen
"Flying High Again" - Ozzy Osbourne
"Fools Die" - Peter Tosh
"For Beauties Sake" - Marianne Faithfull
"For Those About To Rock We Salute You - AC/DC
"For Your Eyes Only" - Sheena Easton
"Funeral Pyre" - The Jam
"Funk Gets Stranger" - Funkadelic
"Games People Play" - Alan Parsons Project
"Geisha Boys and Temple Girls" - Heaven 17
"Gemini Dream" - The Moody Blues
"Generals and Majors" - XTC
"Genius of Love" - Tom Tom Club
"Get Tough" - Kleeer
"Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" - Black Flag
"Girls On Film" - Duran Duran
"Give It Too Me Baby" - Rick James
"Gloria" - U2
"Going Back to My Roots" - Odyssey
"Going Places" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts
"Goo Goo Muck" - The Cramps
"Good Thing Going" - Sugar Minott
"Good Year for the Roses" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
"Gotta Pull Myself Together" - Nolans
"Grey Day" - Madness
"HA HA HA" - Flipper
"Hang Fire" - The Rolling Stones
"Happy Birthday" - Altered Images
"Hard Act to Follow" - Split Enz
"Hearts" - Marty Balin
"Hearts of Fire" - Randy Meisner
"Hell is For Children" - Pat Benatar
"Hell's Bells" - AC/DC (released in 1980)
"Henry Hudson" - Nico
"Her Town Too" - James Taylor and J.D. Souther
"Heroes" - Nico
"History Never Repeats" - Split Enz
"Hold on Tight" - Electric Light Orchestra
"How 'Bout Us" - Champaign
"Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) - Haircut 100
"It Must Be Love" - Madness
"If You Leave...Can I Come Too" - Mental As Anything
"Hip, Shake, Jerk" - The Quick UK
"I Surrender" - Rainbow
"Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)" - Joey Scarbury
"Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You" - Air Supply
"Home Computer" - Kraftwerk
"Homosapien" - Pete Shelley
"Hungry For You" - The Police
"I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" - Stevie Wonder
"I Am" - {Kid Creole and the Coconuts]]
"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" - Hall and Oates
"I Could Be Happy" - Altered Images
"I Don't Need You" - Kenny Rogers
"I Don't Wanna Dance" - Split Enz
"I Fall Down" - U2
"I Go to Sleep" - The Pretenders
"I Love You" - Climax Blues Band
"I Made It Through The Rain" - Barry Manilow
"I Missed Again" - Phil Collins
"I Shot the Sheriff" - Light of the World
"I Threw a Brick Through a Window" - U2
"I Want To Be Free" - Toyah
"I Wouldn't Have Missed It For the World" - Ronnie Milsap
"I'm Gonna Follow You" - Pat Benatar
"I'm in Love" - Evelyn King
"I've Done Everything For You" - Rick Springfield
"Icka Prick" - Funkadelic
"If I Was a Dancer (Dance Pt. 2)" - The Rolling Stones
"If Leaving Me Is Easy" - Phil Collins
"In the Air Tonight" - Phil Collins
"In The Dark" - Billy Squier
"Intrigue" - Marianne Faithfull
"Intuition" - Linx
"Invisible Sun" - The Police
"Is That Love" - Squeeze
"Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" - Joe Jackson
"Isotope Soap" - Geza X
"It Must Be Love" - Madness
"It's a Tough Life" - Pat Benatar
"It's Gonna Happen" - The Undertones
"It's More Fun to Compute" - Kraftwerk
"Jack on Fire" - The Gun Club
"Jack, Your Dead" - Joe Jackson
"Jerkin' Back 'n' Forth" - Devo
"Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield
"Jimmie Jones" - The Vapors
"Juke Box Hero" - Foreigner
"Just Between You and Me" - April Wine
"Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode
"Just Like God" - Aztec Camera
"Just the Two of Us" - Grover Washington, Jr.
"Keep It Dark" - Genesis (band)
"Kick in the Eye" - Bauhaus (band)
"The Kid Is Hot Tonight - Loverboy
"Kings of the Wild Frontier" - Adam and the Ants
"Kiss is on my List" - Hall and Oates
"Labelled With Love" - Squeeze
"The Land of Make Believe" - Bucks Fizz
"Latin Music" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts
"Leather and Lace" - Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
"Leila" - Z Z Top
"Lets All Make a Bomb" - Heaven 17
"Let's Get It Up" - AC/DC
"Let's Groove" - Earth, Wind & Fire
"Limelight" - Rush
"Little T&A" - The Rolling Stones
"Livin' Inside Myself" - Gino Vannelli
"Living It Up" - Rickie Lee Jones
"Lonely is the Night" - Billy Squier
"Love Action (I Believe in Love)" - The Human League
"Love is Alright Tonight" - Rick Springfield
"Love On a Two Way Street" - Stacy Lattisaw
"Lunatic Fringe" - Red Rider
"The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)" - Fun Boy Three
"Macho City" - Steve Miller Band
"Mad Eyed Screamer" - The Creatures
"The Magnificent Seven" - The Clash
"Make That Move" - Shalamar
"Mattress of Wire" - Aztec Camera
"Me No Pop I" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts
"Mean Streets" - Van Halen
"Mental Hopscotch" - Missing Persons
"Message of Love" - The Pretenders
"Messed Around" - Squeeze
"The Model" - Kraftwerk
"Modern Girl" - Sheena Easton
"Moral Majority" - Dead Kennedys
"More Than I Can Say" - Leo Sayer
"Motorhead (live)" - Motörhead
"Musclebound/Glow" - Spandau Ballet
"Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" - Dead Kennedys
"Neighbours" - The Rolling Stones
"Never Too Much" - Luther Vandross
"Nightgames" - Graham Bonnet
"The Night Owls" - Little River Band
"No Reply at All" - Genesis (band)
"No Time To Lose" - The Tarney/Spencer Band
"No Use in Crying" - The Rolling Stones
"Nobody Wins" - Elton John
"Nothing Ever Goes As Planned" - Styx (band)
"O Superman" - Laurie Anderson
"October (song)" - U2
"Oh No" - The Commodores
"Omega Man" - The Police
"Once in a Lifetime" - Talking Heads
"One in Ten" - UB40
"One Step Ahead" - Split Enz
"One World (Not Three)" - The Police
"Only Crying" - Keith Marshall
"Our Lips Are Sealed" - The Go Go's
"Open Arms" - Journey
"Open Your Heart" - The Human League
"Over the Mountain" - Ozzy Osbourne
"Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" - Pigbag
"Party on the Patio" - Z Z Top
"Pearl Necklace" - Z Z Top
"Penthouse and Pavement" - Heaven 17
"Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)" - Rickie Lee Jones
"Plan B" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
"Plan B Escape" - Fraeon
"Planet Earth" - Duran Duran
"Pocket Calculator" - Kraftwerk
"Police Story" - Black Flag
"Precious Time" - Pat Benatar
"Predictable" - The Kinks
"Pretty in Pink" - The Psychedelic Furs
"Primary" - The Cure
"Procession/Everything's Gone Green" - New Order
"A Promise" - Echo & the Bunnymen
"Promises in the Dark" - Pat Benatar
"Purple Lips" - Nico
"Push Comes To Shove" - Van Halen
"Put the Finger on You" - AC/DC
"Queen of Hearts (song)" - Juice Newton
"Quiet Life" - Japan (band)
"Rastafari Is" - Peter Tosh
"Rawhide" - Dead Kennedys
"Razzamatazz" - Quincy Jones
"Really Want To Know You" - Gary Wright
"Reggaemylitis" - Peter Tosh
"Rehumanize Yourself" - The Police
"Rejoice" - U2
"Religious Vomit" - Dead Kennedys
"The Return of Los Palmos" - Madness
"Reward" - The Teardrop Explodes
"Rise Above" - Black Flag
"The River" - Bruce Springsteen
"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" - AC/DC
"Rock This Town" - The Stray Cats
"Romeo and Juliet" - Dire Straits
"Runaround Sue" - Racey
"Sailing" - Christopher Cross
"Sat In Your Lap" - Kate Bush
"Say Good Bye to Hollywood" - Billy Joel
"Say I Love You" - Renee Geyer
"Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" - David Bowie
"Secret Journey" - The Police
"Sex Beat" - The Gun Club
"Sex Bomb" - Flipper
"Shake It Up" - The Cars
"She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)" - Carl Carlton
"She's Got a Way" - Billy Joel
"She's Got Claws" - Gary Numan
"She's Like Heroin to Me" - The Gun Club
Shine So Hard EP - Echo & the Bunnymen
"Shockwave" - Funkadelic
"Should I Do It" - The Pointer Sisters
"Show Me" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
"Shut Up" - Madness
"(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star" - Bill Wyman
"Silly" - Deniece Williams
"Since You're Gone" - The Cars
"Six Pack" - Black Flag
"Sixty/Forty" - Nico
"Skeletons" - Rickie Lee Jones
"Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" - XTC
"Slave" - The Rolling Stones
"Slow Hand" - The Pointer Sisters
"Slow Motion" - Ultravox
"Snake Eyes" - Alan Parsons Project
"Snowballed" - AC/DC
"So This Is Love" - Van Halen
"Soul Warfare" - Heaven 17
"The Sound of the Crowd" - The Human League
"Southern Freez" - Freez
"Souvenir" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
"Spellbound" - AC/DC
"Spirits in the Material World" - The Police
"Splintered in the Head" - The Cure
"Spray Paint (The Walls)" - Black Flag
"Star" - Kiki Dee
"Stars on 45 vol. 2" - Star Sound
"Start Me Up" - The Rolling Stones
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" - Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Stop the Game" - Cheap Trick
"Stranger" - Jefferson Starship
"Stranger in a Strange Land" - U2
"Stray Cat Strut" - The Stray Cats
"The Stroke" - Billy Squier
"Summer of '81" - Mondo Rock
"Super Freak" - Rick James
"Sushi Girl" - The Tubes
"Swords Of A Thousand Men" - Tenpole Tudor
"Table Manners" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts
"Take it on the Run" - REO Speedwagon
"Take It To The Limit(live)" - The Eagles
"Talk to Ya Later" - The Tubes
"Talkin' Baseball" - Terry Cashman
"Take It On the Run" - REO Speedwagon
"Tempted" - Squeeze
"That's Entertainment" - The Jam
"The Waiting" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"There's a Guy Work Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" - Kirsty McColl
"(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" - Ronnie Milsap
"The Thin Wall" - Ultravox
"This is For the Lover in You" - Shalamar
"This is Radio Clash" - The Clash
"This Little Girl" - Gary U.S. Bonds
"This Town" - The Go Go's
"Through Being Cool" - Devo
"Through the Years" - Kenny Rogers
"Thrown Away" - The Stranglers
"Time" - Alan Parsons Project
"Together" - Tierra
"Tom Sawyer" - Rush
"Tomorrow" - U2
"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)" - Rod Stewart
"Too Many Times" - Mental As Anything
"Too Much Information" - The Police
"Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx (band) (released in 1980)
"Traces of the Western Slopes" - Rickie Lee Jones
"Treat Me Right" - Pat Benatar
"Try It Out" - Gino Soccio
"Tube Snake Boogie" - Z Z Top
"Tunnel of Love" - Dire Straits
"Turn Me Loose" - Loverboy (released in 1980)
"Turn Your Love Around" - George Benson
"Turning Japanese" - The Vapors
"Tuxedo Junction" - Joe Jackson
"T.V. Party" - Black Flag
"Two Hearts" - Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass
"Unchained" - Van Halen
"United Together" - Aretha Franklin
"Up the Hill Backwards" - David Bowie
"Urgent" - Foreigner
"Vienna (song)" - Ultravox
"The Voice" - Moody Blues
"The Voice" - Ultravox
"Waiting For a Girl Like You" - Foreigner
"Waiting on a Friend" - The Rolling Stones
"Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono
"The Wanderer" - Donna Summer
"Watching the Wheels" - John Lennon
"Water on Glass - Kim Wilde
"Wedding Bells" - Godley and Creme
"We Belong Together" - Rickie Lee Jones
"(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thing" - Heaven 17
"We Got the Beat - The Go-Go's
"We the Cats (Shall Hep Ya)" - Joe Jackson
"We're Going to Live For a Very Long Time" - Heaven 17
"We're In This Love Together" - Al Jarreau
"We've Got A Bigger Problem Now" - Dead Kennedys
"What Are We Doin' In Love" - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West
"What Kind of Fool" - Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
"What's the Use in Getting Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)" - Joe Jackson
"When He Shines" - Sheena Easton
"When She Was My Girl" - The Four Tops
"Whip It" - Devo
"Who Do You Think We Are" - Alice Cooper
"Who's Crying Now" - Journey
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love? - Diana Ross
"Wild Colonial Boy" - Dr. Hook
"Wild is the Wind" - David Bowie
"Will You?" - Hazel O'Connor
"Winning" - Santana
"Wired For Sound" - Cliff Richard
"Woody and Dutch on the Slow Train to Peking" - Rickie Lee Jones
"Wordy Rappington" - Tom Tom Club
"Working For the Weekend" - Loverboy
"Working in a Coalmine" - Devo
"Yearning For Your Love" - The Gap Band
"You Better You Bet" - The Who
"You Make My Dreams Come True" - Hall and Oates
"You Weren't in Love With Me" - Billy Field
"You're My Meat" - Joe Jackson
"Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees" - Marcia Hines

[edit] Published popular music

"9 To 5" w.m. Dolly Parton from the film Nine to Five
"All Those Years Ago" w.m. George Harrison
"Allentown" w.m. Billy Joel
"Allergies" w.m. Paul Simon
"America" w.m. Neil Diamond from the film The Jazz Singer
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" w. Tom Eyen m. Henry Krieger from the musical Dreamgirls
"Arthur's Theme" w.m. Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross & Peter Allen from the film Arthur
"At This Moment" w.m. Billy Vera
"Baby, Come To Me" w.m. Rod Temperton
"Being With You" w.m. William "Smokey" Robinson
"Believe it or Not (Theme From The Greatest American Hero)" w. Stephen Geyer m. Mike Post
"The Best Of Times" w.m. Dennis DeYoung
"Bette Davis Eyes" w. Donna Weiss m. Jackie DeShannon
"Black Limousine" w.m. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood
"Bruce" w.m. Rick Springfield
"Chariots of Fire" w. Jon Anderson m. Vangelis
"Dynasty theme song" m. Bill Conti
"The First Time it Happens" w.m. Joe Raposo, from the film The Great Muppet Caper
"Good Thing Going (Going Gone)" w.m. Stephen Sondheim
"Hill Street Blues theme song" m. Mike Post
"Key Largo" w.m. Bertie Higgins & Sonny Limbo
"One Of The Girls" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander introduced by Lauren Bacall in the musical Woman Of The Year

[edit] Classical music

Milton Babbitt - Don for four-hand piano, Ars Combinatoria for small orchestra
George Crumb - Gnomic Variations for piano
Peter Maxwell Davies - Piano Sonata
Joël-François Durand - String Trio
Bengt Hambraeus - Voluntary on a Swedish Hymn Tune from Dalecarlia
George Lloyd - Tenth Symphony (for brass)
Steve Reich - Tehillim
Roger Sessions - Concerto for Orchestra (recorded by Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and for which the composer receives the Pulitzer Prize for Music)
Robert Simpson - Quintet for clarinet and Strings; Symphony No. 8
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski - Clarinet Concerto

[edit] Opera

Conrad Susa and Richard Street - Black River

[edit] Musical theater

Barnum London production opened at the Palladium on June 11 and ran for 655 performances
Bring Back Birdie Broadway production
Cats (Andrew Lloyd Webber) - London production opened at the New London Theatre on May 11 and ran for 8949 performances
Dreamgirls Broadway production opened on December 20 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 1522 performances
March of the Falsettoes off-Broadway production
Merrily We Roll Along - Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 16 and ran for 16 performances
Pirates Of Penzance Broadway revival
Song and Dance London production
Woman Of The Year Broadway production opened at the Palace Theatre on March 29 and ran for 770 performances