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Songs from the Year 1981
This page lists the top songs of 1981 in the source charts. The way that the various charts are combined to reach this final list is described on the in the site generation page. A list of the hit albums of 1981 can be found here.
| # | Artist | Song Title | Year | Chart Entries |
| 1 | Kim Carnes | Bette Davis Eyes | 1981 | US BB 1 - Apr 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Canada 1 - Apr 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 - Jul 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 - Aug 1981, Canada 1 - Nov 1981, France 1 - Aug 1981, Australia 1 for 3 weeks Jan 1983, Austria 2 - Dec 1981, Switzerland 2 - Nov 1981, Germany 2 - Jan 1982, Scrobulate 2 of 80s, Australia 3 of 1982, Sweden (alt) 4 - Oct 1981, RYM 4 of 1981, Holland 5 - Oct 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 - Feb 1981, Sweden (alt) 1 - Feb 1981, Austria 1 - Apr 1981, Switzerland 1 - Apr 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 - Aug 1982, Europe 13 of the 1980s, RYM 15 of 1981, POP 16 of 1981, Record World 17 - 1981, US BB 19 - Jul 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, Eire 1 - Feb 1981, New Zealand 1 for 5 weeks Feb 1981, US BB 2 - Jan 1981, Record World 2 - 1981, Switzerland 2 - Mar 1981, Austria 4 - Mar 1981, Norway 5 - Feb 1981, France 7 - Mar 1981, Germany 7 - Feb 1981, US CashBox 16 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 18 - Feb 1981, Holland 21 - Mar 1981, RYM 22 of 1981, US BB 30 of 1981, Japan (Tokyo) 31 - Nov 1988, 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, Record World 1 - 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 - Apr 1981, Australia 2 of 1981, Germany 5 of the 1980s, Sweden (alt) 7 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 13 of 1981, Italy 54 of 1981 |
| 6 | Olivia Newton-John | Physical | 1981 | US BB 1 - Oct 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Switzerland 1 - Nov 1981, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Dec 1981, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Oct 1982, France 2 - Nov 1981, Holland 4 - Oct 1981, Germany 4 - Jan 1982, US CashBox 6 of 1981, UK 7 - Oct 1981, Austria 7 - Dec 1981, Sweden (alt) 15 - Nov 1981, US BB 37 of 1981, POP 41 of 1981, Italy 62 of 1982, RYM 124 of 1981, Germany 201 of the 1980s, OzNet 319 |
| 7 | The Rolling Stones | Start Me Up | 1981 | Canada 1 - Aug 1981, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Sep 1982, US BB 2 - Aug 1981, US BB 4 of 1981, Record World 5 - 1981, France 5 - Sep 1981, Switzerland 5 - Sep 1981, UK 7 - Aug 1981, KROQ 7 of 1981, Norway 8 - Oct 1981, Holland 9 - Sep 1981, POP 11 of 1981, Australia 13 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 14 - Sep 1981, Austria 14 - Nov 1981, OzNet 26, US CashBox 34 of 1981, Italy 55 of 1981, RYM 78 of 1981, TheQ 109, Party 205 of 1999, Acclaimed 577 |
| 8 | Queen & David Bowie | Under Pressure | 1981 | UK 1 - Nov 1981, Canada 1 - Oct 1981, Holland 1 - Nov 1981, France 5 - Dec 1981, Norway 5 - Dec 1981, RYM 8 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 10 - Dec 1981, Austria 10 - Feb 1982, Switzerland 10 - Jan 1982, Record World 26 - 1981, Japan (Tokyo) 28 - Nov 1999, US BB 29 - Dec 1981, Poland 34 - Dec 1999, Japan (Osaku) 37 of 2000, Scrobulate 38 of glam rock, KROQ 48 of 1981, POP 51 of 1982, Europe 67 of the 1980s, Italy 89 of 1999, TheQ 117, Acclaimed 901 |
| 9 | The Police | Every Little Thing She Does is Magic | 1981 | UK 1 - Oct 1981, Canada 1 - Sep 1981, Holland 1 - Sep 1981, Eire 1 - Nov 1981, US BB 3 - Oct 1981, France 5 - Nov 1981, Norway 5 - Oct 1981, Record World 8 - 1981, Italy 21 of 1981, KROQ 22 of 1981, US BB 25 of 1981, RYM 29 of 1981, US CashBox 35 of 1981, POP 51 of 1981, Scrobulate 59 of new wave, WXPN 407, OzNet 436, Acclaimed 2178 |
| 10 | Joe Dolce | Shaddup You Face | 1981 | UK 1 - Feb 1981, Switzerland 1 - Mar 1981, Eire 1 - Feb 1981, Australia 1 for 8 weeks Oct 1981, South Africa 1 of 1981, Austria 2 - Apr 1981, Norway 2 - Mar 1981, Germany 2 - Apr 1981, Holland 4 - Mar 1981, Sweden (alt) 5 - Mar 1981, Record World 24 - 1981, Germany 54 of the 1980s |
| 11 | Kool & The Gang | Celebration | 1981 | US BB 1 - Nov 1980, Record World 1 - 1981, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Aug 1981, Holland 2 - Dec 1980, Switzerland 6 - Jan 1981, UK 7 - Nov 1980, POP 9 of 1981, Party 9 of 2007, US CashBox 10 of 1981, US BB 15 of 1981, South Africa 16 of 1981, Scrobulate 17 of disco, Germany 26 - Jan 1981, RYM 200 of 1980, RIAA 214, OzNet 526, Acclaimed 1668 |
| 12 | Diana Ross & Lionel Richie | Endless Love | 1981 | US BB 1 - Jul 1981, US CashBox 1 of 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Aug 1982, Holland 4 - Sep 1981, Sweden (alt) 5 - Sep 1981, Switzerland 6 - Sep 1981, South Africa 6 of 1981, UK 7 - Sep 1981, US BB 8 of 1981, Norway 8 - Sep 1981, Australia 8 of 1981, POP 14 of 1981, Italy 84 of 1981 |
| 13 | Kim Wilde | Kids in America | 1981 | Eire 1 - Mar 1981, UK 2 - Feb 1981, Sweden (alt) 2 - Apr 1981, France 2 - Jan 1981, Switzerland 5 - May 1981, Holland 6 - Apr 1981, Germany 6 - Apr 1981, Norway 9 - Aug 1981, Australia 10 of 1981, Austria 12 - Jul 1981, Scrobulate 14 of 80s, South Africa 15 of 1981, US BB 25 - Jul 1982, POP 56 of 1982, RYM 62 of 1981, Germany 78 of the 1980s, OzNet 507 |
| 14 | Aneka | Japanese Boy | 1981 | UK 1 - Aug 1981, Sweden (alt) 1 - Sep 1981, France 1 - Sep 1981, Switzerland 1 - Oct 1981, Eire 1 - Sep 1981, Norway 4 - Oct 1981, Germany 4 - Jan 1982, Austria 5 - Nov 1981, Holland 7 - Aug 1981, Italy 64 of 1982, Germany 85 of the 1980s, RYM 181 of 1981 |
| 15 | Sheena Easton | Morning Train (Nine to Five) | 1981 | US BB 1 - Feb 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, New Zealand 1 for 1 weeks Jun 1981, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Mar 1982, UK 3 - Jul 1980, Canada 3 - Mar 1981, Switzerland 3 - Jun 1981, Australia 7 of 1981, Holland 14 - May 1981, US CashBox 24 of 1981, US BB 38 of 1981, POP 68 of 1981 |
| 16 | Blondie | Rapture | 1981 | US BB 1 - Feb 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Canada 1 - Feb 1981, France 3 - Mar 1981, UK 5 - Jan 1981, Norway 8 - Mar 1981, Sweden (alt) 13 - Mar 1981, US CashBox 15 of 1981, Holland 19 - Feb 1981, US BB 20 of 1981, Scrobulate 26 of new wave, RYM 37 of 1981, POP 38 of 1981, Acclaimed 779 |
| 17 | Sheena Easton | For Your Eyes Only | 1981 | Holland 1 - Aug 1981, Switzerland 1 - Aug 1981, Norway 1 - Sep 1981, Record World 3 - 1981, Sweden (alt) 3 - Sep 1981, Austria 3 - Oct 1981, US BB 4 - Aug 1981, Germany 6 - Sep 1981, UK 8 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 28 of 1981, RYM 136 of 1981, Germany 287 of the 1980s |
| 18 | Ultravox | Vienna | 1981 | Holland 1 - Mar 1981, France 1 - May 1981, Eire 1 - Mar 1981, UK 2 - Jan 1981, Sweden (alt) 7 - Apr 1981, Austria 9 - Apr 1981, RYM 11 of 1981, Germany 16 - Apr 1981, Europe 17 of the 1980s, Virgin 88, Scrobulate 94 of 80s, Belgium 165 of all time, Acclaimed 1196 |
| 19 | Ottawan | Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart) | 1981 | Norway 1 - Sep 1981, Eire 1 - Oct 1981, New Zealand 1 for 9 weeks Mar 1982, Holland 2 - Aug 1981, Sweden (alt) 2 - Aug 1981, Germany 2 - Apr 1981, UK 3 - Aug 1981, Austria 3 - Jun 1981, Switzerland 4 - May 1981, Germany 61 of the 1980s |
| 20 | George Harrison | All Those Years Ago | 1981 | Canada 1 - May 1981, US BB 2 - May 1981, Norway 2 - Jul 1981, Record World 3 - 1981, Switzerland 8 - Jul 1981, Sweden (alt) 11 - Jun 1981, UK 13 - May 1981, Austria 19 - Aug 1981, Holland 36 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 38 of 1981, US BB 40 of 1981, POP 47 of 1981, Italy 67 of 1981, RYM 95 of 1981, OzNet 762 |
| 21 | The Police | De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da | 1981 | Canada 1 - Nov 1980, Switzerland 4 - Feb 1981, UK 5 - Dec 1980, Austria 8 - Mar 1981, KROQ 8 of 1980, France 9 - Dec 1980, US BB 10 - Nov 1980, Holland 11 - Dec 1980, Germany 16 - Jan 1981, Record World 18 - 1981, South Africa 19 of 1981, POP 20 of 1981, US BB 28 of 1981, Scrobulate 72 of favourite, US CashBox 96 of 1981, RYM 191 of 1980 |
| 22 | Rick Springfield | Jessie's Girl | 1981 | US BB 1 - May 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Jul 1982, US CashBox 3 of 1981, France 3 - Jul 1981, POP 5 of 1981, Canada 6 - May 1981, US BB 7 of 1981, Australia 15 of 1981, Party 88 of 2007, OzNet 136, RYM 178 of 1981 |
| 23 | Kim Wilde | Cambodia | 1981 | Sweden (alt) 1 - Dec 1981, France 1 - Jan 1982, Switzerland 1 - Dec 1981, Holland 2 - Jan 1982, Germany 2 - Jan 1982, Norway 3 - Dec 1981, Austria 4 - Feb 1982, UK 12 - Nov 1981, South Africa 19 of 1982, RYM 71 of 1981, Germany 111 of the 1980s |
| 24 | Christopher Cross | Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) | 1981 | US BB 1 - Aug 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Norway 1 - Feb 1982, Oscar in 1981, Switzerland 6 - Mar 1982, UK 7 - Jan 1982, France 7 - Sep 1981, US CashBox 11 of 1981, Italy 19 of 1981, Scrobulate 55 of easy listening, AFI 79 |
| 25 | Shakin' Stevens | This Ole House | 1981 | UK 1 - Feb 1981, Eire 1 - Apr 1981, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Apr 1982, Switzerland 4 - May 1981, South Africa 4 of 1981, Holland 5 - Apr 1981, Germany 5 - May 1981, Australia 11 of 1981, Austria 13 - Jul 1981, RYM 86 of 1981, Germany 355 of the 1980s, OzNet 424 |
| 26 | Bucks Fizz | Making Your Mind Up | 1981 | UK 1 - Mar 1981, Holland 1 - Apr 1981, Austria 1 - May 1981, Eire 1 - Apr 1981, Sweden (alt) 2 - Apr 1981, Norway 2 - May 1981, Switzerland 3 - Apr 1981, Germany 5 - Apr 1981, Germany 334 of the 1980s |
| 27 | REO Speedwagon | Keep On Loving You | 1981 | US BB 1 - Dec 1980, Record World 1 - 1981, Canada 2 - Dec 1980, US CashBox 4 of 1981, Switzerland 4 - Apr 1981, UK 7 - Apr 1981, Holland 13 - Apr 1981, Australia 20 of 1981, Germany 22 - May 1981, US BB 35 of 1981, Europe 77 of the 1980s, Scrobulate 93 of 80s, RYM 195 of 1980 |
| 28 | Visage | Fade to Grey | 1981 | France 1 - Jan 1981, Switzerland 1 - Mar 1981, Germany 1 - Feb 1981, Austria 3 - Apr 1981, UK 8 - Dec 1980, RYM 8 of 1980, Sweden (alt) 12 - Apr 1981, Germany 16 of the 1980s, Holland 22 - Jan 1981, Italy 36 of 1981, Scrobulate 69 of new wave, OzNet 943 |
| 29 | Foreigner | Waiting For a Girl Like You | 1981 | Canada 1 - Oct 1981, US BB 2 - Oct 1981, Record World 2 - 1981, France 2 - Jun 1982, UK 8 - Dec 1981, US BB 9 of 1981, POP 13 of 1981, US CashBox 14 of 1981, Holland 16 - Jan 1982, Austria 16 - Apr 1982, Australia 21 of 1982, RYM 148 of 1981, OzNet 368 |
| 30 | Electric Light Orchestra | Hold On Tight | 1981 | Switzerland 1 - Aug 1981, Canada 3 - Aug 1981, Germany 3 - Aug 1981, UK 4 - Aug 1981, Austria 4 - Sep 1981, Holland 5 - Aug 1981, Norway 7 - Aug 1981, US BB 10 - Aug 1981, Record World 10 - 1981, Sweden (alt) 10 - Aug 1981, US CashBox 55 of 1981, Germany 93 of the 1980s, RYM 142 of 1981 |
| 31 | Abba | One of Us | 1981 | Holland 1 - Dec 1981, Eire 1 - Dec 1981, UK 3 - Dec 1981, Austria 3 - Feb 1982, Switzerland 3 - Dec 1981, Germany 3 - Jan 1982, Norway 6 - Jan 1982, France 7 - Jan 1982, Sweden (alt) 13 - Dec 1981, RYM 119 of 1981, Germany 158 of the 1980s |
| 32 | David A Stewart & Barbara Gaskin | It's My Party | 1981 | UK 1 - Sep 1981, Eire 1 - Oct 1981, New Zealand 1 for 1 weeks Feb 1982, KROQ 4 of 1981, Germany 5 - Jan 1982, Canada 6 - Feb 1982, Austria 6 - Jan 1982, Switzerland 6 - Dec 1981, Holland 20 - Nov 1981, Germany 163 of the 1980s |
| 33 | Dolly Parton | 9 to 5 | 1981 | US BB 1 - Dec 1980, Record World 1 - 1981, Canada 3 - Feb 1981, Austria 5 - Apr 1981, Sweden (alt) 6 - Mar 1981, Holland 10 - Mar 1981, US CashBox 12 of 1981, US BB 17 of 1981, POP 39 of 1981, AFI 78, Scrobulate 81 of country, RIAA 299 |
| 34 | Smokey Robinson | Being With You | 1981 | UK 1 - May 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks May 1981, US BB 2 - Mar 1981, France 2 - May 1981, Canada 3 - Apr 1981, US CashBox 19 of 1981, POP 29 of 1981, RYM 146 of 1981 |
| 35 | Roxy Music | Jealous Guy | 1981 | UK 1 - Feb 1981, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Mar 1982, Switzerland 4 - Mar 1981, Australia 4 of 1981, France 6 - Mar 1981, Austria 6 - May 1981, Norway 6 - Apr 1981, Holland 7 - Mar 1981, Sweden (alt) 18 - Apr 1981, RYM 19 of 1981, Germany 30 - Apr 1981 |
| 36 | Rod Stewart | Young Turks | 1981 | Canada 1 - Oct 1981, France 1 - Nov 1981, US BB 5 - Oct 1981, Record World 5 - 1981, Holland 9 - Jan 1982, UK 11 - Dec 1981, South Africa 11 of 1982, Australia 23 of 1982, US CashBox 44 of 1981, Italy 90 of 1981, Scrobulate 94 of classic, OzNet 604 |
| 37 | Foreigner | Urgent | 1981 | Canada 1 - Jul 1981, France 2 - Sep 1981, Record World 3 - 1981, South Africa 3 of 1981, US BB 4 - Jul 1981, Germany 15 - Jan 1982, US BB 18 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 20 - Mar 1982, POP 22 of 1981, US CashBox 42 of 1981, KROQ 55 of 1981, RYM 108 of 1981 |
| 38 | Rick James | Super Freak | 1981 | US BB 1 of 1981, POP 1 of 1981, Holland 2 - Oct 1981, France 3 - Oct 1981, Record World 14 - 1981, US BB 16 - Sep 1981, RYM 31 of 1981, Party 46 of 1999, KROQ 75 of 1981, Rolling Stone 477, Acclaimed 933 |
| 39 | Earth, Wind & Fire | Let's Groove | 1981 | France 2 - Dec 1981, POP 2 of 1981, UK 3 - Nov 1981, US BB 3 - Oct 1981, Record World 3 - 1981, US BB 5 of 1981, Holland 5 - Oct 1981, US CashBox 17 of 1981, RYM 56 of 1981, Italy 66 of 1982, Japan (Tokyo) 78 - Sep 2002, Party 217 of 1999 |
| 40 | Shakin' Stevens | (You Drive Me) Crazy | 1981 | Eire 1 - May 1981, Australia 1 for 3 weeks Jul 1982, UK 2 - May 1981, Holland 4 - Jun 1981, Switzerland 4 - Jul 1981, Austria 6 - Aug 1981, Germany 7 - Jul 1981, Sweden (alt) 9 - Oct 1981, Australia 19 of 1981, Germany 124 of the 1980s |
| 41 | Kim Wilde | Chequered Love | 1981 | France 1 - Jun 1981, Holland 2 - Jun 1981, Switzerland 2 - Jul 1981, UK 4 - May 1981, Germany 4 - Jun 1981, Sweden (alt) 6 - Jul 1981, South Africa 14 of 1981, Austria 16 - Sep 1981, Germany 122 of the 1980s, RYM 182 of 1981, OzNet 310 |
| 42 | The Specials | Ghost Town | 1981 | UK 1 - Jun 1981, Peel list 2 of 1981, RYM 2 of 1981, Scrobulate 2 of ska, France 3 - Aug 1981, Norway 7 - Sep 1981, Holland 8 - Aug 1981, KROQ 41 of 1981, 54 in 2FM list, Acclaimed 115 |
| 43 | Frank Duval | Angel of Mine | 1981 | Holland 1 - Mar 1981, Austria 1 - Jan 1981, Switzerland 1 - Nov 1980, Germany 1 - Jan 1981, Norway 7 - Nov 1981, Germany 13 of the 1980s |
| 44 | Hall & Oates | Private Eyes | 1981 | US BB 1 - Sep 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, France 4 - Oct 1981, Canada 5 - Sep 1981, US CashBox 9 of 1981, US BB 16 of 1981, UK 32 - Apr 1982, POP 56 of 1981, RYM 168 of 1981 |
| 45 | Adam & The Ants | Prince Charming | 1981 | UK 1 - Sep 1981, Eire 1 - Sep 1981, France 3 - Sep 1981, Germany 10 - Oct 1981, Austria 14 - Dec 1981, Holland 17 - Sep 1981, Sweden (alt) 20 - Sep 1981, KROQ 24 of 1981, RYM 135 of 1981 |
| 46 | Genesis | Abacab | 1981 | Canada 4 - Dec 1981, France 4 - Sep 1981, Norway 8 - Sep 1981, UK 9 - Aug 1981, South Africa 20 of 1982, US BB 26 - Jan 1982, Holland 26 - Oct 1981, Record World 31 - 1981, POP 36 of 1982, Italy 40 of 1981, KROQ 86 of 1981, RYM 179 of 1981 |
| 47 | Steve Winwood | While You See a Chance | 1981 | Canada 1 - Feb 1981, France 2 - Dec 1980, US BB 7 - Feb 1981, Record World 9 - 1981, Holland 10 - Feb 1981, US BB 26 of 1981, POP 63 of 1981, US CashBox 72 of 1981, RYM 149 of 1981, OzNet 150 |
| 48 | Rod Stewart | Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me) | 1981 | Canada 2 - Jan 1982, Norway 4 - Oct 1981, UK 8 - Oct 1981, France 9 - Nov 1981, Switzerland 9 - Nov 1981, Sweden (alt) 10 - Nov 1981, Holland 13 - Oct 1981, Record World 17 - 1982, US BB 20 - Feb 1982, US CashBox 98 of 1982, RYM 161 of 1981 |
| 49 | Adam & The Ants | Antmusic | 1981 | Australia 1 for 5 weeks Feb 1982, UK 2 - Dec 1980, KROQ 2 of 1981, France 3 - Jan 1981, Australia 3 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 11 - Mar 1981, South Africa 20 of 1981, RYM 153 of 1980 |
| 50 | The Pointer Sisters | Slow Hands | 1981 | US BB 2 - Jun 1981, France 2 - Oct 1981, Record World 4 - 1981, US CashBox 5 of 1981, Canada 9 - Jun 1981, UK 10 - Aug 1981, Holland 15 - Jul 1981, US BB 22 of 1981, POP 48 of 1981, RYM 139 of 1981 |
| 51 | Talking Heads | Once in a Lifetime | 1981 | Canada 7 - Jan 1981, France 7 - Mar 1981, RYM 7 of 1981, KROQ 9 of 1980, UK 14 - Feb 1981, Holland 28 - Feb 1981, Scrobulate 55 of 80s, POP 69 of 1986, Virgin 75, Acclaimed 110, Belgium 139 of all time, WXPN 204 |
| 52 | The Go Gos | Our Lips Are Sealed | 1981 | Canada 2 - Nov 1981, France 4 - Nov 1981, US BB 13 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 14 - Feb 1982, Australia 17 of 1982, US BB 20 - Oct 1981, Record World 20 - 1981, POP 25 of 1981, KROQ 32 of 1981, RYM 49 of 1981, Acclaimed 472 |
| 53 | Quarterflash | Harden My Heart | 1981 | France 2 - Feb 1982, US BB 3 - Nov 1981, Record World 5 - 1981, Canada 5 - Oct 1981, Switzerland 5 - Apr 1982, Austria 15 - Mar 1982, Italy 35 of 1982, US CashBox 53 of 1981, RYM 130 of 1981, OzNet 633 |
| 54 | Hall & Oates | Kiss On My List | 1981 | US BB 1 - Feb 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Canada 2 - Feb 1981, France 3 - Mar 1981, US CashBox 25 of 1981, UK 33 - Nov 1980, Japan (Tokyo) 99 - Dec 1995 |
| 55 | John Lennon | Watching the Wheels | 1981 | Canada 6 - Apr 1981, Record World 9 - 1981, France 9 - Apr 1981, US BB 10 - Apr 1981, Austria 12 - Jun 1981, RYM 28 of 1981, UK 30 - Apr 1981, US BB 36 of 1981, POP 59 of 1981, US CashBox 62 of 1981, OzNet 562 |
| 56 | Odyssey | Going Back to My Roots | 1981 | Switzerland 2 - Oct 1981, Sweden (alt) 3 - Aug 1981, UK 4 - May 1981, Holland 4 - Jul 1981, Norway 10 - Sep 1981, South Africa 12 of 1981, Austria 14 - Oct 1981, Germany 15 - Sep 1981, Scrobulate 85 of disco |
| 57 | Shakin' Stevens | Green Door | 1981 | UK 1 - Jul 1981, Eire 1 - Aug 1981, Holland 5 - Aug 1981, Switzerland 5 - Sep 1981, Germany 7 - Aug 1981, Austria 9 - Nov 1981, Germany 366 of the 1980s |
| 58 | Stars On 45 | Stars On 45 Vol 2 | 1981 | Switzerland 1 - Aug 1981, UK 2 - Jul 1981, Germany 3 - Jul 1981, Holland 4 - Jul 1981, Austria 4 - Sep 1981, Sweden (alt) 12 - Aug 1981, Germany 332 of the 1980s |
| 59 | The Rolling Stones | Waiting On a Friend | 1981 | Canada 1 - Dec 1981, Holland 9 - Dec 1981, US BB 13 - Dec 1981, Record World 16 - 1981, KROQ 20 of 1981, POP 30 of 1982, US BB 32 of 1982, US CashBox 88 of 1982, RYM 113 of 1981 |
| 60 | Adam & The Ants | Stand & Deliver | 1981 | UK 1 - May 1981, France 3 - May 1981, Holland 8 - Jun 1981, Germany 8 - Jun 1981, Austria 9 - Aug 1981, KROQ 11 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 17 - Jun 1981, RYM 25 of 1981 |
| 61 | Juice Newton | Angel of the Morning | 1981 | Record World 1 - 1981, Canada 1 - Mar 1981, US BB 4 - Mar 1981, Switzerland 4 - Jul 1981, Austria 12 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 21 of 1981 |
| 62 | The Commodores | Lady (You Bring Me Up) | 1981 | New Zealand 1 for 1 weeks Oct 1981, Record World 7 - 1981, US BB 8 - Jul 1981, US BB 10 of 1981, France 10 - Aug 1981, Holland 20 - Aug 1981, POP 21 of 1981, US CashBox 50 of 1981 |
| 63 | Depeche Mode | Just Can't Get Enough | 1981 | France 2 - Sep 1981, Holland 5 - Mar 1985, UK 8 - Sep 1981, Sweden (alt) 14 - Nov 1981, Scrobulate 17 of 80s, RYM 32 of 1981, KROQ 97 of 1981, OzNet 647, Acclaimed 1782 |
| 64 | Electronica's | Dance Little Bird | 1981 | Norway 1 - Jan 1982, Germany 1 - Jan 1982, Germany 2 of the 1980s, Austria 3 - Nov 1981, Switzerland 7 - Nov 1981 |
| 65 | Grover Washington Jr | Just the Two of Us | 1981 | US BB 2 of 1981, POP 3 of 1981, Record World 5 - 1981, Canada 6 - Apr 1981, France 10 - May 1981, Holland 11 - May 1981, UK 34 - May 1981, US CashBox 37 of 1981 |
| 66 | Queen | Flash | 1981 | Austria 4 - Apr 1981, France 5 - Feb 1981, Germany 5 - Jan 1981, UK 10 - Dec 1980, Canada 15 - Feb 1981, Sweden (alt) 17 - Feb 1981, Holland 18 - Dec 1980, Germany 146 of the 1980s, RYM 189 of 1980 |
| 67 | Billy Squier | The Stroke | 1981 | Austria 3 - Sep 1981, Record World 6 - 1981, Canada 6 - Jun 1981, France 10 - Jul 1981, US BB 17 - Jun 1981, US BB 24 of 1981, POP 27 of 1981, KROQ 100 of 1981, RYM 196 of 1981 |
| 68 | The Who | You Better You Bet | 1981 | Canada 1 - Mar 1981, UK 9 - Mar 1981, Holland 9 - Mar 1981, Record World 12 - 1981, US BB 18 - Apr 1981, KROQ 60 of 1981, US CashBox 95 of 1981, RYM 154 of 1981 |
| 69 | The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | Hooked On Classics | 1981 | UK 2 - Jul 1981, Sweden (alt) 4 - Sep 1981, Austria 6 - Nov 1981, Record World 9 - 1981, US BB 10 - Nov 1981, Holland 16 - Aug 1981, Germany 24 - Oct 1981, US CashBox 82 of 1981 |
| 70 | Joey Scarbury | Theme From 'Greatest American Hero' (Believe It Or Not) | 1981 | Record World 1 - 1981, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Oct 1981, US BB 2 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 8 of 1981, Australia 9 of 1982 |
| 71 | Diana Ross | Why Do Fools Fall in Love? | 1981 | Holland 1 - Nov 1981, UK 4 - Nov 1981, Record World 6 - 1981, US BB 7 - Oct 1981, Switzerland 9 - Nov 1981, Germany 21 - Jan 1982, US CashBox 64 of 1981 |
| 72 | The Boomtown Rats | Banana Republic | 1981 | France 2 - Dec 1980, UK 3 - Nov 1980, Norway 3 - Apr 1981, Germany 4 - Jan 1981, Sweden (alt) 7 - Jan 1981, Switzerland 10 - Jan 1981, Germany 200 of the 1980s |
| 73 | Michael Jackson | One Day in Your Life | 1981 | UK 1 - May 1981, Holland 1 - Jul 1981, Eire 1 - Jul 1981, South Africa 13 of 1981 |
| 74 | Robert Palmer | Looking For Clues | 1981 | Germany 3 - Feb 1981, Canada 5 - Dec 1980, France 6 - Feb 1981, Switzerland 6 - Apr 1981, Sweden (alt) 14 - Mar 1981, Holland 15 - Jan 1981, UK 33 - Nov 1980, Germany 148 of the 1980s |
| 75 | Journey | Don't Stop Believin' | 1981 | Canada 2 - Oct 1981, POP 6 of 1981, US BB 9 - Nov 1981, Record World 9 - 1981, US BB 12 of 1981, US CashBox 58 of 1981, RYM 133 of 1981, Party 177 of 2007 |
| 76 | Juice Newton | Queen of Hearts | 1981 | US BB 2 - Jun 1981, Record World 2 - 1981, Switzerland 6 - Sep 1981, US CashBox 7 of 1981, Austria 13 - Sep 1981, Holland 20 - Sep 1981, POP 36 of 1981 |
| 77 | Loverboy | Turn Me Loose | 1981 | France 3 - Apr 1981, Canada 4 - Jan 1981, Australia 12 of 1981, US BB 35 - Mar 1981, Record World 38 - 1981, KROQ 42 of 1981, RYM 188 of 1981, TheQ 290 |
| 78 | Boney M | We Kill the World (Don't Kill the World) | 1981 | France 1 - Nov 1981, Switzerland 3 - Nov 1981, South Africa 4 of 1982, Germany 15 - Nov 1981, Holland 25 - Dec 1981, UK 39 - Nov 1981 |
| 79 | Keith Marshall | Only Crying | 1981 | Holland 3 - Jun 1981, Switzerland 3 - Sep 1981, Germany 6 - Aug 1981, Austria 10 - Aug 1981, UK 12 - Apr 1981, Italy 44 of 1981, Germany 330 of the 1980s |
| 80 | Bruce Springsteen | The River | 1981 | Norway 5 - Jul 1981, Europe 8 of the 1980s, Holland 12 - May 1981, Belgium 17 of all time, UK 35 - Jun 1981, RYM 40 of 1981, WXPN 77, Acclaimed 2034 |
| 81 | The Cars | Shake it Up | 1981 | Canada 3 - Nov 1981, US BB 4 - Dec 1981, Record World 4 - 1981, France 10 - Feb 1982, US CashBox 23 of 1982, KROQ 64 of 1982, RYM 106 of 1981 |
| 82 | The Swingers | Counting The Beat | 1981 | Australia 1 of 1981, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Apr 1981, Australia 1 for 3 weeks Jan 1982 |
| 83 | George Benson | Turn Your Love Around | 1981 | France 1 - Jan 1982, US BB 5 - Nov 1981, Record World 8 - 1981, POP 22 of 1982, UK 29 - Nov 1981, US CashBox 70 of 1981 |
| 84 | Duran Duran | Girls On Film | 1981 | France 2 - Aug 1981, UK 5 - Jul 1981, Sweden (alt) 15 - Jan 1982, Scrobulate 18 of 80s, KROQ 25 of 1981, RYM 44 of 1981, Acclaimed 1974 |
| 85 | Electric Light Orchestra | Twilight | 1981 | France 10 - Nov 1981, Austria 15 - Jan 1982, Germany 18 - Nov 1981, RYM 23 of 1981, UK 30 - Oct 1981, Holland 32 - Nov 1981, US BB 38 - Nov 1981, Record World 39 - 1981 |
| 86 | Steely Dan | Hey Nineteen | 1981 | Canada 1 - Dec 1980, US BB 10 - Dec 1980, Record World 10 - 1981, France 10 - Jan 1981, POP 17 of 1981, US CashBox 80 of 1981 |
| 87 | REO Speedwagon | Take it On the Run | 1981 | Canada 2 - Mar 1981, Record World 3 - 1981, France 4 - May 1981, US BB 5 - Mar 1981, UK 19 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 29 of 1981 |
| 88 | The Human League | Love Action (I Believe in Love) | 1981 | France 1 - Oct 1981, UK 3 - Aug 1981, KROQ 65 of 1982, RYM 66 of 1981, OzNet 668, Acclaimed 1190 |
| 89 | Kraftwerk | The Model | 1981 | UK 1 - Dec 1981, France 1 - Apr 1979, RYM 3 of 1981, Scrobulate 34 of electronic |
| 90 | Rush | Tom Sawyer | 1981 | France 7 - Nov 1981, Canada 14 - Jun 1981, UK 25 - Oct 1981, KROQ 37 of 1981, Scrobulate 48 of progressive rock, POP 55 of 1981, TheQ 80, RYM 85 of 1981 |
| 91 | U2 | I Will Follow | 1981 | France 8 - Aug 1980, Holland 12 - Sep 1982, POP 21 of 1984, KROQ 21 of 1981, RYM 33 of 1981, Belgium 158 of all time, WXPN 535, Acclaimed 585 |
| 92 | Loverboy | Working For the Weekend | 1981 | Canada 8 - Nov 1981, US BB 14 of 1982, US BB 29 - Jan 1982, Record World 30 - 1981, POP 46 of 1982, RYM 121 of 1981, Party 188 of 1999, TheQ 409 |
| 93 | Julio Iglesias | Begin the Beguine | 1981 | UK 1 - Oct 1981, Eire 1 - Nov 1981, Switzerland 7 - Jan 1982, Austria 8 - Feb 1982 |
| 94 | Fred Sonnenschein | Ja wenn wir alle Englein waeren | 1981 | Austria 1 - Nov 1981, Germany 1 - Jan 1982, Switzerland 6 - Nov 1981, Germany 27 of the 1980s |
| 95 | Styx | The Best of Times | 1981 | Canada 1 - Jan 1981, US BB 3 - Jan 1981, Record World 6 - 1981, France 6 - Mar 1981, US CashBox 33 of 1981 |
| 96 | Air Supply | The One that You Love | 1981 | US BB 1 - May 1981, Record World 1 - 1981, Canada 8 - Jun 1981, US CashBox 23 of 1981 |
| 97 | The Jackson 5 | Can You Feel It | 1981 | Holland 2 - Mar 1981, France 3 - Jul 1981, UK 6 - Feb 1981, South Africa 8 of 1981, Scrobulate 98 of disco, OzNet 254 |
| 98 | Neil Diamond | Hello Again | 1981 | US BB 6 - Jan 1981, Canada 7 - Feb 1981, Record World 8 - 1981, US BB 29 of 1981, Holland 32 - Mar 1981, POP 66 of 1981, US CashBox 76 of 1981 |
| 99 | Stevie Wonder | I Ain't Gonna Stand For It | 1981 | Canada 9 - Jan 1981, UK 10 - Dec 1980, France 10 - Mar 1981, US BB 11 - Jan 1981, Record World 18 - 1981, Holland 31 - Mar 1981, US CashBox 86 of 1981 |
| 100 | Journey | Who's Crying Now | 1981 | Canada 2 - Aug 1981, Record World 3 - 1981, US BB 4 - Aug 1981, France 4 - Oct 1981, US CashBox 26 of 1981 |