American Top 40 1981

Whatever you were doing in 1981 and whoever you were doing it with (or to), these are the songs you were doing it to, presented by the host who played the hits from coast to coast , Casey Kasem!

Music News from 1981

Big Year for Big Hits: 1981 became a milestone year in Pop music history. Three big hits - Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes, Lionel Richie's and Diana Ross' duet Endless Love and Olivia Newton·John's Physical dominated the number one spot on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 for 28 weeks of a 37-week period, from May, 1981 to January, 1982. This was the longest stretch run for number one hits in 25 years, since 1956-57. That run was headed by Elvis Presley's 11 weeks at the top with Hound Dog / Don't be Cruel. Like Elvis, three of these four artists - Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, and Olivia Newton·John - were already established superstars. 1981 was a year to remember!

Video Kills the Radio Star? A revolutionary concept in Pop / Rock history started on August 1, as the cable TV channel MTV (Music Television) was launched. Fueled by New Wave and Punk acts that began to achieve popularity during the previous two years, MTV began as a 24-hour music video channel featuring such acts. The first video they aired was, appropriately, Video Killed the Radio Star, a 1979 hit by the Buggles.

Still Crossing Over: At least a handful of Country songs crossed over on to the pop chart nearly every year during the Rock era. The trend reached its peak during 1981. Riding the coattails of the popular 1980 Movie Urban Cowboy and Kenny Rogers' number one smash Lady at the end of '80, three Country songs by well-established Country artists reached number one. These include Dolly Parton's 9 to 5, Eddie Rabbitt's I Love a Rainy Night, and Juice Newton's Queen of Hearts. Other country stars with big hits during the year include Terri Mills (Somebody's Knockin'), Johnny Cash's daugter Rosanne (Seven Year Ache), and, with the theme to the TV show The Greatest American Hero, Joey Scarbury (Believe it or Not).

All of the songs that hit the weekly Top 40 pop charts in 1981, according to Billboard Magazine.

[ ]--Original Date of Entry Into Top 40
( )--Peak Position on Chart

Starting Over--John Lennon [see 1980] (#1)
Love On the Rocks--Neil Diamond [see 1980] (#2)
Guilty--Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb [see 1980] (#3)
The Tide Is High--Blondie [see 1980] (#1)
Hungry Heart--Bruce Springsteen [see 1980] (#5)
Every Woman In the World--Air Supply [see 1980] (#5)
Passion--Rod Stewart [see 1980] (#5)
Tell It Like It Is--Heart [see 1980] (#8)
Lady--Kenny Rogers [see 1980] (#1)
More Than I Can Say--Leo Sayer [see 1980] (#2)
De Do Do Do, De Dah Dah Dah--Police [see 1980] (#10)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot--Pat Benatar [see 1980] (#9)
It's My Turn--Diana Ross [see 1980] (#9)
I Made It Through The Rain--Barry Manilow [see 1980] (#10)
I Love a Rainy Night--Eddie Rabbitt [see 1980] (#1)
Celebration--Kool & the Gang [see 1980] (#1)
Hey Nineteen--Steely Dan [see 1980] (#10)
Master Blaster--Stevie Wonder [see 1980] (#5)
Time is Time--Andy Gibb [see 1980] (#15)
Another One Bites The Dust--Queen [see 1980] (#1)
Suddenly--Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton·John [see 1980] (#20)
Giving It Up For Your Love--Delbert McClinton [see 1980] (#8)
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime--Korgis [see 1980] (#18)
One Step Closer--Doobie Brothers [see 1980] (#24)
Miss Sun--Boz Scaggs [see 1980] (#14)
9 to 5--Dolly Parton [see 1980] (#1)
Together--Tierra [see 1980] (#18)
Woman In Love--Barbra Streisand [see 1980] (#1)
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling--Hall & Oates [see 1980] (#12)
The Winner Takes It All--ABBA [see 1980] (#8)
Same Old Lang Syne--Dan Fogelberg [see 1980] (#9)
I Believe in You--Don Williams [see 1980] (#24)
Whip It--Devo [see 1980] (#14)
Keep On Lovin' You--R.E.O. Speedwagon [see 1980] (#1)
Seven Bridges Road--Eagles [1/10] (#21)
Never Be the Same--Christopher Cross [see 1980] (#15)
Cold Love--Donna Summer [1/10] (#33)
Killin' Time--Fred Knoblock & Susan Anton [see 1980] (#28)
He Can't Love You--Michael Stanley Band [1/10] (#33)
Heartbreak Hotel--Jacksons [1/10] (#22)
I Ain't Gonna Stand For It--Stevie Wonder [1/17] (#11)
Woman--John Lennon [1/17] (#2)
My Mother's Eyes--Bette Midler [1/17] (#39)
I Need Your Lovin'--Teena Marie [1/17] (#37)
The Best Of Times--Styx [1/24] (#3)
A Little In Love--Cliff Richard [1/24] (#17)
Smokey Mountain Rain--Ronnie Milsap [1/24] (#24)
Crying--Don McLean [1/24] (#5)
Games People Play--Alan Parsons Project [1/24] (#16)
Hello Again--Neil Diamond [1/31] (#6)
Treat Me Right--Pat Benatar [1/31] (#18)
Who's Making Love--Blues Brothers [1/31] (#39)
Shine On--LTD [1/31] (#40)
Hearts On Fire--Randy Meisner [2/7] (#19)
Ah! Leah!--Donny Iris [2/7] (#29)
Back In Black--AC/DC [2/7] (#37)
Rapture--Blondie [2/14] (#1)
Kiss On My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates [2/14] (#1)
What Kind Of Fool--Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb [2/14] (#10)
Living In a Fantasy--Leo Sayer [2/14] (#23)
Riders In the Sky--Outlaws [2/14] (#31)
Fade Away--Bruce Springsteen [2/21] (#20)
Precious To Me--Phil Seymour [2/21] (#22)
Don't Stand So Close To Me--Police [2/21] (#10)
While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood [2/28] (#7)
Morning Train--Sheena Easton [2/28] (#1)
Guitar Man--Elvis Presley [2/28] (#28)
Somebody's Knockin'--Terri Mills [2/28] (#13)
Staying With It--Firefall with Lisa Nemzo [2/28] (#37)
Too Tight--Con Funk Shun [2/28] (#40)
Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington Jr. [3/7] (#2)
Angel Of the Morning--Juice Newton [3/7] (#4)
I Can't Stand It--Eric Clapton [3/14] (#10)
Just Between You and Me--April Wine [3/14] (#21)
Her Town Too--James Taylor & J.D. Souther [3/14] (#11)
Don't Stop The Music--Yarborough & Peoples [3/14] (#19)
Ain't Even Done With The Night--John Cougar [3/14] (#17)
Being With You--Smokey Robinson [3/21] (#2)
Turn Me Loose--Loverboy [3/21] (#35)
Take it on the Run--R.E.O. Speedwagon [3/28] (#5)
Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx [3/28] (#9)
Time Out of Mind--Steely Dan [3/28] (#22)
It's a Love Thing--Whispers [3/28] (#28)
Sweetheart--Frankie & the Knockouts [3/28] (#10)
How 'Bout Us--Champaign [3/28] (#12)
Who Do You Think You're Fooling--Donna Summer [3/28] (#40)
Living Inside Myself--Gino Vanelli [4/4] (#6)
You Better, You Bet--Who [4/4] (#18)
I Love You--Climax Blues Band [4/4] (#12)
The Party's Over--Journey [4/4] (#34)
Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes [4/11] (#1)
Sukiyaki--Taste Of Honey [4/11] (#3)
I Missed Again--Phil Collins [4/11] (#19)
Watching the Wheels--John Lennon [4/11] (#10)
Mister Sandman--Emmylou Harris [4/11] (#37)
Me Without You--Andy Gibb [4/11] (#40)
Hold On Loosely--38 Special [4/18] (#27)
Wasn't That a Party--Irish Rovers [4/18] (#37)
Love You Like I've Never Loved Before--John O'Banion [4/18] (#24)
What Are We Doin' In Love--Dottie West [4/25] (#14)
A Woman Needs Love--Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio [4/25] (#4)
Say You'll Be Mine--Christopher Cross [4/25] (#20)
Medley--Stars on 45 [5/2] (#1)
Since I Don't Have You--Don McLean [5/2] (#23)
Find Your Way Back--Jefferson Starship [5/2] (#29)
Blessed Are The Believers--Anne Murray [5/2] (#34)
America--Neil Diamond [5/2] (#8)
This Little Girl--Gary U.S. Bonds [5/2] (#11)
Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield [5/9] (#1)
Ai No Corrida--Quincy Jones [5/9] (#28)
I Loved 'Em Every One--T.G. Shepard [5/16] (#37)
You Make My Dreams--Daryl Hall & John Oates [5/16] (#5)
The Waiting--Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers [5/16] (#19)
Winning--Santana [5/16] (#17)
All Those Years Ago--George Harrison [5/23] (#2)
Is It You--Lee Ritenour [5/23] (#15)
The One That You Love--Air Supply [5/23] (#1)
Still Right Here In My Heart--Pure Prairie League [5/23] (#28)
Just So Lonely--Get Wet [5/23] (#39)
Say What--Jesse Winchester [5/30] (#32)
Fool In Love With You--Photoglo [5/30] (#25)
Nobody Wins--Elton John [5/30] (#21)
Modern Girl--Sheena Easton [6/6] (18)
Time--Alan Parsons Project [6/6] (#15)
I Can Take Care Of Myself--Billy & the Beaters [6/6] (#39)
Elvira--Oak Ridge Boys [6/6] (#5)
Hearts--Marty Balin [6/13] (#8)
Believe It Or Not (Theme to the Greatest American Hero)--Joey Scarbury [6/13] (#2)
I Don't Need You--Kenny Rogers [6/13] (#3)
The Boy From New York City--Manhattan Transfer [6/13] (#7)
Seven Year Ache--Rosanne Cash [6/13] (#22)
Gemini Dream--Moody Blues [6/13] (#12)
Sweet Baby--Stanley Clarke & George Duke [6/13] (#19)
Stronger Than Before--Carol Bayer Sager [6/13] (#30)
Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton [6/20] (#2)
The Stroke--Billy Squier [6/20] (#17)
Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters [6/27] (#2)
A Life Of Illusion--Joe Walsh [6/27] (#34)
Jones vs. Jones--Kool & the Gang [6/27] (#39)
It's Now Or Never--John Schneider [6/27] (#14)
Don't Let Him Go--R.E.O. Speedwagon [7/4] (#24)
Touch Me When We're Dancing--Carpenters [7/4] (#16)
Two Hearts--Stephanie Mills & Teddy Pendergrass [7/4] (#40)
No Gettin' Over Me--Ronnie Milsap [7/11] (#5)
In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins [7/11] (#19)
Lady (You Bring Me Up)--Commodores [7/11] (#8)
Urgent--Foreigner [7/11] (#4)
Double Dutch Bus--Frankie Smith [7/11] (#30)
The Breakup Song--Greg Kihn Band [7/11] (#15)
Endless Love--Diana Ross & Lionel Richie [7/18] (#1)
Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through--Jim Steinman [7/18] (#32)
Give It To Me Baby--Rick James [7/18] (#40)
Cool Love--Pablo Cruise [7/25] (#13)
Feels So Right--Alabama [7/25] (#20)
Who's Crying Now--Journey [8/1] (#4)
Fire and Ice--Pat Benatar [8/1] (#17)
Don't Give It Up--Robbie Patton [8/1] (#26)
Love On a Two-Way Street--Stacey Lattisaw [8/1] (#26)
Don't Want To Wait Anymore--Tubes [8/1] (#35)
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around--Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers [8/1] (#3)
Really Wanna Know You--Gary Wright [8/1] (#16)
You're My Girl--Frankie & the Knockouts [8/1] (#27)
Everlasting Love--Rex Smith & Rachel Sweet [8/8] (#32)
Step by Step--Eddie Rabbitt [8/8] (#5)
Hold on Tight--Electric Light Orchestra [8/8] (#10)
That Old Song--Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio [8/8] (#21)
Beach Boys Medley--Beach Boys [8/15] (#12)
The Voice--Moody Blues [8/15] (#15)
Breaking Away--Balance [8/15] (#22)
I Could Never Miss You--Lulu [8/22] (#18)
For Your Eyes Only--Sheena Easton [8/22] (#4)
Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)--Christopher Cross [8/29] (#1)
In Your Letter--R.E.O. Speedwagon [8/29] (#20)
Start Me Up--Rolling Stones [8/29] (#2)
Draw Of the Cards--Kim Carnes [8/29] (#28)
You Could Take My Heart Away--Silver Condor [8/29] (#32)
Nicole--Point Blank [8/29] (#39)
Super Freak--Rick James [9/5] (#16)
Chloe--Elton John [9/5] (#34)
Some Days Are Diamonds--John Denver [9/5] (#36)
The Night Owls--Little River Band [9/5] (#6)
Share Your Love--Kenny Rogers [9/12] (#14)
Private Eyes--Daryl Hall & John Oates [9/12] (#1)
I've Done Everything for You--Rick Springfield [9/12] (#8)
General Hospi-tale--Afternoon Delights [9/12] (#33)
We're In This Love Together--Al Jarreau [9/12] (#15)
I'm In Love--Evelyn King [9/12] (#40)
Hard to Say--Dan Fogelberg [9/19] (#7)
When She Was My Girl--O'Jays [9/19] (#11)
Just Once--James Ingram [9/19] (#17)
Straight From The Heart--Allman Brothers Band [9/19] (#39)
Tryin' to Live My Life Without You--Bob Seger [9/26] (#5)
She's a Bad Mama Jama--Carl Carlton [9/26] (#22)
Say Goodbye to Hollywood--Billy Joel [9/26] (#17)
Hill Street Blues Theme--Mike Post [10/3] (#10)
Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)--Air Supply [10/3] (#5)
Burnin' For You--Blue Oyster Cult [10/3] (#40)
Atlanta Lady--Marty Balin [10/10] (#27)
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic--Police [10/10] (#3)
He's a Liar--Bee Gees [10/10] (#30)
Alien--Atlanta Rhythm Section [10/10] (#29)
Oh No--Commodores [10/10] (#4)
Waiting For a Girl Like You--Foreigner [10/17] (#2)
Physical--Olivia Newton·John [10/17] (#1)
Sausalido Summernight--Diesel [10/17] (#25)
The Old Songs--Barry Manilow [10/17] (#15)
In The Dark--Billy Squier [10/17] (#35)
You Saved My Soul--Burton Cummings [10/24] (#37)
Why Do Fools Fall In Love--Diana Ross [10/24] (#7)
Our Lips are Sealed--Go-Go's [10/24] (#20)
Young Turks--Rod Stewart [10/31] (#5)
Let's Groove--Earth, Wind & Fire [10/31] (#3)
Promises In the Dark--Pat Benatar [10/31] (#38)
My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)--Chilliwack [10/31] (#22)
Trouble--Lindsay Buckingham [11/7] (#9)
Leather and Lace--Stevie Nicks & Don Henley [11/7] (#6)
Harden My Heart--Quarterflash [11/7] (#3)
No Reply at All--Genesis [11/7] (#29)
Take My Heart--Kool & the Gang [11/7] (#17)
The Sweetest Thing--Juice Newton [11/7] (#7)
Don't Stop Believin'--Journey [11/7] (#9)
Yesterday's Songs--Neil Diamond [11/14] (#11)
Heart Like a Wheel--Steve Miller Band [11/14] (#24)
Never Too Much--Luther Vandross [11/14] (#33)
Steal The Night--Stevie Woods [11/14] (#25)
I Want You, I Need You--Chris Christian [11/14] (#37)
I Can't Go For That--Daryl Hall & John Oates [11/21] (#1)
Turn Your Love Around--George Benson [11/21] (#5)
Poor Man's Son--Survivor [11/21] (#33)
Comin' In And Out Of Your Life--Barbra Streisand [11/28] (#11)
Hooked On Classics--Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [11/28] (#10)
Cool Night--Paul Davis [11/28] (#11)
Centerfold--J. Geils Band [11/28] (#1)
Twilight--Electric Light Orchestra [11/28] (#38)
I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World--Ronnie Milsap [11/28] (#20)
Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight--Eddie Rabbitt [12/5] (#15)
Wrack My Brain--Ringo Starr [12/5] (#38)
Under Pressure--Queen & David Bowie [12/5] (#29)
Shake It Up--Cars [12/12] (#4)
Waiting on a Friend--Rolling Stones [12/12] (#13)
She's Got a Way--Billy Joel [12/12] (#23)
Castles In the Air--Don McLean [12/12] (#36)
Come Go With Me--Beach Boys [12/19] (#18)
Leader Of The Band--Dan Fogelberg [12/19] (#9)
More Than Just The Two Of Us--Sneaker [12/19] (#34)
You Could Have Been With Me--Sheena Easton [12/19] (#15)
Take It Easy On Me--Little River Band [12/26] (#10)
Love Is Alright Tonight--Rick Springfield [12/26] (#20)