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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top Songs of 1981

1980 <-

1981

-> 1982

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

08/1981

Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

447

2
US

14
dance

✫1
rock

7
UK

[Rolling Stones 21003]
written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

12/1981

I Love Rock 'n Roll by Joan Jett

from I Love Rock n' Roll

439

✫1
US

31
dance

✫1
rock

4
UK

as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #484]
[Boardwalk 7-11-135]
written by Alan Merrill & Jake Hooker

11/1981

Centerfold by J. Geils Band

from Freeze Frame

430

✫1
US

12
dance

✫1
rock

3
UK

charted as Centerfold / Flamethrower in US dance charts
[EMI America 8102]
written by Seth Justman

12/1981

Don't You Want Me by The Human League

from Dare!

396

✫1
US

3
dance

4
rock

✫1
UK

written by Philip Oakey, Jo Callis & Philip Adrian Wright

09/1981

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police

from Ghost in the Machine

396

3
US

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

written by Sting

10/1981

Waiting for a Girl Like You by Foreigner

from 4

330

2
US

5
AC

✫1
rock

8
UK

[Atlantic 3868]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner] & Lou Gramm

03/1981

Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes

from Mistaken Identity

325

✫1
US

15
AC

26
dance

5
rock

10
UK

[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1982]

[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1982]
[EMI America 8077]
written by Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon

07/1981

Urgent by Foreigner

from 4

316

4
US

32
dance

✫1
rock

54
UK

featuring Jr. Walker
[Atlantic 3831]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner]

10/1981

Harden My Heart by Quarterflash

from Quarterflash

307

3
US

41
AC

✫1
rock

49
UK

[Geffen 49824]
written by Marv Ross

10.

11/1981

867-5309 / Jenny by Tommy Tutone

from Tommy Tutone-2

296

4
US

✫1
rock

written by Alex Call & Jim Keller

11.

08/1981

Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? by Soft Cell

from Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

290

8
US

4
dance

12
rock

✫1
UK

written by Ed Cobb, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr. (as Eddie Holland)

12.

07/1981

Hold On Tight by Electric Light Orchestra

from Time

280

10
US

2
rock

4
UK

[Columbia 02408 (Jet)]
written by Jeff Lynne

13.

08/1981

Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) by Christopher Cross

from Arthur: The Album

273

✫1
US

✫1
AC

13
rock

7
UK

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1981]

[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1981]
[Warner 49787]
written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager & Peter Allen

14.

01/1981

Woman by John Lennon

from Double Fantasy

269

2
US

4
AC

26
rock

✫1
UK

[Geffen]
written by John Lennon

15.

01/1981

In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins

from Face Value

269

19
US

2
rock

2
UK

[Atlantic 3824]
written by Phil Collins

16.

03/1981

You Better You Bet by The Who

from Face Dances

266

18
US

✫1
rock

9
UK

written by Pete Townshend

17.

07/1981

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around by Stevie Nicks

from Bella Donna

260

3
US

2
rock

50
UK

with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
[Modern 7336]
written by Tom Petty & Mike Campbell

18.

11/1981

I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) by Hall & Oates

from Private Eyes

254

✫1
US

12
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

28
rock

8
UK

[RCA 12357]
written by Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen

19.

11/1981

Shake It Up by The Cars

from Shake It Up

253

4
US

14
dance

2
rock

charted as Shake It Up/Cruiser in US dance charts
[Elektra 47250]
written by Ric Ocasek

20.

06/1981

The Voice by The Moody Blues

from Long Distance Voyager

246

15
US

16
AC

✫1
rock

76
UK

[Threshold 602]
written by Justin Hayward

21.

05/1981

The Waiting by Tom Petty

from Hard Promises

239

19
US

✫1
rock

written by Tom Petty

22.

01/1981

Rapture by Blondie

from Autoamerican

237

✫1
US

✫1
dance

33
R&B

35
rock

5
UK

charted as Rapture / The Tide Is High in US dance charts
[Chrysalis 2485]
written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein

23.

03/1981

Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield

from Working Class Dog

236

✫1
US

10
rock

43
UK

[RCA 12201]
written by Rick Springfield

24.

09/1981

Tryin' to Live My Life without You by Bob Seger

from Nine Tonight

236

5
US

2
rock

[live]
written by Eugene Williams

25.

02/1981

I Can't Stand It by Eric Clapton

from Another Ticket

236

10
US

✫1
rock

as Eric Clapton & His Band
[RSO 1060]
written by Eric Clapton

26.

05/1981

All Those Years Ago by George Harrison

from Somewhere in England

234

2
US

✫1
AC

6
rock

13
UK

[Dark Horse 49725]
written by George Harrison

27.

11/1981

Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie

from Hot Space

228

29
US

7
rock

✫1
UK

written by Brian May, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, Roger Taylor & David Bowie

28.

01/1981

While You See a Chance by Steve Winwood

from Arc of a Diver

227

7
US

17
AC

2
rock

45
UK

[Island 49656]
written by Steve Winwood & Will Jennings

29.

07/1981

Who's Crying Now by Journey

from Escape

223

4
US

14
AC

4
rock

76
UK

[Columbia 02241 A]
written by Jonathan Cain & Steve Perry

30.

02/1981

Rock This Town by Stray Cats

from Built for Speed

221

9
US

35
dance

4
rock

9
UK

produced by Dave Edmunds; charted as Rock This Town/Runaway Boys in US dance charts
[EMI America 8132]
written by Brian Setzer

31.

11/1981

Freeze-Frame by J. Geils Band

from Freeze Frame

219

4
US

25
R&B

8
rock

27
UK

charted as Flamethrower / Freeze-Frame in US R&B charts
[EMI America 8108]
written by Seth Justman & Peter Wolf

32.

03/1981

Take It on the Run by REO Speedwagon

from Hi Infidelity

208

5
US

6
rock

19
UK

[Epic 19-01054]
written by Gary Richrath

33.

03/1981

Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx

from Paradise Theater

199

9
US

2
rock

[A&M 2323]
written by Tommy Shaw

34.

08/1981

Abacab by Genesis

from Abacab

197

26
US

43
dance

4
rock

9
UK

written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

35.

07/1981

Burning for You by Blue Öyster Cult

from Fire of Unknown Origin

195

40
US

✫1
rock

76
UK

written by Buck Dharma (as Donald Roeser) & Richard Meltzer

36.

10/1981

Young Turks by Rod Stewart

from Tonight I'm Yours

190

5
US

63
dance

23
rock

11
UK

[Warner 49843]
written by Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings & Kevin Savigar

37.

08/1981

Private Eyes by Hall & Oates

from Private Eyes

189

✫1
US

33
AC

33
rock

32
UK

[RCA 12296]
written by Daryl Hall, Sara Allen, Janna Allen & Warren Pash

38.

07/1981

Fire and Ice by Pat Benatar

from Precious Time

182

17
US

2
rock

76
UK

[Chrysalis 2529]
written by Pat Benatar, Tom Kelly & Scott Sheets

39.

12/1981

Spirits in the Material World by The Police

from Ghost in the Machine

179

11
US

7
rock

12
UK

written by Sting

40.

05/1981

The Stroke by Billy Squier

from Don't Say No

177

17
US

3
rock

52
UK

[Capitol 5005]
written by Billy Squier

41.

04/1981

Winning by Santana

from Zebop!

176

17
US

2
rock

[Columbia 01050]
written by Russ Ballard

42.

07/1981

Juke Box Hero by Foreigner

from 4

175

26
US

3
rock

48
UK

written by Lou Gramm & Mick Jones [Foreigner]

43.

05/1981

A Life of Illusion by Joe Walsh

from There Goes the Neighborhood

173

34
US

✫1
rock

[Asylum 47144]
written by Kenny Passarelli & Joe Walsh

44.

11/1981

Working for the Weekend by Loverboy

from Get Lucky

171

29
US

2
rock

[Columbia 02589]
written by Paul Dean, Matt Frenette & Mike Reno

45.

01/1981

The Best of Times by Styx

from Paradise Theater

169

3
US

26
AC

16
rock

42
UK

[A&M 2300]
written by Dennis DeYoung

46.

09/1981

Hang Fire by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

167

20
US

2
rock

written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

47.

08/1981

The Night Owls by Little River Band

from Time Exposure

164

6
US

33
AC

9
rock

produced by George Martin
[Capitol]
written by Graeham Goble (as Graham Goble)

48.

09/1981

No Reply at All by Genesis

from Abacab

161

29
US

2
rock

[Atlantic 3858]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

49.

04/1981

This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds

from Dedication

159

11
US

5
rock

43
UK

[EMI America 8079]
written by Bruce Springsteen

50.

08/1981

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

from Escape

158

9
US

8
rock

[Columbia 02567 B]
written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry & Neal Schon

51.

10/1981

Trouble by Lindsey Buckingham

from Law and Order

158

9
US

14
AC

12
rock

31
UK

[Asylum 47223]
written by Lindsey Buckingham

52.

08/1981

Hard to Say by Dan Fogelberg

from The Innocent Age

157

7
US

2
AC

14
rock

[Columbia 02488 (Full Moon)]
written by Dan Fogelberg

53.

05/1981

The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) by Greg Kihn Band

from Rockihnroll

155

15
US

5
rock

[Beserkley 47149]
written by Greg Kihn, Gary Phillips (as Gary Philippet) & Steve Wright

54.

02/1981

Kids in America by Kim Wilde

from Kim Wilde

152

25
US

29
rock

2
UK

written by Marty Wilde & Ricky Wilde

55.

04/1981

Stray Cat Strut by Stray Cats

from Built for Speed

150

3
US

78
dance

41
rock

11
UK

produced by Dave Edmunds
[EMI America 8122]
written by Brian Setzer

56.

03/1981

I Missed Again by Phil Collins

from Face Value

148

19
US

8
rock

14
UK

[Atlantic 3790]
written by Phil Collins

57.

11/1981

Flying High Again by Ozzy Osbourne

from Diary of a Madman

145

2
rock

[Columbia 02582 (Jet)]
written by Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley & Lee Kerslake

58.

12/1981

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) by AC/DC

from For Those About to Rock We Salute You

145

4
rock

15
UK

written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young & Brian Johnson

59.

02/1981

The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love) by Journey

from Captured

144

34
US

2
rock

[Columbia 60505]
written by Steve Perry

60.

02/1981

Message of Love by The Pretenders

from Pretenders II

142

44
dance

5
rock

11
UK

written by Chrissie Hynde

61.

05/1981

The One That You Love by Air Supply

from The One That You Love

142

✫1
US

2
AC

[Arista 0604]
written by Graham Russell

62.

02/1981

Hold On Loosely by 38 Special

from Wild-Eyed Southern Boys

141

27
US

3
rock

[A&M 2316]
written by Don Barnes, Jeff Carlisi & Jim Peterik

63.

08/1981

Our Lips Are Sealed by The Go-Go's

from Beauty and the Beat

139

20
US

10
dance

15
rock

47
UK

[I.R.S. 9901]
written by Jane Wiedlin & Terry Hall

64.

04/1981

Find Your Way Back by Starship

from Modern Times

139

29
US

3
rock

as Jefferson Starship
[Grunt]
written by Craig Chaquico & Thos Borsdorf

65.

03/1981

Watching the Wheels by John Lennon

from Double Fantasy

136

10
US

6
AC

25
rock

30
UK

[Geffen 49695]
written by John Lennon

66.

02/1981

Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton

from Juice

132

4
US

✫1
AC

22
country

57
rock

[Capitol 4976]
written by Chip Taylor

67.

10/1981

Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks

from Bella Donna

132

6
US

10
AC

26
rock

with Don Henley
[Modern]
written by Stevie Nicks

68.

11/1981

Waiting on a Friend by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

131

13
US

8
rock

50
UK

[Rolling Stones 21004]
written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

69.

05/1981

In the Dark by Billy Squier

from Don't Say No

128

35
US

7
rock

[Capitol 5040]
written by Billy Squier

70.

05/1981

Stand and Deliver by Adam and the Ants

from Prince Charming

125

38
dance

✫1
UK

charted as Stand and Deliver / Beat My Guest in US dance charts
written by Adam Ant & Marco Pirroni

71.

03/1981

Tom Sawyer by Rush

from Moving Pictures

124

44
US

8
rock

25
UK

[Mercury 76109]
written by Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart & Pye Dubois

72.

08/1981

Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White Winged Dove) by Stevie Nicks

from Bella Donna

122

4
rock

written by Stevie Nicks

73.

12/1981

Let's Get It Up by AC/DC

from For Those About to Rock We Salute You

122

44
US

9
rock

13
UK

written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young & Brian Johnson

74.

05/1981

A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) by Tom Petty

from Hard Promises

122

79
US

5
rock

written by Tom Petty & Mike Campbell

75.

05/1981

Hearts by Marty Balin

from Balin

121

8
US

9
AC

20
rock

[EMI America 8084]
written by Jesse Barish

76.

10/1981

Destroyer by The Kinks

from Give the People What They Want

120

85
US

3
rock

[Arista 0619]
written by Ray Davies

77.

05/1981

You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates

from Voices

120

5
US

35
rock

written by Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates

78.

01/1981

I Surrender by Rainbow [British rock band]

from Difficult to Cure

119

105
US

19
rock

3
UK

[Polydor 2163]
written by Russ Ballard

79.

07/1981

Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride) by Don Felder

from Heavy Metal: Music from the Motion Picture

118

43
US

5
rock

[Elektra 47175 (Asylum)]
written by Don Felder

80.

03/1981

Limelight by Rush

from Moving Pictures

118

55
US

4
rock

[Mercury 76095]
written by Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee & Neil Peart

81.

03/1981

Sweetheart by Franke & the Knockouts

from Franke & the Knockouts

117

10
US

40
AC

27
rock

written by Billy Elworthy (as William Elworthy) & Franke Previte

82.

01/1981

Turn Me Loose by Loverboy

from Loverboy

117

35
US

6
rock

[Columbia 11421]
written by Paul Dean & Mike Reno

83.

09/1981

Prince Charming by Adam and the Ants

from Prince Charming

117

✫1
UK

written by Adam Ant & Marco Pirroni

84.

07/1981

Girls on Film by Duran Duran

from Duran Duran

115

26
dance

19
rock

5
UK

charted as Planet Earth/Girls On Film in US dance charts
[Capitol 5070 (Harvest)]
written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor [Roger Meddows-Taylor] & Andy Taylor

85.

11/1981

Find Another Fool by Quarterflash

from Quarterflash

114

16
US

12
rock

[Geffen 50006]
written by Marv Ross

86.

03/1981

Don't Let Him Go by REO Speedwagon

from Hi Infidelity

114

24
US

11
rock

[Epic 19-02127]
written by Kevin Cronin

87.

08/1981

Tube Snake Boogie by ZZ Top

from El Loco

113

103
US

4
rock

[Warner 49865]
written by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill & Frank Beard

88.

06/1981

Tempted by Squeeze

from East Side Story

110

49
US

8
rock

41
UK

[A&M 2345]
written by Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook

89.

07/1981

The Model by Kraftwerk

from Computer World

109

13
dance

✫1
UK

charted as The Model / Computer Love in UK charts; charted as Pocket Calculator / Numbers / Computer-World / Computer Love in US dance charts
written by Karl Bartos & Ralf Hütter

90.

06/1981

Gemini Dream by The Moody Blues

from Long Distance Voyager

109

12
US

36
dance

13
rock

[Threshold]
written by Justin Hayward & John Lodge

91.

10/1981

Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me) by Rod Stewart

from Tonight I'm Yours

103

20
US

29
rock

8
UK

written by Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan & Kevin Savigar

92.

07/1981

Really Wanna Know You by Gary Wright

from The Right Place

102

16
US

32
AC

17
rock

[Warner 49769]
written by Ali Thomson & Gary Wright

93.

09/1981

Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) by Air Supply

from The One That You Love

102

5
US

✫1
AC

[Arista 0626]
written by Norman Saleet (as Norman Sallitt)

94.

10/1981

Little T&A by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

101

5
rock

written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

95.

12/1981

Sweet Dreams by Air Supply

from The One That You Love

101

5
US

4
AC

[Arista 0655]
written by Graham Russell

96.

03/1981

96 Tears by Garland Jeffreys

from Escape Artist

101

66
US

75
dance

5
rock

[Epic]
written by Rudy Martinez

97.

09/1981

Say Goodbye to Hollywood by Billy Joel

from Songs in the Attic

101

17
US

35
AC

11
rock

(originally released on Turnstiles May 1976) [live]
[Columbia 02518]
written by Billy Joel

98.

07/1981

Cool Love by Pablo Cruise

from Reflector

101

13
US

14
AC

78
R&B

23
rock

[A&M 2349]
written by David Jenkins, Cory Lerios & John Pierce

99.

10/1981

Magic Power by Triumph

from Allied Forces

100

51
US

8
rock

[RCA 12298]
written by Gil Moore, Mike Levine (as Michael Levine) & Rik Emmett

100.

09/1981

My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) by Chilliwack

from Wanna Be a Star

22
US

16
rock

[RCA 11813 (Millenium)]
written by Bill Henderson & Brian MacLeod

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