1981 in music explained

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in 1981.

Specific locations

• 1981 in British music
• 1981 in Japanese music
• 1981 in Norwegian music

Specific genres

• 1981 in country music
• 1981 in heavy metal music
• 1981 in hip hop music
• 1981 in jazz

Events

January–April

• January – Nearly a year after the suicide of Ian Curtis, the surviving members of Joy Division plus Gillian Gilbert, now under the name New Order, release their debut single "Ceremony"; the single and its B-side, "In a Lonely Place", are both re-recordings of songs originally written and performed by Curtis.^[1] The single's release marks the band's first public use of the "New Order" moniker, which they would retain for the remainder of their career.
• 10 January – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.
• 11 January – Country singer Hank Williams Jr. releases his 32nd album, Rowdy. It is certified Gold by the RIAA.
• 18 January – Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics is arrested in Milwaukee for simulating masturbation with a sledgehammer on stage. In a scuffle with the police Williams is pinned to the floor and receives a cut above the eye requiring twelve stitches.^[2]
• 24 January – Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is injured in a motorcycle crash that leaves him hospitalized for two months.
• 9 February – Phil Collins releases his first solo album, Face Value, whose opening track "In the Air Tonight" popularizes the gated reverb drum sound that would become ubiquitous for the next ten years; while the album would end up a smash success, Collins would remain a member of Genesis until 1995.
• 12 February – Rush release the highly regarded album Moving Pictures which eventually becomes the band's sixth platinum album.
• 14 February
  • Ultravox reach number 2 on the UK Singles Chart with "Vienna", but despite huge radio play and massive sales it is subsequently held off the top position for two consecutive weeks by Joe Dolce's novelty song "Shaddup You Face".^{[3] [4]}
  • Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career.
• 25 February – The 23rd Annual Grammy Awards are presented in New York, hosted by Paul Simon. Christopher Cross, with his self-titled debut album and its single "Sailing", becomes the first artist to win all four General Field awards in a single ceremony, controversially beating Pink Floyd's The Wall for Album of the Year.
• 14 March – Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Clapton's 60-city tour of the US is cancelled, and he remains in hospital for a month.
• 21 March – Yellow Magic Orchestra release their fourth studio album, BGM; the album is the first to make use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which would go on to become an influential device in both electronic dance music and hip hop music.^[5]
• 27 March – Ozzy Osbourne bites the head off a dove at a CBS record label gathering in Los Angeles.^[6]
• 1 April – The Go-Go's sign to IRS Records.
• 4 April – British pop group Bucks Fizz wins the 26th Eurovision Song Contest, held at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, Dublin, with the song "Making Your Mind Up".
• 11 April – Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli.
• 12 April – Soviet orchestral conductor Maxim Shostakovich (son of Dmitri) defects while on tour in West Germany with his son.^[7]
• 18 April – Yes announce that they are breaking up. (They would reunite frequently in years to come).
• 20 April – The Mamas & 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.
• 22 April – Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from bruised ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington.
• 26 April/27 April/28 April – Gary Numan performs three sold out 'farewell concerts' at Wembley Arena, following his announcement to retire from live work at the height of his popularity. (He would return to live performance less than two years later.)^[8]
• 27 April – Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach marry, in London, England.

May–August

• 2 May – British vocalist Sheena Easton hits No. 1 in the US with "Morning Train (9 to 5)" following a swift rise to fame as the result of a reality TV show.
• 9 May – Adam and the Ants single "Stand and Deliver" enters the UK Singles Chart at number 1.^[9] It remains at number 1 for five consecutive weeks and will sell over one million copies,^[10] becoming the years third best selling single in the UK.
• 11 May – The Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley dies from cancer at the age of 36.
• 14 May – Diana Ross signs with RCA Records (EMI internationally), leaving Motown Records, her label of two decades. The $20,000,000 deal is the most lucrative recording contract in history at that time.
• 15 May – A riot breaks out at The Ritz rock club in New York when Public Image Ltd plays behind a videoscreen while completely different music plays over the club's speakers.
• 16 May – Adam and the Ants tops the UK Albums Chart for the tenth consecutive week with Kings of the Wild Frontier.
• 30 May – A reformed The Human League have their first commercial success as "The Sound of the Crowd" climbs to number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11]
• 4 June – U2 appears on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television appearance.
• 5 June – The TV series Night Flight, a variety show featuring music documentaries and videos, is premiered on the USA Network.
• 6 June – Kerrang! magazine publishes its first issue. Angus Young of AC/DC is on the cover.
• 30 June – Jerry Lee Lewis is rushed to hospital in Memphis for emergency surgery for a tear in his stomach. Despite being given less than a 50% chance of survival, he eventually pulls through.
• 13 July – Duran Duran release the single "Girls on Film". Accompanied by a highly controversial music video that is censored for airplay on MTV and banned by BBC^[12] the song becomes the band's first big hit, eventually peaking at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart during an 11-week chart run.^[13]
• 27 July – Stevie Nicks releases debut solo album Bella Donna, which sold 4 million copies in the US alone.
  • • 1 August MTV broadcasts for the first time on cable television in the United States, playing music videos 24 hours a day. First to air is "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.
  • 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.
• 15 August - Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie recorded the song for Motown, and it was used as the theme for the Franco Zeffirelli's film adaptation of Scott Spencer's novel Endless Love. (Jamie Bernstein, as the character Susan, sings the song during the course of the movie.) Produced by Richie and arranged by Gene Page, it was released as a single from the film's soundtrack in 1981.
• 23 August – The Violent Femmes are discovered by members of The Pretenders busking outside a Milwaukee venue and are invited to play a 10-minute acoustic set as a second opening act in the Pretenders' show that night.

September–December

• 5 September – Soft Cell tops the UK Singles Chart with "Tainted Love". The song also tops the chart the following week and becomes the second best selling single in the UK in 1981.
• 11 September – Iron Maiden fires lead singer Paul Di'Anno.
  • • 19 September Simon & Garfunkel perform a free reunion concert in New York City's Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans.
  • Adam and the Ants have their second chart-topping single of the year as "Prince Charming" reach number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. It remains at number one for four consecutive weeks and becomes the years fourth best selling single in the UK.
• 25 September – The Rolling Stones open their US tour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 26 September – Iron Maiden hires Samson lead singer Bruce Bruce AKA Bruce Dickinson to replace Paul Di'Anno. Dickinson will finish off the last 7 dates of the Killer World Tour.
• 16 October – The Human League release Dare. A huge commercial and critical success, it would spend 69 weeks on the UK Albums Chart including four weeks at number 1^[14] and be certified platinum in the UK,^[15] and gold in the US.^[16]
• 26 October – Iron Maiden plays its first show with Bruce Dickinson as the new lead singer in Bologna, Italy.
• 27 October – The British Phonographic Industry takes out newspaper ads unveiling its new slogan: "Home Taping Is Killing Music". The ads advocate a levy on blank cassette tapes.^[17]
• 31 October – Punk band Fear makes a memorable appearance on Saturday Night Live. A group of fans storm the stage and damage TV equipment while moshing, resulting in the show cutting to commercial.
• 18 November – While sitting in Tom's Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song "Tom's Diner".
• 21 November – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark hits number 3 on the UK Albums Chart with their third album Architecture & Morality. Including three UK top-5 singles, "Souvenir", "Joan of Arc" and "Maid of Orleans", it will remain on the chart for 37 weeks^[18] and be certified platinum in the UK.^[19]
• 11 December – The Human League reach number one on the UK Singles Chart with Don't You Want Me. The song remains at number one for five consecutive weeks and become the years best selling single in the UK.^[20]
• 18 December – An estimated 35 million people around the world watch a live satellite transmission of a Rod Stewart concert at the Los Angeles Forum. It is the first broadcast of its kind since Elvis Presley's "Aloha from Hawaii" special in 1973.
• 31 December – The tenth annual New Year's Rockin' Eve special airs on ABC, with appearances by Four Tops, Rick Springfield, Barry Manilow, Alabama and Rick James.

Also in 1981

• 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.
• Synthpop enjoys mainstream popularity in the UK, with groups such as Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and The Human League releasing hit singles and albums. The Human League's "Don't You Want Me" and Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" become the years best selling singles in the UK.^[21]
• Menudo's golden era (1981–1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia.
• Brad Whitford leaves Aerosmith and is replaced by Rick Dufay.
• Hal Willner "invents" the modern tribute album with Amacord Nino Rota.

Bands formed

• See Musical groups established in 1981

Bands disbanded

• Amon Düül II
• Bay City Rollers
• The Buzzcocks (they reform in 1989)
• City Boy
• Cluster (they reform in 1989)
• Generation X
• Klaatu
• The Knack (reformed in 1991, onwards)
• Luv' (they reform in 1989, 1993 and 2005)
• MFSB
• Raydio
• Rockpile
• Sam & Dave
• The Slits
• Starland Vocal Band
• State of Alert
• Steely Dan (They reform in 1993)
• Throbbing Gristle
• Toots & the Maytals (they reform in the early 90s)
• Paul McCartney & Wings

Albums released

January

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
12	The Nature of the Beast		^[22]
15	In Our Lifetime		-
	Stands for Decibels		-
16	Paradise Theatre		^[23]
	The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent		-
	Radioland		-
19	Take My Time		^[24]
23	Kiss Me Deadly		-
	Trust		-
28	Healing		-
	Welcome to the Wrecking Ball!		-
30	Captured		Live
?	Turn Back		-
	Mondo Bongo		-
	...And Don't the Kids Just Love It		-
	Evangeline		-
	Frost and Fire		-
	Playing to Win	Rick Nelson
	There Must Be a Better World Somewhere		-
	To the Bone		-

February

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
4	Urban Chipmunk		-
6	The Fool Circle		-
9	Difficult to Cure		^[25]
12	Moving Pictures		-
13	Face Value		solo debut
	St. Valentine's Day Massacre		EP
	Fire Down Under		-
16	Killers		^[26]
17	Being with You		-
	To Love Again		Compilation
20	Another Ticket		-
27	Point of Entry		-
?	Working Class Dog		-
	Another One Rides the Bus		EP
	Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks		-
	Atomkraft? Nein, Danke!		-
	Coconut Telegraph		-
	Feels So Right		-
	From the Tea-rooms of Mars ....		-
	Higher Plane		-
	Juice		-
	My Life in the Bush of Ghosts		-
	Seven Year Ache		-
	Stray Cats		-
	The League of Gentlemen		-
	Wild-Eyed Southern Boys		-

March

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
2	Intensities in 10 Cities		Live^[27]
6	Journeys to Glory	Spandau Ballet	-
10	There Goes the Neighborhood		-
13	Never Too Late		-
	We'll Bring the House Down		-
16	Breaker		-
	Face Dances		-
20	Time Tells No Lies		-
26	Fancy Free		-
	The Dude		-
27	Carl Wilson		-
30	Extended Play		EP
31	Music for Stowaways		-
?	Chariots of Fire		Soundtrack
	Dad Loves His Work		-
	Directions		-
	Sucking in the Seventies		Compilation
	Franke & The Knockouts		-
	Grand Slam		-
	Hardware		-
	Honi Soit		-
	Long Play Album aka Stars on Long Play		-
	Magnets		-
	Nightwalker		-
	No Fun After Midnight		EP
	Party 'Til You're Broke		-
	Rock Away		-
	Short Note		-
	Solid Gold		-
	Somewhere Over the Rainbow		-
	Waiata		-
	White Lace & Black Leather		-

April

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
1	Reckoning		Live
	Rock Steady with Flo & Eddie		-
2	Modern Times		-
6	Come an' Get It		-
	The DeBarges		-
	Fun in Space		-
	Prayers on Fire		-
	The Completion Backward Principle		-
7	Street Songs		-
10	Faith		-
	The Flowers of Romance		-
	Spellbound		^[28]
11	A Woman Needs Love		-
13	Don't Say No		-
	Of Skins and Heart		-
14	The Electric Spanking of War Babies		-
15	What Cha' Gonna Do for Me		-
17	Future Shock		^[29]
	Go for It		-
20	Hit and Run		-
	Twangin...		-
23	Where Do You Go When You Dream		-
27	Slates		EP
29	Fair Warning		-
	Zebop!		-
?
	Bad for Good		-
	Dedication		-
	El Rayo-X		-
	Goddo Live: Best Seat in the House		Live
	Mistaken Identity		-
	The Nightcomers		-
	Punks Not Dead		-

May

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
1	Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports		^[30]
5	Hard Promises		-
8	Shock Tactics		-
	The One That You Love		-
11	Computer World		-
	Balin		-
	Nightclubbing		-
	Shut Up 'n' Play Yer Guitar		Live
14	Breaking All the Rules		-
	It Must Be Magic		-
15	East Side Story		-
	Long Distance Voyager		-
	Talk Talk Talk		^[31]
18	Knights of the Sound Table		-
20	Magnetic Fields		-
	The Fox		-
22	Anthem		-
25	Hard 'n' Heavy		-
29	Heaven Up Here		-
	In Concert		Live
	Present Arms		-
?	Tinsel Town Rebellion		-
	As Falls Wichita, so Falls Wichita Falls		-
	Beyond the Valley of 1984		-
	Dedicated to Peter Kürten		-
	Look Out!		-
	Mecca for Moderns		-
	Positive Touch		-
	Quasimodo's Dream		-
	Red		-
	Sondra		-
	Wild Gift		-

June

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
1	The Baron		-
5	Somewhere in England		-
8	Season of Glass		-
12	Black & White		-
15	Duran Duran		Debut
	Love Songs		-
16	Made in America		-
19	Jumpin' Jive		-
	Juju		-
	Only a Lad		-
29	Kim Wilde		Debut
30	As Far as Siam		-
	Breakin' Away		-
?	The Visitor		-
	No Sleep 'til Hammersmith		Live
	Children of Paradise – The Greatest Hits of Boney M. – Vol. 2		Compilation
	Magic, Murder and the Weather		-
	Cut Lunch		EP
	Deuce		-
	Fire of Unknown Origin		-
	Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places		-
	Here Comes the Night		-
	In the Pocket		-
	I've Got the Rock'n'Rolls Again		-
	Party		-
	A Product Of... (Participation)		-
	Reflector		-
	Renaissance		-
	RocKihnRoll		-
	Share Your Love		-
	Six Pack		EP
	Some Days Are Diamonds		-
	Wanted Dread And Alive		-
	Wha'ppen?		-
	What's THIS For...!		-

July

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
3	4		-
	The Friends of Mr Cairo		-
6	High 'n' Dry		-
	Precious Time		-
8	Beauty and the Beat		-
20	Escape		-
	El Loco		-
	Pleasant Dreams		-
27	Bella Donna		Solo Debut
	KooKoo		Solo Debut
	Bucks Fizz		Debut
28	You Want It You Got It		-
29	The Time		Debut
31	Time		-
	Step by Step		-
?	Blue and Gray		-
	Document and Eyewitness		-
	Dexterity		-
	Dreamtime		-
	Endless Love	Various Artists	Soundtrack
	Freetime		-
	Girls to Chat and Boys to Bounce		-
	Heavy Metal Soundtrack	Various Artists	Soundtrack
	Hoy-Hoy!		Compilation
	It's a Condition		-
	The Man with the Horn		-
	Marauder		-
	Night of the Demon		-
	Party Mix!		Remix
	Pirates		-
	The Pirates of Penzance Broadway Cast Album	Various Artists	Broadway cast recording
	Sirocco		-
	Three Quartets		-
	Walking Wild		-
	Was (Not Was)		Debut
	Whomp That Sucker		-
	Word of Mouth		-

August

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
7	Pretenders II		^[32]
10	Friday Night in San Francisco		Live
12	Shot of Love		-
	Never Too Much		Debut
18	Dark Continent		-
20	Love All the Hurt Away		-
21	Sleep No More		-
24	Tattoo You		-
25	Scissors Cut		-
	Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash		Debut
26	Dead Set		Live
	New Traditionalists		-
28	Alive Alone		-
	The Spirit's in It		-
31	Fire of Love		-
?	Brothers of the Road		-
	Signals, Calls, and Marches		EP
	Torch		-
	Give the People What They Want		-
	Heartbreak Radio		-
	The Innocent Age		-
	Joy		EP
	King Cool		-
	Level 42		-
	The Pressure Is On		-
	Short Back 'n' Sides		-
	Simplicity		-
	Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call		-
	There's No Gettin' Over Me		-
	Time Exposure		-
	Whitford/St. Holmes		-

September

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
1	Special Forces		-
2	1234		-
4	Dead Ringer		-
	Dance		-
	Strait Country		-
	Why Do Fools Fall in Love		-
7	Burning Blue Soul		Solo Debut
11	Rage in Eden		-
14	Maiden Japan		Live EP
	Songs in the Attic		Live
	Wired for Sound		-
18	Abacab		^[33]
21	You Could Have Been with Me		-
23	You Are What You Is		-
24	Something Special		-
25	Denim and Leather		^[34]
	Wild Things		EP
?	Allied Forces		-
	Boonoonoonoos		-
	Buchenwald		-
	Camouflage		-
	Cats & Dogs		-
	Dangerous Acquaintances		-
	Deaf		-
	Gosh It's...		-
	Grand Funk Lives		-
	Happy Birthday		-
	Hooligans		Compilation
	If I Should Love Again		-
	Kix		-
	Lord Upminster		-
	Love Byrd		-
	Magic Windows		-
	Mark of the Mole		-
	MSG		-
	Nine Tonight		Live
	Penthouse and Pavement		-
	Private Eyes		-
	Red Mecca		-
	Rock Until You Drop		-
	Snaz		Live
	Sunnyboys		-
	Too Late the Hero		-
	Walk Under Ladders		-
	Wanna Be a Star		-

October

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
2	Discipline		-
	Ghost in the Machine	The Police	-
	In the Garden	Eurythmics	Debut
	7		-
5	Kollaps	Einstürzende Neubauten	-
	Speak & Spell	Depeche Mode	-
7	Get Lucky	Loverboy	-
8	Looking Back with Love	Mike Love	solo debut
9	Still	Joy Division	Compilation
12	October	U2	-
14	Controversy	Prince	-
16	Mask		-
	Dare	The Human League	-
19	Underneath the Colours		-
21	Bobby and the Midnites	Bobby and the Midnites	-
23	Almost Blue	Elvis Costello and the Attractions	-
26	Freeze Frame		-
	Greatest Hits		Compilation
29	Exit...Stage Left		Live
?	The Best of Blondie		Compilation
	Diary of a Madman	Ozzy Osbourne	^[35]
	Law and Order	Lindsey Buckingham	-
	Sonic Attack	Hawkwind	-
	Don't Stop		EP
	Camera Camera		-
	Premonition		-
	Present Arms in Dub	UB40	Remix
	Big City		-
	Chances Are		Compilation of previously unreleased material
	Christmas Album		Christmas
	Circle of Love		-
	Coup de Grâce		-
	Face to Face		-
	Fourth Drawer Down		-
	Gonna Ball		-
	Inside You		-
	Living Eyes		-
	Local and/or General		-
	Love Is Only Feeling		-
	Physical		-
	Quarterflash	Quarterflash	-
	Round Trip		-
	See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah. City All Over! Go Ape Crazy		-
	The Sound of the Sand and Other Songs of the Pedestrian		-
	Strictly Personal		-
	Tom Tom Club		-
	Wrap It!		-

November

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
2	Prince Charming		-
	Re·ac·tor		-
4	Mob Rules		US
6	Architecture & Morality		-
	Shake It Up		-
	Tonight I'm Yours		-
	Great Gonzos! The Best of Ted Nugent		Compilation
9	Business as Usual		Australia, debut
	La Folie		-
	On the Way to the Sky		-
10	Too Fast for Love		-
	Music from "The Elder"		-
	Memories		Compilation +3 new tracks
11	The Jacksons Live!		Live
13	Movement		-
	Till Deaf Do Us Part		-
	Tin Drum		-
14	Raise!		-
15	Renegade		-
16	Changestwobowie		Compilation
	Take It Off		-
20	Stop and Smell the Roses		-
23	I Love Rock 'n' Roll		-
	A Collection of Great Dance Songs		Compilation with alternate mixes
	The Catherine Wheel		-
	Christmas Album		-
27	For Those About to Rock We Salute You		-
	Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret		-
	Ten Out of 10		-
30	Bad Religion		EP
	Best of the Blues Brothers		Compilation
	The Visitors		-
?	Crazy Nights		-
	Adventures in Modern Recording		-
	In Concert Volume Two		Live
	The Ascension		-
	Christmas Wishes		Christmas
	From the Lions Mouth		-
	Pearls		-
	The Poet		-
	She Shot Me Down		-
	Still the Same Ole Me		-
	Take No Prisoners		-

December

Day	Album	Artist	Notes
7	Ten Years of Harmony		Compilation
15	LC		-
30	For Those Who Think Young		-
?	Damaged		-
	Drop Down and Get Me	Del Shannon	-
	The Best of Top of the Pops '81		-
	The Blasters		-
	In God We Trust, Inc.		EP
	Peter Cetera		-
	Small Change		-
	Welcome to Hell		-
	Wilder		-

Release date unknown

• Adventures in Clubland – Modern Romance
• ¡Alarma! – Daniel Amos
• Alles ist gut – Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft
• Begin the Beguine – Julio Iglesias
• Block to Block – De Press
  • B.L.T. – Jack Bruce, Bill Lordan & Robin Trower Breakin' the Chains – Don Dokken
• Catalogue - John Hartford
• Celebration – Johnny Mathis
• Changing Hearts – Polyrock
• Chasanova – Chaz Jankel
• Claro Que Si – Yello
• Classic Rock: Rock Classics – London Symphony Orchestra
• Condition Red - Red Rockers
• Cool Night – Paul Davis
• Corazón de poeta – Jeanette
• Cowboy Jubilee – Riders in the Sky
• Curiosum – Cluster
• Deceit – This Heat
  • DEV-O Live – Devo Directions – Miles Davis
• Drama of Exile – Nico
• Earthshaker – Y&T
• Escape Artist – Garland Jeffreys
• The Evil One – Roky Erickson and the Aliens
  • Fire Wind – Electric Sun Freelancing – James Blood Ulmer
• Give the People What They Want – Jimmy Cliff
• Hands in the Till – Fortress
• Hits Right Up Your Street – The Shadows
• Individuellos – La Düsseldorf
• Inner City Front – Bruce Cockburn
• Insect and Individual Silenced – Nurse with Wound
• Introducing The Winans - The Winans
• Is This a Cool World or What? – Karla DeVito
• Jane Siberry – Jane Siberry
• Jealousy - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• The Judgement of Paris – Kevin Dunn and the Regiment of Women
• La voce del Padrone – Franco Battiato
• Let Them Eat Jellybeans! – Various Artists from Alternative Tentacles Records
• Living in a Fog – Wonderful Grand Band
• Los niños que escriben en el cielo – Spinetta Jade
• The Lounge Lizards – The Lounge Lizards
• Love Potion - Dr. John
• Lustwandel – Hans-Joachim Roedelius
• Macadam 3, 2, 1, 0 – Riff
• Magic Man – Herb Alpert
• Minor Threat – Minor Threat – EP
• Material – Moebius & Plank
• Mommy Don't Love Daddy Anymore – Resurrection Band
• Mondo Mando - David Grisman
• Never Say Die – Petra
• Odyshape – The Raincoats
• Penis Envy – Crass
• Peperina – Serú Girán
• Performance – Ashford & Simpson
• Place without a Postcard – Midnight Oil
• Play Me Out – Helen Reddy
• The Plimsouls – The Plimsouls
• Public Service (EP) – Various Artists
• The Punch Line – Minutemen
• Quiero Ser – Menudo
• Quit Dreaming and Get On the Beam – Bill Nelson
• Reflections – Gil Scott-Heron
• Rock 'n' Roll Warriors – Savoy Brown
• Ruedas de metal – Riff
• Secret Combination – Randy Crawford
• Selbstportrait – Hans-Joachim Roedelius
• Sky 3 – Sky
• Standing Together – Midnight Star
• Stick Figure Neighbourhood – Spoons
• Sub Pop 5 – Various Artists
• Sunrise in Different Dimensions – Sun Ra
• Thirsty Ears - Powder Blues Band
• Trio – Trio
• Wanna Be a Star – Chilliwack
• Wünsche fliegen übers Meer – Die Flippers
• Years Ago – The Statler Brothers
• You Must Believe in Spring – Bill Evans
• You're the Guy I Want to Share My Money With – Laurie Anderson, William S. Burroughs and John Giorno
• Youth of America – Wipers

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positionsin the charts of 1981.^[36]

	Artist	Title	Year	Country	Chart Entries
1			1981		US BB 1 – April 1981, Canada 1 – April 1981, France 1 – June 1981, Switzerland 1 – June 1981, Norway 1 – June 1981, Germany 1 – June 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, Netherlands 16 – May 1981, RYM 16 of 1981, Germany 18 of the 1980s, OzNet 45, Scrobulate 66 of 80s, RIAA 268, Acclaimed 738
2			1981		UK 1 – August 1981, Canada 1 – November 1981, France 1 – August 1981, Australia 1 for 3 weeks January 1983, Austria 2 – December 1981, Switzerland 2 – November 1981, Germany 2 – January 1982, Scrobulate 2 of 80s, Australia 3 of 1982, Sweden (alt) 4 – October 1981, RYM 4 of 1981, Netherlands 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			1981		Netherlands 1 – February 1981, Sweden (alt) 1 – February 1981, Austria 1 – April 1981, Switzerland 1 – April 1981, UK 2 – January 1981, France 2 – March 1981, Germany 2 – March 1981, Canada 3 – June 1981, Norway 4 – March 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			1981		UK 1 – January 1981, Canada 1 – January 1981, Republic of Ireland 1 – February 1981, New Zealand 1 for 5 weeks February 1981, US BB 2 – January 1981, Switzerland 2 – March 1981, Austria 4 – March 1981, Norway 5 – February 1981, France 7 – March 1981, Germany 7 – February 1981, US CashBox 16 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 18 – February 1981, Netherlands 21 – March 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			1981		US BB 1 – May 1981, Netherlands 1 – January 1981, Austria 1 – May 1981, Switzerland 1 – May 1981, Germany 1 – March 1981, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks June 1981, Australia 1 for 4 weeks June 1982, UK 2 – April 1981, Australia 2 of 1981, Germany 5 of the 1980s, Sweden (alt) 7 – June 1981, US CashBox 13 of 1981, Italy 54 of 1981

Chronological table of US and UK and Japan Number One hit singles

US Number One singles and artist
(Weeks at Number One)

• "(Just Like) Starting Over" – John Lennon (4 weeks)
• "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)
• "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)

UK Number One singles and artist
(Weeks at Number One)

• "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" – St Winifred's School Choir (1)
• "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 and the Ants (5)
• "Being With You" – Smokey Robinson (2)
• "One Day in Your Life" – Michael Jackson (2)
• "Ghost Town" – The Specials (3)
• "Green Door"- Shakin' Stevens (4)
• "Japanese Boy" – Aneka (1)
• "Tainted Love" – Soft Cell (2)
• "Prince Charming" – Adam and the Ants (4)
• "It's My Party" – Dave Stewart (the keyboardist) & 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" – The Human League (3)

Japanese Oricon Number One singles and artist
(Weeks at Number One)

See main article: List of Oricon number-one singles of 1981.

• "" – Masahiko Kondō (2 weeks in 1980 + 3 weeks in 1981)
• "" – Toshihiko Tahara (2)
• "" – Seiko Matsuda (4)
• "" – Chanels (3)
• "" – Akira Terao (10)
• "" – Seiko Matsuda (2)
• "" – Masahiko Kondō (3)
• "" – Chiharu Matsuyama (3)
• "" – Seiko Matsuda (3)
• "" – (7)
• "" – Masahiko Kondō (6)
• "" – Seiko Matsuda (1)
• "" – Miyuki Nakajima (3)
• "" – Hiroko Yakushimaru (2 weeks in 1981 + 3 weeks in 1982)

Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit albums

US Number One album and artist
(Weeks at Number One)

• Double Fantasy – John Lennon and Yoko Ono (7)
• Hi Infidelity – REO Speedwagon (15)
• Paradise Theatre – Styx (3)
• Mistaken Identity – Kim Carnes (4)
• Long Distance Voyager – The Moody Blues (3)
• Precious Time – Pat Benatar (1)
• 4 – Foreigner (7)
• Bella Donna – Stevie Nicks (1)
• Escape – Journey (1)
• Tattoo You – The Rolling Stones (9)
• For Those About to Rock We Salute You – AC/DC (1)

UK Number One album and artist
(Weeks at Number One)

• Super Trouper – ABBA (3)
• Kings of the Wild Frontier – Adam and the Ants (12)
• Double Fantasy – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (2)
• Face Value – Phil Collins (3)
• Stars on 45- Stars on 45 / Starsound (5)
• No Sleep 'til Hammersmith – Motörhead (1)
• Disco Daze and Disco Nites – Various Artists (1)
• Love Songs – Cliff Richard (5)
• The Official BBC Album of the Royal Wedding – Various Artists (2)
• Time – Electric Light Orchestra (2)
• Dead Ringer – Meat Loaf (2)
• Abacab – Genesis (2)
• Ghost in the Machine – The Police (3)
• Dare – The Human League (1)
• Shaky – Shakin' Stevens (1)
• Greatest Hits – Queen (4)
• Chart Hits '81 – Various Artists (1)
• The Visitors – ABBA (3)

Top 40 Chart hit singles

Song title	Artist(s)	Release date(s)	US	UK	Highest chart position	Other Chart Performance(s)
"'65 Love Affair"			December 1981	6	n/a	6 (United States)	See chart performance entry
"9 to 5 (Morning Train)"			February 1981	1	3		See chart performance entry
"Abacab"			August 1981	26	9	3 (South Africa)	See chart performance entry
"Absolute Beginners"			October 1981	n/a	4	4 (United Kingdom)	35 (New Zealand)
"America"			April 1981	8	n/a	8 (United Kingdom)	1 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 10 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 15 (Canada RPM Adult Contemporary) - 45 (Canada RPM Top Singles)
"Angel of the Morning"			February 1981	4	43	1 (Canada)	See chart performance entry
"Antmusic"			January 1981	n/a	2	1 (Australia)	See chart performance entry
"Arc of a Diver"			April 1981	48	n/a	19 (Canada)	11 (US Billboard Rock Albums & Top Tracks)
"Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)"			August 1981	27	n/a	n/a	11 (US Billboard Adult Contemporary)
"Backfired"			July 1981	43	32	16 (Sweden)	See chart performance entry
"Being With You"			January 1981	2	1	1 (New Zealand, United Kingdom)	See chart performance entry
"Bette Davis Eyes"			March 1981	1	10		See chart performance entry
"Blessed Are the Believers"			March 1981	34	n/a	13 (Canada)	1 (Canadian RPM Country Tracks, Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks, U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs) - 10 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary)
"The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)"			March 1981	15	n/a	14 (Australia)	5 (U.S. Billboard Rock Albums & Top Tracks)
"Burnin' For You"			July 1981	40	76	40 (United States)	1 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart) - 47 (Canada)
"Cambodia"			November 1981	n/a	12	1 (France, Sweden, Switzerland)	See chart performance entry
"Can You Feel It"			February 1981	77	6	1 (Belgium, South Africa)	See chart performance entry
"Centerfold"			September 1981	1	3	1 (Australia, Canada, United States)	See chart performance entry
"Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)"			July 1981	n/a	3	3 (United Kingdom)	See chart performance entry
"Chariots of Fire"			March 1981	1	12	1 (United States)	See chart performances entry
"Chequered Love"			April 1981	n/a	4	1 (South Africa)	See chart performances entry
"Controversy"			September 1981	70	n/a	1 (U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs) - 3 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles) - 15 (Australia)	28 (Netherlands [Dutch Singles Chart])
"Cool Night"			October 1981	11	n/a	11 (United States)	2 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary)
"Counting The Beat"			March 1981	n/a	n/a	1 (Australia, New Zealand)	n/a
"Crying"			January 1981	5	1	1 (Belgium, Netherlands [Dutch Top 40], United Kingdom	See chart performance entry
"Der Kommissar"			December 1981	n/a	n/a		See chart performance entry
"Don't Let Him Go"			May 1981	24	n/a	2 (Canada)	See chart performance entry
"Don't Stop Believin'"			October 1981	9	62	9 (United States)	8 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 9 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 9 (Canada) - 50 (Netherlands [Single Top 100]) - 62 (United Kingdom) - 100 (Australia)
"Don't You Want Me"			November 1981	1	1		See chart performance entry
"Elvira"			March 1981	5	n/a	5 (United States)	See chart performance entry
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"			November 1981	3	1
"Every Woman in the World"			January 1981	5	n/a	3 (Canada)	2 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 3 (U.S. Record World) - 7 (New Zealand) - 8 (Australia) - 9 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
"Fade to Grey"			January 1981	n/a	8	1 (Switzerland, West Germany)	See chart performance entry
"Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)"			October 1981	n/a	4	4 (United Kingdom)	97 (Australia)
"Fire"			August 1981	n/a	35	4 (Ireland)	n/a
"Fire and Ice"			July 1981	17	n/a	3 (New Zealand)	2 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 4 (Canada) - 30 (Australia)
"For Your Eyes Only"			June 1981	4	8	1 (Netherlands [Dutch Top 40]/[Single Top 100], Norway, Switzerland)	See chart performance entry
"Games People Play"			January 1981	16	n/a	9 (Canada)	95 (Australia)
"Gemini Dream"			May 1981	12	n/a	1 (Canada)	12 (U.S. Mainstream Rock) - 13 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 36 (Australia) - 36 (U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs)
"Genius of Love"			September 1981	31	65	26 (Belgium)	1 (U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs) - 2 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles) - 28 (New Zealand)
"Girls on Film"			July 1981	n/a	5	1 (Portugal)	4 (New Zealand) - 11 (Australia) - 15 (Sweden) - 16 (Ireland)
"Give It to Me Baby"			February 1981	40	47	40 (United States)	1 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles) - 1 (U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs) - 34 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
"Gloria"			October 1981	n/a	55	10 (Ireland)	15 (New Zealand) - 32 (Australia)
"Good Year for the Roses"			September 1981	n/a	6	6 (United Kingdom)	11 (Netherlands [Dutch top 40]) - 25 (Belgium) - 34 (Australia)
"Happy Birthday"			August 1981	n/a	2	2 (United Kingdom, South Africa)	3 (Ireland) - 16 (Sweden) - 23 (Australia) - 56 (West Germany)
"Harden My Heart"			September 1981	3	49	3 (United States)	5 (Switzerland) - 6 (Australia) - 12 (New Zealand) - 15 (Austria) - 41 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 51 (West Germany)
"Hearts"			May 1981	8	n/a	4 (Canada)	9 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 9 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 11 (Canada RPM Top Singles) - 19 (France) - 20 (U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks)
"Hearts on Fire"			January 1981	19	n/a	19 (United States)	34 (Canada)
"Hell's Bells"			February 1981	n/a	n/a	7 (Australia)	16 (France) - 25 (Germany) - 50 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock)
"Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)"			August 1981	5	n/a	5 (United States)	1 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 5 (Canada RPM Adult Contemporary) - 5 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 43 (Australia)
"Hill Street Blues"			August 1981	10	n/a	10 (United States)	4 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary)
"History Never Repeats"			March 1981	n/a	63	4 (Australia)	5 (New Zealand) - 33 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock)
"Hold On Tight"			July 1981	10	4	1 (Spain, Switzerland)	See chart performance entry
"How 'Bout Us"			February 1981	12	5	1 (Belgium, Netherlands [Dutch Top 40]/[Singles Top 100]	See chart performance entry
"I Ain't Gonna Stand for It"			January 1981	11	10	2 (New Zealand)	See chart performance entry
"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"			November 1981	1	8	1 (United States)	See chart performance entry
"I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)"			July 1981	18	62	3 (New Zealand)	10 (Canada) - 71 (Australia)
"I Don't Need You"			June 1981	3	n/a	2 (Canada)	See chart performance entry
"I Go to Sleep"			November 1981	n/a	7	4 (Netherlands [Dutch Top 40])	6 (Belgium) - 9 (Netherlands [Single Top 100] - 28 (New Zealand)
"I Love You"			February 1981	12	n/a	14 (Canada)	9 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 20 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 30 (Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary) - 59 (Australian)
"I Made It Through the Rain"			January 1981	10	37	20 (Ireland)	4 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 18 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
"I Missed Again"			February 1981	19	14	6 (Canada)	See chart performance entry
"I Will Follow"			August 1981*	n/a	n/a	34 (New Zealand)	20 (U.S. Billboard Top Tracks) - 71 (Australia) *song released in October 1980
"I Surrender"			February 1981	50	3	1 (Finland)	See chart performance entry
"I Want to Be Free"			May 1981	n/a	8	8 (United Kingdom)	1 (UK Independent Singles Chart) - 10 (Ireland) - 10 (South Africa) - 30 (New Zealand) - 35 (Australia) - 61 (West Germany)
"I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World"			October 1981	20	n/a	20	1 (U.S. Hot Country Songs, Canadian RPM Country Tracks, Canada RPM Adult Contemporary) - 3 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 57 (Australia)
"If Leaving Me Is Easy"			May 1981	n/a	17	17 (United Kingdom)	61 (Germany)
"If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?"			May 1981	n/a	n/a	4 (Australia)	16 (New Zealand)
"I'm in Love"			June 1981	40	27	27 (United Kingdom)	1 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles, U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs) - 33 (U.S. Record World) - 44 (U.S. Cash Box)
"In the Air Tonight"			June 1981	19	2		See chart performance entry
"In the Dark"			August 1981	35	n/a	22 (Canada)	7 (U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks)
"Intuition"			February 1981	n/a	7	7 (United Kingdom)	10 (Ireland) - 38 (Netherlands [Single Top 100]) - 69 (Australia)
"Invisible Sun"			September 1981	n/a	2	2 (United Kingdom)	5 (Netherlands [Single Top 100]) - 89 (Australia)
"Is That Love"			May 1981	n/a	35	1 (Israel)	25 (Ireland)
"It Must Be Love"			November 1981	33	4	4 (United Kingdom)	5 (Ireland) - 6 (Australia) - 43 (Netherlands [Single Top 100])
"It Must Be Magic"			May 1981	23	n/a	23 (United Kingdom)	2 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles)
"I've Done Everything for You"			February 1981	8	n/a	8 (United States)	19 (Canada RPM Charts) - 31 (Australia) - 40 (Canada)
"Jessie's Girl"			February 1981	1	n/a	1 (Australia, United States)	1 (U.S. Cash Box, U.S. Record World) - 6 (Canada) - 10 (U.S. Mainstream Rock) 21 (New Zealand)
"Jukebox Hero"			October 1981	26	48	7 (South Africa)	24 (Germany) - 34 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 39 (Canada) - 53 (Australia)
"Just Between You and Me"			February 1981	21	52	21 (United States)	22 (Canada)
"Just Can't Get Enough"			September 1981	n/a	8	4 (Australia)	1 (UK Independent Singles Chart) - 14 (Sweden) - 16 (Ireland) - 18 (Spain) - 26 (U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs) - 29 (New Zealand) - 30 (Belgium)
"Just the Two of Us"			February 1981	2	34	2 (United States)	See chart performance entry
"Kids in America"			January 1981	25	2	1 (Finland, South African)	See chart performance entry
"Kiss on My List"			January 1981	1	33	1 (United States)	7 (Canada) - 13 (Australia) - 16 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 33 (New Zealand) - 54 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock)
"Labelled with Love"			September 1981	n/a	4	2 (Ireland)	46 (Netherlands [Single Top 100])
"Leader of the Band"			November 1981	9	n/a	9 (United States)	1 (U.S. Billboard Adult contemporary) - 35 (U.S. Billboard Top Pop Singles)
"Leather and Lace"			October 1981	6	n/a	6 (United States)	See chart performance entry
"Let's Get It Up"			December 1981	n/a	n/a	18 (Sweden)	33 (West Germany) - 73 (Australia)
"Let's Groove"			September 1981	3	3	2 (France, New Zealand)
"Limelight"			February 1981	55	n/a	18 (Canada)	4 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock)
"A Little in Love"			January 1981	17	15	4 (Canada)	See chart performance entry
"Living Inside Myself"			March 1981	6	n/a	6 (United States)	See chart performance entry
"Lock Up Your Daughters"			September 1981	n/a	29	19 (Netherlands [Dutch Singles Chart])	n/a
"Love Action (I Believe in Love)"			July 1981	n/a	3	3 (United Kingdom)	11 (Ireland) - 12 (Australia) - 21 (New Zealand)
"Love is Alright Tonite"			August 1981	20	n/a	20 (United Kingdom)	26 (Canada RPM Top Singles) - 40 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock)
"Love on a Two-Way Street"			June 1981	26	n/a	26 (United States)	2 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles) - 19 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 23 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 26 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100) - 39 (Canada)
"Message of Love"			February 1981	n/a	11	9 (Ireland)	5 (U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks) - 15 (Australia) - 33 (Netherlands) - 44 (U.S. Billboard Dance/Disco)
"The Model"			November 1981	n/a	1	1 (United Kingdom)	4 (Ireland) - 7 (West Germany) - 20 (Finland) - 33 (Australia)
"Modern Girl"			May 1981	18	8	8 (United Kingdom)
"More Than I Can Say"			January 1981	2	2	1 (Australia)	1 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 2 (Ireland, South Africa) - 3 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 5 (New Zealand) - 7 (Canada) [1980 overlap]
"Musclebound" b/w "Glow"			March 1981	n/a	10	10 (United Kingdom)	18 (Ireland) - 32 (Netherlands [Single Top 100)] - 97 (Australia)
"Never Too Much"			October 1981	33	13	13 (United Kingdom)	1 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles) - 4 (U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs) - 18 (Ireland) - 47 (New Zealand)
"New Life"			June 1981	n/a	11	11 (United Kingdom)	1 (UK Independent Singles chart) - 22 (Ireland) - 29 (U.S. Billboard Dance Clubs Songs)
"O Superman"			October 1981	n/a	2	2 (United Kingdom)	See chart performance entry
"Oh No"			September 1981	4	44	3 (Canada)	5 (U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles) - 5 (U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 51 (Australia)
"Once in a Lifetime"			January 1981	n/a	14	14 (United Kingdom)	16 (Ireland) - 23 (Australia) - 24 (Netherlands [Dutch Singles Chart]) - 28 (Canada) - 103 (U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100)
"One in Ten"			August 1981	n/a	7	7 United Kingdom)	87 Australia)
"One of Us"			December 1981	n/a	3		See chart performance entry
"Open Your Heart"			October 1981	n/a	6	6 (United Kingdom)	8 (Ireland) - 12 (Belgium) - 20 (Netherlands [Single Top 100)] - 43 (New Zealand)
"Our Lips Are Sealed"			June 1981	20	47	2 (Australia)	See chart performance entry
"Ooa hela natten"		1981	n/a	n/a	1 (Sweden)	2 (Norway)
"Pac-Man Fever"			December 1981	9	n/a	9 (Canada, United States)	7 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
"Physical"			September 1981	1	7	1 (Australia, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand)	See chart performance entry
"Planet Earth"			February 1981	n/a	12	8 (Australia)	1 (French Airplay Chart) - 14 (Ireland) - 70 (France)
"Queen of Hearts"			June 1981	2	n/a	2 (South Africa, United States)	See chart performance entry
"Rapture"			January 1981	1	5	1 (United States)	See chart performance entry
"The River"			May 1981	n/a	n/a	5 (Norway)	5 (Norway) – 10 (Sweden) - 24 (Ireland) – 25 (Netherlands) – 35 (UK Singles Chart)
"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution"			November 1980 (Charted in 1981)	n/a	15	7 (Australia)	15 (Ireland)
"Rock This Town"			January 1981	9	9	3 (Belgium)	See chart performance entry
"Sat in Your Lap"			June 1981	n/a	11	11 (United Kingdom)	18 (Ireland) - 25 (Italy) - 30 (Spain) - 32 (Netherlands) - 93 (Australia)
"Shake It Up"			November 1981	4	n/a	3 (Netherlands)	See chart performance entry
"She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)"			August 1981	22	34	22 (United States)	2 (US Billboard Soul Singles) - 23 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 27 (New Zealand)
"Should I Do It"			December 1981	12	50	6 (Belgium)	See Chart performance entry
"(Si Si) Je Suis un Rock Star"			September 1981	n/a	14	5 (Australia)	6 (New Zealand) - 14 (Netherlands) - 20 (Belgium)
"Slow Hand"			May 1981	2	10		See Chart performance entry
"Souvenir"			August 1981	n/a	3	1 (Portugal, Spain)	See Chart performance entry
"Spirits in the Material World"			December 1981	11	12	4 (France)	See Chart performance entry
"Start Me Up"			August 1981	2	7	1 (Australia)	See Chart performance entry
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"			July 1981	3	50	3 (United States)	2 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 4 (South Africa) - 5 (Canada) - 10 (Australia) - 11 (New Zealand) - 43 (Netherlands [Single Top 100) |- ||"[[Stray Cat Strut]]" || Stray Cats || |April 1981 || 3 (Charted in 1982) || 11 || 3 (Canada, United States) || 3 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 8 (Ireland) - 30 (South Africa) - 41 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 78 (US Billboard Disco/Dance)|-||"The Stroke" || Billy Squier || |May 1981 || 17 || 52 || 3 (Austria, United States) || See Chart performance entry|-||"Sukiyaki" || A Taste of Honey || |March 1981 || 3 || n/a || 3 (New Zealand, United States) || See Chart performance entry|-||"Super Freak" || Rick James || |August 1981 || 16 || n/a || 2 (Belgium, Netherlands [Dutch Top 40]) || See Chart performance entry|-||"Sweetheart" || Franke and the Knockouts || |March 1981 || 10 || n/a || 10 (United States) || See Chart performance entry|-||"Take It on the Run" || REO Speedwagon || |March 1981 || 5 || 19 || 2 (Canada) || See Chart performance entry|-||"Tempted" || Squeeze || |July 1981 || 49 || 41 || 41 (United Kingdom) || 8 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 45 (Canada) - 95 (Australia)|-||"Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)" || Joey Scarbury || |May 1981 || 2 || n/a || 1 (New Zealand) || See chart performance entry|-||"(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" || Ronnie Milsap || |June 1981 || 5 || n/a || 5 (United States) || See chart performance entry|-||"The Thin Wall" || Ultravox || |April 1981 || 11 || 43 || 7 (Canada) || 5 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 7 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 11 (New Zealand)|-||"This Little Girl" || Gary U.S. Bonds || |May 1981 || n/a || 14 || 14 (United Kingdom) || 16 (Ireland) - 95 (Australia)|-||"Tom Sawyer" || Rush || |August 1981 || 44 || 25 || 24 (Canada) || 8 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock)|-||"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)" || Rod Stewart || |October 1981 || 20 || 8 || 2 (Canada) || See chart performance entry|-||"Too Much Time on My Hands" || Styx || |February 1981 || 9 || n/a || 4 (Canada) || 67 (Australia) |-||"Turn Me Loose" || Loverboy || |February 1981 || 35 || n/a || 3 (Australia) || 4 (South Africa) - 5 (New Zealand) - 6 (US Billboard Top Rock Tracks) - 7 (Canada) |-||"Turn Your Love Around" || George Benson || |October 1981 || 5 || 29 || 5 (United States) || See chart performance entry|-||"Two Hearts" || Stephanie Mills & Teddy Pendergrass || |January 1981 || 40 || 49 || 40 (United States) || 3 (US Billboard Hot Soul Singles) - 46 (New Zealand) - 82 (US Billboard Disco Top 100)|-||"Urgent" || Foreigner || |June 1981 || 4 || 54 || 1 (Canada, South Africa) || See chart performance entry|-||"Vienna" || Ultravox || |January 1981 || n/a || 2 || 1 (3 countries) || See chart performance entry|-||"The Voice" || The Moody Blues || |July 1981 || 15 || n/a || 9 (Canada) || 1 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 15 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 16 (US Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 46 (Netherlands) - 91 (Australia)|-||"The Waiting" || Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers || |April 1981 || 19 || n/a || 6 (Canada) || 1 (US Billboard Top Tracks) - 14 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 27 (New Zealand)|-||"Waiting for a Girl Like You" || Foreigner || |October 1981 || 2 || 8 || 2 (Canada, United States) || See chart performance entry|-||"Waiting on a Friend" || The Rolling Stones || |February 1981 || 13 || 50 || 10 (Canada) || See chart performance entry|-||"Walking on Thin Ice" || Yoko Ono || |November 1981 || 58 || 35 || 6 (Sweden) || See chart performance entry|-||"Watching the Wheels" || John Lennon || |March 1981 || 10 || 30 || 3 (Canada) || See chart performance entry|-||"We Got the Beat" || The Go-Go's || |July 1981 || 2 || n/a || 2 (United States) || See chart performance entry|-||"Wedding Bells" || Godley & Creme || |November 1981 || n/a || 7 || 7 (United Kingdom) || See chart performance entry|-||"While You See a Chance" || Steve Winwood || |February 1981 || 7 || 45 || 3 (Canada) || See chart performance entry|-||"Who Can It Be Now?" || Men at Work || |May 1981 || 1 (Charted in 1982) || 45 || 1 (Israel, United States) || See chart performance entry|-||"Who's Crying Now" || Journey || |July 1981 || 4 || 46 || 4 (United States) || See chart performance entry|-||"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" || Diana Ross || |September 1981 || 7 || 4 || 1 (Belgium, Netherlands) || See chart performance entry|-||"Wired for Sound" || Cliff Richard || |August 1981 || 71 || 4 || 2 (Australia, South Africa) || See chart performance entry|-||"Working for the Weekend" || Loverboy || |September 1981 || 29 || n/a || 10 (Canada) || 2 (US Billboard Rock Top Tracks) - 19 (Australia) - 19 (New Zealand)|-||"Working in the Coal Mine" || Devo || |August 1981 || 43 || n/a || 10 (New Zealand) || 17 (Canada) - 20 (Australia) - 30 (US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play) - 36 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 53 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks)|-||"You Better You Bet" || The Who || |February 1981 || 18 || 9 || 4 (Canada) || See chart performance entry|-||"You Make My Dreams" || Hall & Oates || |April 1981 || 5 || n/a || 5 (United States) || 4 (US Radio & Records Chart) - 7 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 17 (Canada) - 35 (US Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 40 (Australia)|-||"Young Turks" || Rod Stewart || |October 1981 || 5 || 11 || 1 (Canada, Israel) || See chart performance entry|} Other Chart hit singles Notable singles Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s) "Ceremony" January 1981 7 (New Zealand) - 1 (UK Independent Singles Chart) - 62 (US Billboard Hot Dance Club Party) "Christmas Wrapping" November 1981 See chart entry performance "Closer to the Heart" (live) November 1981 21 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 69 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100) "God morgon" 1981 2nd at the Swedish Melodifestivalen 1981 "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)" May 1981 See chart performance entry "Johnny Blue" 1981 Winner of the German national final of the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 "Kick in the Eye" March 1981 29 (US Billboard Dance Club Songs) - 59 (UK Singles Chart) "O Superman" October 1981 See chart performance entry "Procession/Everything's Gone Green" September 1981 1 (UK Independent Charts) - 38 (UK Singles Chart) "Pull Up to the Bumper" June 1981 See chart performance entry "Release the Bats" July 1981 3 (UK Indie Charts) "Walking in the Rain" October 1981 34 (New Zealand) - 67 (West Germany) - 94 (Australia) "Walking on Thin Ice" February 1981 See chart performance entry "Wordy Rappinghood" June 1981 See chart performance entry Other Notable singles 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 "Memory w. Trevor Nunn & T. S. Eliot m. Andrew Lloyd Webber. Introduced by Elaine Paige in the musical Cats. "One of the Girls" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander introduced by Lauren Bacall in the musical Woman of the Year Classical music Milton Babbitt Don, for piano four-hands Ars Combinatoria, for small orchestra Leonard Bernstein Olympic Hymn, chorus and orchestra Rob du Bois String Quartet no. 3 Sonata for solo viola George Crumb – Gnomic Variations for piano Peter Maxwell Davies – Piano Sonata Joël-François Durand – String Trio Morton Feldman Bass Clarinet and Percussion, for bass clarinet, cymbals and gongs Triadic Memories, for piano For Aaron Copland, for violin Lorenzo Ferrero Balletto Arioso II Variazioni sulla notte, for guitar Cristóbal Halffter Fantasia sobre una sonoridad de G. F. Haendel, for string orchestra Ricercare, for organ Bengt Hambraeus – Voluntary on a Swedish Hymn Tune from Dalecarlia Wojciech Kilar – Exodus, a vocal-symphonic poem for mixed choir and orchestra George Lloyd – Tenth Symphony (for brass) Tome Mančev Symphonic Poem, for large orchestra, Op. 16 Dance, for piano and percussion, Op. 19 The Year 1014, for mixed chorus, Op. 20 March of the Bicyclists, for children's chorus Miroslav Miletić Sonatina for violin and guitar Sonata for viola and piano Three Popular Songs from Dalmatia for voice and guitar 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 Alfred Schnittke Symphony No. 3 Minnesang, for 52 voices String Quartet No. 2 Karlheinz Stockhausen Klavierstück XIII Traum-Formel, for basset horn Opera Lorenzo Ferrero – La figlia del mago Conrad Susa and Richard Street – Black River Karlheinz Stockhausen – Donnerstag aus Licht (March 15, La Scala, Milan, but without act 3, due to a choir strike; first full performance on April 3) Jazz See main article: 1981 in jazz. Musical theater Barnum – London production opened at the London 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 The 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 Musical films Aakkramanam American Pop The Great Muppet Caper Heavy Metal Lili Marleen Nandu Pennies from Heaven Shock Treatment Births January 2 - JT Daly, American indie rock musician, producer, songwriter, and visual artist (K Flay, Demi Lovato) January 4 – Silvy De Bie, Belgian singer January 5 – Carmen Monarcha, Brazilian operatic soprano January 7 – Ania, Polish singer-songwriter and composer January 15 Howie Day, American singer-songwriter Pitbull, Cuban-American rapper January 16 Marta Roure, Andorran singer and actress Mỹ Tâm, Vietnamese singer and songwriter January 19 – Thaila Zucchi, British singer and actress (allSTARS*) January 21 Andy Lee, South Korean singer and actor (Shinhwa) Floor Jansen, Dutch singer, songwriter, and vocal coach. January 22 – Willa Ford, American pop singer-songwriter, model, musician and actress January 25 – Alicia Keys, American singer-songwriter, record producer, pianist, actress and activist January 28 – Gen Hoshino, Japanese singer January 29 – Jonny Lang, American blues artist January 31 – Justin Timberlake, American singer (NSYNC), collaborator with Britney Spears (Married to Jessica Biel, Worked with JC Chasez) February 1 – Jay R Sillona, Filipino singer February 3 - Micah P. Hinson an American Americana singer and guitarist and recording artist February 5 – Zameer Rizvi, Canadian singer/songwriter, composer and record producer February 9 Tom Hiddleston, English actor, film producer and musician (Taylor Swift) The Rev, American musician (Avenged Sevenfold) (d. 2009)^[37] February 10 – Natasha St-Pier, Canadian singer February 11 – Kelly Rowland American singer-songwriter, member of Destiny's Child February 12 – Lisa Hannigan, Irish singer-songwriter, musician and voice actress. February 15 Matt Hoopes, musician, guitarist and singer-songwriter, (Relient K) Olivia, American singer-songwriter and actress February 17 – Paris Hilton, American singer-songwriter, DJ, YouTuber and writer (Friend of Britney Spears) February 18 – Kamasi Washington, American crossover jazz saxophonist February 19 – Beth Ditto, American singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur (Gossip) February 26 – Sharon Van Etten, American singer-songwriter and actress February 27 – Josh Groban, American crossover singer-songwriter March 1 - Adam LaVorgna, American actor March 3 Tobias Forge, Swedish musician Shatha Hassoun, Iraqi singer Cristina Scarlat, Moldovan singer March 7 – Anna Leese, New Zealand operatic soprano March 9 – Chad Gilbert, American musician, singer-songwriter (New Found Glory) March 11 Russell Lissack (Bloc Party) LeToya Luckett (Destiny's Child) March 14 - Katarína Knechtová, Slovak singer-songwriter and guitarist March 16 - Danny Brown, American rapper, singer and songwriter March 20 – Declan Bennett, English singer-songwriter March 26 Anaïs Mitchell, American singer-songwriter, producer and musician (Rachel Ries, Jefferson Hamer, Ani DiFranco, Justin Vernon, Greg Brown and Ben Knox Miller) Jay Sean, British singer-songwriter March 27 – JJ Lin, Singaporean singer March 28 - Michael Sarver, American singer March 29 Megan Hilty, American singer PJ Morton, American musician (Maroon 5) April 1 Theresa Sokyrka, Canadian Idol 2 runner-up Hannah Spearritt, English singer and actress (S Club 7) April 2 – Raghav, Canadian singer April 5 – Mariqueen Maandig, Filipino-American musician and singer-songwriter (How To Destroy Angels, West Indian Girl, Trent Reznor) April 6 – Aidonia, Jamaican dancehall artist April 7 – Vanessa Olivarez, American singer April 8 – Gummy, Korean singer April 9 - Geneviève Castrée, a Canadian cartoonist, illustrator, and musician from Quebec. (D. 2016) (Married to Phil Elverum) April 10 – Laura Bell Bundy, American actress and singer April 12 – Fahad Al Kubaisi, Qatari singer and activist April 16 – Loulou Lamotte, Swedish singer-songwriter (The Mamas) April 17 – Hanna Pakarinen, Finnish singer^[38] April 27 – Sandy Mölling, German pop singer April 29 – Tom Smith (Editors) April 30 – Justin Vernon, American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer (Bon Iver, Taylor Swift's Folklore and Evermore) May 3 Farrah Franklin, American singer-songwriter, actress (Destiny's Child) Father John Misty, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, drummer and record producer May 4 – Dallon Weekes, American singer, songwriter, musician and producer (Of Bands: Panic! At The Disco, & I Dont Know How But They Found Me) May 5 Jesse Colburn, Canadian guitarist and songwriter Craig David, British singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer May 12 – Hannah Ild, Estonian singer-songwriter and pianist May 13 - Mozella, American songwriter and singer May 16 - Brooke McClymont, Australian singer-songwriter, musician and guitarist (sister of Samantha McClymont) May 17 – R. J. Helton, American singer May 19 - Yo Gotti, American rapper May 20 Sean Conlon, English pop singer (5ive) Rachel Platten, American singer-songwriter May 21 – Stig van Eijk, singer, composer and lyricist May 23 Dessa, American rapper, singer, spoken word artist, writer and record executive Pierre Lapointe, Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboard player Gwenno Saunders, Welsh singer and dancer (The Pipettes) May 25 - Autumn Rowe, American singer-songwriter, TV personality, DJ and activist May 28 - Victoria Legrand, French-American musician (Beach House) May 30 – Devendra Banhart, Venezuelan American singer-songwriter and visual artist June 1 – Brandi Carlile, American folk rock and Americana singer-songwriter June 2 Brandon Jenner, indie pop musician (Brandon & Leah) Catherine Manoukian, Canadian violinist June 7 – Dave Catching, American guitarist, songwriter and producer (Earthlings? and Mondo Generator) June 8 – Alex Band, American rock singer-songwriter (The Calling) June 9 Vic Chou, Taiwanese actor, singer and model Anoushka Shankar, British Indian sitar player June 10 – Hoku Ho, Hawaiian singer and musician June 15 – Billy Martin (guitarist), American guitarist June 17 – Ken the 390, Japanese rapper June 20 – Alisan Porter, American singer, winner of season 10 of The Voice (US) June 21 Christina Cewe, American singer Brandon Flowers, American singer-songwriter, musician, Multi-instrumentalist, advocate, member of (The Killers) June 23 Mikey Bustos, Filipino-Canadian singer and entertainer Antony Costa (Blue) Shi Xin Hui, Malaysian singer June 28 Michael Crafter, Australian singer-songwriter (Confession, I Killed the Prom Queen, Carpathian and Bury Your Dead) Savage (AKA Demetrius Savelio) New Zealand born Samoan rapper June 30 - Andy Knowles, English director and artist July 1 – Clemency Burton-Hill, English classical music broadcast presenter July 3 – Hayley Holt, New Zealand snowboarder, host and ballroom dancer July 6 – Emily West, American singer-songwriter and guitarist July 7 – Synyster Gates, American musician (Avenged Sevenfold) July 8 Oka Antara, Indonesian rapper and actor Dagmar Oja, Estonian singer July 12 Rebecca Hunter, English pop singer (allSTARS*) and actress Maya Sar, Bosnian singer July 14 – Milow, Belgian singer-songwriter July 15 – OC Ukeje, Nigerian actor, model and musician July 20 Lowkey, American rapper and producer Dayang Nurfaizah, Malaysian singer July 21 Paloma Faith, English singer-songwriter Blake Lewis, American Idol 6 runner-up Claudette Ortiz, American singer and model (City High) July 22 – Anthony Santos, American singer-songwriter and composer July 25 – Kizito Mihigo, Rwandan gospel singer, organist and peace activist (d. 2020)^[39] July 31 Mesut Kurtis, British Turkish Islamic singer Ira Losco, Maltese singer M. Shadows, American singer-songwriter and musician (Avenged Sevenfold) August 1 – Vaiko Eplik, Estonian singer-songwriter August 3 - Scroobius Pip, English actor and podcaster as well as a spoken word poet and hip hop recording artist from Stanford-le-Hope, Essex. (Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip) August 4 – Florian Silbereisen, German singer and television presenter August 5 – Ko Shibasaki, Japanese singer and actress August 6 – Leslie Odom Jr., American singer and actor August 8 Vanessa Amorosi, Australian singer-songwriter, musician, guitarist and rock star (Dave Stewart) Bradley McIntosh, English pop singer (S Club 7) Kaori Iida, Japanese singer and actress August 11 Sandi Thom, Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Fiona Sit, Hong Kong singer and actress August 24 – Jiro Wang, Taiwanese actor and singer (Fahrenheit) August 28 – Iracema Trevisan (Cansei de Ser Sexy) September 4 Beyoncé, American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress Lacey Sturm, American singer-songwriter (Flyleaf) September 6 – Yumiko Cheng, Hong Kong singer September 7 – Do, Dutch singer September 12 – Jennifer Hudson, American singer September 13 – EJay Day, American singer September 14 – Ashley Roberts American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress, model, presenter and television personality (The Pussycat Dolls) September 16 – Nazril Irham, Indonesian singer September 18 – Jesse Frasure, American music publisher, record producer, songwriter and DJ September 25 Perfume Genius, American indie EDM musician, singer-songwriter and artist Shane Tutmarc, American producer, songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist. (Jessica Lea Mayfield, Tristen Gaspadarek) September 26 Christina Milian, American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress Aras Baskauskas, Yogi, musician and reality TV personality, worked musically under name: Odd Us September 29 – Suzanne Shaw, English singer (Hear'Say) and actress October 1 – Jamelia, British singer-songwriter October 5 – Breakbot, producer and DJ October 8 – Ruby, Egyptian singer October 10 – Una Healy, Irish singer (The Saturdays) October 13 Doveman, American singer, pianist and producer Kele Okereke, Kele, English musician (Bloc Party) October 14 – Ruslan Alekhno, Russian-Belarusian singer October 15 – Nick White (Tilly and the Wall) October 19 – Christian Bautista, Filipino singer, actor, host and model October 23 - Yoo Soo-young, South Korean singer (S.E.S.) October 25 – Josh Henderson, American actor, singer and model October 26 - Guy Sebastian, Australian singer-songwriter October 29 – Angelika Dela Cruz, Filipina actress and singer^[40] October 31 - Frank Iero, American rock guitarist (My Chemical Romance) November 1 Tommy Karevik, Swedish metal vocalist (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder, Ayreon) LaTavia Roberson, American R&B singer-songwriter (Destiny's Child) November 2 - Ai, a Japanese-American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, spokeswoman, and actress. November 7 – Krystal Harris, American singer-songwriter November 13 – Shawn Yue, Hong Kong actor and singer November 16 – Kate Miller-Heidke, Australian crossover singer-songwriter and actress November 17 – Sarah Harding, English pop singer-songwriter, dancer, model and actress (Girls Aloud) (d. 2021) November 18 - Shin Ji, South Korean singer (Koyote) November 20 Scott Hutchison, Scottish singer-songwriter, guitarist and artist (d. 2018) Kimberley Walsh, English pop singer-songwriter (Girls Aloud) November 22 Ben Adams, English pop singer-songwriter (A1) Jenny Owen Youngs, American singer-songwriter November 26 – Natasha Bedingfield, English singer-songwriter November 30 – Mavado, Jamaican deejay and singer-songwriter December 2 – Britney Spears, American singer-songwriter, dancer, performer, musician, author, activist, advocate, businesswoman, and clothes designer December 9 – Camoflauge, American rapper (d. 2003) December 11 – Zacky Vengeance, heavy metal rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist (Avenged Sevenfold) December 13 Gary Innes, Scottish accordionist, shinty player and broadcaster Amy Lee, American singer-songwriter, harpist, pianist, musician, multi instrumentalist and activist (Evanescence) December 16 Gaby Moreno, Guatemalan singer Krysten Ritter, American musician and actress December 17 Wacław Kiełtyka, Polish musician and composer Houari Manar, Algerian raï singer (d. 2019) S3RL, Australian Hardcore DJ December 21 – Lynda Thomas, Mexican musician, singer-songwriter, Eurodance and alternative rock musician December 23 – Beth, Spanish singer and actress December 26 - Seorak, South Korean singer and VJ December 28 – Frank Turner, English punk and folk singer-songwriter December 30 - K.Will, South Korean singer Deaths January 1 – Hephzibah Menuhin, pianist and human rights campaigner, 60 January 4 – Ruth Lowe, pianist and songwriter, 66 January 23 – Samuel Barber, composer, 70 January 25 – Adele Astaire, US dancer, actress and singer, 84 February 1 Frank Merrick, pianist Geirr Tveitt, Norwegian composer, 72 Ernst Pepping, composer, 79 February 9 – Bill Haley, rock and roll pioneer, 55 (heart attack) February 15 Mike Bloomfield, blues guitarist, 37 (accidental drug overdose) Karl Richter, German organist and conductor, 54 February 19 – Olive Gilbert, actress and singer, 82 February 21 – Ron Grainer, electronic music pioneer and composer, 58 February 26 – Howard Hanson, composer, 84 April 5 Bob Hite, vocalist (Canned Heat), 38 (heart attack) Maurice Zbriger, violinist, composer and conductor, 84 April 7 – Kit Lambert, former manager and producer of The Who, 45 (fell downstairs) April 8 – Burt Shevelove, librettist, 66 April 14 – Ivan Galamian, violin teacher, 78 April 28 – Steve Currie, bassist of T.Rex, 33 (car crash) May 11 – Bob Marley, reggae musician, 36 (cancer) May 25 – Roy Brown, blues singer, 55 May 28 – Mary Lou Williams, jazz pianist, 71 July 1 – Rushton Moreve, US bass player and songwriter (Steppenwolf), 32 July 16 – Harry Chapin, US singer-songwriter, 38 (car crash) July 29 – Sydney Kyte, British bandleader and violinist, 85 August 18 – Robert Russell Bennett, composer and arranger, 87 August 26 – Lee Hays, folk singer, 67 September 2 – Tadeusz Baird, composer, 53 September 8 – Master Venu, film composer, 65 September 14 – Furry Lewis, country blues guitarist and songwriter, 88 September 15 – Chick Bullock, US singer, 72 September 22 – Henry Warren, film songwriter, 87 October 2 – Hazel Scott, classical pianist and singer, 61 October 5 – Sven Gyldmark, film composer, 77 October 13 – Marius Casadesus, violinist and composer, 88 October 15 – Elsie Randolph, English actress, dancer and singer, 77 October 29 – Georges Brassens, singer-songwriter, 60 November 27 – Lotte Lenya, actress and singer, wife of Kurt Weill, 83 December 13 – Cornelius Cardew, avant-garde composer, 45 (road accident) December 27 – Hoagy Carmichael, pianist, singer and songwriter, 82 Awards Grammy Awards Grammy Awards of 1981 Country Music Association Awards 1981 Country Music Association Awards Eurovision Song Contest Eurovision Song Contest 1981 Japan Record Awards 22nd Japan Record Awards Charts List of No. 1 Hits List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1981 See also Timeline of musical events References

Notes and References

1. Web site: New Order - New Order - Movement 'Definitive Edition'. February 23, 2019. September 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913171424/http://www.neworder.com/newordernow/2018/12/19/movement-definitive-edition.html. dead.
2. Book: . The Rock Yearbook 1982 . New York . Virgin Books Ltd. . 22 . 1981 . 0-312-68784-2 . registration .
3. Web site: Ultravox . Official Charts .
4. Web site: Ultravox's 'Vienna' tops poll of greatest No 2 singles . 1 January 2013 . nme.com.
5. Web site: The Essential... Yellow Magic Orchestra. Jones. Mikey IQ. 22 January 2015. FACT Magazine. 24 August 2017.
6. . One Ahead For Ozzy . . IPC Magazines Ltd. . April 11, 1981 . 4.
7. News: Russians Call Defection Of Shostakovich 'Personal'. The New York Times. 28 April 1981.
8. Web site: GARY NUMAN'S 1981 'FAREWELL' CONCERTS . July 17, 2014 . Dangerous Minds .
9. Web site: Adam and the Ants . Official Charts .
10. Web site: UK's million-selling singles: the full list . The Guardian . November 4, 2012 .
11. Web site: The Sound of the Crowd . Official Charts .
12. Web site: 40 years ago, this month, Duran Duran released "Girls On Film" the song and its appearance on MTV was a pop culture game changer . 31 July 2021 . louderthanwar.com .
13. Web site: Duran Duran . Official Charts .
14. Web site: The Human League . Official Charts .
15. Web site: The Human League Dare . BPI . June 18, 2022 . May 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507201753/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/ . dead .
16. Web site: The Human League Dare . RIAA .
17. Book: . The Rock Yearbook 1983 . New York . Virgin Books Ltd. . 9 . 1982 . 0-312-68785-0.
18. Web site: OMD . Official Charts.
19. Web site: OMD Architecture & Morality . BPI . June 18, 2022 . May 7, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507201753/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/ . dead .
20. Web site: The Official Top 50 best-selling songs of 1981 . Official Charts . 5 March 2021 .
21. Web site: The Official Top 50 best-selling songs of 1981 . Official Charts . 5 March 2021 .
22. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r807|pure_url=yes}} ''Nature of the Beast'' overview at AllMusic]. 2010-05-27. AllMusic.com.
23. Web site: BPI certifications for Styx.
24. 17 January 1981. News. Music Week. 2. 12 September 2022.
25. 17 January 1981. News. Record Mirror. 2. 23 August 2022.
26. Web site: Killers certification.
27. Henke . James . March 19, 1981 . Ted Nugent Gets Intense . . Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. . 339 . 50 .
28. Web site: Tygers of Pan Tang albums.
29. Book: Popoff . Martin . Martin Popoff . The Deep Purple Family, vol 2 . 2nd . Wymer Publishing . 2018 . 49 . 978-1-908724-87-8.
30. Web site: Pink Floyd official site.
31. 16 May 1981. New Albums. Music Week.
32. Web site: BPI.
33. Web site: BPI.
34. Web site: Denim and Leather certification.
35. Book: The Great Rock Discography. 1995. 610 . 9780862415419 . Strong . Martin Charles .
36. Web site: Songs from the Year 1981 .
37. Web site: James 'The Rev' Sullivan dies at 28; drummer for heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Lewis. Randy. Los Angeles Times. December 30, 2009. January 6, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160527160631/http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-jim-the-rev-sullivan30-2009dec30-story.html. May 27, 2016.
38. Web site: Proffa. 22 March 2011. Hanna Pakarinen. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108034608/http://suosikki.fi/viihde/proffa/hanna-pakarinen. 8 November 2012. Suosikki. Otavamedia.
39. News: Rwanda musician Kizito Mihigo dies in prison. 17 February 2020. edge.ug. May 23, 2021. February 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218181649/http://edge.ug/2020/02/17/rwanda-musician-kizito-mihigo-dies-in-prison/. dead.
40. Web site: Angelika Dela Cruz Biography – PINOYSTOP. PinoyStop. 4 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208170830/http://www.pinoystop.com/bio/celebrity-profile/517/angelika-dela-cruz-biography. 8 December 2015. dead.