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1981 Popular Music Chart: Arena Rock, Funk, Soft Rock, New Wave, and Early MTV Energy

1981 popular music sat right at the edge of a major pop-culture shift. MTV launched in August, rock bands were still ruling radio, funk and R&B were bringing deep grooves, soft rock ballads were everywhere, and new wave was starting to sneak into the mainstream with sharper suits and stranger keyboards. This was the year of Don’t Stop Believin’, Let’s Groove, Super Freak, Jessie’s Girl, Start Me Up, Celebration, Just the Two of Us, Endless Love, In the Air Tonight, and Bette Davis Eyes.

The year had arena sing-alongs, dance-floor basslines, adult contemporary heartbreak, country crossover, early rap, and enough saxophone solos to keep the ’80s fully licensed. The songs below mix major radio hits, rock staples, R&B grooves, pop ballads, disco afterglow, early new wave, country-pop crossovers, and a few songs that could only have existed in the early ’80s. 1981 did not sound like one clean category. It sounded like a radio dial being spun by someone with excellent timing.

Top 10 Songs of 1981

  1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
  2. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
  3. Super Freak – Rick James
  4. Give It to Me Baby – Rick James
  5. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
  6. Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
  7. Back in Black – AC/DC
  8. I Love You – Climax Blues Band
  9. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
  10. She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton

1981 Music Hits by Style

Rock, Arena Rock, and Guitar-Driven Hits

Rock music in 1981 was big, confident, and ready for stadium speakers. Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ became one of the most enduring rock anthems of the decade, while The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Foreigner, Billy Squier, REO Speedwagon, Santana, Rush, The Who, 38 Special, and Blue Öyster Cult kept guitar-driven radio loud and active. This was also a year when classic rock veterans and newer arena acts shared space easily. Start Me Up, Back in Black, Urgent, The Stroke, Tom Sawyer, and Burnin’ for You gave 1981 a strong rock backbone. The guitars were not subtle, and subtle was probably not on the guest list.

  • Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
  • Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
  • Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
  • Back in Black – AC/DC
  • Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
  • In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins
  • Urgent – Foreigner
  • Fire and Ice – Pat Benatar
  • The Stroke – Billy Squier
  • Winning – Santana
  • Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
  • Ah! Leah! – Donnie Iris
  • Tom Sawyer – Rush
  • I’ve Done Everything for You – Rick Springfield
  • You Better You Bet – The Who
  • Hold On Loosely – 38 Special
  • Burnin’ for You – Blue Öyster Cult
  • Ain’t Even Done with the Night – John Cougar
  • In the Dark – Billy Squier

Funk, R&B, Soul, and Quiet Storm

R&B and funk were major forces in 1981. Earth, Wind & Fire’s Let’s Groove, Rick James’ Super Freak and Give It to Me Baby, Kool & The Gang’s Celebration, and Carl Carlton’s She’s a Bad Mama Jama gave the year some of its strongest dance-floor energy. These songs were built around rhythm, personality, and basslines that did not ask permission. The smoother side of R&B was equally strong. Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers, Teddy Pendergrass, Smokey Robinson, Al Jarreau, The Commodores, The Pointer Sisters, Quincy Jones with James Ingram, and Stacy Lattisaw helped make 1981 rich with soul, quiet storm, and adult R&B warmth.

  • Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
  • Super Freak – Rick James
  • Give It to Me Baby – Rick James
  • Celebration – Kool & The Gang
  • She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton
  • Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers
  • Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
  • Love T.K.O. – Teddy Pendergrass
  • We’re in This Love Together – Al Jarreau
  • Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores
  • Being with You – Smokey Robinson
  • Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – The Gap Band
  • Slow Hand – The Pointer Sisters
  • Just Once – Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram
  • Love on a Two-Way Street – Stacy Lattisaw
  • Sweet Baby – Stanley Clarke & George Duke

Pop, Mainstream Radio, and Early MTV Favorites

Pop music in 1981 was polished, catchy, and increasingly visual. MTV launched in August of that year, and while not every hit was video-driven yet, the rules were changing fast. Songs by Olivia Newton-John, Kim Carnes, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Sheena Easton, Dolly Parton, Blondie, Diana Ross, and Rick Springfield helped define a transitional pop year. Physical and Bette Davis Eyes became two of the year’s biggest pop statements, while Morning Train (Nine to Five), Private Eyes, 9 to 5, and Kiss on My List kept radio bright and hook-heavy. The ’80s were still warming up, but the hairspray had already entered the chat.

  • Physical – Olivia Newton-John
  • Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
  • Private Eyes – Daryl Hall & John Oates
  • Kiss on My List – Daryl Hall & John Oates
  • Morning Train (Nine to Five) – Sheena Easton
  • 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
  • The Tide Is High – Blondie
  • Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
  • It’s My Turn – Diana Ross
  • I Love a Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
  • Passion – Rod Stewart
  • My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) – Chilliwack
  • Every Woman in the World – Air Supply
  • Sweetheart – Franke and the Knockouts

New Wave, Post-Punk, and Alternative Pop

New wave and alternative pop had a strong presence in 1981, even before MTV fully transformed the landscape. The Police, Blondie, The Go-Go’s, Squeeze, Devo, David Bowie, Dire Straits, Steve Winwood, and Rockpile helped give the year a sharper and more modern edge. This part of 1981 pointed toward the sound of the early MTV years. Our Lips Are Sealed, Tempted, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Don’t Stand So Close to Me, and Working in the Coal Mine helped move pop away from the disco-heavy late ’70s and into something quirkier, brighter, and more video-friendly.

  • De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da – The Police
  • The Tide Is High – Blondie
  • Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go-Go’s
  • Don’t Stand So Close to Me – The Police
  • Tempted – Squeeze
  • Fashion – David Bowie
  • Working in the Coal Mine – Devo
  • Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
  • Skateaway – Dire Straits
  • Arc of a Diver – Steve Winwood
  • While You See a Chance – Steve Winwood
  • Teacher Teacher – Rockpile
  • The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ’Em) – The Greg Kihn Band

Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary, and Pop Ballads

The softer side of 1981 was loaded with adult contemporary hits and emotional pop ballads. Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie became one of the year’s defining romantic songs, while Dan Fogelberg, Barbra Streisand, Barry Gibb, Barry Manilow, Ronnie Milsap, Air Supply, James Taylor, J.D. Souther, and Neil Diamond kept the softer side of radio very busy. These songs were built for dedications, slow dances, long car rides, and staring thoughtfully through a window while pretending not to be dramatic. 1981 ballads did not whisper their feelings; they arranged strings and called Lionel Richie.

  • I Love You – Climax Blues Band
  • Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers
  • Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
  • Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
  • Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg
  • Guilty – Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
  • Woman – John Lennon
  • The Old Songs – Barry Manilow
  • Hello Again – Neil Diamond
  • (There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me – Ronnie Milsap
  • Just Once – Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram
  • Every Woman in the World – Air Supply
  • Her Town Too – James Taylor & J.D. Souther
  • For Your Eyes Only – Sheena Easton

Country, Country-Pop, and Americana Crossovers

Country crossover was very visible in 1981. Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, Eddie Rabbitt’s I Love a Rainy Night, Juice Newton’s Queen of Hearts, Ronnie Milsap’s (There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me, and The Oak Ridge Boys’ Elvira helped country-pop reach a broad radio audience. The year also had folk-rock and Americana-flavored moments from Dan Fogelberg, Gary U.S. Bonds, The Irish Rovers, and The Outlaws. These songs gave 1981 a rootsier counterweight to the synths, funk grooves, and arena-rock guitars happening elsewhere.

  • 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
  • Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
  • Elvira – The Oak Ridge Boys
  • (Ghost) Riders in the Sky – The Outlaws
  • (There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me – Ronnie Milsap
  • I Love a Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
  • This Little Girl – Gary U.S. Bonds
  • Wasn’t That a Party – The Irish Rovers
  • Sign of the Gypsy Queen – April Wine
  • Seven Year Ache – Rosanne Cash

Early Rap, Disco Afterglow, and Dance-Floor Grooves

1981 still carried plenty of disco-era energy, but it was also showing where dance music was headed next. The Sugarhill Gang’s 8th Wonder kept early hip-hop visible, while Blondie’s Rapture helped introduce rap-influenced sounds to many pop listeners. Frankie Smith’s Double Dutch Bus brought playful funk and street-rhythm energy into the mainstream mix. Dance and club-friendly R&B remained strong through Kool & The Gang, Sister Sledge, The Gap Band, A Taste of Honey, Prince, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Disco had supposedly “ended,” but the dance floor clearly did not receive the memo.

  • Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith
  • Celebration – Kool & The Gang
  • Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
  • Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – The Gap Band
  • Rapture – Blondie
  • 8th Wonder – The Sugarhill Gang
  • Jones vs. Jones – Kool & The Gang
  • All American Girls – Sister Sledge
  • Sukiyaki – A Taste of Honey
  • Controversy – Prince
  • Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire

Classic Rock Veterans and Legacy Artists

1981 included plenty of established artists still making strong chart appearances. The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, George Harrison, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Santana, The Who, ABBA, Barbra Streisand, Barry Gibb, and Rod Stewart all helped connect the new decade to the previous one. Some of these songs came from artists adapting to a changing pop landscape, while others simply reflected strong songwriting that easily spanned decades. MTV was about to rewrite the rulebook, but the veterans still had plenty of ink left in the pen.

  • Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
  • Woman – John Lennon
  • The Winner Takes It All – ABBA
  • America – Neil Diamond
  • Fashion – David Bowie
  • No Reply at All – Genesis
  • All Those Years Ago – George Harrison
  • Winning – Santana
  • Say Goodbye to Hollywood – Billy Joel
  • Watching the Wheels – John Lennon
  • Super Trouper – ABBA
  • You Better You Bet – The Who
  • Passion – Rod Stewart

Novelty, Medleys, and “Only in 1981” Songs

Some 1981 songs had their own strange little pop-culture corner. Double Dutch Bus was funky, playful, and instantly recognizable, while Stars on 45 turned oldies medleys into a chart phenomenon. Tight Fit’s Back to the ’60s Medley fit the same nostalgia wave, proving that pop music was already remixing its own past before the decade fully got rolling. Songs like Bette Davis Eyes, Physical, and Working in the Coal Mine also became memorable partly because of their personality. 1981 had plenty of serious music, but it also had songs that winked, danced, and occasionally showed up wearing leg warmers.

  • Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith
  • Physical – Olivia Newton-John
  • Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
  • Working in the Coal Mine – Devo
  • Wasn’t That a Party – The Irish Rovers
  • Back to the ’60s Medley – Tight Fit
  • Medley – Stars on 45
  • 96 Tears – Garland Jeffreys

PCM’s 1981 Top 100 Popular Music Chart

  1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
  2. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
  3. Super Freak – Rick James
  4. Give It to Me Baby – Rick James
  5. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
  6. Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
  7. Back in Black – AC/DC
  8. I Love You – Climax Blues Band
  9. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
  10. She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton
  11. Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers
  12. Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith
  13. Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
  14. Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
  15. Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
  16. In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins
  17. Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan
  18. Love T.K.O. – Teddy Pendergrass
  19. We’re in This Love Together – Al Jarreau
  20. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da – The Police
  21. Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores
  22. Urgent – Foreigner
  23. The Tide Is High – Blondie
  24. Fire and Ice – Pat Benatar
  25. Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go-Go’s
  26. Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg
  27. The Stroke – Billy Squier
  28. Who’s Making Love – The Blues Brothers
  29. Being with You – Smokey Robinson
  30. Don’t Stand So Close to Me – The Police
  31. Tempted – Squeeze
  32. Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – The Gap Band
  33. Guilty – Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
  34. Woman – John Lennon
  35. The Winner Takes It All – ABBA
  36. Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
  37. Controversy – Prince
  38. Rapture – Blondie
  39. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
  40. America – Neil Diamond
  41. Physical – Olivia Newton-John
  42. Treat Me Right – Pat Benatar
  43. Elvira – The Oak Ridge Boys
  44. The Old Songs – Barry Manilow
  45. Fashion – David Bowie
  46. No Reply at All – Genesis
  47. All Those Years Ago – George Harrison
  48. Slow Hand – The Pointer Sisters
  49. 8th Wonder – The Sugarhill Gang
  50. My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) – Chilliwack
  51. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
  52. Winning – Santana
  53. Say Goodbye to Hollywood – Billy Joel
  54. Jones vs. Jones – Kool & The Gang
  55. Ain’t Even Done with the Night – John Cougar
  56. Private Eyes – Daryl Hall & John Oates
  57. (Ghost) Riders in the Sky – The Outlaws
  58. Working in the Coal Mine – Devo
  59. Watching the Wheels – John Lennon
  60. Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
  61. Super Trouper – ABBA
  62. Arc of a Diver – Steve Winwood
  63. While You See a Chance – Steve Winwood
  64. Teacher Teacher – Rockpile
  65. Sukiyaki – A Taste of Honey
  66. Hello Again – Neil Diamond
  67. (There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me – Ronnie Milsap
  68. Morning Train (Nine to Five) – Sheena Easton
  69. All American Girls – Sister Sledge
  70. Skateaway – Dire Straits
  71. Ah! Leah! – Donnie Iris
  72. This Little Girl – Gary U.S. Bonds
  73. Wasn’t That a Party – The Irish Rovers
  74. Sign of the Gypsy Queen – April Wine
  75. Boy from New York City – The Manhattan Transfer
  76. Just Once – Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram
  77. Back to the ’60s Medley – Tight Fit
  78. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
  79. Sweetheart – Franke and the Knockouts
  80. Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
  81. Every Woman in the World – Air Supply
  82. It’s My Turn – Diana Ross
  83. How ’Bout Us – Champaign
  84. Tom Sawyer – Rush
  85. I’ve Done Everything for You – Rick Springfield
  86. Passion – Rod Stewart
  87. Kiss on My List – Daryl Hall & John Oates
  88. You Better You Bet – The Who
  89. I Love a Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
  90. Love on a Two-Way Street – Stacy Lattisaw
  91. The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ’Em) – The Greg Kihn Band
  92. Medley – Stars on 45
  93. Hold On Loosely – 38 Special
  94. Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) – Joey Scarbury
  95. Promises in the Dark – Pat Benatar
  96. Her Town Too – James Taylor & J.D. Souther
  97. Sausalito Summernight – Diesel
  98. 96 Tears – Garland Jeffreys
  99. I Missed Again – Phil Collins
  100. Burnin’ for You – Blue Öyster Cult