List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1981

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These are the Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits of 1981. The longest running number-one single of 1981 is "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John which stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks in 1981 and then for four additional weeks in 1982, with a total of 10 weeks at number-one. This also makes "Physical" the longest running number-one single of the 1980s.

That year, 10 acts hit number one for the first time, such as Kool & the Gang, Dolly Parton, Eddie Rabbitt, REO Speedwagon, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes, Stars on 45, Air Supply, and Rick Springfield. Lionel Richie, already having hit number one with The Commodores, also receives his first number one song as a solo act. Blondie and Daryl Hall and John Oates were the only acts to hit number one more than once, with both acts hitting twice.

Chart history[edit]

"9 to 5" by Dolly Parton reached the top spot for two non-consecutive weeks on February 21 and March 14, 1981, sandwiched with two weeks of "I Love a Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbitt. Sheena Easton's No. 1 hit "9 to 5" was retitled "Morning Train" to avoid confusion.
Key
The yellow background indicates the No. 1 song on Billboard's 1981 Year-End Chart of Pop Singles.
No. Issue date Song Artist(s) Ref.
495 January 3 "(Just Like) Starting Over" John Lennon [1]
January 10 [2]
January 17 [3]
January 24 [4]
496 January 31 "The Tide Is High" Blondie [5]
497 February 7 "Celebration" Kool & the Gang [6]
February 14 [7]
498 February 21 "9 to 5" Dolly Parton [8]
499 February 28 "I Love a Rainy Night" Eddie Rabbitt [9]
March 7 [10]
re March 14 "9 to 5" Dolly Parton [11]
500 March 21 "Keep On Loving You" REO Speedwagon [12]
501 March 28 "Rapture" Blondie [13]
April 4 [14]
502 April 11 "Kiss on My List" Daryl Hall and John Oates [15]
April 18 [16]
April 25 [17]
503 May 2 "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" Sheena Easton [18]
May 9 [19]
504 May 16 "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes [20]
May 23 [21]
May 30 [22]
June 6 [23]
June 13 [24]
505 June 20 "Stars on 45" Stars on 45 [25]
re June 27 "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes [26]
July 4 [27]
July 11 [28]
July 18 [29]
506 July 25 "The One That You Love" Air Supply [30]
507 August 1 "Jessie's Girl" Rick Springfield [31]
August 8 [32]
508 August 15 "Endless Love" Diana Ross and Lionel Richie [33]
August 22 [34]
August 29 [35]
September 5 [36]
September 12 [37]
September 19 [38]
September 26 [39]
October 3 [40]
October 10 [41]
509 October 17 "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" Christopher Cross [42]
October 24 [43]
October 31 [44]
510 November 7 "Private Eyes" Daryl Hall and John Oates [45]
November 14 [46]
511 November 21 "Physical" Olivia Newton-John [47]
November 28 [48]
December 5 [49]
December 12 [50]
December 19 [51]
December 26 [52]

Number-one artists[edit]

List of number-one artists by total weeks at number one
Position Artist Weeks at No. 1
1 Kim Carnes 9
Diana Ross
Lionel Richie
4 Olivia Newton-John 6
5 Daryl Hall and John Oates 5
6 John Lennon 4
7 Blondie 3
Christopher Cross
9 Kool & the Gang 2
Eddie Rabbitt
Dolly Parton
Sheena Easton
Rick Springfield
14 REO Speedwagon 1
Stars on 45
Air Supply

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "January 3, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  2. ^ "January 10, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  3. ^ "January 17, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  4. ^ "January 24, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  5. ^ "January 31, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  6. ^ "February 7, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  7. ^ "February 14, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  8. ^ "February 21, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  9. ^ "February 28, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  10. ^ "March 7, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  11. ^ "March 14, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  12. ^ "March 21, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  13. ^ "March 28, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  14. ^ "April 4, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  15. ^ "April 11, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  16. ^ "April 18, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  17. ^ "April 25, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  18. ^ "May 2, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  19. ^ "May 9, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  20. ^ "May 16, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  21. ^ "May 23, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  22. ^ "May 30, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  23. ^ "June 6, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  24. ^ "June 13, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  25. ^ "June 20, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  26. ^ "June 27, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  27. ^ "July 4, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  28. ^ "July 11, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  29. ^ "July 18, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  30. ^ "July 25, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  31. ^ "August 1, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  32. ^ "August 8, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  33. ^ "August 15, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  34. ^ "August 22, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  35. ^ "August 29, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  36. ^ "September 5, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  37. ^ "September 12, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  38. ^ "September 19, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  39. ^ "September 26, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  40. ^ "October 3, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  41. ^ "October 10, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  42. ^ "October 17, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  43. ^ "October 24, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  44. ^ "October 31, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  45. ^ "November 7, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  46. ^ "November 14, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  47. ^ "November 21, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  48. ^ "November 28, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  49. ^ "December 5, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  50. ^ "December 12, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  51. ^ "December 19, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.
  52. ^ "December 26, 1981". Billboard Hot 100.

Sources[edit]

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