The Billboard Top 100 of 1981

In 1981, Ronald Reagan became our president, Pac-Man was a huge craze, MTV was launched on cable television, and Three’s Company and Alice were two of the most popular shows on TV.

Here are the first 50 songs of the Billboard Top 100 of 1981:

1.) “Bette Davis Eyes” - Kim Carnes

2.) “Endless Love” - Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

3.) “Lady” - Kenny Rogers

4.) “(Just Like) Starting Over” - John Lennon

5.) “Jessie’s Girl” - Rick Springfield

6.) “Celebration” - Kool & the Gang

7.) “Kiss on My List” - Hall & Oates

8.) “I Love a Rainy Night” - Eddie Rabbitt

9.) “9 to 5” - Dolly Parton

10.) “Keep on Loving You” - REO Speedwagon

11.) “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)” - Joey Scarbury

12.) “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” - Sheena Easton

13.) “Being With You” - Smokey Robinson

14.) “Queen of Hearts” - Juice Newton

15.) “Rapture” - Blondie

16.) “A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)” - Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio

17.) “The Tide Is High” - Blondie

18.) “Just the Two of Us” - Grover Washington, Jr. and Bill Withers

19.) “Slow Hand” - Pointer Sisters

20.) “I Love You” - Climax Blues Band

21.) “Woman” - John Lennon

22.) “Sukiyaki” - A Taste of Honey

23.) “The Winner Takes It All” - ABBA

24.) “Medley” - Stars on 45

25.) “Angel of the Morning” - Juice Newton

26.) “Love on the Rocks” - Neil Diamond

27.) “Every Woman in the World” - Air Supply

28.) “The One That You Love” - Air Supply

29.) “Guilty” - Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb

30.) “The Best of Times” - Styx

31.) “Elvira” - Oak Ridge Boys

32.) “Take It on the Run” - REO Speedwagon

33.) “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” - Ronnie Milsap

34.) “Livin’ Inside Myself” - Gino Vannelli

35.) “Woman in Love” - Barbra Streisand

36.) “Boy from New York City” - The Manhattan Transfer

37.) “Urgent” - Foreigner

38.) “Passion” - Rod Stewart

39.) “Lady (You Bring Me Up)” - Commodores

40.) “Crying” - Don McLean

41.) “Hearts” - Marty Balin

42.) “It’s My Turn” - Diana Ross

43.) “You Make My Dreams” - Hall & Oates

44.) “I Don’t Need You” - Kenny Rogers

45.) “How ‘Bout Us” - Champaign

46.) “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” - Pat Benatar

47.) “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” - The Greg Kihn Band

48.) “Time” - Alan Parsons Project

49.) “Hungry Heart” - Bruce Springsteen

50.) “Sweetheart” - Franke and the Knockouts

In order to complete this trip back in time, I’ve posted the music videos for Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes,” John Lennon’s “(Just Like) Starting Over,” Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl,” Juice Newton’s “Queen of Hearts,” Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio’s “A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do),” Blondie’s “The Tide Is High,” REO Speedwagon’s “Take It on the Run,” Foreigner’s “Urgent,” the Commodores’ “Lady (You Bring Me Up),” Marty Balin’s “Hearts,” and Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams,” as well as a performance of The Manhattan Transfer’s “Boy from New York City” above