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
