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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z OtherTop 1000

Top Dance Songs of 1981

1980 <-1981-> 1982

Video playlist


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1.
11/1981
458

✫1
US


3
dance


4
rock
✫1
UK
2.
04/1981
406

✫1
US
11
AC
18
dance




2
UK
[venus, sugar sugar, no reply, i'll be back, drive my car, do you want to know a secret, we can work it out, i should have known better, nowhere man, you're going to lose that girl, stars on 45]
[Radio 3810]
written by various
3.
11/1981
402

✫1
US


12
dance


✫1
rock
3
UK
charted as Centerfold / Flamethrower in US dance charts
[EMI America 8102]
written by Seth Justman
4.
12/1981
386

✫1
US


31
dance


✫1
rock
4
UK
as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #484]
[Boardwalk 7-11-135]
written by Alan Merrill & Jake Hooker
5.
11/1981
379

✫1
US
12
AC
✫1
dance
✫1
R&B
28
rock
8
UK
[RCA 12357]
written by Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen
6.
10/1981
353

3
US


3
dance
✫1
R&B


3
UK
charted as Let's Groove/I've Had Enough in US dance charts
[Columbia 02536]
written by Wayne Vaughn & Maurice White
7.
10/1981
335

✫1
US
29
AC
22
dance
28
R&B


7
UK
[MCA 51182]
written by Steve Kipner & Terry Shaddick
8.
08/1981
335

8
US


4
dance


12
rock
✫1
UK
written by Ed Cobb, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr. (as Eddie Holland)
9.
03/1981
328

✫1
US
15
AC
26
dance


5
rock
10
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1982]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1982]
[EMI America 8077]
written by Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon
10.
08/1981
327

2
US


14
dance


✫1
rock
7
UK
[Rolling Stones 21003]
written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
11.
10/1981
261

10
US


16
dance
4
R&B


3
UK
B side to Steppin' Out ; charted as Take My Heart / Steppin' Out / Get Down on It in US dance charts
[De-Lite 818]
written by Ronald Bell (as Khalis Bayyan), Kool & The Gang & James "J.T." Taylor
12.
04/1981
234

3
US


78
dance


41
rock
11
UK
produced by Dave Edmunds
[EMI America 8122]
written by Brian Setzer
13.
10/1981
217

5
US


63
dance


23
rock
11
UK
14.
06/1981
211





13
dance




✫1
UK
charted as The Model / Computer Love in UK charts; charted as Pocket Calculator / Numbers / Computer-World / Computer Love in US dance charts
written by Karl Bartos & Ralf Hütter
15.
08/1981
211





15
dance




✫1
UK
written by Bob Heatlie
16.
05/1981
206





38
dance




✫1
UK
charted as Stand and Deliver / Beat My Guest in US dance charts
written by Adam Ant & Marco Pirroni
17.
02/1981
201

9
US


35
dance


4
rock
9
UK
produced by Dave Edmunds; charted as Rock This Town/Runaway Boys in US dance charts
[EMI America 8132]
written by Brian Setzer
18.
10/1981
198

5
US


32
dance
✫1
R&B


29
UK
[Warner 49846]
written by Bill Champlin, Jay Graydon & Steve Lukather
19.
07/1981

Urgent by Foreigner

from 4   4
194

4
US


32
dance


✫1
rock
54
UK
featuring Jr. Walker
[Atlantic 3831]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner]
20.
11/1981
181

4
US


14
dance


2
rock


charted as Shake It Up/Cruiser in US dance charts
[Elektra 47250]
written by Ric Ocasek
21.
01/1981
166

28
US


4
dance
2
R&B


9
UK
charted as It's a Love Thing / Up on Soul Train / I Can Make It Better in US dance charts
[Solar 12154]
written by William Shelby & Dana Meyers
22.
11/1981
155

8
US


14
dance
2
R&B


36
UK
charted as Mirror, Mirror / Work That Body in US dance charts
[RCA 13021]
written by Dennis Matkosky & Michael Sembello
23.
07/1981
155





17
dance




3
UK
written by Gary Kemp
24.
08/1981
150





37
dance




3
UK
25.
06/1981
149





56
dance




3
UK
[instrumental]
written by Chip Carpenter (as Andrew Carpenter), Roger Freeman, Chris Hamlin (as Chris Hamlyn), James Johnstone, Chris Lee (as Christoper J. Lee), Timothy Moore & Simon Underwood
26.
08/1981

Abacab by Genesis

from Abacab   Abacab
148

26
US


43
dance


4
rock
9
UK
27.
10/1981
146

101
US


41
dance


50
rock
4
UK
[Arista 0708]
written by Nick Heyward
28.
07/1981
145

89
US


63
dance




4
UK
[Arista 0638]
written by various
29.
06/1981
144

8
US
13
AC
53
dance
5
R&B


56
UK
charted as Lady (You Bring Me Up)/Keep On Taking Me Higher in US dance charts
[Motown 1514]
written by Harold Hudson, Shirley King & William King
30.
05/1981
141





55
dance
68
R&B


4
UK
[RCA 12240]
written by Lamont Dozier
31.
04/1981
137





26
dance


19
rock
5
UK
charted as Planet Earth/Girls On Film in US dance charts
[Capitol 5070 (Harvest)]
written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor [Roger Meddows-Taylor] & Andy Taylor
32.
06/1981
135

105
US


✫1
dance




7
UK
charted as Wordy Rappinghood / Genius of Love in US dance charts [novelty]
[Sire 50067]
written by Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Monte Browne, Tyrone Downie & Uziah "Sticky" Thompson
33.
05/1981
135

7
US
4
AC
30
dance






[Atlantic 3816]
written by George Davis & John T. Taylor
34.
11/1981
134

44
US


14
dance
34
R&B


7
UK
charted as Mirror, Mirror / Work That Body in US dance charts
[RCA 13201]
written by Diana Ross, Paul Jabara & Ray Chew
35.
02/1981
131

28
US


3
dance
10
R&B


14
UK
featuring Dune
charted as Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) / Razzamatazz / Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me in US dance charts
[A&M 2309]
written by Chas Jankel & Kenny Young
36.
01/1981
131





✫1
dance




7
UK
Lay All Your Love On Me was issued as a 12 single in the US, UK and Germany; charted as Lay All Your Love on Me / Super Trouper / On and On and On in US dance charts
[Atlantic 3826]
written by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
37.
10/1981
127

17
US


16
dance
✫1
R&B


29
UK
charted as Take My Heart / Steppin' Out / Get Down on It in US dance charts
[De-Lite 815]
written by George Brown, Kool & The Gang, Claydes Charles Smith & James "J.T." Taylor
38.
06/1981
113

40
US


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B


27
UK
[RCA 12243]
written by Kashif
39.
05/1981
112

16
US


✫1
dance
3
R&B




[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #477]
charted as Give It to Me Baby / Super Freak / Ghetto Life in US dance charts
[Gordy 7205]
written by Rick James & Alonzo Miller
40.
12/1981
105





45
dance




7
UK
41.
03/1981
104





3
dance
17
R&B


11
UK
featuring Patti Austin
charted as Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) / Razzamatazz / Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me in US dance charts
[A&M 2334]
written by Rod Temperton
42.
06/1981
104

22
US


20
dance
2
R&B


34
UK
[20th Century 2488]
written by Leon Haywood
43.
09/1981
98





26
dance




8
UK
charted as Just Can't Get Enough / No Disco in US dance charts
written by Vince Clarke
44.
10/1981
97

88
US


16
dance
12
R&B


12
UK
charted as Take My Heart / Steppin' Out / Get Down on It in US dance charts
[De-Lite 816]
written by Robert Bell (as Robert "Kool" Bell), Kool & The Gang & James "J.T." Taylor
45.
02/1981
96





44
dance


5
rock
11
UK
written by Chrissie Hynde
46.
09/1981
94

31
US


✫1
dance
2
R&B


65
UK
charted as Wordy Rappinghood / Genius of Love in US dance charts
[Sire 49882]
written by Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Monte Browne, Tyrone Downie & Uziah "Sticky" Thompson
47.
08/1981
93

33
US


4
dance
✫1
R&B


44
UK
[Epic 02409]
written by Luther Vandross
48.
11/1981

Call Me by Skyy

from Skyy Line   Skyy Line
88

26
US


3
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as Call Me / When You Touch Me in US dance charts
[Salsoul 2152]
written by Randy Muller
49.
06/1981
88

12
US


36
dance


13
rock


[Threshold]
written by Justin Hayward & John Lodge
50.
07/1981
88

20
US


10
dance


15
rock
47
UK
[I.R.S. 9901]
written by Jane Wiedlin & Terry Hall
51.
04/1981
80





62
dance




10
UK
charted as Musclebound / Glow in UK charts
written by Gary Kemp
52.
06/1981
80





29
dance




11
UK
charted as New Life / Shout in US dance charts
written by Vince Clarke & Paul Spector
53.
03/1981
78

40
US


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as Give It to Me Baby / Super Freak / Ghetto Life in US dance charts
[Gordy 7197]
written by Rick James
54.
02/1981
77





26
dance




12
UK
charted as Planet Earth/Girls On Film in US dance charts
[Capitol 5017 (Harvest)]
written by Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor [Roger Meddows-Taylor] & Andy Taylor
55.
05/1981
76





27
dance




12
UK
56.
07/1981
75





31
dance




12
UK
charted as You'll Never Know / I'm Totally Yours in US dance charts
[Prelude 8031]
written by Guiliano Salerni & Phil Hurtt
57.
12/1981
68





✫1
dance
13
R&B


30
UK
[Prelude 8043]
written by James "D Train" Williams (as James "D. Train" Williams) & Hubert Eaves III
58.
01/1981
64

79
US


6
dance
3
R&B


41
UK
charted as All American Girls / He's Just a Runaway in US dance charts
[Cotillion 46007]
written by Narada Michael Walden (as Narada Walden), Lisa Walden, Allee Willis & Joni Sledge
59.
06/1981
62





19
dance
20
R&B


20
UK
charted as Wikka Wrap / All Wrapped Up in US dance charts [novelty]
[SAM 5020]
written by Adrian Sear
60.
09/1981
60

70
US


✫1
dance
3
R&B




charted as Controversy / Let's Work in US dance charts
[Warner 49808]
written by Prince
61.
04/1981
60

101
US


2
dance
5
R&B


53
UK
[Island 49697]
written by Koo Koo Baya, Grace Jones & Dana Mano
62.
01/1981
57





68
dance




17
UK
written by Gary Kemp
63.
06/1981
56

50
US


12
dance
3
R&B


76
UK
charted as Square Biz / It Must Be Magic in US dance charts
[Gordy 7202]
written by Teena Marie
64.
05/1981
54

70
US


5
dance
5
R&B


76
UK
[Columbia 02102]
written by Mike Sutton & Brenda Sutton
65.
07/1981
53





3
dance
8
R&B


41
UK
[Capitol 4993]
written by Mauro Malavasi & Paul Slade
66.
10/1981
52





3
dance




29
UK
charted as Let's Groove/I've Had Enough in US dance charts
written by Philip Bailey, Greg Phillinganes & Brenda Russell
67.
04/1981

Paradise by Change

from Miracles   
51

80
US


✫1
dance
7
R&B




charted as Paradise / Hold Tight / Heaven of My Live in US dance charts
[RFC/Atlantic 3809]
written by Davide Romani (as David Romani) & Tanyayette Willoughby
68.
08/1981
51

43
US


29
dance
71
R&B


32
UK
produced by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
[Chrysalis 2526]
written by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
69.
03/1981
50

53
US


22
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as What Cha' Gonna Do for Me / I Know You, I Like You / We Can Work It Out in US dance charts
[Warner 49692]
written by Ned Doheny & Hamish Stuart
70.
01/1981
47





5
dance
57
R&B


31
UK
charted as Can You Handle It / You Got My Love in US dance charts
[Prelude 8024]
written by Willie Lester & Rodney Brown
71.
02/1981
47

58
US


13
dance




35
UK
[Geffen 49683]
written by Yoko Ono
72.
05/1981
46





64
dance




22
UK
charted as Spellbound / Arabian Knights in US dance charts
written by Siouxsie (as Siouxsie Sioux), John McGeoch, Steven Severin & Budgie
73.
04/1981
45





67
dance




22
UK
74.
10/1981
44

104
US


✫1
dance
9
R&B




charted as Controversy / Let's Work in US dance charts
[Warner 50002]
written by Prince
75.
01/1981
43

105
US


4
dance
40
R&B


44
UK
charted as It's a Love Thing / Up on Soul Train / I Can Make It Better in US dance charts
[Solar 12232]
written by Dana Meyers, Stephen Shockley & William Shelby
76.
04/1981
43

40
US


82
dance
3
R&B




featuring Teddy Pendergrass
[20th Century 2492]
written by James Mtume & Reggie Lucas
77.
08/1981
43





✫1
dance
24
R&B


76
UK
charted as Do You Love Me? / The Genie in US dance charts
[Qwest 49754]
written by Rod Temperton
78.
08/1981
43

79
US


25
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as I Heard It Through the Grapevine / So Ruff So Tuff in US dance charts
[Warner 49786]
written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong
79.
04/1981
38

103
US


✫1
dance
22
R&B




charted as Try It Out / Hold Tight in US dance charts
[RFC/Atlantic 3813]
written by Gino Soccio
80.
04/1981
38

89
US


✫1
dance
40
R&B




charted as Paradise / Hold Tight / Heaven of My Live in US dance charts
[RFC/Atlantic 3832]
written by Davide Romani (as David Romani) & Paul Slade
81.
10/1981
38

77
US


✫1
dance






charted as You Can / Fire in My Heart in US dance charts
written by Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte
82.
02/1981
37





4
dance
47
R&B


49
UK
charted as Don't Stop / Do It Again in US dance charts
[SAM 5018]
written by K.I.D. (as Geoff Bastow)
83.
09/1981
36





5
dance
41
R&B


49
UK
as Bohannon featuring Dr. Perri Johnson
[Phase II 02573]
written by Hamilton Bohannon & Perri Johnson
84.
04/1981
35





6
dance
35
R&B


48
UK
[RCA 12215]
written by Ronald Brown & John Scroggins
85.
01/1981
35

90
US


✫1
dance






charted as Lay All Your Love on Me / Super Trouper / On and On and On in US dance charts
[Atlantic 3826 A]
written by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
86.
05/1981
35

102
US


✫1
dance
38
R&B




charted as Give It to Me Baby / Super Freak / Ghetto Life in US dance charts
[Gordy 7215]
written by Rick James
87.
03/1981
35





3
dance




52
UK
featuring Patti Austin
charted as Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) / Razzamatazz / Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me in US dance charts
written by Stevie Wonder & Stephanie Andrews
88.
09/1981
34

84
US


5
dance
14
R&B




charted as Walking Into Sunshine / Don't Tell Me / I Need Your Love in US dance charts
[Mercury 76126]
written by Linton Beckles, Lipson Francis & Roy Carter
89.
05/1981
34





5
dance




46
UK
charted as Remember Me / Ain't No Mountain High Enough Suite / Cruisin' the Streets
written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson
90.
08/1981
34

43
US


30
dance


53
rock
76
UK
[Full Moon 47204]
written by Allen Toussaint
91.
05/1981
33

102
US


13
dance




39
UK
charted as Pocket Calculator / Numbers / Computer-World / Computer Love in US dance charts
[Warner 49723]
written by Ralf Hütter, Eskleben Schneider & Karl Bartos
92.
06/1981
33





2
dance




76
UK
93.
05/1981
32

109
US


✫1
dance






[Atlantic 3847]
written by Denis LePage & Denyse LePage
94.
07/1981
32





✫1
dance
35
R&B




[Prelude 8034]
written by Andy Gierus & Nick Straker (as Nicholas Bailey)
95.
01/1981
31





21
dance




34
UK
charted as The Magnificent Dance / The Magnificent Seven / The Call Up / The Cool Out in US dance charts
[Epic 02036]
written by Mick Jones [The Clash], Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon & Topper Headon
96.
08/1981
30





✫1
dance
60
R&B




[Pavillion 02455]
written by Colin Campsie & George McFarlane
97.
03/1981
30

66
US


75
dance


5
rock


[Epic]
written by Rudy Martinez
98.
12/1981
30

71
US


35
dance
6
R&B




[Salsoul 7017]
written by Steve Washington (as Stephen C. Washington), Curt Jones & Starleana Young
99.
08/1981
29

90
US


16
dance
7
R&B




charted as Get It Up / Cool in US dance charts
[Warner 49864]
written by Prince & Dez Dickerson
100.
09/1981
29

91
US


21
dance
6
R&B




charted as Snap Shot / Party Lites / Wait for Me in US dance charts
[Cotillion 46022]
written by Mark Adams, Steve Arrington, Charles Carter, Jimmy Douglass & Floyd Miller

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