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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 Other • Top 1000

Top Rock Songs of 1981

1980 <-

1981

-> 1982

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

12/1981

Don't You Want Me by The Human League

from Dare!

455

✫1
US

3
dance

4
rock

✫1
UK

written by Philip Oakey, Jo Callis & Philip Adrian Wright

01/1981

Woman by John Lennon

from Double Fantasy

408

2
US

4
AC

26
rock

✫1
UK

[Geffen]
written by John Lennon

11/1981

Centerfold by J. Geils Band

from Freeze Frame

398

✫1
US

12
dance

✫1
rock

3
UK

charted as Centerfold / Flamethrower in US dance charts
[EMI America 8102]
written by Seth Justman

09/1981

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police

from Ghost in the Machine

384

3
US

✫1
rock

✫1
UK

written by Sting

12/1981

I Love Rock 'n Roll by Joan Jett

from I Love Rock n' Roll

383

✫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

11/1981

I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) by Hall & Oates

from Private Eyes

376

✫1
US

12
AC

✫1
dance

✫1
R&B

28
rock

8
UK

[RCA 12357]
written by Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen

01/1981

Rapture by Blondie

from Autoamerican

370

✫1
US

✫1
dance

33
R&B

35
rock

5
UK

charted as Rapture / The Tide Is High in US dance charts
[Chrysalis 2485]
written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein

08/1981

Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) by Christopher Cross

from Arthur: The Album

352

✫1
US

✫1
AC

13
rock

7
UK

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1981]

[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1981]
[Warner 49787]
written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager & Peter Allen

08/1981

Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go? by Soft Cell

from Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

332

8
US

4
dance

12
rock

✫1
UK

written by Ed Cobb, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr. (as Eddie Holland)

10.

03/1981

Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes

from Mistaken Identity

325

✫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

11.

08/1981

Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

324

2
US

14
dance

✫1
rock

7
UK

[Rolling Stones 21003]
written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

12.

10/1981

Waiting for a Girl Like You by Foreigner

from 4

322

2
US

5
AC

✫1
rock

8
UK

[Atlantic 3868]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner] & Lou Gramm

13.

05/1981

All Those Years Ago by George Harrison

from Somewhere in England

293

2
US

✫1
AC

6
rock

13
UK

[Dark Horse 49725]
written by George Harrison

14.

01/1981

In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins

from Face Value

252

19
US

2
rock

2
UK

[Atlantic 3824]
written by Phil Collins

15.

11/1981

Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie

from Hot Space

249

29
US

7
rock

✫1
UK

written by Brian May, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, Roger Taylor & David Bowie

16.

07/1981

Hold On Tight by Electric Light Orchestra

from Time

247

10
US

2
rock

4
UK

[Columbia 02408 (Jet)]
written by Jeff Lynne

17.

08/1981

Private Eyes by Hall & Oates

from Private Eyes

246

✫1
US

33
AC

33
rock

32
UK

[RCA 12296]
written by Daryl Hall, Sara Allen, Janna Allen & Warren Pash

18.

03/1981

Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield

from Working Class Dog

242

✫1
US

10
rock

43
UK

[RCA 12201]
written by Rick Springfield

19.

04/1981

Stray Cat Strut by Stray Cats

from Built for Speed

232

3
US

78
dance

41
rock

11
UK

produced by Dave Edmunds
[EMI America 8122]
written by Brian Setzer

20.

02/1981

Kids in America by Kim Wilde

from Kim Wilde

218

25
US

29
rock

2
UK

written by Marty Wilde & Ricky Wilde

21.

10/1981

Young Turks by Rod Stewart

from Tonight I'm Yours

215

5
US

63
dance

23
rock

11
UK

[Warner 49843]
written by Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings & Kevin Savigar

22.

10/1981

Harden My Heart by Quarterflash

from Quarterflash

202

3
US

41
AC

✫1
rock

49
UK

[Geffen 49824]
written by Marv Ross

23.

02/1981

Rock This Town by Stray Cats

from Built for Speed

200

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

24.

11/1981

Freeze-Frame by J. Geils Band

from Freeze Frame

199

4
US

25
R&B

8
rock

27
UK

charted as Flamethrower / Freeze-Frame in US R&B charts
[EMI America 8108]
written by Seth Justman & Peter Wolf

25.

03/1981

Take It on the Run by REO Speedwagon

from Hi Infidelity

199

5
US

6
rock

19
UK

[Epic 19-01054]
written by Gary Richrath

26.

07/1981

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around by Stevie Nicks

from Bella Donna

194

3
US

2
rock

50
UK

with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
[Modern 7336]
written by Tom Petty & Mike Campbell

27.

07/1981

Urgent by Foreigner

from 4

192

4
US

32
dance

✫1
rock

54
UK

featuring Jr. Walker
[Atlantic 3831]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner]

28.

01/1981

The Best of Times by Styx

from Paradise Theater

186

3
US

26
AC

16
rock

42
UK

[A&M 2300]
written by Dennis DeYoung

29.

07/1981

Who's Crying Now by Journey

from Escape

182

4
US

14
AC

4
rock

76
UK

[Columbia 02241 A]
written by Jonathan Cain & Steve Perry

30.

02/1981

Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton

from Juice

181

4
US

✫1
AC

22
country

57
rock

[Capitol 4976]
written by Chip Taylor

31.

11/1981

Shake It Up by The Cars

from Shake It Up

180

4
US

14
dance

2
rock

charted as Shake It Up/Cruiser in US dance charts
[Elektra 47250]
written by Ric Ocasek

32.

11/1981

867-5309 / Jenny by Tommy Tutone

from Tommy Tutone-2

175

4
US

✫1
rock

written by Alex Call & Jim Keller

33.

03/1981

You Better You Bet by The Who

from Face Dances

170

18
US

✫1
rock

9
UK

written by Pete Townshend

34.

12/1981

Spirits in the Material World by The Police

from Ghost in the Machine

164

11
US

7
rock

12
UK

written by Sting

35.

01/1981

While You See a Chance by Steve Winwood

from Arc of a Diver

159

7
US

17
AC

2
rock

45
UK

[Island 49656]
written by Steve Winwood & Will Jennings

36.

09/1981

Tryin' to Live My Life Without You by Bob Seger

from Nine Tonight

157

5
US

2
rock

[live]
written by Eugene Williams

37.

01/1981

I Surrender by Rainbow [British rock band]

from Difficult to Cure

156

105
US

19
rock

3
UK

[Polydor 2163]
written by Russ Ballard

38.

10/1981

Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me) by Rod Stewart

from Tonight I'm Yours

147

20
US

29
rock

8
UK

written by Rod Stewart, Jim Cregan & Kevin Savigar

39.

08/1981

Abacab by Genesis

from Abacab

147

26
US

43
dance

4
rock

9
UK

written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

40.

10/1981

Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) by Haircut 100

from Pelican West

145

101
US

41
dance

50
rock

4
UK

[Arista 0708]
written by Nick Heyward

41.

08/1981

Hard to Say by Dan Fogelberg

from The Innocent Age

143

7
US

2
AC

14
rock

[Full Moon 02488]
written by Dan Fogelberg

42.

10/1981

Trouble by Lindsey Buckingham

from Law and Order

138

9
US

14
AC

12
rock

31
UK

[Asylum 47223]
written by Lindsey Buckingham

43.

10/1981

Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks

from Bella Donna

137

6
US

10
AC

26
rock

with Don Henley
[Modern 7341]
written by Stevie Nicks

44.

07/1981

Girls on Film by Duran Duran

from Duran Duran

136

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

45.

05/1981

You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates

from Voices

136

5
US

35
rock

written by Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates

46.

03/1981

Watching the Wheels by John Lennon

from Double Fantasy

136

10
US

6
AC

25
rock

30
UK

[Geffen 49695]
written by John Lennon

47.

08/1981

The Night Owls by Little River Band

from Time Exposure

136

6
US

33
AC

9
rock

produced by George Martin
[Capitol 5033]
written by Graeham Goble (as Graham Goble)

48.

06/1981

Wordy Rappinghood by Tom Tom Club

from Tom Tom Club

134

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

49.

03/1981

I Missed Again by Phil Collins

from Face Value

131

19
US

8
rock

14
UK

[Atlantic 3790]
written by Phil Collins

50.

05/1981

Hearts by Marty Balin

from Balin

118

8
US

9
AC

20
rock

[EMI America 8084]
written by Jesse Barish

51.

03/1981

Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx

from Paradise Theater

116

9
US

2
rock

[A&M 2323]
written by Tommy Shaw

52.

04/1981

This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds

from Dedication

115

11
US

5
rock

43
UK

[EMI America 8079]
written by Bruce Springsteen

53.

02/1981

I Can't Stand It by Eric Clapton

from Another Ticket

114

10
US

✫1
rock

as Eric Clapton & His Band
[RSO 1060]
written by Eric Clapton

54.

06/1981

The Voice by The Moody Blues

from Long Distance Voyager

111

15
US

16
AC

✫1
rock

76
UK

[Threshold 602]
written by Justin Hayward

55.

08/1981

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

from Escape

104

9
US

8
rock

[Columbia 02567 B]
written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry & Neal Schon

56.

03/1981

Her Town Too by James Taylor and J.D. Souther

from Dad Loves His Work

103

11
US

5
AC

21
rock

[Columbia 60514]
written by J.D. Souther, James Taylor & Waddy Wachtel

57.

11/1981

Waiting on a Friend by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

13
US

8
rock

50
UK

[Rolling Stones 21004]
written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

58.

12/1981

Let's Get It Up by AC/DC

from For Those About to Rock We Salute You

44
US

9
rock

13
UK

written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young & Brian Johnson

59.

02/1981

Message of Love by The Pretenders

from Pretenders II

44
dance

5
rock

11
UK

written by Chrissie Hynde

60.

05/1981

The Stroke by Billy Squier

from Don't Say No

17
US

3
rock

52
UK

[Capitol 5005]
written by Billy Squier

61.

03/1981

Sweetheart by Franke & the Knockouts

from Franke & the Knockouts

10
US

40
AC

27
rock

[Millennium 11801]
written by Billy Elworthy (as William Elworthy) & Franke Previte

62.

10/1981

Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club

from Tom Tom Club

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

63.

07/1981

Fire and Ice by Pat Benatar

from Precious Time

17
US

2
rock

76
UK

[Chrysalis 2529]
written by Pat Benatar, Tom Kelly & Scott Sheets

64.

06/1981

Gemini Dream by The Moody Blues

from Long Distance Voyager

12
US

36
dance

13
rock

[Threshold]
written by Justin Hayward & John Lodge

65.

07/1981

Cool Love by Pablo Cruise

from Reflector

13
US

14
AC

78
R&B

23
rock

[A&M 2349]
written by David Jenkins, Cory Lerios & John Pierce

66.

08/1981

Our Lips Are Sealed by The Go-Go's

from Beauty and the Beat

20
US

10
dance

15
rock

47
UK

[I.R.S. 9901]
written by Jane Wiedlin & Terry Hall

67.

05/1981

The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) by Greg Kihn Band

from Rockihnroll

15
US

5
rock

[Beserkley 47149]
written by Greg Kihn, Gary Phillips (as Gary Philippet) & Steve Wright

68.

05/1981

The Waiting by Tom Petty

from Hard Promises

19
US

✫1
rock

written by Tom Petty

69.

04/1981

Winning by Santana

from Zebop!

17
US

2
rock

[Columbia 01050]
written by Russ Ballard

70.

12/1981

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) by AC/DC

from For Those About to Rock We Salute You

4
rock

15
UK

written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young & Brian Johnson

71.

08/1981

Water on Glass by Kim Wilde

from Kim Wilde

53
rock

11
UK

written by Ricky Wilde & Marty Wilde

72.

07/1981

Juke Box Hero by Foreigner

from 4

26
US

3
rock

48
UK

written by Lou Gramm & Mick Jones [Foreigner]

73.

09/1981

Hang Fire by The Rolling Stones

from Tattoo You

20
US

2
rock

written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

74.

07/1981

Really Wanna Know You by Gary Wright

from The Right Place

16
US

32
AC

17
rock

[Warner 49769]
written by Ali Thomson & Gary Wright

75.

09/1981

Say Goodbye to Hollywood by Billy Joel

from Songs in the Attic

17
US

35
AC

11
rock

(originally released on Turnstiles May 1976) [live]
[Columbia 02518]
written by Billy Joel

76.

11/1981

Find Another Fool by Quarterflash

from Quarterflash

16
US

12
rock

[Geffen 50006]
written by Marv Ross

77.

03/1981

Tom Sawyer by Rush

from Moving Pictures

44
US

8
rock

25
UK

[Mercury 76109]
written by Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart & Pye Dubois

78.

03/1981

Time Out of Mind by Steely Dan

from Gaucho

22
US

13
AC

13
rock

[MCA 51082]
written by Donald Fagen & Walter Becker

79.

01/1981

Hearts on Fire by Randy Meisner

from One More Song

19
US

14
rock

[Epic 50964]
written by Eric Kaz & Randy Meisner

80.

01/1981

Ain't Even Done with the Night by John Mellencamp

from Nothin' Matters and What If It Did

17
US

44
rock

as John Cougar
written by John Mellencamp

81.

01/1981

Treat Me Right by Pat Benatar

from Crimes of Passion

18
US

31
rock

[Chrysalis 2487]
written by Doug Lubahn & Pat Benatar

82.

02/1981

Fade Away by Bruce Springsteen

from The River

20
US

14
rock

[Columbia 11431]
written by Bruce Springsteen

83.

02/1981

Just Between You and Me by April Wine

from The Nature of the Beast

21
US

11
rock

[Capitol 4975]
written by Myles Goodwyn

84.

11/1981

Working for the Weekend by Loverboy

from Get Lucky

29
US

2
rock

[Columbia 02589]
written by Paul Dean, Matt Frenette & Mike Reno

85.

07/1981

Burning for You by Blue Öyster Cult

from Fire of Unknown Origin

40
US

✫1
rock

76
UK

written by Buck Dharma (as Donald Roeser) & Richard Meltzer

86.

09/1981

No Reply at All by Genesis

from Abacab

29
US

2
rock

[Atlantic 3858]
written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

87.

02/1981

Hold On Loosely by 38 Special

from Wild-Eyed Southern Boys

27
US

3
rock

[A&M 2316]
written by Don Barnes, Jeff Carlisi & Jim Peterik

88.

03/1981

Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) by Joan Jett

from Bad Reputation

20
US

21
rock

written by Gary Glitter & Mike Leander

89.

09/1981

My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) by Chilliwack

from Wanna Be a Star

22
US

16
rock

[RCA 11813 (Millenium)]
written by Bill Henderson & Brian MacLeod

90.

05/1981

A Life of Illusion by Joe Walsh

from There Goes the Neighborhood

34
US

✫1
rock

[Asylum 47144]
written by Kenny Passarelli & Joe Walsh

91.

04/1981

Find Your Way Back by Starship

from Modern Times

29
US

3
rock

as Jefferson Starship
[Grunt]
written by Craig Chaquico & Thos Borsdorf

92.

03/1981

Don't Let Him Go by REO Speedwagon

from Hi Infidelity

24
US

11
rock

[Epic 19-02127]
written by Kevin Cronin

93.

01/1981

Precious to Me by Phil Seymour

from Phil Seymour

22
US

34
AC

34
rock

[Boardwalk 5703]
written by Phil Seymour

94.

12/1981

Love Is Alright Tonite by Rick Springfield

from Working Class Dog

20
US

40
rock

written by Rick Springfield

95.

02/1981

The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love) by Journey

from Captured

34
US

2
rock

[Columbia 60505]
written by Steve Perry

96.

10/1981

Heart Like a Wheel by Steve Miller Band

from Circle of Love

24
US

17
rock

[Capitol 5068]
written by Steve Miller

97.

08/1981

Alien by Atlanta Rhythm Section

from Quinella

29
US

16
AC

18
rock

[Columbia 02471]
written by Buddy Buie, Randy Lewis & Steve McRay

98.

06/1981

Tempted by Squeeze

from East Side Story

49
US

8
rock

41
UK

[A&M 2345]
written by Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook

99.

07/1981

Sausalito Summernight by Diesel [Dutch group]

from Watts in a Tank

25
US

27
rock

[Regency 7339]
written by Mark Boon & Rob Vunderink

100.

06/1981

Don't Want to Wait Anymore by The Tubes

from The Completion Backward Principle

35
US

22
rock

60
UK

[Capitol 5007]
written by The Tubes & David Foster

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