Pick Your Top 10 of 1981

[Dawn]

Let's flash back to the days of Dr. Noah Drake, The Greatest American Hero, and the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Di. Just for fun, some economic statistics from that time:

Yearly Inflation Rate USA10.35%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 875
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 15.75% (yikes!!! )
Average Cost of new house $78,200.00
Average Income per year $21,050.00
Average Monthly Rent $315.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.25
Sinclair ZX80 $199.95
19 inch Color TV $399.95

Here are the top 100 songs of the year. I'm using a different source this time, as the previous site seems to be offline.

1. Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes
2. Endless Love, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
3. Lady, Kenny Rogers
4. (Just Like) Starting Over, John Lennon
5. Jessie's Girl, Rick Springfield
6. Celebration, Kool and The Gang
7. Kiss On My List, Daryl Hall and John 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 "Greatest American Hero", 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, Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio
17. The Tide Is High, Blondie
18. Just The Two Of Us, Grover Washington Jr.
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. No Gettin' Over Me, Ronnie Milsap
34. Living Inside Myself, Gino Vannelli
35. Woman In Love, Barbra Streisand
36. Boy From New York City, 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, Daryl Hall and John 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, Greg Kihn Band
48. Time, Alan Parsons Project
49. Hungry Heart, Bruce Springsteen
50. Sweetheart, Franke and The Knockouts
51. Someone's Knockin', Terri Gibbs
52. More Than I Can Say, Leo Sayer
53. Together, Tierra
54. Too Much Time On My Hands, Styx
55. What Are We Doin' In Love, Dottie West
56. Who's Crying Now, Journey
57. De Do Do Do, De Da Da, Police
58. This Little Girl, Gary U.S. Bonds
59. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around, Stevie Nicks With Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
60. Giving It Up For Your Love, Delbert McClinton
61. A Little In Love, Cliff Richard
62. America, Neil Diamond
63. Ain't Even Done With The Night, John Cougar
64. Arthur's Theme, Christopher Cross
65. Another One Bites The Dust, Queen
66. Games People Play, Alan Parsons Project
67. I Can't Stand It, Eric Clapton
68. While You See A Chance, Steve Winwood
69. Master Blaster, Stevie Wonder
70. Hello Again, Neil Diamond
71. Don't Stand So Close To Me, Police
72. Hey Nineteen, Steely Dan
73. I Ain't Gonna Stand For It, Stevie Wonder
74. All Those Years Ago, George Harrison
75. Step By Step, Eddie Rabbitt
76. The Stroke, Billy Squier
77. Feels So Right, Alabama
78. Sweet Baby, Stanley Clarke and George Duke
79. Same Old Lang Syne, Dan Fogelberg
80. Cool Love, Pablo Cruise
81. Hold On Tight, ELO
82. It's Now Or Never, John Schneider
83. Treat Me Right, Pat Benatar
84. Winning, Santana
85. What Kind Of Fool, Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
86. Watching The Wheels, John Lennon
87. Tell It Like It Is, Heart
88. Smoky Mountain Rain, Ronnie Milsap
89. I Made It Through The Rain, Barry Manilow
90. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', Daryl Hall and John Oates
91. Suddenly, Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard
92. For Your Eyes Only, Sheena Easton
93. The Beach Boys Medley, Beach Boys
94. Whip It, Devo
95. Modern Girl, Sheena Easton
96. Really Wanna Know You, Gary Wright
97. Seven Year Ache, Rosanne Cash
98. I'm Coming Out, Diana Ross
99. Miss Sun, Boz Scaggs
100. Time Is Time, Andy Gibb

And my 10 picks:
5. Jessie's Girl, Rick Springfield
7. Kiss On My List, Daryl Hall and John Oates
13. Being With You, Smokey Robinson
37. Urgent, Foreigner
41. Hearts, Marty Balin
50. Sweetheart, Franke and The Knockouts
66. Games People Play, Alan Parsons Project
67. I Can't Stand It, Eric Clapton
86. Watching The Wheels, John Lennon
96. Really Wanna Know You, Gary Wright

Very, very difficult to choose, as I like pretty much all these songs. Lots of variety style-wise.

Which 10 will you choose?

[H2IZCOOL]

The early '80s has become that period of time in my mind where I can't believe they were so long ago -- getting close to 30 years!

From my all time top 250:

Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes
(Just Like) Starting Over, John Lennon
Keep On Loving You, REO Speedwagon
Elvira, Oak Ridge Boys
Woman In Love, Barbra Streisand
Hearts, Marty Balin
Same Old Lang Syne, Dan Fogelberg

I am surprised I have that many top 250 faves from a year as "recent" as 1981. I never cease to amaze myself. In fact, this board would be nothing without me.



OK enough of that! Three more.


I Love You, Climax Blues Band
Urgent, Foreigner
Hungry Heart, Bruce Springsteen

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

LOTS of good songs that year...


-8. I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbitt
-9. 9 To 5, Dolly Parton
-36. Boy From New York City, Manhattan Transfer
-47. The Breakup Song, Greg Kihn Band
-48. Time, Alan Parsons Project
-53. Together, Tierra
-62. America, Neil Diamond
-64. Arthur's Theme, Christopher Cross
-66. Games People Play, Alan Parsons Project
-78. Sweet Baby, Stanley Clarke and George Duke

[Viki (ditzybrunette85)]

I heart the 80's! Here's my list (even thought I wasn't even born in 1981 lol):


Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
DEVO- Whip It
Blondie - The Tide Is High
Blondie - Rapture
Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
The Police - Spirits In The Material World
The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me
Soft Cell - Tainted Love (I read that it came out in '81 and I know it was a HUGE hit, why is it not on that list? Or is it and I just missed seeing it?)

[Jughead]

I was WONDERING when we'd get to my year of birth!

1. Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes (#1 song the day I was born almost 27 years ago!)
5. Jessie's Girl, Rick Springfield
15. Rapture, Blondie
37. Urgent, Foreigner
47. The Breakup Song, Greg Kihn Band
49. Hungry Heart, Bruce Springsteen
57. De Do Do Do, De Da Da, Police
59. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around, Stevie Nicks With Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
64. Arthur's Theme, Christopher Cross
68. While You See A Chance, Steve Winwood

I'm REALLY surprised that "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John isn't on that list...especially since it topped the charts in late November of 1981.

[Ken]

Hey Dawn,

Somehow, I just knew Jessie's Girl would be your #1 pick!

It's hard to believe it was that long ago, there were some excellent songs in 1981.

My choices:
1.The Breakup Song, Greg Kihn Band
2.Watching The Wheels, John Lennon
3.Urgent, Foreigner
4.Hungry Heart, Bruce Springsteen
5.Jessie's Girl, Rick Springfield
6.Games People Play, Alan Parsons Project
7.Take It On The Run, REO Speedwagon
8.Don't Stand So Close To Me, Police
9.Kiss On My List, Daryl Hall and John Oates
10.Really Wanna Know You, Gary Wright

[Jughead]

May 1, 2008 18:22:28 GMT -5 Viki (ditzybrunette85) said:

Soft Cell - Tainted Love (I read that it came out in '81 and I know it was a HUGE hit, why is it not on that list? Or is it and I just missed seeing it?)

It might have been one of those instances where it was released the final week of 1981, and didn't become a hit until 1982. A similar occurance happened with Rupert Holmes' "Escape", which topped the charts in December 1979, was bumped off a week, and returned to the top of the charts in January 1980.

[H2IZCOOL]

May 2, 2008 8:46:58 GMT -5 Jughead said:

May 1, 2008 18:22:28 GMT -5 Viki (ditzybrunette85) said:

Soft Cell - Tainted Love (I read that it came out in '81 and I know it was a HUGE hit, why is it not on that list? Or is it and I just missed seeing it?)

It might have been one of those instances where it was released the final week of 1981, and didn't become a hit until 1982. A similar occurance happened with Rupert Holmes' "Escape", which topped the charts in December 1979, was bumped off a week, and returned to the top of the charts in January 1980.

The song may have been RELEASED in 1981, but it didn't even hit the Top 40 until May 1982.

Although tainted love is a legitimate 1982 song, I've said before that the way the year-end charts are compiled are not fair to a lot of songs.

Billboard used to compile their top 100 of the year by assigning a certain point value for each week a song was on the charts, the position it reached , etc. But if a song hit the charts in, say, mid-November, and stayed on the charts until mid-February, it's points would be divided between two years. Maybe the totla points would have been enough to make it the number one song, but since the points were divided, it would show up as a lesser hit for each of two years.

Billboard realised the problem several years ago, and ran their charts for a certain year starting in November. For instance, in calculating the Top 100 songs for 1983, they would start with the first chart in November 1982 and finish with the last chart in October of 1983. Brilliant, huh? All they did was move the inconsistancy to a different date. Songs that spanned the October/November months got screwed instead of the one's that spanned December/January.

I've never been able to understand why they didn't just make a decision based on which year a song got MOST of its points and then assign ALL of its points to that year.

[H2IZCOOL]

May 1, 2008 22:46:05 GMT -5 Ken said:

Hey Dawn,

Somehow, I just knew Jessie's Girl would be your #1 pick!

Yeah. Wasn't THAT a shocker!

Actually I thought her fave was "Dawnie loves Ricky S." ;D ;D

[Dawn]

May 2, 2008 9:03:21 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

May 2, 2008 8:46:58 GMT -5 Jughead said:

It might have been one of those instances where it was released the final week of 1981, and didn't become a hit until 1982. A similar occurance happened with Rupert Holmes' "Escape", which topped the charts in December 1979, was bumped off a week, and returned to the top of the charts in January 1980.

The song may have been RELEASED in 1981, but it didn't even hit the Top 40 until May 1982.

Although tainted love is a legitimate 1982 song, I've said before that the way the year-end charts are compiled are not fair to a lot of songs.

Billboard used to compile their top 100 of the year by assigning a certain point value for each week a song was on the charts, the position it reached , etc. But if a song hit the charts in, say, mid-November, and stayed on the charts until mid-February, it's points would be divided between two years. Maybe the totla points would have been enough to make it the number one song, but since the points were divided, it would show up as a lesser hit for each of two years.

Billboard realised the problem several years ago, and ran their charts for a certain year starting in November. For instance, in calculating the Top 100 songs for 1983, they would start with the first chart in November 1982 and finish with the last chart in October of 1983. Brilliant, huh? All they did was move the inconsistancy to a different date. Songs that spanned the October/November months got screwed instead of the one's that spanned December/January.

I've never been able to understand why they didn't just make a decision based on which year a song got MOST of its points and then assign ALL of its points to that year.

I agree, Ed - that splitting up the points between the years never made sense to me, either.

You're right about Tainted Love - though the album was technically released in 1981, it wasn't until spring 1982 that the single started getting radio play and appearing on the Billboard charts.

I still have an old cassette of songs I taped off the radio in about July '82 that has Tainted Love on it. Always loved it!

[Ken]

May 2, 2008 9:06:57 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

May 1, 2008 22:46:05 GMT -5 Ken said:

Hey Dawn,

Somehow, I just knew Jessie's Girl would be your #1 pick!

Yeah. Wasn't THAT a shocker!

Actually I thought her fave was "Dawnie loves Ricky S." ;D ;D

LOL

[Viki (ditzybrunette85)]

Ok, sitting in the back of my mind as I made my post above, I knew that Tainted Love was a hit in 82, but I got all confused when I saw that it had been released in 81. I also read though, that it was a big hit in 81 as well (maybe not in the US/Canada until 1982?). Sometimes these Music charts are pretty confusing to figure out. Oh well. If there's ever a "pick your top 10 of 1982", Tainted Love will be on my list for sure

PS: 1981, good year! I wasn't born yet for another 4 years (I'm a youngin' ) but thats the year that MTV premiered in the US and when my parents got married! Actually both of those events happened on the exact same day!

[Cool Hand Logan]

68. While You See A Chance, Steve Winwood
41. Hearts, Marty Balin
79. Same Old Lang Syne, Dan Fogelberg
91. Suddenly, Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard
49. Hungry Heart, Bruce Springsteen
13. Being With You, Smokey Robinson
01. Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes
25. Angel Of The Morning, Juice Newton
07. Kiss On My List, Daryl Hall and John Oates
71. Don't Stand So Close To Me, Police

[Jughead]

May 3, 2008 9:21:22 GMT -5 Viki (ditzybrunette85) said:

Ok, sitting in the back of my mind as I made my post above, I knew that Tainted Love was a hit in 82, but I got all confused when I saw that it had been released in 81. I also read though, that it was a big hit in 81 as well (maybe not in the US/Canada until 1982?). Sometimes these Music charts are pretty confusing to figure out. Oh well. If there's ever a "pick your top 10 of 1982", Tainted Love will be on my list for sure

PS: 1981, good year! I wasn't born yet for another 4 years (I'm a youngin' ) but thats the year that MTV premiered in the US and when my parents got married! Actually both of those events happened on the exact same day!

I was BORN in 1981, so I don't remember a whole lot of it either. ;D

[55dodger]

I spent 1981 split between my last 7 months of a 3+ year tour in England and readjusting back to life in the good ole USA. Here are my picks, in no particular order.

1. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty
2. Feels so Right - Alabama
3. Crying - Don McLean
4. The Winner Takes it All - Abba
5. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
6. Hungry Heart - Springsteen
7. Games People Play - Alan Parsons Project
8. All Those Years Ago - George Harrison
9. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
10. Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan