The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (November 2009) List of years in music (Table) … 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 •    1978 • 1979 • 1980 – 1981 – 1982 • 1983 • 1984 •    1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 … Related time period or subjects … 1978 • 1979 • 1980 – 1981 – 1982 • 1983 • 1984 … … 1950s • 1960s • 1970s – 1980s – 1990s • 2000s • 2010s … … 19th century – 20th century – 21st century … Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Science more See also: Timeline of musical events Events January 10 - A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith. January 24 - Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is injured in a motorcycle crash that leaves him hospitalized for two months. February 14 - Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career. February 15 - Blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield is found dead in San Francisco. The cause of death is ruled an accidental drug overdose. March 14 - Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Clapton's 60-city tour of the US is cancelled, and he remains in hospital for a month. April 4 - British pop group Bucks Fizz wins the 26th Eurovision Song Contest, held at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, Dublin, with the song "Making Your Mind Up". April 7 - Former Who manager Kit Lambert dies after falling down a flight of stairs in his mother's home in London. Lambert managed the band between 1964 and 1967. April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli. April 18 - Yes announce that they are breaking up. (They would reunite frequently in years to come). April 20 - The Mamas & the Papas' John Phillips is sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to drug possession charges. Phillips' sentence would be suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours of community service. April 22 - Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from bruised ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington. April 25 - Paul McCartney's backing band, Wings, breaks up April 27 - Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach marry, in London, England May 2 - British vocalist Sheena Easton hits No. 1 in the US with "Morning Train (9 to 5)" following a swift rise to fame as the result of a reality TV show. May 14 - Diana Ross signs with RCA Records (EMI internationally), leaving Motown Records, her label of two decades. The $20,000,000 deal is the most lucrative recording contract in history at that time. August 1 - MTV debuts on cable television in the United States, playing music videos 24 hours a day. August - the success of Stars On 45 leads to a short-lived medley craze. The most successful imitator of the Stars On 45 format is, rather unexpectedly, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra whose "Hooked On Classics (Parts 1&2)" reaches number two in the charts. August 23 - The Violent Femmes are discovered by members of The Pretenders busking outside a Milwaukee venue and are invited to play a 10-minute acoustic set as a second opening act in the Pretenders' show that night. September 19 - Simon & Garfunkel perform a free reunion concert in New York City's Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans. September 25 - The Rolling Stones open their US tour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. November 18 - While sitting in Tom's Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song "Tom's Diner". The organ at the famous Heinävesi Church in Finland is renewed, using locks from the original organ. Alice Cooper drastically changes his appearance, leaving behind his trademark make-up and donning a military uniform. Synth pop enjoys mainstream popularity in the UK, with groups such as Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and The Human League releasing hit singles and albums. Menudo's golden era (1981–1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia. Brad Whitford leaves Aerosmith and is replaced by Rick Dufay. U2 appears on the Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television appearance. Phil Collins releases his first solo album (but will not leave the band Genesis until 1995). Hal Willner "invents" the modern tribute album with Amacord Nino Rota. Bands formed See Musical groups established in 1981 Bands disbanded Amon Düül II Bay City Rollers The Buzzcocks (they reform in 1989) City Boy Cluster (they reform in 1989) Generation X Klaatu The Knack (reformed in 1991, onwards) Luv' (they reform in 1989, 1993 and 2005) MFSB Raydio Rockpile Sam & Dave The Slits Starland Vocal Band State of Alert Steely Dan (They reform in 1993) Throbbing Gristle Toots & the Maytals (they reform in the early 90s) Paul McCartney & Wings Albums released Contents: Top • January • February • March • April • May • June • July • August • September • October • November • December January Day Album Artist Notes 12 The Nature of the Beast April Wine - 15 In Our Lifetime Marvin Gaye - 18 Take My Time Sheena Easton - 19 Paradise Theatre Styx - 23 Trust Elvis Costello and the Attractions - - And Don't the Kids Just Love It Television Personalities - Evangeline Emmylou Harris - Stands for Decibels The dB's - The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent UFO - To the Bone Kris Kristofferson - Turn Back Toto - February Day Album Artist Notes 1 Atomkraft? Nein, Danke! Earthstar - 2 Killers Iron Maiden - 3 Difficult to Cure Rainbow - 9 Face Value Phil Collins solo debut 12 Moving Pictures Rush - 17 Another Ticket Eric Clapton - Being with You Smokey Robinson - 24 Working Class Dog Rick Springfield - 26 Point of Entry Judas Priest - - Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks Hanoi Rocks - Captured Journey Live Coconut Telegraph Jimmy Buffett - The Fool Circle Nazareth - Healing Todd Rundgren - Higher Plane Al Green - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts David Byrne & Brian Eno - St. Valentine's Day Massacre MotörheadGirlschool EP The League of Gentlemen Robert Fripp and The League of Gentlemen - Working Class Dog Rick Springfield - March Day Album Artist Notes 4 Sucking in the Seventies The Rolling Stones Compilation 10 There Goes the Neighborhood Joe Walsh - 13 We'll Bring the House Down Slade - 16 Face Dances The Who - 20 Time Tells No Lies Praying Mantis - 25 DEV-O Live Devo Live 26 Fancy Free The Oak Ridge Boys - 30 The Pretenders The Pretenders EP - Breaker Accept - Dad Loves His Work James Taylor - Hit and Run Girlschool - Intensities in 10 Cities Ted Nugent Live Long Play Album aka Stars on Long Play Stars on 45 - Magnets The Vapors - Never Too Late Status Quo - No Fun After Midnight A II Z EP Solid Gold Gang of Four - Somewhere Over the Rainbow Willie Nelson - A Woman Needs Love Ray Parker, Jr. - White Lace & Black Leather Helix - April Day Album Artist Notes 2 Modern Times Jefferson Starship - 6 Fun in Space Roger Taylor - Prayers on Fire The Birthday Party - 7 Street Songs Rick James - 10 Faith The Cure - The Flowers of Romance Public Image Ltd. - 11 Come an' Get It Whitesnake - 13 Don't Say No Billy Squier - Of Skins and Heart The Church - 17 Go for It Stiff Little Fingers - 27 Slates The Fall - 29 Fair Warning Van Halen - - Chariots of Fire Vangelis Soundtrack Dedication Gary U.S. Bonds - The Electric Spanking of War Babies Funkadelic - Goddo Live: Best Seat in the House Goddo Live Mistaken Identity Kim Carnes - The Nightcomers Holocaust - Reckoning Grateful Dead Live Spellbound Tygers of Pan Tang - Waiata Split Enz - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me Chaka Khan - Where Do You Go When You Dream" Anne Murray - Zebop! Santana - May Day Album Artist Notes 5 Hard Promises Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - 11 Nightclubbing Grace Jones - Shut Up 'n' Play Yer Guitar Frank Zappa Live 14 Breaking All the Rules Peter Frampton - It Must Be Magic Teena Marie - 15 East Side Story Squeeze - Long Distance Voyager The Moody Blues - 17 Tinseltown Rebellion Frank Zappa - 20 The Fox Elton John - 22 Anthem Toyah - 29 Amy Grant in Concert Amy Grant Live Present Arms UB40 - 30 Heaven Up Here Echo & the Bunnymen - - Computer World Kraftwerk - Dedicated to Peter Kürten Whitehouse - Magnetic Fields Jean-Michel Jarre - Positive Touch The Undertones - Shock Tactics Samson - Wild-Eyed Southern Boys 38 Special - Wild Gift X - June Day Album Artist Notes 5 Somewhere in England George Harrison - 6 Juju Siouxsie & the Banshees - Talk Talk Talk The Psychedelic Furs - 15 Duran Duran Duran Duran - 16 Made in America The Carpenters - 19 Only a Lad Oingo Boingo - 23 Tom Tom Club Tom Tom Club - 27 No Sleep 'til Hammersmith Motörhead Live 30 Breakin' Away Al Jarreau - - As Far as Siam Red Rider - "Black & White" The Pointer Sisters - Children of Paradise - The Greatest Hits of Boney M. - Vol. 2 Boney M. Compilation Fire of Unknown Origin Blue Öyster Cult - In the Pocket Commodores - Jumpin' Jive Joe Jackson - Party Iggy Pop - Renaissance Village People - Share Your Love Kenny Rogers - Six Pack Black Flag EP The One That You Love Air Supply - Wha'ppen? The Beat - What's THIS For...! Killing Joke - July Day Album Artist Notes 2 4 Foreigner - 4 Signals, Calls and Marches Mission of Burma EP 11 High 'n' Dry Def Leppard - 20 Escape Journey - Party Mix! The B-52's Remix 21 You Want It You Got It Bryan Adams - 24 Beauty and the Beat The Go-Go's - 26 Bucks Fizz Bucks Fizz - 27 Bella Donna Stevie Nicks - 29 Pleasant Dreams The Ramones - The Time The Time - 31 Step by Step Eddie Rabbitt - - Blue and Gray Poco - Document and Eyewitness Wire - Dreamtime Tom Verlaine - Girls to Chat and Boys to Bounce Foghat - Heavy Metal Soundtrack Various Artists Soundtrack The Man with the Horn Miles Davis - Marauder Blackfoot - Night of the Demon Demon - Pirates Rickie Lee Jones - The Pirates of Penzance Broadway Cast Album Various Artists Broadway cast recording Precious Time Pat Benatar - Time Electric Light Orchestra - The Visitor Mick Fleetwood - Walking Wild New England - Was (Not Was) Was (Not Was) - August Day Album Artist Notes 8 Koo Koo Debbie Harry - 10 Friday Night in San Francisco Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía - Shot of Love Bob Dylan - 12 Never Too Much Luther Vandross - 15 Give the People What They Want The Kinks - Pretenders II The Pretenders - 18 Dark Continent Wall of Voodoo - 21 Wanna Be a Star Chilliwack - 24 Tattoo You The Rolling Stones - 25 Allied Forces Triumph - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash The Replacements - 26 Dead Set Grateful Dead Live 27 Dead Ringer Meat Loaf - 31 Fire of Love The Gun Club - - Heartbreak Radio Rita Coolidge - The Innocent Age Dan Fogelberg - Joy The Minutemen EP Love All the Hurt Away Aretha Franklin - Maiden Japan Iron Maiden Live EP New Traditionalists Devo - The Pressure Is On Hank Williams, Jr. - Short Back 'n' Sides Ian Hunter - Simplicity Tim Curry - Torch Carly Simon - Whitford/St. Holmes Brad Whitford and Derek St. Holmes - September Day Album Artist Notes 4 Strait Country George Strait - Why Do Fools Fall in Love Diana Ross - 7 Burning Blue Soul Matt Johnson The The singer 8 Denim and Leather Saxon - 10 Songs in the Attic Billy Joel Live 11 Rage in Eden Ultravox - 14 Abacab Genesis - 22 Discipline King Crimson - 23 You Are What You Is Frank Zappa - 24 Something Special Kool & the Gang - 25 Wild Things The Creatures EP - Buchenwald Whitehouse - Dance Gary Numan - Deaf You've Got Foetus on Your Breath - Gosh It's... Bad Manners - Grand Funk Lives Grand Funk Railroad - Hooligans The Who Compilation If I Should Love Again Barry Manilow - Magic, Murder and the Weather Magazine - Mark of the Mole The Residents - Nine Tonight Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band Live Penthouse and Pavement Heaven 17 - Premonition Survivor - Private Eyes Hall & Oates - Red Mecca Cabaret Voltaire - Rock until You Drop Raven - Snaz Nazareth Live Special Forces Alice Cooper - Time Exposure Little River Band - Too Late the Hero John Entwistle - October Day Album Artist Notes 2 Ghost in the Machine The Police - 3 Law and Order Lindsey Buckingham - 5 Kollaps Einstürzende Neubauten - Speak & Spell Depeche Mode - 7 Get Lucky Loverboy - 8 Looking Back with Love Mike Love solo debut Still Joy Division Compilation 10 Present Arms in Dub UB40 Remix 12 October U2 - 14 Controversy Prince - 16 In the Garden Eurythmics - 18 Sonic Attack Hawkwind - 19 Underneath the Colours INXS - 20 Dare The Human League - Quarterflash Quarterflash - 21 Bobby & the Midnites Bobby and the Midnites - 23 Almost Blue Elvis Costello and the Attractions - 24 Don't Stop Billy Idol EP 26 Freeze Frame The J. Geils Band - 30 Journeys to Glory Spandau Ballet - 31 Diary of a Madman Ozzy Osbourne - - The Best of Blondie Blondie - Big City Merle Haggard - Chances Are Bob Marley & the Wailers Compilation of previously unreleased material Christmas Album Boney M. Christmas Circle of Love Steve Miller Band - Coup de Grâce Mink DeVille - Exit...Stage Left Rush Live Fourth Drawer Down Associates - Love Is Only Feeling Donovan - Mask Bauhaus - Physical Olivia Newton-John - See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah. City All Over! Go Ape Crazy Bow Wow Wow - 7 Madness - Strictly Personal The Romantics - Living Eyes Bee Gees - November Day Album Artist Notes 2 Re-ac-tor Neil Young and Crazy Horse - 4 Mob Rules Black Sabbath - 6 Shake It Up The Cars - Tonight I'm Yours Rod Stewart - 8 Architecture & Morality Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Greatest Hits Queen Compilation 9 Business as Usual Men at Work Australia, debut La Folie The Stranglers - 11 The Jacksons Live! The Jacksons Live 13 Movement New Order - Till Deaf Do Us Part Slade - 14 Raise! Earth, Wind & Fire - 15 Renegade Thin Lizzy - 16 Music from "The Elder" Kiss - Take It Off Chic - 18 I Love Rock 'n' Roll Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - 20 Stop and Smell the Roses Ringo Starr - 23 A Collection of Great Dance Songs Pink Floyd Compilation with alternate mixes For Those About to Rock We Salute You AC/DC - 27 Ten Out of 10 10cc - 29 In Concert Volume Two Amy Grant Live 30 Bad Religion (EP) Bad Religion EP Best of the Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers - The Visitors ABBA - - The Ascension Glenn Branca - Changestwobowie David Bowie Compilation Christmas Wishes Anne Murray Christmas From the Lions Mouth The Sound - Great Gonzos!: The Best of Ted Nugent Ted Nugent Compilation Prince Charming Adam and the Ants - She Shot Me Down Frank Sinatra - Tin Drum Japan - Wired for Sound Cliff Richard - December Day Album Artist Notes 12 Welcome to Hell Venom - 15 LC The Durutti Column - 30 For Those Who Think Young Rough Trade - - The Best of Top of the Pops '81 Top of the Poppers - The Catherine Wheel David Byrne - Damaged Black Flag - In God We Trust, Inc. Dead Kennedys EP Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret Soft Cell - Too Fast for Love Mötley Crüe - Alles Ist Gut - Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls - Pat Metheny Bad for Good - Jim Steinman The Baron - Johnny Cash Begin the Beguine - Julio Iglesias Beyond the Valley of 1984 - Plasmatics The Blasters - The Blasters Block to Block - De Press Boonoonoonoos - Boney M. Breakin' the Chains - Don Dokken Camouflage - Rufus Celebration - Johnny Mathis Classic Rock: Rock Classics - London Symphony Orchestra The Completion Backward Principle - The Tubes Cool Night - Paul Davis Cowboy Jubilee - Riders in the Sky Curiosum - Cluster Dangerous Acquaintances - Marianne Faithfull Deceit - This Heat Deuce - Kurtis Blow Directions - Miles Davis Drama of Exile - Nico The Dude - Quincy Jones Earthshaker - Y&T El Loco - ZZ Top El Rayo-X - David Lindley Escape Artist - Garland Jeffreys The Evil One - Roky Erickson and the Aliens Face to Face - GQ Fire Down Under - Riot Freelancing - James Blood Ulmer Freetime - Spyro Gyra Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places - Kid Creole and the Coconuts From the Tea-rooms of Mars.... - Landscape Future Shock - Gillan Give the People What They Want - Jimmy Cliff Gonna Ball - Stray Cats Happy Birthday - Altered Images Hard 'n' Heavy - Anvil Hardware - Krokus Hits Right Up Your Street - The Shadows Honi Soit - John Cale Hoy-Hoy! - Little Feat - Compilation In My Eyes - Minor Threat - EP Individuellos - La Düsseldorf Inner City Front - Bruce Cockburn Insect and Individual Silenced - Nurse with Wound Jane Siberry - Jane Siberry The Judgement of Paris - Kevin Dunn and the Regiment of Women Juice - Juice Newton Kim Wilde (debut) - Kim Wilde King Cool - Donnie Iris Kiss Me Deadly - Generation X as Gen X Kix - Kix Let Them Eat Jellybeans - Various Artists from Alternative Tenticles Records Level 42 (debut) - Level 42 The Lounge Lizards - The Lounge Lizards Love Byrd - Donald Byrd and 125th St, NYC Love Songs - Cliff Richard Lustwandel - Hans-Joachim Roedelius Magic Man - Herb Alpert Magic Window - Herbie Hancock Material - Moebius & Plank Mecca for Moderns - The Manhattan Transfer Minor Threat - Minor Threat - EP Mondo Bongo - The Boomtown Rats M.S.G. II - Michael Schenker Group Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports - Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports Odyshape - The Raincoats Pearls - Elkie Brooks Penis Envy - Crass Performance - Ashford & Simpson Place without a Postcard - Midnight Oil Play Me Out - Helen Reddy The Plimsouls - The Plimsouls The Poet - Bobby Womack A Product of ... (Participation) - Thompson Twins Public Service (EP) - Various Artists The Punch Line - Minutemen Punk's Not Dead - The Exploited Quiero Ser - Menudo Quit Dreaming and Get On the Beam - Bill Nelson Red - Black Uhuru "Reflector - Pablo Cruise Reflections - Gil Scott-Heron Rock 'n' Roll Warriors - Savoy Brown Rockihnroll - Greg Kihn Secret Combination - Randy Crawford Sky 3 - Sky Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call - Simple Minds Standing Hampton - Sammy Hagar Standing Together - Midnight Star Stray Cats - Stray Cats Step by Step - Eddie Rabbitt Take No Prisoners - Molly Hatchet There Must Be a Better World Somewhere - B.B. King Three Quartets - Chick Corea Trio - Trio La voce del Padrone - Franco Battiato Walk Under Ladders - Joan Armatrading Wanted Dread and Alive - Peter Tosh Wha'ppen? - The Beat Whomp That Sucker - Sparks Word of Mouth - Jaco Pastorius Wünsche fliegen übers Meer - Die Flippers Years Ago - The Statler Brothers You Are What You Is - Frank Zappa You Must Believe in Spring - Bill Evans You Want It You Got It - Bryan Adams You're the Guy I Want to Share My Money With - Laurie Anderson, William S. Burroughs and John Giorno Youth of America - Wipers Zebop! - Santana Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1981. # Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries 1 Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes 1981 US BB 1 - April 1981, Canada 1 - April 1981, France 1 - June 1981, Switzerland 1 - June 1981, Norway 1 - June 1981, Germany 1 - June 1981, Australia 1 for 5 weeks May 1982, Grammy in 1981, US CashBox 2 of 1981, Austria 2 - July 1981, South Africa 2 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 4 - May 1981, Italy 5 of 1981, Australia 6 of 1981, UK 10 - May 1981, Holland 16 - May 1981, RYM 16 of 1981, Germany 18 of the 1980s, OzNet 45, Scrobulate 66 of 80s, RIAA 268, Acclaimed 738 2 Soft Cell Tainted Love 1981 UK 1 - August 1981, Canada 1 - November 1981, France 1 - August 1981, Australia 1 for 3 weeks January 1983, Austria 2 - December 1981, Switzerland 2 - November 1981, Germany 2 - January 1982, Scrobulate 2 of 80s, Australia 3 of 1982, Sweden (alt) 4 - October 1981, RYM 4 of 1981, Holland 5 - October 1981, South Africa 5 of 1982, US BB 8 - May 1982, US BB 15 of 1982, POP 18 of 1982, Germany 37 of the 1980s, KROQ 38 of 1982, Virgin 41, US CashBox 50 of 1982, Party 142 of 2007, Acclaimed 163, Belgium 242 of all time, OzNet 451, WXPN 745 3 Phil Collins In the Air Tonight 1981 Holland 1 - February 1981, Sweden (alt) 1 - February 1981, Austria 1 - April 1981, Switzerland 1 - April 1981, UK 2 - January 1981, France 2 - March 1981, Germany 2 - March 1981, Canada 3 - June 1981, Norway 4 - March 1981, OzNet 7, Poland 12 - August 1982, Europe 13 of the 1980s, RYM 15 of 1981, POP 16 of 1981, US BB 19 - July 1981, Australia 23 of 1981, Italy 23 of 1981, US BB 27 of 1981, Germany 44 of the 1980s, Scrobulate 60 of pop, TheQ 87, Belgium 230 of all time, Acclaimed 1238 4 John Lennon Woman 1981 UK 1 - January 1981, Canada 1 - January 1981, Éire 1 - February 1981, New Zealand 1 for 5 weeks February 1981, US BB 2 - January 1981, Switzerland 2 - March 1981, Austria 4 - March 1981, Norway 5 - February 1981, France 7 - March 1981, Germany 7 - February 1981, US CashBox 16 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 18 - February 1981, Holland 21 - March 1981, RYM 22 of 1981, US BB 30 of 1981, Italy 34 of 1981, POP 34 of 1981, Virgin 59, OzNet 139, Germany 213 of the 1980s 5 Stars On 45 Stars On 45 1981 US BB 1 - May 1981, Holland 1 - January 1981, Austria 1 - May 1981, Switzerland 1 - May 1981, Germany 1 - March 1981, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks June 1981, Australia 1 for 4 weeks June 1982, UK 2 - April 1981, Australia 2 of 1981, Germany 5 of the 1980s, Sweden (alt) 7 - June 1981, US CashBox 13 of 1981, Italy 54 of 1981 Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit singles US Number One singles and artist (Weeks at Number One) UK Number One singles and artist (Weeks at Number One) "(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon (4 weeks) "The Tide Is High" - Blondie (1) "Celebration" - Kool & the Gang (2) "9 to 5" - Dolly Parton (2) "I Love a Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt (2) "Keep On Loving You" REO Speedwagon (1) "Rapture" - Blondie (2) "Kiss On My List" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (3) "Morning Train (9 To 5)" - Sheena Easton (2) "Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes (9) "Stars on 45 Medley" - Stars On 45 (1) "The One That You Love" - Air Supply (1) "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield (2) "Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9) "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" - Christopher Cross (3) "Private Eyes" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (2) "Physical" - Olivia Newton-John (6) "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir (1) "Imagine" - John Lennon (4) "Woman" - John Lennon (2) "Shaddup You Face" - Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3) "Jealous Guy" - Roxy Music (2) "This Ole House" - Shakin' Stevens (3) "Making Your Mind Up" - Bucks Fizz (3) "Stand and Deliver" - Adam and the Ants (5) "Being With You" - Smokey Robinson (2) "One Day in Your Life" - Michael Jackson (2) "Ghost Town" - The Specials (3) "Green Door"- Shakin' Stevens (4) "Japanese Boy" - Aneka (1) "Tainted Love" - Soft Cell (2) "Prince Charming" - Adam and the Ants (4) "It's My Party" - Dave Stewart (the keyboardist) & Barbara Gaskin (4) "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" - The Police (1) "Under Pressure" - Queen & David Bowie (2) "Begin the Beguine" - Julio Iglesias (1) "Don't You Want Me" - The Human League (3) Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit albums US Number One album and artist (Weeks at Number One) UK Number One album and artist (Weeks at Number One) Double Fantasy - John Lennon and Yoko Ono (7) Hi Infidelity - REO Speedwagon (15) Paradise Theater - Styx (3) Mistaken Identity - Kim Carnes (4) Long Distance Voyager - The Moody Blues (3) Precious Time - Pat Benatar (1) 4 - Foreigner (7) Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks (1) Escape - Journey (1) Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones (9) For Those About to Rock We Salute You - AC/DC (1)

Super Trouper - ABBA (3) Kings of the Wild Frontier - Adam and the Ants (12) Double Fantasy - John Lennon & Yoko Ono (2) Face Value - Phil Collins (3) Stars on 45- Stars on 45 / Starsound (5) No Sleep 'til Hammersmith - Motörhead (1) Disco Daze and Disco Nites - Various Artists (1) Love Songs - Cliff Richard (5) The Official BBC Album of the Royal Wedding - Various Artists (2) Time - Electric Light Orchestra (2) Dead Ringer - Meat Loaf (2) Abacab - Genesis (2) Ghost in the Machine - The Police (3) Dare - The Human League (1) Shaky - Shakin' Stevens (1) Greatest Hits - Queen (4) Chart Hits '81 - Various Artists (1) The Visitors - ABBA (3) Other significant singles of the year "A Life of Illusion" - Joe Walsh "A Lucky Guy" - Rickie Lee Jones "A Woman Needs Love(Just Like You Do)" - Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio "A.D. 1928/Rockin' the Paradise" - Styx "Abacab" - Genesis "Absolute Beginners" - The Jam "The Adultress" - The Pretenders "African and White" - China Crisis "After the Glitter Fades" - Stevie Nicks "Aie a Mwana" - Bananarama "Ain't Even Done With the Night" - John Cougar "All Stood Still" - Ultravox "Always" - Tom Verlaine "America" - Neil Diamond "And The Band Played On" - Saxon "Angel of the Morning" - Juice Newton "Animal Crackers" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts "Antmusic" - Adam & the Ants "Back in Black" - AC/DC "Backfired" - Debbie Harry "Bambou" - Alain Chamfort "Beautiful World" - Devo "The Best of Times" - Styx "Better Things" - The Kinks "Big Science" - Laurie Anderson "Black Limousine" - The Rolling Stones "Body Talk" - Imagination "Boys and Girls" - The Human League "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) - The Greg Kihn Band "Burnin' For You" - Blue Öyster Cult "Cambodia" - Kim Wilde "Can You Feel It" - The Jacksons "Can't Get Enough of You" - Eddy Grant "Centerfold" - The J. Geils Band "Ceremony" - New Order "Chant No.1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)" - Spandau Ballet "Chariots of Fire" - Vangelis "Charlotte Sometimes" - The Cure "Chemistry" - Mondo Rock "Chequered Love" - Kim Wilde "Chi Mai" - Ennio Morricone "Chloe" - Elton John "Christmas Wrapping" - The Waitresses "Coldest Night of the Year" - Bruce Cockburn "Coming in Hot" - Peter Tosh "Computer Love" - Kraftwerk "Cool Love" - Pablo Cruise "Cool Night" - Paul Davis "Cool World" - Mondo Rock "Controversy" - Prince "Counting The Beat" - The Swingers "Crazy Train" - Ozzy Osbourne "The Crusher" - The Cramps "Daddy's Home" - Cliff Richard "Dancing With Myself" - Billy Idol "Days Are OK" - The Motels "Demolition Man" - The Police "Der Kommissar" - Falco "Destroyer" - The Kinks "Do Me, Baby" - Prince "Don't Let Him Go" - REO Speedwagon "Don't Stand So Close to Me" - The Police "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey "Don't Stop the Music" - Yarborough and Peoples "Don't Want To Wait Anymore" - The Tubes "Don't You Want Me" - The Human League "Double Dutch Bus" - Frankie Smith "Dumb Waiters" - The Psychedelic Furs "Edge of Seventeen" - Stevie Nicks "Electro-Cuties" - Funkadelic "Elvira" - The Oak Ridge Boys "Errol" - Australian Crawl "Every Woman in the World" - Air Supply "Everybody Salsa" - Modern Romance "Fade to Grey" - Visage "Fascist Architecture" - Bruce Cockburn "Find Your Way Back" - Jefferson Starship "Fire (song)" - U2 "Fire and Ice" - Pat Benatar "Fits Ya Good" - Bryan Adams "Five Guys Named Moe" - Joe Jackson "Fly Away" - Peter Allen "Flying High Again" - Ozzy Osbourne "Fools Die" - Peter Tosh "For Beauties Sake" - Marianne Faithfull "For Those About To Rock We Salute You - AC/DC "For Your Eyes Only" - Sheena Easton "Funeral Pyre" - The Jam "Funk Gets Stranger" - Funkadelic "Games People Play" - Alan Parsons Project "Geisha Boys and Temple Girls" - Heaven 17 "Gemini Dream" - The Moody Blues "Generals and Majors" - XTC "Genius of Love" - Tom Tom Club "Get Tough" - Kleeer "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" - Black Flag "Girls On Film" - Duran Duran "Give It Too Me Baby" - Rick James "Gloria" - U2 "God morgon" - Chips "Going Back to My Roots" - Odyssey "Going Places" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts "Goo Goo Muck" - The Cramps "Good Thing Going" - Sugar Minott "Good Year for the Roses" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions "Gotta Pull Myself Together" - The Nolans "Grey Day" - Madness "HA HA HA" - Flipper "Hang Fire" - The Rolling Stones "Happy Birthday" - Altered Images "Hard Act to Follow" - Split Enz "Hearts" - Marty Balin "Hearts of Fire" - Randy Meisner "Hell is For Children" - Pat Benatar "Hello Again" - Neil Diamond "Hell's Bells" - AC/DC (released in 1980) "Henry Hudson" - Nico "Her Town Too" - James Taylor and J.D. Souther "Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) - Air Supply "Heroes" - Nico "History Never Repeats" - Split Enz "Hold on Tight" - Electric Light Orchestra "How 'Bout Us" - Champaign "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" - Haircut 100 "It Must Be Love" - Madness "If You Leave...Can I Come Too" - Mental As Anything "Hip, Shake, Jerk" - The Quick UK "I Surrender" - Rainbow "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)" - Joey Scarbury "Home Computer" - Kraftwerk "Homosapien" - Pete Shelley "Hungry For You" - The Police "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" - Stevie Wonder "I Am" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" - Hall and Oates "I Could Be Happy" - Altered Images "I Don't Need You" - Kenny Rogers "I Don't Wanna Dance" - Split Enz "I Fall Down" - U2 "I Go to Sleep" - The Pretenders "I Love You" - Climax Blues Band "I Made It Through The Rain" - Barry Manilow "I Missed Again" - Phil Collins "I Shot the Sheriff" - Light of the World "I Threw a Brick Through a Window" - U2 "I Want To Be Free" - Toyah "I Wouldn't Have Missed It For the World" - Ronnie Milsap "I'm Gonna Follow You" - Pat Benatar "I'm in Love" - Evelyn King "I've Done Everything For You" - Rick Springfield "Icka Prick" - Funkadelic "If I Was a Dancer (Dance Pt. 2)" - The Rolling Stones "If Leaving Me Is Easy" - Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" - Phil Collins "Imagine/Woman" (medley) - The Shadows "In the Dark" - Billy Squier "Intrigue" - Marianne Faithfull "Intuition" - Linx "Invisible Sun" - The Police "Is That Love" - Squeeze "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" - Joe Jackson "Isotope Soap" - Geza X "It Must Be Love" - Madness "It's a Tough Life" - Pat Benatar "It's Gonna Happen" - The Undertones "It's More Fun to Compute" - Kraftwerk "Jack on Fire" - The Gun Club "Jack, Your Dead" - Joe Jackson "Jerkin' Back 'n' Forth" - Devo "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield "Jimmie Jones" - The Vapors "Johnny Blue" - Lena Valaitis "Juke Box Hero" - Foreigner "Just Between You and Me" - April Wine "Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode "Just Like Gold" - Aztec Camera "Just the Two of Us" - Grover Washington, Jr. "Keep It Dark" - Genesis "Kick in the Eye" - Bauhaus "Kids in America" - Kim Wilde "The Kid Is Hot Tonight - Loverboy "Kings of the Wild Frontier" - Adam and the Ants "Kiss is on my List" - Hall and Oates "Labelled With Love" - Squeeze "The Land of Make Believe" - Bucks Fizz "Latin Music" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts "La voix du bon Dieu" - Céline Dion "Leather and Lace" - Stevie Nicks and Don Henley "Leila" - Z Z Top "Lets All Make a Bomb" - Heaven 17 "Let's Get It Up" - AC/DC "Let's Groove" - Earth, Wind & Fire "Limelight" - Rush "A Little in Love" - Cliff Richard "Little T&A" - The Rolling Stones "Livin' Inside Myself" - Gino Vannelli "Living It Up" - Rickie Lee Jones "Lonely Is the Night" - Billy Squier "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" - The Human League "Love Games" - Level 42 "Love is Alright Tonight" - Rick Springfield "Love On a Two Way Street" - Stacy Lattisaw "Lunatic Fringe" - Red Rider "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)" - Fun Boy Three "Macho City" - Steve Miller Band "Mad Eyed Screamer" - The Creatures "The Magnificent Seven" - The Clash "Make That Move" - Shalamar "Maljčiki" - Idoli "Mattress of Wire" - Aztec Camera "Me No Pop I" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts "Mean Streets" - Van Halen "Mental Hopscotch" - Missing Persons "Message of Love" - The Pretenders "Messed Around" - Squeeze "The Model" - Kraftwerk "Modern Girl" - Sheena Easton "Moral Majority" - Dead Kennedys "More Than I Can Say" - Leo Sayer "Motorhead (live)" - Motörhead "Musclebound/Glow" - Spandau Ballet "Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" - Dead Kennedys "Neighbours" - The Rolling Stones "Never Too Much" - Luther Vandross "Nightgames" - Graham Bonnet "The Night Owls" - Little River Band "No Reply at All" - Genesis "No Use in Crying" - The Rolling Stones "Nobody Wins" - Elton John "Nothing Ever Goes As Planned" - Styx "O Superman" - Laurie Anderson "October (song)" - U2 "Oh No" - The Commodores "Omega Man" - The Police "Once in a Lifetime" - Talking Heads "One in Ten" - UB40 "One of Us" - ABBA "One Step Ahead" - Split Enz "One World (Not Three)" - The Police "Our Lips Are Sealed" - The Go-Go's "Open Arms" - Journey "Open Your Heart" - The Human League "Over the Mountain" - Ozzy Osbourne "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" - Pigbag "Party on the Patio" - Z Z Top "Pearl Necklace" - Z Z Top "Penthouse and Pavement" - Heaven 17 "Perdido en mi habitación" - Mecano "Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)" - Rickie Lee Jones "Plan B" - Dexy's Midnight Runners "Plan B Escape" - Fraeon "Planet Earth" - Duran Duran "Pocket Calculator" - Kraftwerk "Police Story" - Black Flag "Precious Time" - Pat Benatar "Predictable" - The Kinks "Pretty in Pink" - The Psychedelic Furs "Primary" - The Cure "Procession/Everything's Gone Green" - New Order "A Promise" - Echo & the Bunnymen "Promises in the Dark" - Pat Benatar "Purple Lips" - Nico "Push Comes to Shove" - Van Halen "Put the Finger on You" - AC/DC "Queen of Hearts (song)" - Juice Newton "Quiet Life" - Japan "Rastafari Is" - Peter Tosh "Rawhide" - Dead Kennedys "Razzamatazz" - Quincy Jones "Really Want To Know You" - Gary Wright "Reggaemylitis" - Peter Tosh "Rejoice" - U2 "Religious Vomit" - Dead Kennedys "Reward" - The Teardrop Explodes "Rise Above" - Black Flag "The River" - Bruce Springsteen "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" - AC/DC "Rock This Town" - The Stray Cats "A Romeo and Juliet" - Dire Straits "Runaround Sue" - Racey "Sailing" - Christopher Cross "Same Old Lang Syne" - Dan Fogelberg "Sat In Your Lap" - Kate Bush "Say Good Bye to Hollywood" - Billy Joel "Say I Love You" - Renee Geyer "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" - David Bowie "Secret Journey" - The Police "Sex Beat" - The Gun Club "Sex Bomb" - Flipper "Shake It Up" - The Cars "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)" - Carl Carlton "She's Got a Way" - Billy Joel "She's Like Heroin to Me" - The Gun Club Shine So Hard EP - Echo & the Bunnymen "Shockwave" - Funkadelic "Should I Do It" - The Pointer Sisters "Show Me" - Dexy's Midnight Runners "Shut Up" - Madness "(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star" - Bill Wyman "Silly" - Deniece Williams "Since You're Gone" - The Cars "Six Pack" - Black Flag "Sixty/Forty" - Nico "Slave" - The Rolling Stones "Slow Hand" - The Pointer Sisters "Slow Motion" - Ultravox "Snake Eyes" - Alan Parsons Project "Snowballed" - AC/DC "So This Is Love?" - Van Halen "Soul Warfare" - Heaven 17 "The Sound of the Crowd" - The Human League "Southern Freez" - Freez "Souvenir" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark "Spellbound" - AC/DC "Spirits in the Material World" - The Police "Splintered in the Head" - The Cure "Spray Paint (The Walls)" - Black Flag "Square Biz - Teena Marie "Star" - Kiki Dee "Stars on 45 vol. 2" - Star Sound "Start Me Up" - The Rolling Stones "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" - Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Stop the Game" - Cheap Trick "Stranger" - Jefferson Starship "Stranger in a Strange Land" - U2 "Stray Cat Strut" - The Stray Cats "The Stroke" - Billy Squier "Summer of '81" - Mondo Rock "Super Freak" - Rick James "Sushi Girl" - The Tubes "Swords Of A Thousand Men" - Tenpole Tudor "Table Manners" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts "Take It on the Run" - REO Speedwagon "Take It To The Limit(live)" - The Eagles "Talk to Ya Later" - The Tubes "Talkin' Baseball" - Terry Cashman "Telstar" - The Shadows "Tempted" - Squeeze "That's Entertainment" - The Jam "The Third Man" - The Shadows "The Waiting" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "There's a Guy Work Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" - Kirsty McColl "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" - Ronnie Milsap "The Thin Wall" - Ultravox "This is For the Lover in You" - Shalamar "This Little Girl" - Gary U.S. Bonds "Through Being Cool" - Devo "Through the Years" - Kenny Rogers "Thrown Away" - The Stranglers "Time" - Alan Parsons Project "Together" - Tierra "Tom Sawyer" - Rush "Tomorrow" - U2 "Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)" - Rod Stewart "Too Fast, Too Loud, Too Young" - The Zorros "Too Many Times" - Mental As Anything "Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx (released in 1980) "Treat Me Right" - Pat Benatar "Try It Out" - Gino Soccio "Tube Snake Boogie" - Z Z Top "Tunnel of Love" - Dire Straits "Turn Me Loose" - Loverboy (released in 1980) "Turn Your Love Around" - George Benson "Turning Japanese" - The Vapors "Tuxedo Junction" - Joe Jackson "T.V. Party" - Black Flag "Two Hearts" - Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass "Unchained" - Van Halen "United Together" - Aretha Franklin "Up the Hill Backwards" - David Bowie "Urgent" - Foreigner "Vienna (song)" - Ultravox "The Voice" - Moody Blues "The Voice" - Ultravox "Waiting For a Girl Like You" - Foreigner "Waiting on a Friend" - The Rolling Stones "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono "The Wanderer" - Donna Summer "Watching the Wheels" - John Lennon "Water on Glass"/"Boys" - Kim Wilde "Wedding Bells" - Godley and Creme "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" - Heaven 17 "We Got the Beat - The Go-Go's "We're Going to Live For a Very Long Time" - Heaven 17 "We're In This Love Together" - Al Jarreau "We've Got A Bigger Problem Now" - Dead Kennedys "What Are We Doin' In Love" - Kenny Rogers and Dottie West "What Kind of Fool" - Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb "What's the Use in Getting Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)" - Joe Jackson "When He Shines" - Sheena Easton "When She Was My Girl" - The Four Tops "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" - The Fureys with Davey Arthur "Whip It" - Devo "Who Do You Think We Are" - Alice Cooper "Who's Crying Now" - Journey "Why Do Fools Fall in Love? - Diana Ross "Wild Colonial Boy" - Dr. Hook "Wild is the Wind" - David Bowie "Will You?" - Hazel O'Connor "Winning" - Santana "Wired For Sound" - Cliff Richard "Woody and Dutch on the Slow Train to Peking" - Rickie Lee Jones "Wordy Rappington" - Tom Tom Club "Working For the Weekend" - Loverboy "Working in a Coalmine" - Devo "Yearning For Your Love" - The Gap Band "You Better You Bet" - The Who "You Make My Dreams Come True" - Hall and Oates Published popular music "9 To 5" w.m. Dolly Parton from the film Nine to Five "All Those Years Ago" w.m. George Harrison "Allentown" w.m. Billy Joel "Allergies" w.m. Paul Simon "America" w.m. Neil Diamond from the film The Jazz Singer "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" w. Tom Eyen m. Henry Krieger from the musical Dreamgirls "Arthur's Theme" w.m. Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross & Peter Allen from the film Arthur "At This Moment" w.m. Billy Vera "Baby, Come To Me" w.m. Rod Temperton "Being With You" w.m. William "Smokey" Robinson "Believe it or Not (Theme From The Greatest American Hero')" w. Stephen Geyer m. Mike Post "The Best of Times" w.m. Dennis DeYoung "Bette Davis Eyes" w. Donna Weiss m. Jackie DeShannon "Black Limousine" w.m. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood "Bruce" w.m. Rick Springfield "Chariots of Fire" w. Jon Anderson m. Vangelis "Dynasty theme song" m. Bill Conti "The First Time it Happens" w.m. Joe Raposo, from the film The Great Muppet Caper "Good Thing Going (Going Gone)"     w.m. Stephen Sondheim "Hill Street Blues theme song" m. Mike Post "Key Largo"     w.m. Bertie Higgins & Sonny Limbo "Memory w. Trevor Nunn & T. S. Eliot m. Andrew Lloyd Webber. Introduced by Elaine Paige in the musical Cats. "One of the Girls" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander introduced by Lauren Bacall in the musical Woman of the Year Classical music Milton Babbitt - Don for four-hand piano, Ars Combinatoria for small orchestra George Crumb - Gnomic Variations for piano Peter Maxwell Davies - Piano Sonata Joël-François Durand - String Trio Lorenzo Ferrero Balletto Arioso II Bengt Hambraeus - Voluntary on a Swedish Hymn Tune from Dalecarlia George Lloyd - Tenth Symphony (for brass) Steve Reich - Tehillim Roger Sessions - Concerto for Orchestra (recorded by Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and for which the composer receives the Pulitzer Prize for Music) Robert Simpson - Quintet for clarinet and Strings; Symphony No. 8 Stanislaw Skrowaczewski - Clarinet Concerto Opera Lorenzo Ferrero - La figlia del mago Conrad Susa and Richard Street - Black River Karlheinz Stockhausen – Donnerstag aus Licht Musical theater Barnum     London production opened at the London Palladium on June 11 and ran for 655 performances Bring Back Birdie Broadway production Cats (Andrew Lloyd Webber) - London production opened at the New London Theatre on May 11 and ran for 8949 performances Dreamgirls Broadway production opened on December 20 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 1522 performances March of the Falsettoes     off-Broadway production Merrily We Roll Along - Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 16 and ran for 16 performances The Pirates of Penzance     Broadway revival Song and Dance     London production Woman of the Year     Broadway production opened at the Palace Theatre on March 29 and ran for 770 performances Musical films The Great Muppet Caper Heavy Metal Pennies from Heaven Shock Treatment Births January 5 - Carmen Monarcha, operatic soprano January 29 - Jonny Lang, blues artist January 31 - Justin Timberlake, singer February 5 - Zameer Rizvi, singer/songwriter, composer and record producer February 11 - Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child) February 27 - Josh Groban, crossover singer and songwriter March 7 - Anna Leese, operatic soprano March 9 - Chad Gilbert, New Found Glory March 11 Russell Lissack (Bloc Party) LeToya Luckett (Destiny's Child) April 1 Theresa Sokyrka, Canadian Idol 2 runner-up Hannah Spearritt, singer and actress (S Club 7) April 29 - Tom Smith (Editors) May 3 - Farrah Franklin (Destiny's Child) May 21 - Stig Van Eijk, singer, composer and lyricist June 8 - Alex Band, The Calling June 21 - Brandon Flowers, The Killers July 21 Blake Lewis, American Idol 6 runner-up Anthony Santos, singer and composer July 31 - Matt Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold) August 8 Vanessa Amorosi, rock singer Bradley McIntosh (S Club 7) August 28 - Iracema Trevisan (Cansei de Ser Sexy) September 4 - Beyoncé Knowles, singer September 14 - Ashley Roberts, The Pussycat Dolls September 26 - Christina Milian, singer October 1 - Jamelia, singer October 13 - Kele Okereke (Bloc Party) October 15 - Nick White (Tilly and the Wall) October 31 - Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance) November 1 - LaTavia Roberson (Destiny's Child) November 17 - Sarah Harding (Girls Aloud) November 20 - Kimberley Walsh (Girls Aloud) November 26 - Natasha Bedingfield, singer-songwriter December 2 - Britney Spears, singer December 11 - Zacky Vengeance (Avenged Sevenfold) December 13 - Amy Lee (Evanescence) Deaths January 23 - Samuel Barber, composer, 70 January 25 - Adele Astaire, US dancer, actress and singer, 84 February 1 Geirr Tveitt, Norwegian composer, 72 Ernst Pepping, composer, 79 February 9 - Bill Haley, rock and roll pioneer, 55 (heart attack) February 15 - Mike Bloomfield, blues guitarist February 21 - Ron Grainer, electronic music pioneer and composer, 58 February 26 - Howard Hanson, composer, 84 April 5 Bob Hite, vocalist (Canned Heat), 38 (heart attack) Maurice Zbriger, violinist, composer and conductor April 7 - Kit Lambert, 45, former manager and producer of The Who April 8 - Burt Shevelove, librettist, 66 April 14 - Ivan Galamian, violin teacher, 78 April 28 - Steve Currie, bassist of T.Rex, 33 (car crash) May 11 - Bob Marley, reggae musician, 36 (cancer) July 16 - Harry Chapin, US singer-songwriter, 38 (car crash) August 18 - Robert Russell Bennett, composer and arranger September 2 - Tadeusz Baird, composer, 53 September 15 - Chick Bullock, US singer, 72 October 5 - Sven Gyldmark, film composer, 77 October 13 - Marius Casadesus, violinist and composer, 88 October 15 - Elsie Randolph, English actress, dancer and singer, 77 October 29 - Georges Brassens, singer-songwriter, 60 November 27 - Lotte Lenya, actress and singer, wife of Kurt Weill, 83 December 13 - Cornelius Cardew, avant-garde composer, 45 (road accident) December 27 - Hoagy Carmichael, pianist, singer and songwriter, 82 date unknown - Master Venu, film composer Awards Grammy Awards Grammy Awards of 1981 Country Music Association Awards Eurovision Song Contest Eurovision Song Contest 1981 Charts List of No. 1 Hits Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1981 Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Music in 1981