JANUARY
Top hit
(Just Like) Starting Over · John Lennon
Top album
—
Enter the Year
Year
1981
MTV and the Blockbuster Single
Video-ready stars and drum-machine dreams compete for the center of culture.
Voices of the year
Albums that mattered
The songs
Through the year
Tap a month to explore what people were playing.
FEBRUARY
Top hit
Celebration · Kool
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
MARCH
Top hit
I Love A Rainy Night · Eddie Rabbitt
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
APRIL
Top hit
Rapture · Blondie
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
MAY
Top hit
Morning Train (Nine To Five) · Sheena Easton
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
JUNE
Top hit
Bette Davis Eyes · Kim Carnes
Top album
Hi Infidelity · Reo Speedwagon
JULY
Top hit
Bette Davis Eyes · Kim Carnes
Top album
Mistaken Idenity · Kim Carnes
AUGUST
Top hit
Jessie's Girl · Rick Springfield
Top album
Long Distance Voyager · The Moody Blues
SEPTEMBER
Top hit
Endless Love · Diana Ross
Top album
Bella Donna · Stevie Nicks
OCTOBER
Top hit
Endless Love · Diana Ross
Top album
Tattoo You · The Rolling Stones
NOVEMBER
Top hit
Private Eyes · Daryl Hall Undefined John Oates
Top album
Tattoo You · The Rolling Stones
DECEMBER
Top hit
Physical · Olivia Newton-john
Top album
4 · Foreigner