1981 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.

List of years in music (table)

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–April

May–August

September–December

Also in 1981

Bands formed

  • See Musical groups established in 1981

Bands disbanded

Albums released

January–March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
1 The Nature of the BeastApril Wine-
Take My TimeSheena Easton-
15 In Our LifetimeMarvin Gaye-
19 Paradise TheatreStyx-
23 Kiss Me DeadlyGeneration X-
TrustElvis Costello and the Attractions-
28 HealingTodd Rundgren-
Welcome to the Wrecking Ball!Grace Slick-
? ...And Don't the Kids Just Love ItTelevision Personalities-
EvangelineEmmylou Harris-
Frost and FireCirith Ungol-
RadiolandNicolette Larson-
Stands for DecibelsThe dB's-
There Must Be a Better World SomewhereB. B. King-
To the BoneKris Kristofferson-
Turn BackToto-
The Wild, the Willing and the InnocentUFO-
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
1 Atomkraft? Nein, Danke!Earthstar-
2 KillersIron MaidenUK
3 Difficult to CureRainbow-
9 Face ValuePhil Collinssolo debut
Fire Down UnderRiot-
12 Moving PicturesRush-
17 Another TicketEric Clapton-
Being with YouSmokey Robinson-
To Love AgainDiana RossCompilation
24 Working Class DogRick Springfield-
26 Point of EntryJudas Priest-
? Another One Rides the Bus"Weird Al" YankovicEP
Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi RocksHanoi Rocks-
CapturedJourneyLive
Coconut TelegraphJimmy Buffett-
Feels So RightAlabama-
The Fool CircleNazareth-
From the Tea-rooms of Mars ....Landscape-
Higher PlaneAl Green-
JuiceJuice Newton-
Mondo BongoThe Boomtown Rats-
My Life in the Bush of GhostsBrian EnoDavid Byrne-
Seven Year AcheRosanne Cash-
St. Valentine's Day MassacreMotör Headgirl SchoolEP
Stray CatsStray Cats-
The League of GentlemenRobert Fripp and The League of Gentlemen-
Wild-Eyed Southern Boys38 Special-
M
A
R
C
H
1 Intensities in 10 CitiesTed NugentLive
6 Journeys to GlorySpandau Ballet-
10 There Goes the NeighborhoodJoe Walsh-
13 Never Too LateStatus Quo-
We'll Bring the House DownSlade-
16 BreakerAccept-
Face DancesThe Who-
20 Time Tells No LiesPraying Mantis-
26 Fancy FreeThe Oak Ridge Boys-
The DudeQuincy Jones-
27 Carl WilsonCarl Wilson-
30 Extended PlayThe PretendersEP
31 Music for StowawaysBritish Electric Foundation-
? Dad Loves His WorkJames Taylor-
DirectionsMiles Davis-
Franke & The KnockoutsFranke & The Knockouts-
Future ShockGillan-
Grand SlamThe Isley Brothers-
HardwareKrokus-
Honi SoitJohn Cale-
Long Play Album aka Stars on Long PlayStars on 45-
MagnetsThe Vapors-
NightwalkerGino Vannelli-
No Fun After MidnightA II ZEP
Party 'Til You're BrokeRufus-
RocKihnRollThe Greg Kihn Band-
Solid GoldGang of Four-
Somewhere Over the RainbowWillie Nelson-
A Woman Needs LoveRay Parker, Jr.-
White Lace & Black LeatherHelix-

April–June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
1 ReckoningGrateful DeadLive
Rock Steady with Flo & EddieFlo & Eddie-
2 Modern TimesJefferson Starship-
6 The DeBargesDeBarge-
Fun in SpaceRoger Taylor-
Prayers on FireThe Birthday Party-
7 Street SongsRick James-
10 FaithThe Cure-
11 Come an' Get ItWhitesnake-
The Flowers of RomancePublic Image Ltd.-
13 Don't Say NoBilly Squier-
Of Skins and HeartThe Church-
14 Sucking in the SeventiesThe Rolling StonesCompilation
15 What Cha' Gonna Do for MeChaka Khan-
17 Go for ItStiff Little Fingers-
20 Hit and RunGirlschool-
Twangin...Dave Edmunds-
27 SlatesThe FallEP
29 Fair WarningVan Halen-
? Bad for GoodJim Steinman-
Chariots of FireVangelisSoundtrack
The Completion Backward PrincipleThe Tubes-
DedicationGary U.S. Bonds-
El Rayo-XDavid Lindley-
The Electric Spanking of War BabiesFunkadelic-
Goddo Live: Best Seat in the HouseGoddoLive
Mistaken IdentityKim Carnes-
The NightcomersHolocaust-
Punks Not DeadThe Exploited-
SpellboundTygers of Pan Tang-
WaiataSplit Enz-
Where Do You Go When You DreamAnne Murray-
Zebop!Santana-
M
A
Y
3 Nick Mason's Fictitious SportsNick Mason's Fictitious Sports-
5 Hard PromisesTom Petty and the Heartbreakers-
10 Computer WorldKraftwerk-
11 BalinMarty Balin-
NightclubbingGrace Jones-
Shut Up 'n' Play Yer GuitarFrank ZappaLive
14 Breaking All the RulesPeter Frampton-
It Must Be MagicTeena Marie-
15 East Side StorySqueeze-
Long Distance VoyagerThe Moody Blues-
17 Tinsel Town RebellionFrank Zappa-
18 Knights of the Sound TableCameo-
20 The FoxElton John-
22 AnthemToyah-
25 Hard 'n' HeavyAnvil-
29 In ConcertAmy GrantLive
Present ArmsUB40-
30 Heaven Up HereEcho & the Bunnymen-
? As Falls Wichita, so Falls Wichita FallsPat Metheny and Lyle Mays-
Beyond the Valley of 1984The Plasmatics-
Dedicated to Peter KürtenWhitehouse-
Look Out!20/20-
Magnetic FieldsJean-Michel Jarre-
Mecca for ModernsThe Manhattan Transfer-
Positive TouchThe Undertones-
RedBlack Uhuru-
Shock TacticsSamson-
Wild GiftX-
J
U
N
E
5 Somewhere in EnglandGeorge Harrison-
6 JujuSiouxsie & the Banshees-
Talk Talk TalkThe Psychedelic Furs-
8 Season of GlassYoko Ono-
15 Duran DuranDuran Duran-
16 Made in AmericaThe Carpenters-
19 Only a LadOingo Boingo-
25 Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the TrashThe Replacements-
27 No Sleep 'til HammersmithMotörheadLive
29 Kim WildeKim Wilde-
30 As Far as SiamRed Rider-
Breakin' AwayAl Jarreau-
? The BaronJohnny Cash-
Black & WhiteThe Pointer Sisters-
Children of Paradise – The Greatest Hits of Boney M. – Vol. 2Boney M.Compilation
DeuceKurtis Blow-
Fire of Unknown OriginBlue Öyster Cult-
Fresh Fruit in Foreign PlacesKid Creole and the Coconuts-
Here Comes the NightDavid Johansen-
In the PocketCommodores-
I've Got the Rock'n'Rolls AgainThe Joe Perry Project-
Jumpin' JiveJoe Jackson-
PartyIggy Pop-
A Product Of... (Participation)Thompson Twins-
ReflectorPablo Cruise-
RenaissanceVillage People-
Share Your LoveKenny Rogers-
Six PackBlack FlagEP
Some Days Are DiamondsJohn Denver-
The One That You LoveAir Supply-
Wanted Dread And AlivePeter Tosh-
Wha'ppen?The Beat-
What's THIS For...!Killing Joke-

July–September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
2 4Foreigner-
4 Signals, Calls, and MarchesMission of BurmaEP
8 Beauty and the BeatThe Go-Go's-
11 High 'n' DryDef Leppard-
20 Pleasant DreamsThe Ramones-
21 Never Too MuchLuther Vandross-
You Want It You Got ItBryan Adams-
26 Bucks FizzBucks Fizz-
27 Bella DonnaStevie Nicks-
KooKooDebbie Harry-
29 The TimeThe Time-
31 EscapeJourney-
Step by StepEddie Rabbitt-
? Blue and GrayPoco-
Document and EyewitnessWire-
DreamtimeTom Verlaine-
El LocoZZ Top-
Endless LoveVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
FreetimeSpyro Gyra-
The Friends of Mr CairoJon and Vangelis-
Girls to Chat and Boys to BounceFoghat-
Heavy Metal SoundtrackVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Hoy-Hoy!Little FeatCompilation
It's a ConditionRomeo Void-
Level 42Level 42-
Love SongsCliff Richard-
The Man with the HornMiles Davis-
MarauderBlackfoot-
Night of the DemonDemon-
Party Mix!The B-52'sRemix
PiratesRickie Lee Jones-
The Pirates of Penzance Broadway Cast AlbumVarious ArtistsBroadway cast recording
Precious TimePat Benatar-
Three QuartetsChick Corea-
TimeElectric Light Orchestra-
The VisitorMick Fleetwood-
Walking WildNew England-
Was (Not Was)Was (Not Was)-
Whomp That SuckerSparks-
Word of MouthJaco Pastorius-
A
U
G
U
S
T
1 TorchCarly Simon-
10 Friday Night in San FranciscoAl Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de LucíaLive
Shot of LoveBob Dylan-
15 Give the People What They WantThe Kinks-
Pretenders IIThe Pretenders-
18 Dark ContinentWall of Voodoo-
20 Love All the Hurt AwayAretha Franklin-
21 Sleep No MoreThe Comsat Angels-
24 Tattoo YouThe Rolling Stones-
25 Scissors CutArt Garfunkel-
26 Dead SetGrateful DeadLive
28 Alive AloneMickey Thomas-
31 Fire of LoveThe Gun Club-
? Brothers of the RoadThe Allman Brothers Band-
Heartbreak RadioRita Coolidge-
The Innocent AgeDan Fogelberg-
JoyThe MinutemenEP
King CoolDonnie Iris-
Maiden JapanIron MaidenLive EP
New TraditionalistsDevo-
The Pressure Is OnHank Williams, Jr.-
Short Back 'n' SidesIan Hunter-
SimplicityTim Curry-
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings CallSimple Minds-
Time ExposureLittle River Band-
Whitford/St. HolmesBrad Whitford and Derek St. Holmes-
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
2 1234Ronnie Wood-
4 DanceGary Numan-
Dead RingerMeat Loaf-
Strait CountryGeorge Strait-
Why Do Fools Fall in LoveDiana Ross-
7 Burning Blue SoulMatt JohnsonThe The singer
11 Rage in EdenUltravox-
14 AbacabGenesis-
Songs in the AtticBilly JoelLive
19 Allied ForcesTriumph-
21 You Could Have Been with MeSheena Easton-
22 DisciplineKing Crimson-
23 You Are What You IsFrank Zappa-
24 Something SpecialKool & the Gang-
25 Wild ThingsThe CreaturesEP
? BoonoonoonoosBoney M.-
BuchenwaldWhitehouse-
CamouflageRufus-
Camera CameraRenaissance-
Cats & DogsMental As Anything-
Dangerous AcquaintancesMarianne Faithfull-
DeafYou've Got Foetus on Your Breath-
Gosh It's...Bad Manners-
Grand Funk LivesGrand Funk Railroad-
Happy BirthdayAltered Images-
HooligansThe WhoCompilation
If I Should Love AgainBarry Manilow-
KixKix-
Lord UpminsterIan Dury-
Love ByrdDonald Byrd and 125th St, NYC-
Magic, Murder and the WeatherMagazine-
Magic WindowsHerbie Hancock-
Mark of the MoleThe Residents-
MSGMichael Schenker Group-
Nine TonightBob Seger and the Silver Bullet BandLive
Penthouse and PavementHeaven 17-
PremonitionSurvivor-
Private EyesHall & Oates-
Red MeccaCabaret Voltaire-
Rock until You DropRaven-
SnazNazarethLive
Special ForcesAlice Cooper-
Too Late the HeroJohn Entwistle-
Walk Under LaddersJoan Armatrading-

October–December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
2 7Madness-
Ghost in the MachineThe Police-
3 Law and OrderLindsey Buckingham-
5 Denim and LeatherSaxon-
KollapsEinstürzende Neubauten-
Speak & SpellDepeche Mode-
7 Get LuckyLoverboy-
8 Looking Back with LoveMike Lovesolo debut
StillJoy DivisionCompilation
10 Present Arms in DubUB40Remix
12 OctoberU2-
14 ControversyPrince-
16 DareThe Human League-
In the GardenEurythmics-
18 Sonic AttackHawkwind-
19 Underneath the ColoursINXS-
21 Bobby and the MidnitesBobby and the Midnites-
23 Almost BlueElvis Costello and the Attractions-
24 Don't StopBilly IdolEP
26 Freeze FrameThe J. Geils Band -
29 Exit...Stage LeftRushLive
31 The Best of BlondieBlondieCompilation
? Big CityMerle Haggard-
Chances AreBob Marley & the WailersCompilation of previously unreleased material
Christmas AlbumBoney M.Christmas
Circle of LoveSteve Miller Band-
Coup de GrâceMink DeVille-
Face to FaceGQ-
Fourth Drawer DownAssociates-
Gonna BallStray Cats-
Inside YouThe Isley Brothers-
Living EyesBee Gees-
Love Is Only FeelingDonovan-
MaskBauhaus-
PhysicalOlivia Newton-John-
QuarterflashQuarterflash-
Round TripThe Knack-
See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah. City All Over! Go Ape CrazyBow Wow Wow-
Strictly PersonalThe Romantics-
Tom Tom ClubTom Tom Club-
Wrap It!Doug and the Slugs-
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
2 Re·ac·torNeil Young and Crazy Horse-
4 Mob RulesBlack Sabbath-
6 Shake It UpThe Cars-
Tonight I'm YoursRod Stewart-
7 Diary of a MadmanOzzy Osbourne-
8 Architecture & MoralityOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark-
Greatest HitsQueenCompilation
9 Business as UsualMen at WorkAustralia, debut
La FolieThe Stranglers-
On the Way to the SkyNeil Diamond-
10 Music from "The Elder"Kiss-
Too Fast for LoveMötley Crüe-
11 The Jacksons Live!The JacksonsLive
Adventures in Modern RecordingThe Buggles-
13 MovementNew Order-
Till Deaf Do Us PartSlade-
Tin DrumJapan-
14 Raise!Earth, Wind & Fire-
15 RenegadeThin Lizzy-
16 Take It OffChic-
18 I Love Rock 'n' RollJoan Jett & the Blackhearts-
20 Stop and Smell the RosesRingo Starr-
23 A Collection of Great Dance SongsPink FloydCompilation with alternate mixes
For Those About to Rock We Salute YouAC/DC-
27 Non-Stop Erotic CabaretSoft Cell-
Ten Out of 1010cc-
29 In Concert Volume TwoAmy GrantLive
30 Bad ReligionBad ReligionEP
Best of the Blues BrothersThe Blues BrothersCompilation
The VisitorsABBA-
? The AscensionGlenn Branca-
ChangestwobowieDavid BowieCompilation
Christmas WishesAnne MurrayChristmas
From the Lions MouthThe Sound-
Great Gonzos!: The Best of Ted NugentTed NugentCompilation
MemoriesBarbra StreisandCompilation +3 new tracks
PearlsElkie Brooks-
The PoetBobby Womack-
Prince CharmingAdam and the Ants-
She Shot Me DownFrank Sinatra-
Still the Same Ole MeGeorge Jones-
Take No PrisonersMolly Hatchet-
Wired for SoundCliff Richard-
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
5 DamagedBlack Flag-
7 Ten Years of HarmonyThe Beach BoysCompilation
15 LCThe Durutti Column-
30 For Those Who Think YoungRough Trade-
? The Best of Top of the Pops '81Top of the Poppers-
The BlastersThe Blasters-
The Catherine WheelDavid Byrne-
In God We Trust, Inc.Dead KennedysEP
Peter CeteraPeter Cetera-
Small ChangePrism-
Welcome to HellVenom-
WilderThe Teardrop Explodes-

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1981.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1Kim CarnesBette Davis Eyes1981US 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, Netherlands 16 – May 1981, RYM 16 of 1981, Germany 18 of the 1980s, OzNet 45, Scrobulate 66 of 80s, RIAA 268, Acclaimed 738
2Soft CellTainted Love1981UK 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, Netherlands 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
3Phil CollinsIn the Air Tonight1981Netherlands 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
4John LennonWoman1981UK 1 – January 1981, Canada 1 – January 1981, Republic of Ireland 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, Netherlands 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
5Stars On 45Stars On 45 Medley1981US BB 1 – May 1981, Netherlands 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

Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit albums

Significant singles

Classical music

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Charts

List of No. 1 Hits

  • List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1981

See also

References

  1. http://www.neworder.com/newordernow/2018/12/19/movement-definitive-edition.html
  2. The Rock Yearbook 1982. New York: Virgin Books Ltd. 1981. p. 22. ISBN 0-312-68784-2.
  3. Fricke,David (April 11, 1981). "One Ahead For Ozzy". Melody Maker. IPC Magazines Ltd.: 4.
  4. The Rock Yearbook 1983. New York: Virgin Books Ltd. 1982. p. 9. ISBN 0-312-68785-0.
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