List of Billboard number-one dance singles of 1981

Last updated

These are the Billboard magazine Hot Dance Club Play number one hits of 1981.

Issue dateSongArtist
January 3"Celebration"/"Take It to the Top" Kool & The Gang
January 10
January 17
January 24"You're Too Late" Fantasy
January 31
February 7
February 14
February 21
February 28"Rapture"/"The Tide Is High" Blondie
March 7
March 14
March 21
March 28"Breaking and Entering"/"Easy Money" Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble
April 4
April 11
April 18
April 25"Your Love"/"You're My Magician" Lime
May 2"Lay All Your Love on Me"/"Super Trouper"/"On and On and On" ABBA
May 9"Paradise"/"Hold Tight"/"Heaven of My Life" Change
May 16
May 23
May 30
June 6
June 13"Try It Out"/"Hold Tight" Gino Soccio
June 20
June 27
July 4
July 11
July 18
July 25"Give It to Me Baby"/"Super Freak"/"Ghetto Life" Rick James
August 1
August 8
August 15"I'm in Love" Evelyn King
August 22
August 29
September 5"Dancin' the Night Away" Voggue
September 12
September 19
September 26"A Little Bit of Jazz" Nick Straker Band
October 3"Zulu" The Quick
October 10
October 17"Do You Love Me"/"The Genie" Patti Austin
October 24
October 31"Menergy"/"I Wanna Take You Home" Patrick Cowley
November 7
November 14"Controversy"/"Let's Work" Prince
November 21
November 28
December 5
December 12
December 19
December 26"You Can"/"Fire in My Heart" Madleen Kane

See also

Related Research Articles

This is a list of songs that have peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the magazine's national singles charts that preceded it. Introduced in 1958, the Hot 100 is the pre-eminent singles chart in the United States, currently monitoring the most popular singles in terms of popular radio play, single purchases and online streaming.

Fantasy is an urban pop vocal group based in New York City who scored several hits on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including "You're Too Late", which hit number one in 1981.

Frank Mills is a Canadian pianist and recording artist, best known for his solo instrumental hit "Music Box Dancer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch Me When We're Dancing</span> 1981 single by Opus

"Touch Me When We're Dancing" is a song written by Terry Skinner, J. L. Wallace and Ken Bell. Skinner and Wallace headed the Muscle Shoals, Alabama session group Bama, who first recorded this song and released it as a single in 1979 reaching number 42 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was later recorded by The Carpenters in 1981 for their Made in America album. In 1984, it was recorded by country music artists Mickey Gilley and Charly McClain for their 1984 duet album It Takes Believers and in 1986 by the country music group Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady (Kenny Rogers song)</span> 1980 single by Kenny Rogers

"Lady" is a song written by Lionel Richie and first recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1980 on the album Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Your Time (Do It Right)</span> Debut single by the S.O.S. Band

"Take Your Time (Do It Right)" is the debut single by American R&B group the S.O.S. Band. It was released as the lead single from their debut studio album, S.O.S. (1980) on March 18, 1980 through Tabu Records, three months before the album's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be Good to You</span> 1976 song by the Brothers Johnson

"I'll Be Good to You" is a 1976 hit song by R&B duo the Brothers Johnson. George Johnson, one of the two Johnson brothers in the band, wrote the song after deciding to commit to a relationship with one woman, instead of dating several at a time. While George was recording a demo for the song, family friend Senora Sam came by and added some lyrics. Brothers Johnson producer and mentor Quincy Jones heard the song, liked it, and convinced George to sing lead on the finished track. Released from their debut album, Look Out for #1, it was a top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot Singles Charts, peaking at number three, and a number one song on the Billboard R&B Charts during the summer of 1976. The single was later certified gold by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give It to Me Baby</span> 1981 single by Rick James

"Give It to Me Baby" is a song written by American singer Rick James. Taken from his album Street Songs, the song charted on the Billboard Hot 100, spending two weeks at No. 40 and spent five weeks at No. 1 on the R&B chart. Two other tracks from Street Songs, "Super Freak" and "Ghetto Life", topped the American dance chart for three weeks in the summer of 1981. The song proved to be even more successful with R&B and dance club audiences. Part of the background vocals were sung by Temptations member Melvin Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With You I'm Born Again</span> 1979 single by Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright

"With You I'm Born Again" is a 1979 duet written by Carol Connors and David Shire that originated on the soundtrack of the 1979 motion picture Fast Break. It was performed by Motown recording artists Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright and became an international hit for the duo, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Hearts (Stephanie Mills song)</span> 1981 single by Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass

"Two Hearts'" is a hit duet sung by American R&B singers Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass, from Mills' fifth studio album Stephanie (1981). The song was written and produced by James Mtume, Reggie Lucas and Tawatha Agee. Released in January 1981, the single reached number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. On the US Billboard R&B chart, "Two Hearts" reached number three.

<i>Unforgettable – A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole</i> 1983 live album by Johnny Mathis

Unforgettable – A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole is a soundtrack album released in the UK in 1983 by the CBS Records division of Columbia in conjunction with the broadcast of American pop singer Johnny Mathis's BBC television concert special of the same name that featured Cole's daughter Natalie. The front of the original album jacket credits the concert performers as "Johnny Mathis and Natalie Cole", whereas the CD booklet reads, "Johnny Mathis with special guest Natalie Cole".

This is a list of songs that have reached number 10 or higher on the Billboard Hot 100. Introduced in 1958, the Hot 100 is the pre-eminent singles chart in the United States, currently monitoring the most popular singles in terms of popular radio play, single purchases and online streaming.

References