The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by Billboard magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to Billboard by stations that are members of the Adult Contemporary radio panel. The chart debuted in Billboard magazine on July 17, 1961. Over the years, the chart has gone under a series of name changes, being called Easy Listening(1961–1962; 1965–1979), Middle-Road Singles(1962–1964), Pop-Standard Singles(1964–1965), Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks(1979–1982) and Adult Contemporary(1983–present).
"Arthur's Theme " is a song performed and co-written by American singer-songwriter Christopher Cross, which was the main theme for the 1981 film Arthur starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. The song won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1982. In the US, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the Hot Adult Contemporary charts during October 1981, remaining at the top on the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks. Overseas, it also went to number one on the VG-lista chart in Norway, and was a top ten hit in several other countries. The song became the second and last American number one hit by Christopher Cross. It was included as a bonus track only on the CD & Cassette versions of his second album Another Page, released in 1983.
"Waiting for a Girl Like You" is a 1981 power ballad by the British-American rock band Foreigner. The distinctive synthesizer theme was performed by the then-little-known Thomas Dolby, and this song also marked a major departure from their earlier singles because their previous singles were mid to upper tempo rock songs while this song was a softer love song with the energy of a power ballad.
"Shame on the Moon" is a song written by Rodney Crowell and first recorded for his eponymous 1981 album. It was subsequently covered by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, as the lead single from their 1982 album The Distance.
"Through the Years" is a song written by Steve Dorff and Marty Panzer, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in December 1981 as the fourth single from the album Share Your Love.
"What Are We Doin' in Love" is a song written by Randy Goodrum and recorded by American country music artist Dottie West with the uncredited vocals of Kenny Rogers. It was released in March 1981 as the second single from the album Wild West. "What Are We Doin' in Love" was the duo's third and final number one on the country chart.
"I Love a Rainy Night" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt. It was released in November 1980 as the second single from his album Horizon. It reached number one on the Hot Country Singles, Billboard Hot 100, and Adult Contemporary Singles charts in 1981. The song succeeded Dolly Parton's song "9 to 5" at the number 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart - the last time, to date, that the pop chart featured back-to-back country singles in the number one position. It was written by Rabbitt, Even Stevens and David Malloy.
"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.
"Lady" is a song written by Lionel Richie and first recorded by American country artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1980 on the album Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits.
"The One That You Love" is a popular song written by Graham Russell and sung by Australian soft rock duo Air Supply from their sixth studio album of the same name. This song reached number one in the United States in 1981. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 25 July 1981 and remained there for one week, becoming the band's only number one hit. In Canada, it knocked the Stars on 45 medley off the top spot and stayed there for five weeks.
"Husbands and Wives" is a single written and recorded by American country music singer Roger Miller. Miller's original, from his album Words and Music, was released in February 1966 and was a crossover hit for him, reaching Top Ten on the U.S. country and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as Top 40 on the pop charts. Since the release of Miller's original, the song has been covered by several other artists, including The Everly Brothers, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, a duet between David Frizzell and Shelly West, Jules Shear, and Brooks & Dunn, whose version was a number-one country hit in 1998.
"Here I Am " is the title of a popular song from 1981 by the Australian group Air Supply. It was written by Norman Sallitt and included on the group's album The One That You Love.
"Make a Move on Me" is a song recorded by Olivia Newton-John for her ninth album Physical (1981). The follow-up single to the huge U.S. number-one hit title track, it was released in January 1982 and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 that April. It became her twelfth and final single to be certified Gold.
"Don't Call It Love" is a song first released by American singer Kim Carnes on her 1981 album Mistaken Identity. The following year it was covered by Captain and Tennille and Dusty Springfield from their albums More Than Dancing and White Heat. Later the song was covered and released as a single by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released in January 1985 as the first single from the album Real Love. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. "Don't Call It Love" was also an Adult Contemporary hit, reaching number 12 in the US and number seven in Canada.
"I Don't Need You" is a song written by Rick Christian and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in June 1981 as the lead single from Rogers album Share Your Love.
"Yesterday's Songs" is a 1981 single by Neil Diamond from his album On the Way to the Sky. The song was a major adult contemporary radio hit, spending six weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard chart and four weeks atop the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at #11. On the Canadian pop charts, the song reached #15. "Yesterday's Songs" is ranked as the 77th biggest American hit of 1982.
