In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
Jesse's Girl/I've Done Everything for You - Rick Springfield
Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
Take it on the Run - Reo Speedwagon
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles

That's all I can think of for now!  :)

ohh goody  :)  ...my fav year of the 80's

if i had to pick only one year to define the " true 80's music " ...then this is it !
here's just 10 - from a sh*tload of options  ........in no patricular order : and without duplicating above list

1/.  Ph.D - I Won't let You Down
2/.  Kim Wilde - Kids In America
3/.  Rupert Hine - Misplaced Love
4/.  Mondo Rock - Cool World
5/.  Devo - Beautiful World
6/.  Dave Stewart/Barbara Gaskin - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
7/.  Jona Lewie - Louise ( we get it right )
8/.  Ultravox - Vienna         produced in 80' - single in 81                                                                
9/.  Billy Field - You Were'nt In Love With Me   
10/.The Church - Unguarded Moment
some from an Aussie perspective as well as universally known ;)     

http://www.freepgs.com/onehitwonder/Misc%20%20Images/1981%20Rocks%20On.jpg
and a " BONUS LISTING " :  ;D   .....   Fav 1981 Album - Various Artist Compilation - 1981 Rocks On  ( EMI Records Aust - Give 2003 )    ::)

Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes

1981 was not only a great year musicwise -- it was interesting because of the emerging 80's sounds (new wave, etc) were mixing with the still popular 70's sound (singer-songwriter pop, etc). But it's the year I was born! :)

Alot of hit songs that year were still in frequent rotation when I was 5-6 years old so it's safe to say I grew up with them. My random top 20:

1 No Reply at all - Genesis (my ALLTIME favorite of theirs - never gets airplay anymore)
2 Urgent - Foreigner
3 Endless Love - Lionel Richie
4 Kiss on My List - Hall & Oates
5 The Breakup Song - Greg Kihn
6 Young Turks - Rod Stewart
7 Workin' for the Weekend - Loverboy
8 Arthur's Theme - Christopher Cross
9 The Tide is High - Blondie
10 Trouble - Lindsey Buckingham
11 The Waiting - Tom Petty
12 Every Little Thing she Does is Magic - Police
13 While You See a Chance - Steve Winwood
14 Lonely Nights - Bryan Adams (his first hit)
15 Waiting for a Girl Like You - Foreigner
16 Physical - Olivia Newton-John
17 You Better You Bet - The Who
18 Take it on the Run - REO Speedwagon
19 Hold on Loosely - 38 Special

And most of all...

20 Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield (helped my parents pick my name!!). 8)

In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
Jesse's Girl/I've Done Everything for You - Rick Springfield
Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
Take it on the Run - Reo Speedwagon
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles

That's all I can think of for now!  :)


I'm sorry but I have a correction to make. According to my book -- Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual 1955-1999 -- with chart data compiled from Billboard --"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles peaked at #40 in December 1979.

1981 was not only a great year musicwise -- it was interesting because of the emerging 80's sounds (new wave, etc) were mixing with the still popular 70's sound (singer-songwriter pop, etc). But it's the year I was born! :)

Alot of hit songs that year were still in frequent rotation when I was 5-6 years old so it's safe to say I grew up with them. My random top 20:

1 No Reply at all - Genesis (my ALLTIME favorite of theirs - never gets airplay anymore)
2 Urgent - Foreigner
3 Endless Love - Lionel Richie
4 Kiss on My List - Hall & Oates
5 The Breakup Song - Greg Kihn
6 Young Turks - Rod Stewart
7 Workin' for the Weekend - Loverboy
8 Arthur's Theme - Christopher Cross
9 The Tide is High - Blondie
10 Trouble - Lindsey Buckingham
11 The Waiting - Tom Petty
12 Every Little Thing she Does is Magic - Police
13 While You See a Chance - Steve Winwood
14 Lonely Nights - Bryan Adams (his first hit)
15 Waiting for a Girl Like You - Foreigner
16 Physical - Olivia Newton-John
17 You Better You Bet - The Who
18 Take it on the Run - REO Speedwagon
19 Hold on Loosely - 38 Special

And most of all...

20 Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield (helped my parents pick my name!!). 8)


As a music collector (always making sure to know when the songs I get are from), I both agree & disagree. I feel that music commonly associated with the 80's (including new wave) really started in the late-70's with the other sounds remaining popular as well, this musically-mixed time lasting through part of the '80's.

I'm sorry but I have a correction to make. According to my book -- Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual 1955-1999 -- with chart data compiled from Billboard --"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles peaked at #40 in December 1979.


Yeah, I heard that it came out in '79 as well, but I think with MTV airing it (it was their first ever video!) it re-charted so it's thought of as a 1981 song.

some more faves:

Celebration - Kool & the Gang (late '80-early '81 hit)
Our Lips Are Sealed - The Go-Go's
Stop Draggin My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty
Leather & Lace - Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
Rapture - Blondie
I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt

In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
Jesse's Girl/I've Done Everything for You - Rick Springfield
Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
Take it on the Run - Reo Speedwagon
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles

That's all I can think of for now!  :)


I can't believe you guys haven't mentioned John Lennon's "Imagine". That is a classic.

In terms of pop, I will have to say Oliva Newton John's "Physical". It reached number 7 in the uk singles chart.

I can't believe you guys haven't mentioned John Lennon's "Imagine". That is a classic.

In terms of pop, I will have to say Oliva Newton John's "Physical". It reached number 7 in the uk singles chart.
The reason why I had not mentioned John Lennon's Imagine, is because it is a favourite record of mine from 1975.

Christopher Cross baby! 

one of my favorite Styx songs came out that year - 'Too Much Time on My Hands'  :)

8)


Blondie "Rapture"
Talking Heads "Once In A Lifetime"
Daryl Hall & John Oates "Private Eyes"
Rick James "Super Freak"
Holly & The Italians "Tell That Girl To Shut Up"

8)

Blondie "Rapture"
Talking Heads "Once In A Lifetime"
Daryl Hall & John Oates "Private Eyes"
Rick James "Super Freak"
Holly & The Italians "Tell That Girl To Shut Up"



Oh geez, I forgot Hall & Oates had two albums out that year (picking between "Kiss on My List" and the singles from Private Eyes is hard!).

Actually I think "Kiss" came out in 1980 but was a single in '81, whereas the Private Eyes album itself came out in '81. The title track and "Did It in a Minute" are my faves off that, followed close by the Survivor-ish album track "Head Above Water."

Another 1981 song I forgot to put is "Come on Over Tonight" from Paul Davis - I'm probably the only guy on this board who would admit to liking it (it's a little sappy but that's what makes it a great song!). ;)

Chihuahua  -Bow Wow Wow
I Love Rock 'n Roll -Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Spellbound -Siouxsie & The Banshees
Never Gonna Cry Again -Eurythmics

Also:
Bucks Fizz -Making Your Mind Up

Just some of my favourite songs from 1981;

Dance - Gary Numan,
She's Got Claws - Gary Numan,
Cry, The Clock Said - Gary Numan,
Picasso Visita El Planeta De Los Simios - Adam & The Ants,
Stand & Deliver - Adam & The Ants,
The Thin Wall - Ultravox,
We Stand Alone - Ultravox.

Er...that's all I can think of right now.  :-\\

I have two favourite songs from '81. They are:

Rapture - Blondie
Girls On Film - Duran Duran

A fabulous year for music, my top songs for 81 are: 1. Vienna -Ultravox

2. The voice- Ultravox

3. Fade to grey- Visage

4. Planet earth- duran duran

5. Being with you- Smokie Robinson

6. Quiet life- Japan

7. Thin wall- Ultravox  yes, I didn't dress like one, but at heart I was and still am a New Romantic!!!

Private Eyes ~ Daryl Hall & John Oates

The Boy from New York City ~ The Manhattan Transfer  < but, i never liked it much.

01 | "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore - Nielsen and Pearson"
02 | "Innocence - Harlequin"
03 | "Night Fades Away - Nils Lofgren"

04 | "Arc of A Diver" - Steve Winwood
05 | "Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes
06 | "Breaking Away" - Balance
07 | "The Breakup Song" - Greg Kihn Band
08 | "Don't Let Him Know" - Prism
09 | "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" - Jon and Vangelis
10 | "Give A Little Bit More" - Cliff Richard
11 | "Happy Birthday Kid" - Geoff Hughes
12 | "Heart Like A Wheel" - Steve Miller
13 | "Hold On" - Ian Thomas
14 | "Hold on Tight" - Electric Light Orchestra
15 | "I Believe in You" - Gary O
16 | "In Your Letter" - REO Speedwagon
17 | "Love Song" - Simple Minds
18 | "The Night Owls" - Little River Band
19 | "Sausalito Summernight" - Diesel
20 | "Talking Out of Turn" - Moody Blues
21 | "Trouble" - Lindsey Buckingham
22 | "What Have You Got to Do (To Get Off Tonight)" - Red Rider
23 | "While You See A Chance" - Steve Winwood
24 | "A Woman's Got the Power" - The A's
25 | "You Can Take My Heart Away" - Silver Condor
26 | "Young Turks" - Rod Stewart

Back in Black - AC-DC
Bringin' on the Heartbreak - Def Leppard
Hold on Loosely - 38 Special
Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
Burnin' For You - Blue Oyster Cult
Keep on Loving You - REO Speedwagon
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Take it on the Run - REO Speedwagon
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police
Rapture - Blondie
In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins

The One That You Love by Air Supply
Here I Am by Air Supply
Sweet Dreams by Air Supply
Somewhere Down the Road by Barry Manilow
If I Should Love Again by Barry Manilow
For Your Eyes Only by Sheena Easton
Keep On Lovin You by Reo Speedwagon
Private Eyes by Hall & Oats
In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes