These are the number-one hits on the Top 100 Singles chart in 1981 as published by Cash Box magazine. +KeyIndicates best-performing single of 1981
Issue date Song Artist January 3 "(Just Like) Starting Over" John Lennon January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31 "The Tide Is High" Blondie February 7 February 14 "Celebration" Kool & the Gang February 21 "I Love a Rainy Night" Eddie Rabbitt February 28 "9 to 5" Dolly Parton March 7 "Keep on Loving You" REO Speedwagon March 14 "Woman" John Lennon March 21 March 28 "Rapture" Blondie April 4 April 11 "Kiss on My List" Daryl Hall and John Oates April 18 "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" Sheena Easton April 25 May 2 May 9 May 16 May 23 "Being With You" Smokey Robinson May 30 "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes June 6 June 13 June 20 "Medley: Intro Venus / Sugar Sugar / No Reply /I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want To Know a Secret /We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man /You're Going To Lose That Girl / Stars on 45" Stars on 45 June 27 July 4 "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes July 11 July 18 "The One That You Love" Air Supply July 25 "Jessie's Girl" Rick Springfield August 1 "Elvira" Oak Ridge Boys August 8 "Theme From “Greatest American Hero" Joey Scarbury August 15 "Endless Love" Diana Ross and Lionel Richie August 22 August 29 September 5 September 12 September 19 September 26 October 3 October 10 October 17 "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" Christopher Cross October 24 October 31 November 7 November 14 "Private Eyes" Daryl Hall and John Oates November 21 "Physical" Olivia Newton-John November 28 December 5 December 12 December 19 December 26
See also 1981 in music List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1981 (U.S.)
References http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/randypny4/cashbox/1981.html http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1981.html http://musicseek.info/no1hits/1981.htm