The following lists the number one singles on the Australian Singles Chart, along with other substantial hits, during the 1980s. The source for this decade is the Kent Music Report (retitled as Australian Music Report in 1987), and the ARIA Charts.
1980s Australian charts
Two sets of charts ran in Australia in the late 1980s. The Kent Music Report began publication in 1974 as Australia's official national charts. From mid-1983, the Australian Recording Industry Association (or ARIA) licensed the Kent Music Report (which was renamed the 'Australian Music Report' in 1987). ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June 1988 (a Sunday). These charts ran concurrent to what was by then known as the Australian Music Report. The Australian Music Report charts ceased commercial publishing in 1999.
Both the Kent Music Report / Australian Music Report chart data (1980–1989) and the ARIA chart data (starting from their commencement in mid-1983) are listed below. The Kent Music Report / Australian Music Report chart data is taken from the Australian Chart Book 1970–92, published by David Kent, while the ARIA chart data is taken from australian-charts.com.
The dates given for the Kent Music Report / Australian Music Report are Mondays.
Kent/Australian Music Report +KeyThe yellow background indicates the #1 song on the KMR/AMR End of Year ChartThe light blue background indicates the #1 song on the KMR/AMR End of Decade Chart
1980 (Kent Music Report) Date Artist Single Weeks at number one7 JanuaryThe Buggles"Video Killed the Radio Star"7 weeks (5 weeks in Dec. 1979)14 January21 JanuaryMichael Jackson"Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"3 weeks28 January4 February11 FebruaryKC and the Sunshine Band"Please Don't Go"2 weeks18 February25 FebruaryQueen"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"7 weeks3 March10 March17 March24 March31 March7 April14 AprilSplit Enz"I Got You"8 weeks21 April28 April5 May12 May19 May26 May2 June9 JuneRocky Burnette"Tired of Toein' the Line"2 weeks16 June23 JuneThe Vapors"Turning Japanese"2 weeks30 June7 JulyVillage People"Can't Stop the Music"4 weeks14 July21 July28 July4 AugustLipps Inc."Funkytown"2 weeks11 August18 AugustGenghis Khan"Moscow"6 weeks25 August1 September8 September15 September22 September29 SeptemberDiana Ross"Upside Down"4 weeks6 October13 October20 October27 OctoberLeo Sayer"More Than I Can Say"2 weeks3 November10 NovemberBarbra Streisand"Woman in Love"2 weeks17 November24 NovemberJoe Dolce Music Theatre"Shaddap You Face"8 weeks1 December8 December15 December22 December29 December
Other hits Songs peaking at number two included "Dreaming My Dreams with You" by Colleen Hewett, "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" by Pink Floyd, "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders, "Coming Up" by Paul McCartney, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by Long John Baldry and Kathi McDonald, "What I Like About You" by The Romantics, "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra, "Babooshka" by Kate Bush, and "Master Blaster (Jammin')" by Stevie Wonder.
Other hits (with their peak positions noted) were "Space Invaders" (3) by Player One, "Ashes to Ashes" (3) by David Bowie, "Do That to Me One More Time" (3) by Captain & Tennille, "Fame" (3) by Irene Cara, "He's My Number One" (4) by Christie Allen, "Call Me" (4) and "The Tide Is High" (4) by Blondie, "Blame It on the Boogie" (4) by The Jacksons, and "Shandi" (5) by Kiss.
Hits by Australasian artists included "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John, "People" by Mi-Sex, "No Secrets" by The Angels, "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC and "Can't Help Myself" and "We Can Get Together" by Flowers.
1981 (Kent Music Report) Date Artist Single Weeks at number one5 JanuaryJoe Dolce Music Theatre"Shaddap You Face"8 weeks12 January19 JanuaryJohn Lennon"(Just Like) Starting Over"4 weeks26 January2 February9 February16 FebruarySlim Dusty"Duncan"2 weeks23 February2 MarchThe Swingers"Counting the Beat"3 weeks9 March16 March23 MarchAdam and the Ants"Antmusic"5 weeks30 March6 April13 April20 April27 AprilSheena Easton"9 to 5 (Morning Train)"2 weeks4 May11 MayRoxy Music"Jealous Guy"4 weeks18 May25 May1 June8 JuneShakin' Stevens"This Ole House"1 week15 JuneKim Carnes"Bette Davis Eyes"5 weeks22 June29 June6 July13 July20 JulyStars on 45"Stars on 45 Medley"4 weeks27 July3 August10 August17 AugustDevoDEV-O Live (EP)3 weeks24 August31 AugustRick Springfield"Jessie's Girl"1 week7 SeptemberDevoDEV-O Live (EP)3 weeks14 SeptemberShakin' Stevens"You Drive Me Crazy"3 weeks21 September28 September5 OctoberDiana Ross and Lionel Richie"Endless Love"4 weeks12 October19 October26 October2 NovemberBilly Field"You Weren't in Love with Me"1 week9 NovemberThe Rolling Stones"Start Me Up"1 week16 NovemberOlivia Newton-John"Physical"5 weeks23 November30 November7 December14 December21 DecemberMen at Work"Down Under"6 weeks28 December
Other hits Songs peaking at number two included "Stop the Cavalry" and "Louise (We Get It Right)" by Jona Lewie, "Angel of the Morning" by Juice Newton, "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work, "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police, and "Wired for Sound" by Cliff Richard.
"Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy, "Girls Can Get It" by Dr. Hook, "Keep On Loving You" by REO Speedwagon, "Gotta Pull Myself Together" by The Nolans and "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins all peaked at number 3. Other major hits (with their peak positions) were "Jesse" by Carly Simon (4), "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde (5) and "Precious to Me" by Phil Seymour (6).
Hits by Australasian artists included "If I Were a Carpenter" by Swanee, "Bad Habits" by Billy Field, "Boys in Town" by Divinyls and "State of the Heart" by Mondo Rock.
1982 (Kent Music Report) Date Artist Single Weeks at number one4 JanuaryMen at Work"Down Under"6 weeks11 January18 January24 January1 FebruaryLindsey Buckingham"Trouble"3 weeks8 February15 February22 FebruarySoft Cell"Tainted Love"3 weeks1 March8 March15 MarchThe J. Geils Band"Centerfold"1 week22 MarchMoving Pictures"What About Me"6 weeks29 March5 April12 April19 April26 April3 MayJoan Jett and the Blackhearts"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"5 weeks10 May17 May24 May31 May7 JuneToni Basil"Mickey"2 weeks14 June21 JuneCharlene"I've Never Been to Me"6 weeks28 June5 July12 July19 July26 July2 AugustA Flock of Seagulls"I Ran (So Far Away)"2 weeks9 August16 AugustAdam Ant"Goody Two Shoes"2 weeks23 August30 AugustRay Parker Jr."The Other Woman"1 week6 SeptemberSteve Miller Band"Abracadabra"2 weeks13 September20 SeptemberSurvivor"Eye of the Tiger"6 weeks27 September4 October11 October18 October25 October1 NovemberDexys Midnight Runners"Come On Eileen"5 weeks8 November15 November22 November29 November6 DecemberMusical Youth"Pass the Dutchie"3 weeks13 December20 December27 DecemberCulture Club"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"6 weeks
Other hits Songs peaking at number two included "Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's, "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)" by Joey Scarbury, "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins, "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" by Split Enz, "If You Want My Love" by Cheap Trick, and "Shy Boy" by Bananarama.
Other hits (with peak positions shown) included "Waiting for a Girl Like You" (3) by Foreigner, "Young Turks" (3) by Rod Stewart, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (4) by Chicago, "You Should Hear How She Talks About You" (4) by Melissa Manchester, "Da Da Da" (4) by Trio, "Poison Arrow" (4) by ABC, "Homosapien" (4) by Pete Shelley, "Hurts So Good" (5) by John "Cougar" Mellencamp, "Hungry Like the Wolf" (5) by Duran Duran and "Cambodia" (7) by Kim Wilde.
Hits by Australasian artists included "Forever Now" by Cold Chisel, "Body and Soul" by Jo Kennedy, "Solid Rock" by Goanna, "Great Southern Land" by Icehouse, "Dirty Creature" by Split Enz, "Down on the Border" by Little River Band and "Lady, What's Your Name" by Swanee.
1983 (Kent Music Report/ARIA Charts) Date Artist Single Weeks at number one3 JanuaryCulture Club"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"6 weeks10 January17 January23 January31 January7 FebruaryLaura Branigan"Gloria"7 weeks14 February21 February28 February7 March14 March21 March28 MarchJoe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes"Up Where We Belong"2 weeks4 April11 AprilMichael Jackson"Billie Jean"5 weeks18 April25 April2 May9 May16 MayRedgum"I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)"2 weeks23 May30 MayBonnie Tyler"Total Eclipse of the Heart"6 weeks6 June13 June20 June27 June4 July11 JulyIrene Cara"Flashdance... What a Feeling"7 weeks18 July25 July1 August8 August15 AugustAusten Tayshus"Australiana"8 weeks22 AugustIrene Cara"Flashdance... What a Feeling"7 weeks29 August5 SeptemberAusten Tayshus"Australiana"8 weeks12 September19 September26 September3 October10 October17 October24 OctoberCulture Club"Karma Chameleon"5 weeks31 October7 November14 November21 November28 NovemberAustralian Crawl"Reckless (Don't Be So)"1 week5 DecemberBilly Joel"Uptown Girl"1 week12 DecemberKenny Rogers and Dolly Parton"Islands in the Stream"1 week19 DecemberLionel Richie"All Night Long (All Night)"6 weeks26 December
Other hits Songs peaking at number two included "Heartbreaker" by Dionne Warwick, "Twisting by the Pool" (EP) by Dire Straits, "Let's Dance" by David Bowie, "1999" by Prince, "Beat It" by Michael Jackson, "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant, "Maniac" by Michael Sembello, "Rain" by Dragon, "Bop Girl" by Pat Wilson, and "Red Red Wine" by UB40.
Other major hits (with peak positions noted) included "Save Your Love" (3) by Renee and Renato, "Give It Up" (3) by KC and the Sunshine Band, "I'm Still Standing" (3) by Elton John, "You Can't Hurry Love" (3) by Phil Collins, "I.O.U." (3) by Freeez, "I Eat Cannibals" (4) by Toto Coelo, "Young Guns" (4) by Wham!, "The Safety Dance" (5) by Men Without Hats, "Africa" (5) by Toto, and "Drop the Pilot" (6) by Joan Armatrading.
Hits by Australasian artists also included "Send Me an Angel" by Real Life, "Fraction Too Much Friction" by Tim Finn, "Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang" by Monte Video and the Cassettes, "Overkill" and "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive" by Men at Work, and "Power and the Passion" by Midnight Oil.
1984 (Kent Music Report/ARIA Charts) Date Artist Single Weeks at number one2 JanuaryLionel Richie"All Night Long (All Night)"6 weeks9 January16 January23 January30 JanuaryINXS"Original Sin"2 weeks6 February13 FebruaryPat Benatar"Love Is a Battlefield"5 weeks20 February27 February5 March12 March19 MarchCyndi Lauper"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"2 weeks26 March2 AprilNena"99 Luftballons"5 weeks9 April16 April23 April30 April7 May"Weird Al" Yankovic"Eat It"1 week14 MayKenny Loggins"Footloose"3 weeks21 May28 May4 JuneLionel Richie"Hello"3 weeks11 June18 June25 JuneThe Twelfth Man"It's Just Not Cricket"3 weeks2 July9 July16 JulyWham!"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"7 weeks23 July30 July6 August13 August20 AugustPrince"When Doves Cry"1 week27 AugustWham!"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"7 weeks3 September10 SeptemberTina Turner"What's Love Got to Do with It"1 week17 SeptemberGeorge Michael"Careless Whisper"4 weeks24 September1 October8 October15 OctoberStevie Wonder"I Just Called to Say I Love You"8 weeks22 October29 October5 November12 November19 November26 November3 December10 DecemberMadonna"Like a Virgin"5 weeks17 December24 December31 December
Other hits The year's best charting single was Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark". Despite having only reached number 5 on the singles chart, it remained on the charts for 40 weeks.
Songs peaking at number two included "Come Said the Boy" by Mondo Rock, "Radio Ga Ga" by Queen, "Jump" by Van Halen, "Heaven (Must Be There)" by Eurogliders, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr., "The War Song" by Culture Club, and "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" by Billy Ocean.