Tuesday, August 28, 2012

1981 IN MUSIC


Events

[edit]January–April

[edit]May–August

  • May 2 – British vocalist Sheena Easton hits No. 1 in the US with "Morning Train (9 to 5)" following a swift rise to fame as the result of a reality TV show.
  • May 14 – Diana Ross signs with RCA Records (EMI internationally), leaving Motown Records, her label of two decades. The $20,000,000 deal is the most lucrative recording contract in history at that time.
  • May 15 – A riot breaks out at The Ritz rock club in New York when Public Image Ltd plays behind a videoscreen while completely different music plays over the club's speakers.
  • June 4 – U2 appears on the Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television appearance.
  • June 5 - The TV series Night Flight, a variety show featuring music documentaries and videos, premieres on the USA Network.
  • June 6 - Kerrang! magazine publishes its first issue. Angus Young of AC/DC is on the cover.
  • June 30 – Jerry Lee Lewis is rushed to hospital in Memphis for emergency surgery for a tear in his stomach. Despite being given less than a 50% chance of survival, he eventually pulls through.
  • August 1 – MTV debuts on cable television in the United States, playing music videos 24 hours a day.
  • August – the success of Stars On 45 leads to a short-lived medley craze. The most successful imitator of the Stars On 45 format is, rather unexpectedly, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra whose "Hooked On Classics (Parts 1&2)" reaches number two in the charts.
  • August 23 – The Violent Femmes are discovered by members of The Pretenders busking outside a Milwaukee venue and are invited to play a 10-minute acoustic set as a second opening act in the Pretenders' show that night.

[edit]September–December

[edit]Also in 1981

[edit]Bands formed

[edit]Bands disbanded

[edit]Albums released

[edit]January – March

DateAlbumArtistNotes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y		12The Nature of the BeastApril Wine-
15In Our LifetimeMarvin Gaye-
18Take My TimeSheena Easton-
19Paradise TheatreStyx-
23TrustElvis Costello and the Attractions-
28Welcome to the Wrecking BallGrace Slick-
HealingTodd Rundgren-
31Another One Rides the Bus (EP)"Weird Al" Yankovic-
-And Don't the Kids Just Love ItTelevision Personalities-
EvangelineEmmylou Harris-
Mondo BongoThe Boomtown Rats-
RadiolandNicolette Larson-
Stands for DecibelsThe dB's-
The Wild, the Willing and the InnocentUFO-
There Must Be a Better World SomewhereB. B. King-
To the BoneKris Kristofferson-
Turn BackToto-
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y		1Atomkraft? Nein, Danke!Earthstar-
2KillersIron Maiden-
3Difficult to CureRainbow-
9Face ValuePhil Collinssolo debut
Fire Down UnderRiot-
12Moving PicturesRush-
17Another TicketEric Clapton-
Being with YouSmokey Robinson-
To Love AgainDiana RossCompilation
24Working Class DogRick Springfield-
26Point of EntryJudas Priest-
-Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi RocksHanoi Rocks-
CapturedJourneyLive
Coconut TelegraphJimmy Buffett-
Feels So RightAlabama-
The Fool CircleNazareth-
From the Tea-rooms of Mars ....Landscape-
Higher PlaneAl Green-
JuiceJuice Newton-
My Life in the Bush of GhostsDavid Byrne & Brian Eno-
St. Valentine's Day MassacreMotörheadGirlschoolEP
Stray CatsStray Cats-
The League of GentlemenRobert Fripp and The League of Gentlemen-
M
A
R
C
H		1Intensities in 10 CitiesTed NugentLive
4Sucking in the SeventiesThe Rolling StonesCompilation
10There Goes the NeighborhoodJoe Walsh-
13We'll Bring the House DownSlade-
16Face DancesThe Who-
20Time Tells No LiesPraying Mantis-
25DEV-O LiveDevoLive EP
26Fancy FreeThe Oak Ridge Boys-
27Carl WilsonCarl Wilson-
30Extended PlayThe PretendersEP
-BreakerAccept-
Dad Loves His WorkJames Taylor-
DirectionsMiles Davis-
The DudeQuincy Jones-
Future ShockGillan-
HardwareKrokus-
Hit and RunGirlschool-
Honi SoitJohn Cale-
Long Play Album aka Stars on Long PlayStars on 45-
MagnetsThe Vapors-
Never Too LateStatus Quo-
No Fun After MidnightA II ZEP
Solid GoldGang of Four-
Somewhere Over the RainbowWillie Nelson-
A Woman Needs LoveRay Parker, Jr.-
White Lace & Black LeatherHelix-

[edit]April – June

DateAlbumArtistNotes
A
P
R
I
L		2Modern TimesJefferson Starship-
6Fun in SpaceRoger Taylor-
Prayers on FireThe Birthday Party-
7Street SongsRick James-
10FaithThe Cure-
The Flowers of RomancePublic Image Ltd.-
11Come an' Get ItWhitesnake-
13Don't Say NoBilly Squier-
Of Skins and HeartThe Church-
15What Cha' Gonna Do for MeChaka Khan-
17Go for ItStiff Little Fingers-
20Twangin...Dave Edmunds-
27SlatesThe Fall-
29Fair WarningVan Halen-
-Bad for GoodJim Steinman-
Chariots of FireVangelisSoundtrack
The Completion Backward PrincipleThe Tubes-
DedicationGary U.S. Bonds-
El Rayo-XDavid Lindley-
The Electric Spanking of War BabiesFunkadelic-
Goddo Live: Best Seat in the HouseGoddoLive
Mistaken IdentityKim Carnes-
The NightcomersHolocaust-
Punks Not DeadThe Exploited-
ReckoningGrateful DeadLive
SpellboundTygers of Pan Tang-
WaiataSplit Enz-
Where Do You Go When You Dream"Anne Murray-
Zebop!Santana-
M
A
Y		3Nick Mason's Fictitious SportsNick Mason's Fictitious Sports-
5Hard PromisesTom Petty and the Heartbreakers-
11NightclubbingGrace Jones-
Shut Up 'n' Play Yer GuitarFrank ZappaLive
BalinMarty Balin-
14Breaking All the RulesPeter Frampton-
It Must Be MagicTeena Marie-
15East Side StorySqueeze-
Long Distance VoyagerThe Moody Blues-
17Tinsel Town RebellionFrank Zappa-
18Knights of the Sound TableCameo-
20The FoxElton John-
22AnthemToyah-
25Hard 'n' HeavyAnvil-
29In ConcertAmy GrantLive
Present ArmsUB40-
30Heaven Up HereEcho & the Bunnymen-
-As Falls Wichita, so Falls Wichita FallsPat Metheny and Lyle Mays-
Beyond the Valley of 1984The Plasmatics-
Computer WorldKraftwerk-
Dedicated to Peter KürtenWhitehouse-
Magnetic FieldsJean-Michel Jarre-
Mecca for ModernsThe Manhattan Transfer-
Positive TouchThe Undertones-
RedBlack Uhuru-
Shock TacticsSamson-
Wild-Eyed Southern Boys38 Special-
Wild GiftX-
J
U
N
E		5Somewhere in EnglandGeorge Harrison-
6JujuSiouxsie & the Banshees-
Talk Talk TalkThe Psychedelic Furs-
8Season of GlassYoko Ono-
15Duran DuranDuran Duran-
16Made in AmericaThe Carpenters-
19Only a LadOingo Boingo-
23Tom Tom ClubTom Tom Club-
27No Sleep 'til HammersmithMotörheadLive
29Kim WildeKim Wilde-
30Breakin' AwayAl Jarreau-
-As Far as SiamRed Rider-
The BaronJohnny Cash-
Black & WhiteThe Pointer Sisters-
Children of Paradise - The Greatest Hits of Boney M. - Vol. 2Boney M.Compilation
Deuce (Kurtis Blow album)Kurtis Blow-
Fire of Unknown OriginBlue Öyster Cult-
Fresh Fruit in Foreign PlacesKid Creole and the Coconuts-
In the PocketCommodores-
Jumpin' JiveJoe Jackson-
PartyIggy Pop-
A Product Of... (Participation)Thompson Twins-
ReflectorPablo Cruise-
RenaissanceVillage People-
Share Your LoveKenny Rogers-
Six PackBlack FlagEP
Some Days Are DiamondsJohn Denver-
The One That You LoveAir Supply-
Wanted Dread And AlivePeter Tosh-
Wha'ppen?The Beat-
What's THIS For...!Killing Joke-

[edit]July – September

DateAlbumArtistNotes
J
U
L
Y		24Foreigner-
4Signals, Calls and MarchesMission of BurmaEP
11High 'n' DryDef Leppard-
20EscapeJourney-
Party Mix!The B-52'sRemix
21You Want It You Got ItBryan Adams-
24Beauty and the BeatThe Go-Go's-
26Bucks FizzBucks Fizz-
27Bella DonnaStevie Nicks-
29Pleasant DreamsThe Ramones-
The TimeThe Time-
31Step by StepEddie Rabbitt-
-Blue and GrayPoco-
Document and EyewitnessWire-
DreamtimeTom Verlaine-
El LocoZZ Top-
Endless LoveVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Freetime (album)Spyro Gyra-
The Friends of Mr. CairoJon and Vangelis-
Girls to Chat and Boys to BounceFoghat-
Heavy Metal SoundtrackVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Hoy-Hoy!Little FeatCompilation
Level 42 (album)Level 42-
Love Songs (Cliff Richard album)Cliff Richard-
The Man with the HornMiles Davis-
MarauderBlackfoot-
Night of the DemonDemon-
PiratesRickie Lee Jones-
The Pirates of Penzance Broadway Cast AlbumVarious ArtistsBroadway cast recording
Precious TimePat Benatar-
Three QuartetsChick Corea-
TimeElectric Light Orchestra-
The VisitorMick Fleetwood-
Walking WildNew England-
Was (Not Was)Was (Not Was)-
Whomp That SuckerSparks-
Word of Mouth (Jaco Pastorius album)Jaco Pastorius-
A
U
G
U
S
T		8Koo KooDebbie Harry-
10Friday Night in San FranciscoAl Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía-
Shot of LoveBob Dylan-
12Never Too MuchLuther Vandross-
15Give the People What They WantThe Kinks-
Pretenders IIThe Pretenders-
18Dark ContinentWall of Voodoo-
21Wanna Be a StarChilliwack-
24Tattoo YouThe Rolling Stones-
25Allied ForcesTriumph-
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the TrashThe Replacements-
26Dead SetGrateful DeadLive
27Dead RingerMeat Loaf-
28Alive AloneMickey Thomas-
31Fire of LoveThe Gun Club-
-Brothers of the RoadThe Allman Brothers Band-
Heartbreak RadioRita Coolidge-
The Innocent AgeDan Fogelberg-
JoyThe MinutemenEP
King CoolDonnie Iris-
Love All the Hurt AwayAretha Franklin-
Maiden JapanIron MaidenLive EP
New TraditionalistsDevo-
The Pressure Is OnHank Williams, Jr.-
Scissors CutArt Garfunkel-
Short Back 'n' SidesIan Hunter-
SimplicityTim Curry-
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings CallSimple Minds-
Time ExposureLittle River Band-
TorchCarly Simon-
Whitford/St. HolmesBrad Whitford and Derek St. Holmes-
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R		21234Ronnie Wood-
4Strait CountryGeorge Strait-
Why Do Fools Fall in LoveDiana Ross-
7Burning Blue SoulMatt JohnsonThe The singer
8Denim and LeatherSaxon-
10Songs in the AtticBilly JoelLive
11Rage in EdenUltravox-
14AbacabGenesis-
21You Could Have Been with MeSheena Easton-
22DisciplineKing Crimson-
23You Are What You IsFrank Zappa-
24Something SpecialKool & the Gang-
25Wild ThingsThe CreaturesEP
-BoonoonoonoosBoney M.-
BuchenwaldWhitehouse-
CamouflageRufus-
DanceGary Numan-
Dangerous AcquaintancesMarianne Faithfull-
DeafYou've Got Foetus on Your Breath-
Gosh It's...Bad Manners-
Grand Funk LivesGrand Funk Railroad-
Happy Birthday (Altered Images album)Altered Images-
HooligansThe WhoCompilation
If I Should Love AgainBarry Manilow-
Kix (album)Kix-
Lord UpminsterIan Dury-
Love ByrdDonald Byrd and 125th St, NYC-
Magic, Murder and the WeatherMagazine-
Magic Windows (album)Herbie Hancock-
Mark of the MoleThe Residents-
MSGMichael Schenker Group-
Nine TonightBob Seger and the Silver Bullet BandLive
Penthouse and PavementHeaven 17-
PremonitionSurvivor-
Private EyesHall & Oates-
Red MeccaCabaret Voltaire-
Rock until You DropRaven-
Sleep No MoreComsat Angels-
SnazNazarethLive
Special ForcesAlice Cooper-
Time ExposureLittle River Band-
Too Late the HeroJohn Entwistle-
Walk Under LaddersJoan Armatrading-

[edit]October – December

DateAlbumArtistNotes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R		2Ghost in the MachineThe Police-
3Law and OrderLindsey Buckingham-
5KollapsEinstürzende Neubauten-
Speak & SpellDepeche Mode-
7Get LuckyLoverboy-
8Looking Back with LoveMike Lovesolo debut
StillJoy DivisionCompilation
10Present Arms in DubUB40Remix
12OctoberU2-
14ControversyPrince-
16In the GardenEurythmics-
18Sonic AttackHawkwind-
19Underneath the ColoursINXS-
20DareThe Human League-
QuarterflashQuarterflash-
21Bobby and the MidnitesBobby and the Midnites-
23Almost BlueElvis Costello and the Attractions-
Standing HamptonSammy Hagar-
24Don't StopBilly IdolEP
26Freeze FrameThe J. Geils Band-
29Exit...Stage LeftRushLive
30Journeys to GlorySpandau Ballet-
31Diary of a MadmanOzzy Osbourne-
-The Best of BlondieBlondie-
Big CityMerle Haggard-
Chances AreBob Marley & the WailersCompilation of previously unreleased material
Christmas AlbumBoney M.Christmas
Circle of LoveSteve Miller Band-
Coup de GrâceMink DeVille-
Face to Face (GQ album)GQ-
Fourth Drawer DownAssociates-
Gonna BallStray Cats-
Love Is Only FeelingDonovan-
MaskBauhaus-
PhysicalOlivia Newton-John-
See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah. City All Over! Go Ape CrazyBow Wow Wow-
7Madness-
Strictly PersonalThe Romantics-
Living EyesBee Gees-
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R		2Re-ac-torNeil Young and Crazy Horse-
4Mob RulesBlack Sabbath-
6Shake It UpThe Cars-
Tonight I'm YoursRod Stewart-
8Architecture & MoralityOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark-
Greatest HitsQueenCompilation
9Business as UsualMen at WorkAustralia, debut
La FolieThe Stranglers-
11The Jacksons Live!The JacksonsLive
13MovementNew Order-
Till Deaf Do Us PartSlade-
14Raise!Earth, Wind & Fire-
15RenegadeThin Lizzy-
16Music from "The Elder"Kiss-
Take It OffChic-
18I Love Rock 'n' RollJoan Jett & the Blackhearts-
20Stop and Smell the RosesRingo Starr-
23A Collection of Great Dance SongsPink FloydCompilation with alternate mixes
For Those About to Rock We Salute YouAC/DC-
27Ten Out of 1010cc-
29In Concert Volume TwoAmy GrantLive
30Bad Religion (EP)Bad ReligionEP
Best of the Blues BrothersThe Blues Brothers-
The VisitorsABBA-
-The AscensionGlenn Branca-
ChangestwobowieDavid BowieCompilation
Christmas WishesAnne MurrayChristmas
From the Lions MouthThe Sound-
Great Gonzos!: The Best of Ted NugentTed NugentCompilation
Pearls (Elkie Brooks album)Elkie Brooks-
The Poet (album)Bobby Womack-
Prince CharmingAdam and the Ants-
She Shot Me DownFrank Sinatra-
Take No PrisonersMolly Hatchet-
Tin DrumJapan-
Wired for SoundCliff Richard-
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R		5DamagedBlack Flag-
7Ten Years of HarmonyThe Beach Boys-
12Welcome to HellVenom-
15LCThe Durutti Column-
30For Those Who Think YoungRough Trade-
-The Best of Top of the Pops '81Top of the Poppers-
The BlastersThe Blasters-
The Catherine WheelDavid Byrne-
In God We Trust, Inc.Dead KennedysEP
Non-Stop Erotic CabaretSoft Cell-
Peter CeteraPeter Cetera-
Too Fast for LoveMötley Crüe-
WilderThe Teardrop Explodes-

[edit]Release Date Unknown

[edit]Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1981.
#ArtistTitleYearCountryChart Entries
1Kim CarnesBette Davis Eyes1981United StatesUS BB 1 – April 1981, Canada 1 – April 1981, France 1 – June 1981, Switzerland 1 – June 1981, Norway 1 – June 1981, Germany 1 – June 1981, Australia 1 for 5 weeks May 1982, Grammy in 1981, US CashBox 2 of 1981, Austria 2 – July 1981, South Africa 2 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 4 – May 1981, Italy 5 of 1981, Australia 6 of 1981, UK 10 – May 1981, Holland 16 – May 1981, RYM 16 of 1981, Germany 18 of the 1980s, OzNet 45, Scrobulate 66 of 80s, RIAA 268, Acclaimed 738
2Soft CellTainted Love1981United KingdomUK 1 – August 1981, Canada 1 – November 1981, France 1 – August 1981, Australia 1 for 3 weeks January 1983, Austria 2 – December 1981, Switzerland 2 – November 1981, Germany 2 – January 1982, Scrobulate 2 of 80s, Australia 3 of 1982, Sweden (alt) 4 – October 1981, RYM 4 of 1981, Holland 5 – October 1981, South Africa 5 of 1982, US BB 8 – May 1982, US BB 15 of 1982, POP 18 of 1982, Germany 37 of the 1980s, KROQ 38 of 1982, Virgin 41, US CashBox 50 of 1982, Party 142 of 2007, Acclaimed 163, Belgium 242 of all time, OzNet 451, WXPN 745
3Phil CollinsIn the Air Tonight1981United KingdomHolland 1 – February 1981, Sweden (alt) 1 – February 1981, Austria 1 – April 1981, Switzerland 1 – April 1981, UK 2 – January 1981, France 2 – March 1981, Germany 2 – March 1981, Canada 3 – June 1981, Norway 4 – March 1981, OzNet 7, Poland 12 – August 1982, Europe 13 of the 1980s, RYM 15 of 1981, POP 16 of 1981, US BB 19 – July 1981, Australia 23 of 1981, Italy 23 of 1981, US BB 27 of 1981, Germany 44 of the 1980s, Scrobulate 60 of pop, TheQ 87, Belgium 230 of all time, Acclaimed 1238
4John LennonWoman1981United KingdomUK 1 – January 1981, Canada 1 – January 1981, Éire 1 – February 1981, New Zealand 1 for 5 weeks February 1981, US BB 2 – January 1981, Switzerland 2 – March 1981, Austria 4 – March 1981, Norway 5 – February 1981, France 7 – March 1981, Germany 7 – February 1981, US CashBox 16 of 1981, Sweden (alt) 18 – February 1981, Holland 21 – March 1981, RYM 22 of 1981, US BB 30 of 1981, Italy 34 of 1981, POP 34 of 1981, Virgin 59, OzNet 139, Germany 213 of the 1980s
5Stars On 45Stars On 451981NetherlandsUS BB 1 – May 1981, Holland 1 – January 1981, Austria 1 – May 1981, Switzerland 1 – May 1981, Germany 1 – March 1981, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks June 1981, Australia 1 for 4 weeks June 1982, UK 2 – April 1981, Australia 2 of 1981, Germany 5 of the 1980s, Sweden (alt) 7 – June 1981, US CashBox 13 of 1981, Italy 54 of 1981

[edit]Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit singles

US Number One singles and artist
(Weeks at Number One)		UK Number One singles and artist
(Weeks at Number One)

"There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" – St Winifred's School Choir (1)
"Imagine" – John Lennon (4)
"Woman" – John Lennon (2)
"Shaddup You Face" – Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3)
"Jealous Guy" – Roxy Music (2)
"This Ole House" – Shakin' Stevens (3)
"Making Your Mind Up" – Bucks Fizz (3)
"Stand and Deliver" – Adam and the Ants (5)
"Being With You" – Smokey Robinson (2)
"One Day in Your Life" – Michael Jackson (2)
"Ghost Town" – The Specials (3)
"Green Door"- Shakin' Stevens (4)
"Japanese Boy" – Aneka (1)
"Tainted Love" – Soft Cell (2)
"Prince Charming" – Adam and the Ants (4)
"It's My Party" – Dave Stewart (the keyboardist) & Barbara Gaskin (4)
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – The Police (1)
"Under Pressure" – Queen & David Bowie (2)
"Begin the Beguine" – Julio Iglesias (1)
"Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (3)

[edit]Chronological table of US and UK Number One hit albums

US Number One album and artist
(Weeks at Number One)		UK Number One album and artist
(Weeks at Number One)

Super Trouper – ABBA (3)
Kings of the Wild Frontier – Adam and the Ants (12)
Double Fantasy – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (2)
Face Value – Phil Collins (3)
Stars on 45- Stars on 45 / Starsound (5)
No Sleep 'til Hammersmith – Motörhead (1)
Disco Daze and Disco Nites – Various Artists (1)
Love Songs – Cliff Richard (5)
The Official BBC Album of the Royal Wedding – Various Artists (2)
Time – Electric Light Orchestra (2)
Dead Ringer – Meat Loaf (2)
Abacab – Genesis (2)
Ghost in the Machine – The Police (3)
Dare – The Human League (1)
Shaky – Shakin' Stevens (1)
Greatest Hits – Queen (4)
Chart Hits '81 – Various Artists (1)
The Visitors – ABBA (3)

[edit]Other significant singles of the year

[edit]Published popular music

[edit]Classical music

[edit]Opera

[edit]Musical theater

[edit]Musical films

[edit]Births

[edit]Deaths

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