1981 in music

See also: 1980 in music, other events of 1981, 1982 in music, 1980s in music and the list of 'years in music'

Events

January 10 - Revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith
February 14 - Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career
February 15 - Blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield is found dead in San Francisco. The cause of death was ruled an accidental drug overdose
March 14 - Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clapton's 60 city tour of the US is canceled.
April 7 - Former Who manager Kit Lambert dies after falling down a flight of stairs in his mother's home in London. Lambert managed the band between 1964 and 1967.
April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli.
April 17 - Eric Clapton is released from St. Paul's Hospital in Minnesota following a month-long treatment for bleeding ulcers.
April 18 - Yes announces that they're breaking up. (They would however reunite frequently in years to come).
April 20 - The Mamas and the Papas' John Phillips is sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to drug possession charges. Phillips' sentence would be suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours of community service.
April 22 - Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from bruised ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington.
April 25 - Paul McCartney's backing band, Wings, breaks up
May 11 - The musical Cats begins its 8949 performance run on London's West End.
May 20 - Alice Cooper's daughter, Calico Cooper, is born.
August 1 - MTV debuts on cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day.
August, UK - 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.
September 19 - Simon and Garfunkel perform a free reunion concert in New York City's Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans.
November 18 - While sitting in Tom's Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song "Tom's Diner".
Alice Cooper drastically changes his appearance, leaving behind his trademark make-up and donning a Military uniform.
Synth pop enjoys mainstream popularity in the UK, with groups such as Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Human League releasing hit singles and albums.
Menudo's golden era (1981-1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia.
U2 appears on the Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television appearance
Phil Collins releases his first solo album (although he won't leave the band Genesis until 1995)
Joe Walsh leaves the Eagles
Malcolm Green leaves Split Enz
Christian Death forms
Culture Club forms
Hal Willner "invents" the modern tribute album with Amacord Nino Rota
Hunters & Collectors forms
Metallica forms
Mötley Crüe forms
Sonic Youth forms
Throbbing Gristle split up
Social Distortion's career starts

Albums released

Alphabetized by artist

Wild-Eyed Southern Boys - .38 Special
The Visitors - ABBA
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC
For Those About to Rock We Salute You - AC/DC
Breaker - Accept
Hard N' Heavy - Anvil
Playing With A Different Sex - The Au Pairs
Precious Time - Pat Benatar
Prayers On Fire - The Birthday Party
Damaged - Black Flag
The Mob Rules - Black Sabbath
Red - Black Uhuru
The Best of Blondie - Blondie
Freelancing - James Blood Ulmer
Fire of Unknown Origin - Blue Oyster Cult
The Ascension - Glenn Branca
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts - David Byrne & Brian Eno
Mistaken Identity - Kim Carnes
Made in America - Carpenters
Face Value - Phil Collins
Special Forces - Alice Cooper
Trust - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Penis Envy - Crass
Faith - The Cure
Olympia 81 - Dalida
Cool Night - Paul Davis
High 'N' Dry - Def Leppard
Speak & Spell - Depeche Mode
Stahlwerksinfonie - Die Krupps
Only Jesus - Dion DiMucci
Breaking the Chains - Dokken
Love Is Only Feeling - Donovan
Duran Duran - Duran Duran
Shot of Love - Bob Dylan
In the Garden - Eurythmics
Punk's Not Dead - The Exploited (debut)
Bad Habits - Bily Field
4 - Foreigner
The Electric Spanking of War Babies - Funkadelic
Handful Of Earth - Dick Gaughan
The Beauty and the Beat - The Go-Go's
Amy Grant In Concert - Amy Grant
In Concert Volume Two - Amy Grant
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Standing Hampton - Sammy Hagar
Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks - Hanoi Rocks
Koo Koo - Debbie Harry
White Lace & Black Leather - Helix
Dare - Human League
Killers - Iron Maiden
Maiden Japan EP - Iron Maiden
Freeze Frame - J. Geils Band
Street Songs - Rick James
Tin Drum - Japan
I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
The Fox - Elton John
Captured - Journey
Escape - Journey
Point of Entry - Judas Priest
Discipline - King Crimson
Give The People What They Want - The Kinks
Music from "The Elder" - KISS
Kix - Kix
Hardware - Krokus
Computer World - Kraftwerk
Get Lucky - Loverboy
Chances Are - Bob Marley and the Wailers
Quiero Ser - Menudo
Too Fast For Love - Mötley Crüe
No Sleep 'til Hammersmith - Motörhead
M.S.G. II - The Michael Schenker Group
One Night at Budokan - The Michael Schenker Group
The Michael Schenker Group - The Michael Schenker Group
Place Without a Postcard - Midnight Oil
Minor Threat and In My Eyes - Minor Threat
Month Of Parturition (Ringetsu) - Miyuki Nakajima
Juice - Juice Newton
Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Fiyou on the Bayou - The Neville Brothers
Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
Drama Of Exile - Nico
Movement - New Order
Intensities in 10 Cities (live) - Ted Nugent
Great gonzos : the Best Of Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
Fancy Free - The Oak Ridge Boys
Only a Lad - Oingo Boingo
Architecture and Morality - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Blizzard Of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne
Diary Of A Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
9 to 5 and Odd Jobs - Dolly Parton
A Collection of Great Dance Songs - Pink Floyd
Ghost In The Machine - The Police
Controversy - Prince
Talk, Talk, Talk - Psychedelic Furs
Flowers of Romance - Public Image Ltd.
Quarterflash - Quarterflash
Difficult to Cure - Rainbow
Rock Till You Drop - Raven
Play Me Out - Helen Reddy
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash - The Replacements (debut)
Brown Rice and Kerosene - Redgum
As Far as Siam - Red Rider
The Best Of Minnie Riperton - Minnie Riperton
Share Your Love - Kenny Rogers
Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones
For Those Who Think Young - Rough Trade
Healing - Todd Rundgren
Moving Pictures - Rush
Exit...Stage Left (live album) - Rush
Shock Tactics - Samson
Denim And Leather - Saxon
Torch - Carly Simon
She Shot Me Down - Frank Sinatra
Non-stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell
East Side Story - Squeeze
Don't Say No - Billy Squier
Teddy Boys Don't Knit - Vivian Stanshall
The Unknown Kurt Weill - Teresa Stratas
Burning Blue Soul - The The
The Time - The Time
Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
October - U2
Brasil (with João Gilberto, Gilberto Gil and Maria Bethânia) - Caetano Veloso
Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
Fair Warning - Van Halen
Amarcord Nino Rota - Various artists
Welcome to Hell - Venom
Come an' Get It - Whitesnake
Face Dances - The Who
Earthshaker - Y&T
Deaf!! - You've Got Foetus On Your Breath

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)

"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon (1 week in 1980+ 2 weeks in 1981)
"The Tide Is High" - Blondie (1)
"Celebration" - Kool & The Gang (2)
"9 To 5" - Dolly Parton (2)
"I Love A Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt (2)
"Keep On Loving You" REO Speedwagon (1)
"Rapture" - Blondie (2)
"Kiss On My List" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (3)
"Morning Train (9 To 5)" - Sheena Easton (2)
"Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes (9, best selling single of the year)
"Stars on 45 Medley" - Stars On 45 (1)
"The One That You Love" - Air Supply (1)
"Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield (2)
"Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9)
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" - Christopher Cross (3)
"Private Eyes" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (2)
"Physical" - Olivia Newton-John (6 weeks in 1981 + 4 weeks in 1982)

"There's No One Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir (1 week in 1980 + 1 week in 1981)
"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 & The Ants (5)
"Being With You" - Smokey Robinson (2)
"One Day In Your Life" - Michael Jackson (2)
"Ghost Town" - Specials (3)
"Green Door"- Shakin' Stevens (4)
"Japanese Boy" - Aneka (1)
"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell (2 - best selling single of 1981)
"Prince Charming" - Adam & The Ants (4)
"It's My Party" - Dave Stewart & 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" - Human League (3 weeks in 1981 + 2 weeks in 1982)

Other significant singles of the year

"Aie a Mwana" - Bananarama
"Antmusic" - Adam + The Ants #1
"Kings Of The Wild Frontier" - Adam and the Ants
"Happy Birthday" - Altered Images
"I Could Be Happy" - Altered Images
"Every Woman In The World - Air Supply
"Errol - Australian Crawl
"This Little Girl" - Gary U.S. Bonds
"Night Games" - Graham Bonnet
"Scary Monsters And Super Creeps" - David Bowie
"Up The Hill Backwards" - David Bowie
"Wild Is The Wind" - David Bowie
"The Land of Make Believe" - Bucks Fizz
"Sat In Your Lap" - Kate Bush
"Plan B Escape" - Fraeon
"Shake It Up" - The Cars
"How 'Bout Us" - Champaign
"The Magnificent Seven" - The Clash
"This Is Radio Clash" - The Clash
"In The Air Tonight" - Phil Collins
"Good Year For The Roses" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
"Sailing" - Christopher Cross
"Charlotte Sometimes" - The Cure
"Cool Night" - Paul Davis
"Star" - Kiki Dee
"Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode
"Plan B" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
"Show Me" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
"Romeo And Juliet" - Dire Straits
"Tunnel Of Love" - Dire Straits
"Wild Colonial Boy" - Dr Hook
"Europa And The Pirate Twins" - Thomas Dolby
"Planet Earth" - Duran Duran
"Take It To The Limit(Live) - The Eagles
"Let's Groove" - Earth Wind and Fire
"For Your Eyes Only" - Sheena Easton
"When He Shines" - Sheena Easton
"Hold On Tight" - Electric Light Orchestra
"Who Do You Think We Are" - Alice Cooper
"Bad Habits" - Billy Field
"You Weren't In Love With Me" - Billy Field
"Juke Box Hero" - Foreigner
"Urgent" - Foreigner
"When She Was My Girl" - The Four Tops
"Southern Freeez" - Freeez
"The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum" - Fun Boy Three
"Say I Love You" - Renee Geyer
"Abacab" - Genesis
"Keep It Dark" - Genesis
"Under Your Thumb" - Godley and Creme
"Wedding Bells" - Godley and Creme
"Can't Get Enough Of You" - Eddy Grant
"Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) - Haircut 100
"Backfired" - Debbie Harry
"Penthouse And Pavement" - Heaven 17
"Your Love Still Brings Me To My Knees" - Marcia Hines
"Love Action (I Believe In Love)" - Human League
"Body Talk" - Imagination
"Can You Feel It" - The Jacksons
"Absolute Beginners" - The Jam
"Funeral Pyre" - The Jam
"That's Entertainment" - The Jam
"Super Freak" - Rick James
"Quiet Life" - Japan
"Nobody Wins" - Elton John
"Razzamatazz" - Quincy Jones
"Watching The Wheels" - John Lennon
"I Shot The Sheriff" - Light Of The World
"Intuition" - Linx
"There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" - Kirsty MacColl
"Grey Day" - Madness
"It Must Be Love" - Madness
"Only Crying" - Keith Marshall
"If You Leave...Can I Come Too" - Mentals
"Too Many Times" - Mentals
"Good Thing Going" - Sugar Minott
"Mental Hopscotch" - Missing Persons
"Everybody Salsa" - Modern Romance
"Cool World" - Mondo Rock
"Chemistry" - Mondo Rock
"Summer Of '81" - Mondo Rock
"Chi Mai" - Ennio Morricone
"Days Are OK" - The Motels
"Motörhead (live)" - Motörhead
"Ceremony" - New Order
"Procession/Everything's Gone Green" - New Order
"Angel Of The Morning" - Juice Newton
"Queen of Hearts" - Juice Newton
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" - Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Gotta Pull Myself Together" - Nolans
"She's Got Claws" - Gary Numan
"Will You?" - Hazel O'Connor
"Going Back To My Roots" - Odyssey
"Souvenir" - OMD
"Over The Mountain" - Ozzy Osbourne
"Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag" - Pigbag
"Invisible Sun" - The Police
"Spirits In The Material World" - The Police
"I Go To Sleep" - The Pretenders
"Controversy" - Prince
"Pretty In Pink" - The Psychedelic Furs
"Hip, Shake, Jerk" - The Quick
"Runaround Sue" - Racey
"I Surrender" - Rainbow
"Wired For Sound" - Cliff Richard
"Start Me Up" - The Rolling Stones
"Waiting On A Friend" - The Rolling Stones
"It's My Turn" - Diana Ross
"Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" - Diana Ross
"And The Bands Played On" - Saxon
"Homosapien" - Pete Shelley
"Chant No.1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)" - Spandau Ballet
"Musclebound/Glow" - Spandau Ballet
"History Never Repeats" - Split Enz
"The River" - Bruce Springsteen
"Is That Love" - Squeeze
"Labelled With Love" - Squeeze
"Tempted" - Squeeze
"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)" - Rod Stewart
"Thrown Away" - The Stranglers
"Rock This Town" - The Stray Cats
"Stars On 45 Vol.2" - Starsound
"Alone With You" - Sunnyboys
"Counting The Beat" - Swingers
"Once In A Lifetime" - Talking Heads
"Reward" - The Teardrop Explodes
"Swords Of A Thousand Men" - Tenpole Tudor
"I Want To Be Free" - Toyah
"One In Ten" - UB40
"All Stood Still" - Ultravox
"Vienna" - Ultravox
"It's Gonna Happen" - The Undertones
"Gloria" - U2
"Chariots Of Fire-Titles" - Vangelis
"Jimmie Jones" - The Vapors
"Fade To Grey" - Visage
"Just The Two Of Us" - Grover Washington, Jr.
"You Better You Bet" - The Who
"Cambodia" - Kim Wilde
"Kids In America" - Kim Wilde
"(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star" - Bill Wyman
"Sgt. Rock Is Going To Help Me" - XTC
"Don't Stop The Music" - Yarborough and Peoples

Published popular music

"9 To 5" w.m. Dolly Parton from the film Nine to Five
"All Those Years Ago" w.m. George Harrison
"Allentown" w.m. Billy Joel
"Allergies" w.m. Paul Simon
"America" w.m. Neil Diamond from the film The Jazz Singer
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" w. Tom Eyen m. Henry Krieger from the musical Dreamgirls
"Arthur's Theme" w.m. Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross & Peter Allen from the film Arthur
"At This Moment" w.m. Billy Vera
"Baby, Come To Me" w.m. Rod Temperton
"Being With You" w.m. William "Smokey" Robinson
"Believe it or Not (Theme From The Greatest American Hero)" w. Stephen Geyer m. Mike Post
"The Best Of Times" w.m. Dennis DeYoung
"Bette Davis Eyes" w. Donna Weiss m. Jackie DeShannon
"Black Limousine" w.m. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood
"Bruce" w.m. Rick Springfield
"Chariots Of Fire" w. Jon Anderson m. Vangelis
"Dynasty theme song" m. Bill Conti
"The First Time it Happens" w.m. Joe Raposo, from the film The Great Muppet Caper
"Good Thing Going (Going Gone)" w.m. Stephen Sondheim
"Hill Street Blues theme song" m. Mike Post
"Key Largo" w.m. Bertie Higgins & Sonny Limbo
"One Of The Girls" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander introduced by Lauren Bacall in the musical Woman Of The Year

Classical music

George Crumb - Gnomic Variations for piano
Joël-François Durand - String Trio
Bengt Hambraeus - Voluntary on a Swedish Hymn Tune from Dalecarlia
Steve Reich - Tehillim
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski - Clarinet Concerto

Opera

Conrad Susa and Richard Street - Black River

Musical theater

Barnum London production opened at the Palladium on June 11 and ran for 655 performances
Cats (Andrew Lloyd Webber) - London production
Dreamgirls Broadway production opened on December 20 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 1522 performances
March of the Falsettoes off-Broadway production
Pirates Of Penzance Broadway revival
Song and Dance London production
Woman Of The Year Broadway production
Merrily We Roll Along - Opened on Broadway