1981 in Music
January–April
- January – Nearly a year after the suicide of Ian Curtis, the surviving members of Joy Division plus Gillian Gilbert, now under the name New Order, release their debut single “Ceremony”; the single and its B-side, “In a Lonely Place”, are both re-recordings of songs originally written and performed by Curtis. The single’s release marks the band’s first public use of the “New Order” moniker, which they retained for the remainder of their career.
- 10 January – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway’s Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.
- 11 January – Country singer Hank Williams Jr. releases his 32nd album, Rowdy. It is certified Gold by the RIAA.
- 18 January – Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics is arrested in Milwaukee for simulating masturbation with a sledgehammer on stage. In a scuffle with the police Williams is pinned to the floor and receives a cut above the eye requiring twelve stitches.
- 24 January – Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is injured in a motorcycle crash that leaves him hospitalized for two months.
- 9 February – Phil Collins releases his first solo album, Face Value, whose opening track “In the Air Tonight” popularizes the gated reverb drum sound that became ubiquitous for the next ten years; while the album ended up a smash success, Collins remained a member of Genesis until 1995.
- 12 February – Rush release the highly regarded album Moving Pictures which eventually becomes the band’s sixth platinum album.
- 14 February
- Ultravox reach number 2 on the UK Singles Chart with “Vienna”, but despite huge radio play and massive sales it is subsequently held off the top position for two consecutive weeks by Joe Dolce’s novelty song “Shaddup You Face”.
- Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career.
- 25 February – The 23rd Annual Grammy Awards are presented in New York, hosted by Paul Simon. Christopher Cross, with his self-titled debut album and its single “Sailing”, becomes the first artist to win all four General Field awards in a single ceremony, controversially beating Pink Floyd’s The Wall for Album of the Year.
- 14 March – Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Clapton’s 60-city tour of the US is cancelled, and he remains in hospital for a month.
- 21 March – Yellow Magic Orchestra release their fourth studio album, BGM; the album is the first to make use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which would go on to become an influential device in both electronic dance music and hip hop music.
- 27 March – Ozzy Osbourne bites the head off a dove at a CBS record label gathering in Los Angeles.
- 1 April – The Go-Go’s sign to IRS Records.
- 4 April – British pop group Bucks Fizz wins the 26th Eurovision Song Contest, held at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, Dublin, with the song “Making Your Mind Up”.
- 11 April – Van Halen’s lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli.
- 12 April – Soviet orchestral conductor Maxim Shostakovich (son of Dmitri) defects while on tour in West Germany with his son.
- 18 April – Yes announce that they are breaking up. (They reunited frequently in years to come).
- 20 April – The Mamas & the Papas’ John Phillips is sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to drug possession charges. Phillips’ sentence was then suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours of community service.
- 22 April – Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from bruised ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington.
- 26 April/27 April/28 April – Gary Numan performs three sold out ‘farewell concerts’ at Wembley Arena, following his announcement to retire from live work at the height of his popularity. (He returned to live performance less than two years later.)
- 27 April – Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach marry, in London, England.
May–August
- 2 May – 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.
- 9 May – Adam and the Ants single “Stand and Deliver” enters the UK Singles Chart at number 1. It remains at number 1 for five consecutive weeks and will sell over one million copies, becoming the years third best selling single in the UK.
- 11 May – The Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley dies from cancer at the age of 36.
- 14 May – 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.
- 15 May – 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.
- 16 May – Adam and the Ants tops the UK Albums Chart for the tenth consecutive week with Kings of the Wild Frontier.
- 30 May – A reformed The Human League have their first commercial success as “The Sound of the Crowd” climbs to number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
- 4 June – U2 appears on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television appearance.
- 5 June – The TV series Night Flight, a variety show featuring music documentaries and videos, is premiered on the USA Network.
- 6 June – Kerrang! magazine publishes its first issue. Angus Young of AC/DC is on the cover.
- 30 June – 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.
- 13 July – Duran Duran release the single “Girls on Film”. Accompanied by a highly controversial music video that is censored for airplay on MTV and banned by BBC the song becomes the band’s first big hit, eventually peaking at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart during an 11-week chart run.
- 27 July – Stevie Nicks releases debut solo album Bella Donna, which sold 4 million copies in the US alone.
- 1 August
- MTV broadcasts for the first time on cable television in the United States, playing music videos 24 hours a day. First to air is “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
- 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.
- 15 August – Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie recorded the song for Motown, and it was used as the theme for the Franco Zeffirelli’s film adaptation of Scott Spencer’s novel Endless Love. (Jamie Bernstein, as the character Susan, sings the song during the course of the movie.) Produced by Richie and arranged by Gene Page, it was released as a single from the film’s soundtrack in 1981.
- 23 August – 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.
September–December
- 5 September – Soft Cell tops the UK Singles Chart with “Tainted Love”. The song also tops the chart the following week and becomes the second best selling single in the UK in 1981.
- 11 September – Iron Maiden fires lead singer Paul Di’Anno.
- 19 September
- Simon & Garfunkel perform a free reunion concert in New York City’s Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans.
- Adam and the Ants have their second chart-topping single of the year as “Prince Charming” reach number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. It remains at number one for four consecutive weeks and becomes the years fourth best selling single in the UK.
- 25 September – The Rolling Stones open their US tour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- 26 September – Iron Maiden hires Samson lead singer Bruce Bruce AKA Bruce Dickinson to replace Paul Di’Anno. Dickinson will finish off the last 7 dates of the Killer World Tour.
- 16 October – The Human League release Dare. A huge commercial and critical success, it spent 69 weeks on the UK Albums Chart including four weeks at number 1 and be certified platinum in the UK, and gold in the US.
- 26 October – Iron Maiden plays its first show with Bruce Dickinson as the new lead singer in Bologna, Italy.
- 27 October – The British Phonographic Industry takes out newspaper ads unveiling its new slogan: “Home Taping Is Killing Music”. The ads advocate a levy on blank cassette tapes.
- 31 October – Punk band Fear makes a memorable appearance on Saturday Night Live. A group of fans storm the stage and damage TV equipment while moshing, resulting in the show cutting to commercial.
- 18 November – While sitting in Tom’s Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song “Tom’s Diner”.
- 21 November – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark hits number 3 on the UK Albums Chart with their third album Architecture & Morality. Including three UK top-5 singles, “Souvenir”, “Joan of Arc” and “Maid of Orleans”, it will remain on the chart for 37 weeks and be certified platinum in the UK.
- 11 December – The Human League reach number one on the UK Singles Chart with Don’t You Want Me. The song remains at number one for five consecutive weeks and become the years best selling single in the UK.
- 18 December – An estimated 35 million people around the world watch a live satellite transmission of a Rod Stewart concert at the Los Angeles Forum. It is the first broadcast of its kind since Elvis Presley’s “Aloha from Hawaii” special in 1973.
- 31 December – The tenth annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special airs on ABC, with appearances by Four Tops, Rick Springfield, Barry Manilow, Alabama and Rick James.
Also in 1981
- The organ at the famous Heinävesi Church in Finland is renewed, using locks from the original organ.
- Alice Cooper drastically changes his appearance, leaving behind his trademark make-up and donning a military uniform.
- Synthpop enjoys mainstream popularity in the UK, with groups such as Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and The Human League releasing hit singles and albums. The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” become the years best selling singles in the UK.
- Menudo’s golden era (1981–1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia.
- Brad Whitford leaves Aerosmith and is replaced by Rick Dufay.
- Hal Willner “invents” the modern tribute album with Amacord Nino Rota.
Tracks in the 1981 playlist:
| A Taste Of Honey – Sukiyaki |
| ABBA – Super Trouper |
| Air Supply – Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) (album version) |
| Air Supply – Sweet Dreams |
| Air Supply – The One That You Love |
| Al Jarreau – We’re In This Love Together |
| Alabama – Feels So Right |
| Alabama – Love in the First Degree |
| Alan Parsons Project – Time |
| Andy Gibb – All I Have To Do Is Dream |
| Andy Gibb – Me (Without You) |
| Anne Murray – Blessed Are The Believers |
| Anne Murray – It’s All I Can Do |
| Anne Murray – We Don’t Have To Hold Out |
| Arlan Day – I Surrender |
| Art Garfunkel – A Heart In New York |
| Association – Dreamer |
| Atlanta Rhythm Section – Alien |
| B.J. Thomas – Some Love Songs Never Die |
| Barbara Mandrell – Sometime Somewhere Somehow |
| Barbara Mandrell – Wish You Were Here |
| Barbra Streisand – Comin’ in and Out of Your Life |
| Barbra Streisand – Promises |
| Barbra Streisand – What Kind Of Fool (Duet With Barry Gibb) |
| Barry Manilow – Lonely Together |
| Barry Manilow – Somewhere Down the Road |
| Barry Manilow – The Old Songs |
| Beach Boys – Beach Boys’ Medley |
| Beach Boys – Come Go with Me |
| Benny Hester – Nobody Knows Me Like You |
| Bertie Higgins – Key Largo |
| Bill Medley – Don’t Know Much |
| Billy Joel – Say Goodbye To Hollywood (Live) |
| Billy Joel – She’s Got A Way |
| Bobby Vinton – Let Me Love You Goodbye |
| Burton Cummings – You Saved My Soul |
| Carl Wilson – Heaven |
| Carole Bayer Sager – Stronger Than Before |
| Carpenters – (Want You) Back in My Life Again |
| Carpenters – Those Good Old Dreams |
| Carpenters – Touch Me When We’re Dancing |
| Champaign – How ‘Bout Us |
| Chris Christian – I Want You I Need You |
| Chris Montan – Let’s Pick It Up (Where We Left Off) |
| Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) |
| Christopher Cross – Say You’ll Be Mine |
| Cliff Richard – A Little In Love |
| Climax Blues Band – I Love You |
| Commodores – Lady (You Bring Me Up) |
| Commodores – Oh No |
| Crystal Gayle – The Woman In Me |
| Dan Fogelberg – Hard To Say |
| Dan Fogelberg – The Leader Of The Band |
| Dan Hartman – All I Need |
| Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) |
| Daryl Hall & John Oates – Kiss On My List |
| Daryl Hall & John Oates – Private Eyes |
| David Gates – Take Me Now |
| Debby Boone – Perfect Fool |
| Delbert McClinton – Giving It Up For Your Love |
| Dennis Yost – Going Through The Motions |
| Diana Ross – Why Do Fools Fall In Love |
| Diana Ross & Lionel Richie – Endless Love |
| Dillman Band – Lovin’ The Night Away |
| Dolly Parton – But You Know I Love You |
| Dolly Parton – The House Of The Rising Sun |
| Don Mclean – Castles In The Air |
| Don McLean – Crying |
| Don McLean – It’s Just The Sun |
| Don McLean – Since I Don’t Have You |
| Don Williams – Falling Again |
| Don Williams – Miracles |
| Doobie Brothers – Wynken Blynken & Nod |
| Dottie West with Kenny Rogers – What Are We Doin’ In Love |
| Eagles – Seven Bridges Road |
| Eddie Rabbitt – Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight |
| Eddie Rabbitt – Step By Step |
| Elton John – Chloe |
| Elton John – Nobody Wins |
| Elvis Presley – Guitar Man (Remix) |
| Emmylou Harris – Mister Sandman |
| Engelbert Humperdinck – Don’t You Love Me Anymore |
| England Dan & John Ford Coley – Part Of Me Part Of You |
| Firefall – Staying With It |
| Foreigner – Waiting For A Girl Like You |
| Four Tops – When She Was My Girl |
| Franke and the Knockouts – Sweetheart |
| Fred Knoblock – Memphis |
| Gary Wright – Really Wanna Know You |
| George Benson – Turn Your Love Around |
| George Harrison – All Those Years Ago |
| Gilbert O’Sullivan – What’s in a Kiss |
| Gino Vannelli – Living Inside Myself |
| Glen Campbell – I Don’t Want To Know Your Name |
| Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers – Just The Two Of Us |
| Harry Chapin – Remember When The Music |
| Heart – Tell It Like It Is |
| Helen Reddy – I Can’t Say Goodbye To You |
| Herb Alpert – Magic Man |
| James Taylor – Hard Times |
| James Taylor – Her Town Too |
| James Taylor – Summer’s Here |
| Jennifer Warnes – Could It Be Love |
| Jesse Winchester – Say What |
| Jim Photoglo – Fool In Love With You |
| Jim Photoglo – More To Love |
| Jimmy Buffett – It’s My Job |
| Joey Scarbury – Theme from Greatest American Hero |
| John Denver – Some Days Are Diamonds |
| John Lennon – Watching The Wheels |
| John Lennon – Woman |
| John Schneider – It’s Now Or Never |
| John Schneider – Still |
| Journey – Who’s Crying Now |
| Juice Newton – Angel Of The Morning |
| Juice Newton – Queen Of Hearts |
| Juice Newton – The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known) |
| Kenny Rogers – Blaze Of Glory |
| Kenny Rogers – I Don’t Need You |
| Kenny Rogers – Share Your Love With Me |
| Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes |
| Kool & The Gang – Celebration |
| Lani Hall – Come What May |
| Lee Ritenour – Is It You |
| Lenny LeBlanc – Somebody Send My Baby Home |
| Leo Sayer – Living In A Fantasy |
| Lindsey Buckingham – Trouble |
| Little River Band – The Night Owls |
| Lulu – I Could Never Miss You (More than I Do) |
| Lulu – If I Were You |
| Marty Balin – Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love) |
| Marty Balin – Hearts |
| Maureen McGovern – Halfway Home |
| Melissa Manchester & Peabo Bryson – Lovers After All |
| Michael Jackson – One Day In Your Life |
| Michael Johnson – You’re Not So Easy To Forget |
| Mickey Gilley – You Don’t Know Me |
| Moody Blues – The Voice |
| Neil Diamond – America |
| Neil Diamond – Hello Again |
| Neil Diamond – Yesterday’s Songs |
| Oak Ridge Boys – (I’m Settin’) Fancy Free |
| Olivia Newton-John – Physical |
| Pablo Cruise – Cool Love |
| Paul Davis – Cool Night |
| Peter Allen – Fly Away |
| Phil Seymour – Precious To Me |
| Pointer Sisters – Slow Hand |
| Pure Prairie League – Still Right Here in My Heart |
| Quincy Jones and James Ingram – Just Once |
| Ray Parker Jr. – A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) |
| Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio – That Old Song |
| Razzy Bailey – Friends |
| REO Speedwagon – In Your Letter |
| Rex Smith And Rachel Sweet – Everlasting Love |
| Robbie Patton – Don’t Give Up |
| Ronnie Milsap – (There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me |
| Ronnie Milsap – I Wouldn’t Have Missed It for the World |
| Rosanne Cash – Seven Year Ache |
| Rovers – Wasn’t That A Party |
| Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Hooked On Classics |
| Rupert Holmes – I Don’t Need You |
| Rupert Holmes – Loved By The One You Love |
| Sheena Easton – For Your Eyes Only |
| Sheena Easton – Modern Girl |
| Sheena Easton – Morning Train (Nine To Five) |
| Sheena Easton – You Could Have Been With Me |
| Smokey Robinson – Being With You |
| Sneaker – More Than Just The Two Of Us |
| Spinners – Medley- Yesterday Once More – Nothing Remains The Same |
| Spyro Gyra – Cafe Amore |
| Stacy Lattisaw – Love On A Two Way Street |
| Stanley Clarke & George Duke – Sweet Baby |
| Stars On 45 – Medley |
| Steely Dan – Time Out Of Mind |
| Steve Carlisle – WKRP In Cincinnati |
| Steve Winwood – While You See A Chance |
| Stevie Nicks & Don Henley – Leather and Lace |
| Stevie Wonder – I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It |
| Stevie Wonder – Lately |
| Stevie Woods – Steal The Night |
| Styx – The Best Of Times |
| T. G. Sheppard – I Loved ‘Em Every One |
| Taffy McElroy – Who’s That Look In Your Eye |
| Terri Gibbs – Rich Man |
| Terri Gibbs – Somebody’s Knockin’ |
| Terry Cashman – Willie Mickey And The Duke (Talkin’ Baseball) |
| The Manhattan Transfer – Boy From New York City |
| The Manhattan Transfer – Smile Again |
| The Moody Blues – The Voice |
| The Oak Ridge Boys – Elvira |
| Tierra – Together |
| Tom Jones – Darlin’ |
| Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire |
| Don McLean – Castles In The Air |