List of UK top 10 singles in 1981
| 1980s in music in the UK | |
| Number-one singles | |
| Number-one albums | |
| Best-selling singles | |
| Best-selling albums | |
| Summaries and charts 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 | |
| ←1979 | 1990→ |
| Top 10 singles 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 | |
| ←1979 | 1990→ |
The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles with airplay figures and digital downloads excluded from the official chart. This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1981, as well as songs which peaked in 1980 and 1982 but were in the top 10 in 1981. The entry date is when the song appeared in the top 10 for the first time.
140 singles were in the top ten in 1981. American boyband New Kids on the Block had the most top ten singles in 1990 with seven. "Hangin' Tough" reached number-one, where it remained for two weeks, and a further three weeks in the top ten. Other entries included "Step by Step" (number 2), "Tonight" (3) and "Cover Girl" (4). Former Neighbours actress Kylie Minogue had three top ten singles in 1990. "Tears on My Pillow" spent one week at number-one in January; "Better the Devil You Know" (2) and "Step Back in Time" (4) also reached the top ten. Madonna continued her success from the 1980s with four more top ten hits in 1989. "Vogue" was the highest entry, peaking at number-one for 1 week in April; "Dear Jessie", "Hanky Panky" and "Justify My Love" were the other singles to reach the top 10. Rapper and DJ MC Hammer had three top-ten entries, including his biggest hit and signature song, "U Can't Touch This", which peaked at number 3 in August. Adamski, Betty Boo, Cliff Richard, Happy Mondays, Snap! and The Stone Roses were among the other artists who had multiple top ten singles in 1990.
The Righteous Brothers had the best-selling single of the year with a re-recording of their 1965 hit "Unchained Melody", which spent 9 weeks in the top 10, including 4 weeks at the top spot, and sold 840,000 copies afters its appearance on the soundtrack of the film Ghost. "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor was the second best-selling single of 1990, selling 600,000 and being certified platinum by the BPI. Songs by Elton John, Beats International, Englandneworder and Vanilla Ice were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.
Top-ten singles
- Key
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Single peaked in 1980 but charted in 1981. | |
| Single released in 1981 but peaked in 1982. | |
| (#) | Year-end top ten single position and rank |
| Entered | The date that the song first appeared in the chart. |
| Peak | Highest position that the song reached in the UK Singles Chart. |
| Entered (week ending) |
Weeks in top 10 |
Single | Artist | Peak | Peak reached (week ending) |
Weeks at peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singles in 1980 | ||||||
| 9 | "" | 1 | ||||
| Singles in 1981 | ||||||
Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who achieved multiple top 10 entries in 1981, including songs that reached their peak in 1980 or 1982. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist.
| Artist | Number of Top 10 singles |
|---|---|
See also
References
- ↑ "The Official UK Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
External links
- 1981 singles chart archive at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)