A look back at the year. Enjoy reading while you listen to the music. (clicking on any link will open a new page, and will not interrupt your song.)
The top grossing movies of 1981 were:
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. On Golden Pond ***Winner-Best Actor/Actress. 1981 Academy Awards (Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn)
3. Arthur
4. Stripes
5. Quest for Fire
6. Chariots of Fire ***Winner-Best Picture. 1981 Academy Awards
7. The Fox and the Hound
8. Clash of the Titans
9. Absense of Malice
10. Tarzan the Ape Man
In politics, Ronald Reagan is elected 40th President of the U.S. He and three others are wounded on March 31 in an attack by John Hinckley. Iran releases all U.S. hostages on Jan. 20.
Other happenings:
The new video game "Frogger" is introduced. "Donkey Kong" introduces the world to Mario the plumber. It becomes the hottest-selling coin-operated machine. IBM introduces its first personal computer on Augut 12.
The cost of a first-class stamp goes up to 18 cents on March 22, and 20 cents on November 1. Baseball: Los Angeles defeats the New York Yankees 4 games to 2 after a season interrupted by a 7-week players' strike.
As for the music, here is the list of songs that were on the top of the charts in 1981.
Olivia Newton-John - Physical
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love
Christopher Cross - Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Kiss On My List
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
Eddie Rabbitt - I Love A Rainy Night
Dolly Parton - 9 To 5
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Private Eyes
Blondie Blondie - Rapture
Kool & The Gang - Celebration
Sheena Easton - Morning Train (Nine To Five)
Blondie Blondie - The Tide Is High
REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You
Air Supply - The One That You Love
Foreigner - Waiting For A Girl Like You
John Lennon - Woman
Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand
Grover Washington Jr. - Just The Two Of Us
Neil Diamond - Love On The Rocks
Smokey Robinson - Being With You
Juice Newton - Queen Of Hearts
Joey Scarbury - Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It Or Not)
Stevie Nicks - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Earth, Wind and Fire - Let's Groove
Styx - The Best Of Times
Taste Of Honey - Sukiyaki
Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty
The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Foreigner - Urgent
Juice Newton - Angel Of The Morning
Sheena Easton - For Your Eyes Only
Commodores - Oh No
Journey - Who's Crying Now
Ray Parker Jr. - A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)
Ronnie Milsap - (There's) No Gettin' Over Me
Oak Ridge Boys - Elvira
Rod Stewart - Young Turks
Air Supply - Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)
Don McLean - Crying
Daryl Hall & John Oates - You Make My Dreams
Eddie Rabbitt - Step By Step
Rod Stewart - Passion
REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run
Air Supply - Every Woman In The World
Gino Vannelli - Living Inside Myself
Neil Diamond - Hello Again
Diana Ross - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Manhattan Transfer - Boy From New York City
Comments? Questions? Concerns? Strike back below.
This page was last modified on Saturday, July 25, 2009