May 11 - The musical Cats begins its 8949 performance run on London's West End.
August 1 - MTV debuts on cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day.
August 23 - The Violent Femmes are discovered by members of The Pretenders busking outside the Milwaukee venue where The Pretenders will be playing, and invited to play a 10-minute acoustic set as a second opening act that night.
September 19 - Simon and Garfunkel perform a free reunion concert in New York City's Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans.

Intersting Facts:
-1981 is the year Motley Crue, Metallica and the Culture Club formed.
- Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" is the best selling singel of the year.
- J. Tim and Beyonce were born in 1981.

1. Super Freak - Rick James
2. Let's Groove - Earth, Wind and Fire
3. Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers
4. Give It To Me Baby - Rick James
5. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
6. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
7. Back In Black - AC/DC
8. I Love You - Climax Blues Band
9. Celebration - Kool and The Gang
10. She's A Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked) - Carl Carlton
11. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
12. Double Dutch Bus - Frankie Smith
13. Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
14. Endless Love - Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross
15. Fantastic Voyage - Lakeside
16. In The Air Tonight - Phi Collins
17. Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan
18. Love T.K.O. - Teddy Pendergast
19. We're In This Love Together - Al Jarreau
20. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - Police
21. Lady (You Bring Me Up) - Commodores
22. Urgent - Foreigner
23. The Tide Is High - Blondie
24. Fire and Ice - Pat Benatar
25. Our Lips Are Sealed - Go Go's
26. Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogleberg
27. The Stroke - Billy Squier
28. Who's Making Love - Blues Brothers
29. Being With You - Smokey Robinson
30. Don't Stand So Close To Me - Police
31. Tempted - Squeeze
32. Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) - Gap Band
33. Guilty - Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
34. Woman - John Lennon
35. Winner Takes All - Abba
36. Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
37. Controversy - Prince
38. Rapture - Blondie
39. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
40. America - Neil Diamond
41. Physical - Olivia Newton John
42. Treat Me Right - Pat Benatar
43. Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys
44. The Old Songs - Barry Manilow
45. Fashion - David Bowie
46. No Reply At All - Genesis
47. All Those Years Ago - George Harrison
48. Slow Hand - Pointer Sisters
49. 8th Wonder - Sugarhill Gang
50. My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) - Chilliwack
51. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - Police
52. Winning - Santana
53. Say Goodbye To Hollywood - Billy Joel
54. Jones vs. Jones - Kool and the Gang
55. Tom Saywer - Rush
56. Private Eyes - Hall and Oates
57. (Ghost) Riders In The Sky - The Outlaws
58. Working In The Coal Mine - Devo
59. Watching The Wheels - John Lennon
60. Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
61. Super Trooper - Abba
62. Arc of a Diver - Steve Winwood
63. While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood
64. Teacher, Teacher - Rockpile
65. Sukiyaki - A Taste Of Honey
66. Hello Again - Neil Diamond
67. (There's) No Getting Over Me - Ronnie Milsap
68. Morning Train (9 to 5) - Sheena Easton
69. All American Girls - Sister Sledge
70. Skateaway - Dire Straites
71. Ah! Leah - Donnie Iris 
72. This Little Girl - Gary U.S. Bonds
73. Wasn't That A Party - The Rovers
74. Sign of the Gypsy Queen - April Wine
75. Boy From New York City - Manhatten Transfer

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December 27, 1980 - January 30, 1981: (Just Like) Starting Over John Lennon
January 31 - February 6: The Tide Is High - Blondie
February 7 - February 20: Celebration - Kool & The Gang
February 21 - March 6: 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
March 7 - March 20: I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt
March 21 - March 27: Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
March 28 - April 10: Rapture - Blondie
April 11 - May 1: Kiss On My List - Hall & Oates
May 2 - May 15: Morning Train (Nine To Five) - Sheena Easton
May 16 - July 17: Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
July 18 - July 24: Medley - Stars on 45
July 25 - July 31: The One That You Love - Air Supply
August 1 - August 14: Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
August 15 - October 16: Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
October 17 - November 6: Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross
November 7 - November 20: Private Eyes - Hall & Oates
November 21, 1981 - January 29, 1982: Physical - Olivia Newton-John