Billboard Hot 100 — October 3, 1981
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week of October 3, 1981. "Endless Love" by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie held #1 for a 8th straight week, on its way to 9 weeks on top. 8 songs entered the chart this week; the highest new entry was "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John at #66, which would go on to peak at #1. The biggest climber was "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police, up 22 places from #66 to #44.
Chart highlights
- At #1: "Endless Love" by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie — 8 weeks at the top so far, 13 weeks on the chart since debuting July 11, 1981.
- New in the top 10: "Hold On Tight" by Electric Light Orchestra (up from #11 to #10).
- Biggest fall: "Tempted" by Squeeze, down 32 places from #56 to #88.
- Longest run on this week's chart: "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield, 28 weeks and counting (peak #1).
- Stories that mention this week: Ten Weeks of 'Physical': How Olivia Newton-John Outlasted Them All.
TW = this week, LW = last week (NEW = first week on the chart), Peak = highest position reached up to this week, Wks = weeks on the chart up to this week.
| TW | LW | Peak | Wks | Song / Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | Endless Love Diana Ross & Lionel Richie |
| 2 | 7 | 2 | 8 | Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) Christopher Cross |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | Stop Draggin' My Heart Around Stevie Nicks With Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers |
| 4 | 6 | 4 | 12 | Who's Crying Now Journey |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | (There's) No Gettin' Over Me Ronnie Milsap |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | Queen Of Hearts Juice Newton |
| 7 | 8 | 7 | 11 | Step By Step Eddie Rabbitt |
| 8 | 4 | 4 | 14 | Urgent Foreigner |
| 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | Start Me Up The Rolling Stones |
| 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | Hold On Tight Electric Light Orchestra |
| 11 | 14 | 11 | 11 | For Your Eyes Only Sheena Easton |
| 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | The Beach Boys Medley The Beach Boys |
| 13 | 18 | 13 | 6 | Private Eyes Daryl Hall John Oates |
| 14 | 17 | 14 | 7 | The Night Owls Little River Band |
| 15 | 16 | 15 | 9 | The Voice The Moody Blues |
| 16 | 9 | 8 | 16 | Lady (You Bring Me Up) Commodores |
| 17 | 19 | 17 | 5 | Share Your Love With Me Kenny Rogers |
| 18 | 24 | 18 | 6 | Hard To Say Dan Fogelberg |
| 19 | 21 | 19 | 10 | I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do) Lulu |
| 20 | 20 | 20 | 9 | In Your Letter REO Speedwagon |
| 21 | 23 | 21 | 9 | Super Freak (Part I) Rick James |
| 22 | 22 | 22 | 13 | Breaking Away Balance |
| 23 | 26 | 23 | 7 | I've Done Everything For You Rick Springfield |
| 24 | 27 | 24 | 10 | We're In This Love Together Al Jarreau |
| 25 | 30 | 25 | 8 | When She Was My Girl Four Tops |
| 26 | 31 | 26 | 4 | Tryin' To Live My Life Without You Bob Seger |
| 27 | 12 | 2 | 19 | Slow Hand The Pointer Sisters |
| 28 | 33 | 28 | 8 | Just Once Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram |
| 29 | 35 | 29 | 7 | She's A Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked) Carl Carlton |
| 30 | 40 | 30 | 4 | Say Goodbye To Hollywood Billy Joel |
| 31 | 15 | 1 | 28 | Jessie's Girl Rick Springfield |
| 32 | 25 | 2 | 22 | Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It or Not) Joey Scarbury |
| 33 | 34 | 33 | 11 | General Hospi-tale The Afternoon Delights |
| 34 | 28 | 28 | 9 | Draw Of The Cards Kim Carnes |
| 35 | 29 | 13 | 14 | Cool Love Pablo Cruise |
| 36 | 42 | 36 | 7 | The Theme From Hill Street Blues Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton |
| 37 | 54 | 37 | 2 | Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) Air Supply |
| 38 | 32 | 15 | 20 | The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) Greg Kihn Band |
| 39 | 36 | 16 | 14 | Really Wanna Know You Gary Wright |
| 40 | 44 | 40 | 8 | Burnin' For You Blue Oyster Cult |
| 41 | 37 | 17 | 12 | Fire And Ice Pat Benatar |
| 42 | 48 | 42 | 6 | Alien Atlanta Rhythm Section |
| 43 | 60 | 43 | 3 | Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love) Marty Balin |
| 44 | 66 | 44 | 2 | Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic The Police |
| 45 | 51 | 45 | 6 | Our Lips Are Sealed Go-Go's |
| 46 | 46 | 46 | 6 | Love All The Hurt Away Aretha Franklin And George Benson |
| 47 | 38 | 36 | 17 | Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone) John Denver |
| 48 | 52 | 48 | 11 | Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride) Don Felder |
| 49 | 63 | 49 | 2 | He's A Liar Bee Gees |
| 50 | 58 | 50 | 5 | Working In The Coal Mine Devo |
| 51 | 43 | 20 | 18 | Feels So Right Alabama |
| 52 | 62 | 52 | 4 | Sausalito Summernight Diesel |
| 53 | 39 | 39 | 9 | Straight From The Heart The Allman Brothers Band |
| 54 | 64 | 54 | 4 | You Saved My Soul Burton Cummings |
| 55 | 65 | 55 | 4 | In The Dark Billy Squier |
| 56 | 41 | 40 | 11 | I'm In Love Evelyn King |
| 57 | 47 | 43 | 8 | Backfired Debbie Harry |
| 58 | 50 | 21 | 13 | That Old Song Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio |
| 59 | 45 | 32 | 11 | You Could Take My Heart Away Silver Condor |
| 60 | 49 | 34 | 11 | Chloe Elton John |
| 61 | 71 | 61 | 2 | Oh No Commodores |
| 62 | 53 | 53 | 8 | Silly Deniece Williams |
| 63 | 57 | 50 | 11 | Square Biz Teena Marie |
| 64 | 70 | 64 | 4 | Steal The Night Stevie Woods |
| 65 | 55 | 26 | 16 | Love On A Two Way Street Stacy Lattisaw |
| 66 | NEW | 66 | 1 | Physical Olivia Newton-John |
| 67 | 74 | 67 | 3 | Aiming At Your Heart The Temptations |
| 68 | 76 | 68 | 2 | More Stars More Stars On 45 |
| 69 | 59 | 7 | 20 | Boy From New York City The Manhattan Transfer |
| 70 | 81 | 70 | 2 | My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) Chilliwack |
| 71 | NEW | 71 | 1 | Promises In The Dark Pat Benatar |
| 72 | 82 | 72 | 2 | Take Me Now David Gates |
| 73 | 73 | 73 | 4 | Stay Awake Ronnie Laws |
| 74 | 75 | 74 | 9 | No Time To Lose The Tarney/Spencer Band |
| 75 | 85 | 75 | 2 | No Reply At All Genesis |
| 76 | 86 | 76 | 2 | It's All I Can Do Anne Murray |
| 77 | 77 | 77 | 3 | The House Of The Rising Sun Dolly Parton |
| 78 | 78 | 78 | 4 | (Want You) Back In My Life Again Carpenters |
| 79 | 80 | 79 | 3 | At This Moment Billy & The Beaters |
| 80 | 90 | 80 | 2 | Still John Schneider |
| 81 | 89 | 81 | 2 | Let's Put The Fun Back In Rock N Roll Freddy Cannon & The Belmonts |
| 82 | NEW | 82 | 1 | I Want You, I Need You Chris Christian |
| 83 | NEW | 83 | 1 | Let's Groove Earth, Wind & Fire |
| 84 | NEW | 84 | 1 | A Lucky Guy Rickie Lee Jones |
| 85 | NEW | 85 | 1 | Leila ZZ Top |
| 86 | NEW | 86 | 1 | Fire In The Sky The Dirt Band |
| 87 | 61 | 3 | 17 | I Don't Need You Kenny Rogers |
| 88 | 56 | 49 | 10 | Tempted Squeeze |
| 89 | NEW | 89 | 1 | Magic Power Triumph |
| 90 | 68 | 8 | 20 | Hearts Marty Balin |
| 91 | 69 | 5 | 21 | Elvira The Oak Ridge Boys |
| 92 | 67 | 51 | 8 | All I Have To Do Is Dream Andy Gibb & Victoria Principal |
| 93 | 72 | 67 | 5 | Just Be My Lady Larry Graham |
| 94 | 87 | 79 | 5 | Magic Man Herb Alpert |
| 95 | 79 | 79 | 4 | You've Got A Good Love Coming Van Stephenson |
| 96 | 83 | 14 | 19 | It's Now Or Never John Schneider |
| 97 | 98 | 97 | 2 | I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today The Crusaders With Joe Cocker |
| 98 | 84 | 84 | 3 | I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us Meat Loaf |
| 99 | 91 | 66 | 9 | A Heart In New York Art Garfunkel |
| 100 | 92 | 26 | 13 | Don't Give It Up Robbie Patton |
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