Billboard Hot 100 — October 24, 1981
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week of October 24, 1981. "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" by Christopher Cross held #1 for a 2nd straight week, on its way to 3 weeks on top. 9 songs entered the chart this week; the highest new entry was "Leather And Lace" by Stevie Nicks With Don Henley at #73, which would go on to peak at #6. The biggest climber was "Young Turks" by Rod Stewart, up 20 places from #61 to #41.
Chart highlights
- At #1: "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" by Christopher Cross — 2 weeks at the top so far, 11 weeks on the chart since debuting August 15, 1981.
- New in the top 10: "I've Done Everything For You" by Rick Springfield (up from #12 to #10).
- Biggest fall: "In Your Letter" by REO Speedwagon, down 37 places from #47 to #84.
- Longest run on this week's chart: "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield, 31 weeks and counting (peak #1).
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 | 11 | Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) Christopher Cross |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | Endless Love Diana Ross & Lionel Richie |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | Start Me Up The Rolling Stones |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 14 | For Your Eyes Only Sheena Easton |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 14 | Step By Step Eddie Rabbitt |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | Private Eyes Daryl Hall John Oates |
| 7 | 7 | 3 | 14 | Stop Draggin' My Heart Around Stevie Nicks With Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers |
| 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | Hard To Say Dan Fogelberg |
| 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | The Night Owls Little River Band |
| 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | I've Done Everything For You Rick Springfield |
| 11 | 14 | 11 | 7 | Tryin' To Live My Life Without You Bob Seger |
| 12 | 8 | 4 | 15 | Who's Crying Now Journey |
| 13 | 16 | 13 | 11 | When She Was My Girl Four Tops |
| 14 | 15 | 14 | 8 | Share Your Love With Me Kenny Rogers |
| 15 | 23 | 15 | 5 | Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) Air Supply |
| 16 | 17 | 16 | 12 | Super Freak (Part I) Rick James |
| 17 | 22 | 17 | 10 | The Theme From Hill Street Blues Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton |
| 18 | 19 | 18 | 13 | We're In This Love Together Al Jarreau |
| 19 | 20 | 19 | 7 | Say Goodbye To Hollywood Billy Joel |
| 20 | 21 | 20 | 11 | Just Once Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram |
| 21 | 25 | 21 | 3 | Waiting For A Girl Like You Foreigner |
| 22 | 24 | 22 | 10 | She's A Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked) Carl Carlton |
| 23 | 27 | 23 | 5 | Oh No Commodores |
| 24 | 28 | 24 | 5 | Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic The Police |
| 25 | 11 | 4 | 17 | Urgent Foreigner |
| 26 | 31 | 26 | 4 | Physical Olivia Newton-John |
| 27 | 29 | 27 | 6 | Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love) Marty Balin |
| 28 | 13 | 10 | 14 | Hold On Tight Electric Light Orchestra |
| 29 | 33 | 29 | 9 | Alien Atlanta Rhythm Section |
| 30 | 32 | 30 | 5 | He's A Liar Bee Gees |
| 31 | 38 | 31 | 3 | The Old Songs Barry Manilow |
| 32 | 18 | 18 | 13 | I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do) Lulu |
| 33 | 37 | 33 | 7 | Sausalito Summernight Diesel |
| 34 | 26 | 2 | 22 | Queen Of Hearts Juice Newton |
| 35 | 39 | 35 | 7 | In The Dark Billy Squier |
| 36 | 30 | 15 | 12 | The Voice The Moody Blues |
| 37 | 42 | 37 | 7 | You Saved My Soul Burton Cummings |
| 38 | 56 | 38 | 2 | Why Do Fools Fall In Love Diana Ross |
| 39 | 34 | 12 | 14 | The Beach Boys Medley The Beach Boys |
| 40 | 41 | 40 | 9 | Our Lips Are Sealed Go-Go's |
| 41 | 61 | 41 | 2 | Young Turks Rod Stewart |
| 42 | 48 | 42 | 4 | Promises In The Dark Pat Benatar |
| 43 | 44 | 43 | 8 | Working In The Coal Mine Devo |
| 44 | 50 | 44 | 5 | My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) Chilliwack |
| 45 | 40 | 40 | 11 | Burnin' For You Blue Oyster Cult |
| 46 | 36 | 8 | 19 | Lady (You Bring Me Up) Commodores |
| 47 | 54 | 47 | 5 | No Reply At All Genesis |
| 48 | 58 | 48 | 4 | Let's Groove Earth, Wind & Fire |
| 49 | 43 | 43 | 14 | Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride) Don Felder |
| 50 | 35 | 5 | 18 | (There's) No Gettin' Over Me Ronnie Milsap |
| 51 | 57 | 51 | 7 | Steal The Night Stevie Woods |
| 52 | 65 | 52 | 3 | Never Too Much Luther Vandross |
| 53 | 59 | 53 | 5 | It's All I Can Do Anne Murray |
| 54 | 62 | 54 | 4 | I Want You, I Need You Chris Christian |
| 55 | 55 | 55 | 5 | More Stars More Stars On 45 |
| 56 | 67 | 56 | 2 | Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It) Kool & The Gang |
| 57 | 45 | 2 | 22 | Slow Hand The Pointer Sisters |
| 58 | 46 | 33 | 14 | General Hospi-tale The Afternoon Delights |
| 59 | 68 | 59 | 3 | One More Night Streek |
| 60 | 60 | 60 | 7 | Stay Awake Ronnie Laws |
| 61 | 70 | 61 | 3 | When She Dances Joey Scarbury |
| 62 | 63 | 62 | 5 | Take Me Now David Gates |
| 63 | 80 | 63 | 2 | Harden My Heart Quarterflash |
| 64 | 71 | 64 | 4 | A Lucky Guy Rickie Lee Jones |
| 65 | 79 | 65 | 2 | The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known) Juice Newton |
| 66 | 74 | 66 | 3 | Bet Your Heart On Me Johnny Lee |
| 67 | 75 | 67 | 4 | Magic Power Triumph |
| 68 | 78 | 68 | 2 | Poor Man's Son Survivor |
| 69 | 69 | 69 | 5 | Still John Schneider |
| 70 | 64 | 1 | 31 | Jessie's Girl Rick Springfield |
| 71 | 73 | 71 | 3 | Wired For Sound Cliff Richard |
| 72 | 72 | 72 | 7 | (Want You) Back In My Life Again Carpenters |
| 73 | NEW | 73 | 1 | Leather And Lace Stevie Nicks With Don Henley |
| 74 | NEW | 74 | 1 | Trouble Lindsey Buckingham |
| 75 | 82 | 75 | 3 | Run To Me Savoy Brown |
| 76 | 86 | 76 | 2 | Snake Eyes The Alan Parsons Project |
| 77 | 49 | 22 | 16 | Breaking Away Balance |
| 78 | 88 | 78 | 2 | Slip Away Pablo Cruise |
| 79 | NEW | 79 | 1 | Twilight Electric Light Orchestra |
| 80 | 90 | 80 | 2 | I Surrender Arlan Day |
| 81 | 53 | 46 | 9 | Love All The Hurt Away Aretha Franklin And George Benson |
| 82 | 51 | 2 | 25 | Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It or Not) Joey Scarbury |
| 83 | NEW | 83 | 1 | Mistaken Identity Kim Carnes |
| 84 | 47 | 20 | 12 | In Your Letter REO Speedwagon |
| 85 | NEW | 85 | 1 | I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World Ronnie Milsap |
| 86 | NEW | 86 | 1 | Turn Your Love Around George Benson |
| 87 | 52 | 28 | 12 | Draw Of The Cards Kim Carnes |
| 88 | 83 | 20 | 21 | Feels So Right Alabama |
| 89 | NEW | 89 | 1 | La La Means I Love You Tierra |
| 90 | NEW | 90 | 1 | Controversy Prince |
| 91 | 66 | 36 | 20 | Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone) John Denver |
| 92 | 84 | 17 | 15 | Fire And Ice Pat Benatar |
| 93 | 87 | 15 | 23 | The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em) Greg Kihn Band |
| 94 | 85 | 13 | 17 | Cool Love Pablo Cruise |
| 95 | 81 | 40 | 14 | I'm In Love Evelyn King |
| 96 | 91 | 16 | 17 | Really Wanna Know You Gary Wright |
| 97 | 77 | 77 | 4 | Leila ZZ Top |
| 98 | 76 | 76 | 4 | Fire In The Sky The Dirt Band |
| 99 | NEW | 99 | 1 | Snap Shot Slave |
| 100 | 89 | 89 | 3 | Back To The 60's Tight Fit |
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