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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z OtherTop 1000

Top R&B Songs of 1981

1980 <-1981-> 1982
    

Video playlist


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1.
06/1981
25

59
US




31
R&B


76
UK
[Tamla 54327]
written by Smokey Robinson
2.
04/1981
25





4
dance
23
R&B




[Prelude 8025]
written by Willie Phillips & Carlton Maestro
3.
08/1981
25

53
US




11
R&B




4.
03/1981
25

79
US




54
R&B


49
UK
[Motown 1508]
written by Gerry Goffin & Michael Masser
5.
02/1981
26





5
dance
15
R&B




charted as Get Tough / License to Dream / De Kleeer Ting in US dance charts
[Atlantic 3788]
written by Norman Durham & Woody Cunningham
6.
12/1981
27

53
US


51
dance
13
R&B




[Sugar Hill 774]
written by Jerry Lordan
7.
05/1981
27

102
US


45
dance
3
R&B




[Chocolate City 3225]
written by Larry Blackmon & Tomi Jenkins
8.
07/1981
27





7
dance
9
R&B




9.
04/1981
27





6
dance
10
R&B




[West End 1232]
written by Kenton Nix
10.
02/1981
27

52
US
45
AC
22
dance
32
R&B




[Atlantic 3798]
written by Richard Carpenter, John Bettis & Michael Zager
11.
08/1981
28





4
dance
15
R&B




as Donald Byrd & 125th Street, N.Y.C.
[Elektra 47168]
written by William Duckett
12.
11/1981
28

43
US
30
AC


25
R&B




[Warner 49842]
written by Tom Canning, Jay Graydon & Al Jarreau
13.
09/1981
29

91
US


21
dance
6
R&B




charted as Snap Shot / Party Lites / Wait for Me in US dance charts
[Cotillion 46022]
written by Mark Adams, Steve Arrington, Charles Carter, Jimmy Douglass & Floyd Miller
14.
11/1981
29

90
US


16
dance
7
R&B




charted as Get It Up / Cool in US dance charts
[Warner 49864]
written by Prince & Dez Dickerson
15.
12/1981
29

71
US


35
dance
6
R&B




[Salsoul 7017]
written by Steve Washington (as Stephen C. Washington), Curt Jones & Starleana Young
16.
06/1981
30

67
US




4
R&B




[Warner 49744]
written by Larry Graham
17.
09/1981
30





✫1
dance
60
R&B




[Pavillion 02455]
written by Colin Campsie & George McFarlane
18.
04/1981
32





19
dance
60
R&B


36
UK
charted as Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)/Humpin' in US dance charts
[Mercury 76114]
written by Charlie Wilson, Lonnie Simmons & Rudy Taylor
19.
08/1981
32





✫1
dance
35
R&B




[Prelude 8034]
written by Andy Gierus & Nick Straker (as Nicholas Bailey)
20.
07/1981
34

33
US




23
R&B




[novelty]
[parody of TV's General Hospital]
[MCA 51148]
written by Harry King & Lisa Tedesco
21.
10/1981
34

84
US


5
dance
14
R&B




charted as Walking Into Sunshine / Don't Tell Me / I Need Your Love in US dance charts
[Mercury 76126]
written by Linton Beckles, Lipson Francis & Roy Carter
22.
07/1981
35

102
US


✫1
dance
38
R&B




charted as Give It to Me Baby / Super Freak / Ghetto Life in US dance charts
[Gordy 7215]
written by Rick James
23.
04/1981
35





6
dance
35
R&B


48
UK
[RCA 12215]
written by Ronald Brown & John Scroggins
24.
10/1981
35

42
US




6
R&B




[Capitol 5065]
written by Peabo Bryson
25.
09/1981
35





5
dance
41
R&B


49
UK
as Bohannon featuring Dr. Perri Johnson
[Phase II 02573]
written by Hamilton Bohannon & Perri Johnson
26.
06/1981
36

67
US




11
R&B


50
UK
[A&M 2343]
written by George Johnson & Louis Johnson
27.
01/1981
37

104
US


✫1
dance
28
R&B




[Pavillion 6407]
written by Tony Valor
28.
02/1981
37





4
dance
47
R&B


49
UK
charted as Don't Stop / Do It Again in US dance charts
[SAM 5018]
written by K.I.D. (as Geoff Bastow)
29.
05/1981
38

89
US


✫1
dance
40
R&B




charted as Paradise / Hold Tight / Heaven of My Live in US dance charts
[RFC/Atlantic 3832]
written by Davide Romani (as David Romani) & Paul Slade
30.
05/1981
38

103
US


✫1
dance
22
R&B




charted as Try It Out / Hold Tight in US dance charts
[RFC/Atlantic 3813]
written by Gino Soccio
31.
11/1981
38

43
US




4
R&B




[Philadelphia International 02619]
written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
32.
01/1981
39





2
dance
30
R&B


66
UK
charted as Look Up / Never Gonna Give You Up in US dance charts
[Elektra 47113]
written by Patrice Rushen & Freddie Washington
33.
08/1981
42

79
US


25
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as I Heard It Through the Grapevine / So Ruff So Tuff in US dance charts
[Warner 49786]
written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong
34.
08/1981
42





✫1
dance
24
R&B


76
UK
charted as Do You Love Me? / The Genie in US dance charts
[Qwest 49754]
written by Rod Temperton
35.
04/1981
43

40
US


82
dance
3
R&B




featuring Teddy Pendergrass
[20th Century 2492]
written by James Mtume & Reggie Lucas
36.
05/1981
43

105
US


4
dance
40
R&B


44
UK
charted as It's a Love Thing / Up on Soul Train / I Can Make It Better in US dance charts
[Solar 12232]
written by Dana Meyers, Stephen Shockley & William Shelby
37.
11/1981
44

104
US


✫1
dance
9
R&B




charted as Controversy / Let's Work in US dance charts
[Warner 50002]
written by Prince
38.
02/1981
44

50
US




13
R&B


41
UK
[Motown 1503]
written by Jermaine Jackson
39.
03/1981
46

60
US




5
R&B


47
UK
[Mercury 76101]
written by Oliver Scott & Ronnie Wilson
40.
02/1981
47





5
dance
57
R&B


31
UK
charted as Can You Handle It / You Got My Love in US dance charts
[Prelude 8024]
written by Willie Lester & Rodney Brown
41.
08/1981
49

46
US




6
R&B


49
UK
[Arista 0624]
written by Sam Dees
42.
03/1981
49

53
US


22
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as What Cha' Gonna Do for Me / I Know You, I Like You / We Can Work It Out in US dance charts
[Warner 49692]
written by Ned Doheny & Hamish Stuart
43.
08/1981
51

43
US


29
dance
71
R&B


32
UK
produced by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
[Chrysalis 2526]
written by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
44.
04/1981

Paradise by Change

from Miracles   
51

80
US


✫1
dance
7
R&B




charted as Paradise / Hold Tight / Heaven of My Live in US dance charts
[RFC/Atlantic 3809]
written by Davide Romani (as David Romani) & Tanyayette Willoughby
45.
07/1981
53





3
dance
8
R&B


41
UK
[Capitol 4993]
written by Mauro Malavasi & Paul Slade
46.
09/1981
53

25
US
14
AC


36
R&B




[Cotillion 46016]
written by Bill Bowersock, Trevor Veitch & Matt Vernon
47.
05/1981
54

70
US


5
dance
5
R&B


76
UK
[Columbia 02102]
written by Mike Sutton & Brenda Sutton
48.
06/1981
55

50
US


12
dance
3
R&B


76
UK
charted as Square Biz / It Must Be Magic in US dance charts
[Gordy 7202]
written by Teena Marie
49.
03/1981
58

60
US




6
R&B


30
UK
[Solar 12192]
written by William Shelby, Rickey Smith (as Ricky Smith) & Kevin Spencer
50.
04/1981
59

101
US


2
dance
5
R&B


53
UK
[Island 49697]
written by Koo Koo Baya, Grace Jones & Dana Mano
51.
09/1981
59

70
US


✫1
dance
3
R&B




charted as Controversy / Let's Work in US dance charts
[Warner 49808]
written by Prince
52.
06/1981
61





19
dance
20
R&B


20
UK
charted as Wikka Wrap / All Wrapped Up in US dance charts [novelty]
[SAM 5020]
written by Adrian Sear
53.
02/1981
62

30
US


51
dance
✫1
R&B





[WMOT 5356]
written by Frankie Smith & Bill Bloom
54.
01/1981
64

79
US


6
dance
3
R&B


41
UK
charted as All American Girls / He's Just a Runaway in US dance charts
[Cotillion 46007]
written by Narada Michael Walden (as Narada Walden), Lisa Walden, Allee Willis & Joni Sledge
55.
12/1981
67





✫1
dance
13
R&B


30
UK
[Prelude 8043]
written by James "D Train" Williams (as James "D. Train" Williams) & Hubert Eaves III
56.
07/1981
68

21
US
7
AC


26
R&B




as Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
[Arista 0616]
written by Ray Parker Jr
57.
06/1981
71

26
US
19
AC


2
R&B




[Cotillion 46015]
written by Burt Keyes & Sylvia Robinson
58.
03/1981
78

40
US


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as Give It to Me Baby / Super Freak / Ghetto Life in US dance charts
[Gordy 7197]
written by Rick James
59.
04/1981
79

19
US
16
AC


6
R&B




[Epic 01052]
written by George Duke
60.
06/1981
79







88
R&B


10
UK
[Columbia 02170]
written by Bunny Rugs (as Bunny Clarke)
61.
04/1981
79

15
US
15
AC


27
R&B




vocals by Eric Tagg
[Elektra 47124]
written by Lee Ritenour, Eric Tagg & Eric Champlin
62.
02/1981
80

39
US




33
R&B


17
UK
Jones v Jones / Summer Madness was released as a double a-side in the UK
[De-Lite 813]
written by George Brown & Kool & The Gang
63.
07/1981
88

13
US
14
AC


78
R&B
23
rock


[A&M 2349]
written by David Jenkins, Cory Lerios & John Pierce
64.
11/1981

Call Me by Skyy

from Skyy Line   Skyy Line
88

26
US


3
dance
✫1
R&B




charted as Call Me / When You Touch Me in US dance charts
[Salsoul 2152]
written by Randy Muller
65.
08/1981
92

17
US
7
AC


11
R&B


76
UK
featuring James Ingram
[A&M 2357]
written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
66.
08/1981
92

33
US


4
dance
✫1
R&B


44
UK
[Epic 02409]
written by Luther Vandross
67.
10/1981
93

31
US


✫1
dance
2
R&B


65
UK
charted as Wordy Rappinghood / Genius of Love in US dance charts
[Sire 49882]
written by Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Monte Browne, Tyrone Downie & Uziah "Sticky" Thompson
68.
10/1981
96

88
US


16
dance
12
R&B


12
UK
charted as Take My Heart / Steppin' Out / Get Down on It in US dance charts
[De-Lite 816]
written by Robert Bell (as Robert "Kool" Bell), Kool & The Gang & James "J.T." Taylor
69.
09/1981
96

28
US
31
AC


44
R&B


17
UK
[uptight everything's alright, my cherie amour, yesterme yesteryou yesterday, master blaster, you are the sunshine of my life, isn't she lovely, sir duke, i wish, i was made to love her, superstition, fingertips]

[Radio 4019]
written by Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby, Ronald Miller [Ronald Norman Miller] (as Ron Miller), Bryan Wells, Jaap Eggermont, Martin Duiser, Lula Mae Hardaway, Orlando Murden & Clarence Paul
70.
12/1981
96

14
US
5
AC


10
R&B




featuring James Ingram
[A&M 2387]
written by Kathy Wakefield, Benjamin Wright (as Ben Wright) & Tony Coleman
71.
06/1981
103

22
US


20
dance
2
R&B


34
UK
[20th Century 2488]
written by Leon Haywood
72.
06/1981
103





3
dance
17
R&B


11
UK
featuring Patti Austin
charted as Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) / Razzamatazz / Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me in US dance charts
[A&M 2334]
written by Rod Temperton
73.
07/1981
111

16
US


✫1
dance
3
R&B




[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #477]
charted as Give It to Me Baby / Super Freak / Ghetto Life in US dance charts
[Gordy 7205]
written by Rick James & Alonzo Miller
74.
07/1981
111

15
US
6
AC


6
R&B


55
UK
[Warner 49746]
written by Roger Murrah & Keith Stegall
75.
06/1981
112

40
US


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B


27
UK
[RCA 12243]
written by Kashif
76.
10/1981
126

17
US


16
dance
✫1
R&B


29
UK
charted as Take My Heart / Steppin' Out / Get Down on It in US dance charts
[De-Lite 815]
written by George Brown, Kool & The Gang, Claydes Charles Smith & James "J.T." Taylor
77.
02/1981
130

28
US


3
dance
10
R&B


14
UK
featuring Dune
charted as Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) / Razzamatazz / Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me in US dance charts
[A&M 2309]
written by Chas Jankel & Kenny Young
78.
05/1981
140





55
dance
68
R&B


4
UK
[RCA 12240]
written by Lamont Dozier
79.
03/1981
140

6
US
5
AC


45
R&B




[Arista 0588]
written by Gino Vannelli
80.
06/1981
143

8
US
13
AC
53
dance
5
R&B


56
UK
charted as Lady (You Bring Me Up)/Keep On Taking Me Higher in US dance charts
[Motown 1514]
written by Harold Hudson, Shirley King & William King
81.
01/1981
165

28
US


4
dance
2
R&B


9
UK
charted as It's a Love Thing / Up on Soul Train / I Can Make It Better in US dance charts
[Solar 12154]
written by William Shelby & Dana Meyers
82.
03/1981
165

64
US
33
AC


29
R&B


3
UK
[Tamla 54323]
written by Stevie Wonder
83.
03/1981
185

4
US
11
AC


✫1
R&B




as Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
[Arista 0592]
written by Ray Parker Jr
84.
10/1981
196

5
US


32
dance
✫1
R&B


29
UK
[Warner 49846]
written by Bill Champlin, Jay Graydon & Steve Lukather
85.
09/1981
198

4
US
5
AC


5
R&B


44
UK
[Motown 1527]
written by Lionel Richie
86.
11/1981
199

4
US




25
R&B
8
rock
27
UK
charted as Flamethrower / Freeze-Frame in US R&B charts
[EMI America 8108]
written by Seth Justman & Peter Wolf
87.
01/1981
212

3
US
✫1
AC


✫1
R&B




[Capitol 4953]
written by Rokusuke Ei, Hachidai Nakamura, Abraham Quintanilla III (as Abraham Quintanilla Jr.) & Pete Astudillo
88.
04/1981
220

55
US
37
AC


42
R&B


✫1
UK
[Motown 1512]
written by Sam Brown III & Renée Armand
89.
02/1981
247

12
US
✫1
AC


4
R&B


5
UK
[Columbia 11433]
written by Dana Walden
90.
02/1981
253

2
US
2
AC


3
R&B


34
UK
featuring Bill Withers
[Elektra 47103]
written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald & William Salter
91.
12/1981
259

10
US


16
dance
4
R&B


3
UK
B side to Steppin' Out ; charted as Take My Heart / Steppin' Out / Get Down on It in US dance charts
[De-Lite 818]
written by Ronald Bell (as Khalis Bayyan), Kool & The Gang & James "J.T." Taylor
92.
08/1981
265

11
US
9
AC


✫1
R&B


3
UK
[Casablanca 2338]
written by Marc Blatte & Larry Gottlieb
93.
10/1981
287

7
US
2
AC


6
R&B


4
UK
[RCA 12349]
written by Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago (uncredited), George Goldner (uncredited) & Morris Levy
94.
05/1981
292

2
US
6
AC


7
R&B


10
UK
[Planet 47929]
written by John Bettis & Michael Clark
95.
10/1981
332

✫1
US
29
AC
22
dance
28
R&B


7
UK
[MCA 51182]
written by Steve Kipner & Terry Shaddick
96.
10/1981
350

3
US


3
dance
✫1
R&B


3
UK
charted as Let's Groove/I've Had Enough in US dance charts
[Columbia 02536]
written by Wayne Vaughn & Maurice White
97.
01/1981
371

✫1
US


✫1
dance
33
R&B
35
rock
5
UK
charted as Rapture / The Tide Is High in US dance charts
[Chrysalis 2485]
written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein
98.
07/1981
374

✫1
US
✫1
AC


✫1
R&B


7
UK
[Motown 1519]
written by Lionel Richie
99.
11/1981
376

✫1
US
12
AC
✫1
dance
✫1
R&B
28
rock
8
UK
[RCA 12357]
written by Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen
100.
02/1981
432

2
US
4
AC


✫1
R&B


✫1
UK
[Tamla 54321]
written by Smokey Robinson

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