| CASH BOX Top 100 Singles | ||||||
| Green square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending OCTOBER 3, 1981 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | ENDLESS LOVE Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Motown 1519) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | |
| 2 | ARTHUR’S THEME (Best That You Can Do) Christopher Cross (Warner Bros. 49787) | 3 | 7 | 14 | 8 | |
| 3 | QUEEN OF HEARTS Juice Newton (Capitol 4997) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 | |
| 4 | WHO’S CRYING NOW Journey (Columbia 02241) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 12 | |
| 5 | STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty & Heartbreakers) (Modern 7336) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | |
| 6 | STEP BY STEP Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra 47174) | 7 | 11 | 13 | 11 | |
| 7 | FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Sheena Easton (Liberty 1418) | 10 | 13 | 16 | 11 | |
| 8 | HOLD ON TIGHT Electric Light Orchestra (Jet 02408) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 | |
| 9 | THE BEACH BOYS MEDLEY Beach Boys (Capitol 5030) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | |
| 10 | START ME UP Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones 21003) | 11 | 15 | 18 | 7 | |
| 11 | SLOW HAND Pointer Sisters (Planet 47929) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | |
| 12 | PRIVATE EYES Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA 12296) | 14 | 24 | 30 | 6 | |
| 13 | URGENT Foreigner (Atlantic 3831) | 12 | 5 | 5 | 14 | |
| 14 | (There’s) NO GETTIN’ OVER ME Ronnie Milsap (RCA 12264) | 13 | 9 | 9 | 15 | |
| 15 | THE VOICE Moody Blues (Threshold 602) | 15 | 17 | 19 | 9 | |
| 16 | I COULD NEVER MISS YOU (More Than I Do) Lulu (Alfa 7006) | 18 | 20 | 22 | 10 | |
| 17 | LADY (You Bring Me Up) Commodores (Motown 1514) | 16 | 12 | 8 | 16 | |
| 18 | THE NIGHT OWLS Little River Band (Capitol 5033) | 20 | 22 | 25 | 7 | |
| 19 | HARD TO SAY Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon/Epic 02488) | 23 | 28 | 36 | 6 | |
| 20 | WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. 49746) | 27 | 32 | 38 | 10 | |
| 21 | SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME Kenny Rogers (Liberty 1430) | 29 | 36 | 44 | 5 | |
| 22 | JUST ONCE Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram (A&M 2357) | 30 | 33 | 37 | 8 | |
| 23 | BREAKING AWAY Balance (Portrait 02177) | 24 | 26 | 28 | 13 | |
| 24 | SUPER FREAK (pt. 1) Rick James (Gordy 7205) | 26 | 29 | 32 | 9 | |
| 25 | DRAW OF THE CARDS Kim Carnes (EMI America 8087) | 25 | 27 | 29 | 9 | |
| 26 | WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL Four Tops (Casablanca 2338) | 33 | 37 | 41 | 7 | |
| 27 | I’VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU Rick Springfield (RCA 12166) | 32 | 38 | 43 | 7 | |
| 28 | IN YOUR LETTER REO Speedwagon (Epic 02457) | 28 | 30 | 33 | 9 | |
| 29 | TRYIN’ TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU Bob Seger (Capitol 5042) | 34 | 41 | 47 | 4 | |
| 30 | REALLY WANNA KNOW YOU Gary Wright (Warner Bros. 49769) | 21 | 19 | 20 | 14 | |
| 31 | GENERAL HOSPI-TALE Afternoon Delights (MCA 51148) | 31 | 34 | 34 | 11 | |
| 32 | SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD Billy Joel (Columbia 02518) | 40 | 48 | 67 | 4 | |
| 33 | COOL LOVE Pablo Cruise (A&M 2349) | 22 | 18 | 17 | 14 | |
| 34 | SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) Carl Carlton (20th Century Fox 2488) | 39 | 43 | 50 | 7 | |
| 35 | JESSIE’S GIRL Rick Springfield (RCA 12201) | 19 | 16 | 11 | 28 | |
| 36 | THE THEME FROM HILL STREET BLUES Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton (Elektra 47186) | 44 | 54 | 61 | 7 | |
| 37 | THEME FROM “GREATEST AMERICAN HERO” (Believe It Or Not) Joey Scarbury (Elektra 47147) | 17 | 14 | 6 | 21 | |
| 38 | FEELS SO RIGHT Alabama (RCA 12236) | 35 | 23 | 23 | 17 | |
| 39 | BURNIN’ FOR YOU Blue Oyster Cult (Columbia 02415) | 43 | 47 | 52 | 8 | |
| 40 | HERE I AM (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) Air Supply (Arista 0626) | 55 | 80 | — | 3 | |
| 41 | ATLANTA LADY (Something About Your Love) Marty Balin (EMI America 8093) | 52 | 68 | 85 | 4 | |
| 42 | ALIEN Atlanta Rhythm Section (Columbia 02471) | 47 | 52 | 63 | 6 | |
| 43 | EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC Police (A&M 2371) | 64 | — | — | 2 | |
| 44 | YOU COULD TAKE MY HEART AWAY Silver Condor (Columbia 02268) | 38 | 35 | 35 | 11 | |
| 45 | HE’S A LIAR Bee Gees (RSO 1066) | 66 | — | — | 2 | |
| 46 | LOVE ALL THE HURT AWAY Aretha Franklin & George Benson (Arista 0624) | 51 | 57 | 60 | 6 | |
| 47 | WORKING IN THE COAL MINE Devo (Full Moon/Asylum 47204) | 54 | 64 | 73 | 5 | |
| 48 | OH NO Commodores (Motown 1527) | 65 | 85 | — | 3 | |
| 49 | SAUSALITO SUMMERNIGHT Diesel (Regency 7339) | 59 | 71 | 84 | 4 | |
| 50 | HEAVY METAL (Takin’ A Ride) Don Felder (Full Moon/Epic 47175) | 56 | 56 | 53 | 11 | |
| 51 | OUR LIPS ARE SEALED Go-Go’s (I.R.S. 9901) | 57 | 63 | 70 | 6 | |
| 52 | YOU SAVED MY SOUL Burton Cummings (Alfa 7008) | 60 | 75 | 87 | 4 | |
| 53 | BACKFIRED Debbie Harry (Chrysalis 2526) | 42 | 39 | 39 | 8 | |
| 54 | ELVIRA Oak Ridge Boys (MCA 51084) | 41 | 25 | 21 | 22 | |
| 55 | THE BREAKUP SONG (They Don’t Write ’Em) Greg Kihn Band (Beserkley 47149) | 46 | 42 | 26 | 20 | |
| 56 | STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART Allman Brothers Band (Arista 0618) | 45 | 40 | 40 | 10 | |
| 57 | IN THE DARK Billy Squier (Capitol 5040) | 62 | 69 | 83 | 4 | |
| 58 | FIRE AND ICE Pat Benatar (Chrysalis 2529) | 36 | 21 | 15 | 12 | |
| 59 | SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS (Some Days Are Stone) John Denver (RCA 12246) | 48 | 45 | 46 | 11 | |
| 60 | CHLOE Elton John (Geffen 49788) | 37 | 31 | 31 | 11 | |
| 61 | I’M IN LOVE Evelyn King (RCA 12243) | 49 | 44 | 45 | 11 | |
| 62 | LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion 46015) | 53 | 51 | 48 | 16 | |
| 63 | THAT OLD SONG Ray Parker Jr. & Radio (Arista 0616) | 50 | 46 | 27 | 13 | |
| 64 | SILLY Deniece Williams (ARC 02406) | 61 | 55 | 57 | 8 | |
| 65 | A HEART IN NEW YORK Art Garfunkel (Columbia 02307) | 58 | 60 | 62 | 9 | |
| 66 | SQUARE BIZ Teena Marie (Gordy 7202) | 63 | 53 | 49 | 12 | |
| 67 | PHYSICAL Olivia Newton-John (MCA 51182) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 68 | YOU DON’T KNOW ME Mickey Gilley (Epic 02172) | 67 | 59 | 56 | 13 | |
| 69 | STAY AWAKE Ronnie Laws (Liberty 1424) | 76 | 81 | 81 | 5 | |
| 70 | MORE STARS Stars On 45 (Radio 3863) | 74 | 84 | — | 3 | |
| 71 | NO REPLY AT ALL Genesis (Atlantic 3858) | 81 | — | — | 2 | |
| 72 | MY GIRL (Gone, Gone, Gone) Chilliwack (Millennium 11813) | 83 | — | — | 2 | |
| 73 | PROMISES IN THE DARK Pat Benatar (Chrysalis 2555) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 74 | NICOLE Point Blank (MCA 51132) | 70 | 62 | 58 | 15 | |
| 75 | A LUCKY GUY Rickie Lee Jones (Warner Bros. 49816) | 84 | — | — | 2 | |
| 76 | FIRE IN THE SKY Dirt Band (Liberty 1429) | 87 | — | — | 2 | |
| 77 | NO TIME TO LOSE Tarney/Spencer Band (A&M 2366) | 82 | 90 | — | 10 | |
| 78 | AIMING AT YOUR HEART Temptations (Gordy 7208) | 85 | — | — | 2 | |
| 79 | LET’S GROOVE Earth, Wind & Fire (ARC 02536) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 80 | LEILA ZZ Top (Warner Bros. 49782) | 88 | — | — | 2 | |
| 81 | MONY MONY Billy Idol (Chrysalis 2543) | 86 | 88 | — | 3 | |
| 82 | LET’S PUT THE FUN BACK IN ROCK N ROLL Freddy Cannon & Belmonts (MiaSound 1002) | 89 | — | — | 2 | |
| 83 | I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU Chris Christian (Boardwalk 126) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 84 | DON’T GIVE IT UP Robbie Patton (Liberty 1420) | 69 | 58 | 51 | 13 | |
| 85 | ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM Andy Gibb & Victoria Principal (RSO 1065) | 72 | 65 | 59 | 8 | |
| 86 | NEVER TOO MUCH Luther Vandross (Epic 02409) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 87 | STILL John Schneider (Scotti Bros. 02489) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 88 | SHE DON’T LET NOBODY (But Me) Curtis Mayfield (Boardwalk 122) | 90 | — | — | 2 | |
| 89 | MAGIC POWER Triumph (RCA 12298) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 90 | IT’S ALL I CAN DO Anne Murray (Capitol 5023) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 91 | IT’S OVER Teddy Baker (Casablanca 2340) | 95 | — | — | 2 | |
| 92 | BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY Manhattan Transfer (Atlantic 3816) | 68 | 50 | 42 | 20 | |
| 93 | THE STROKE Billy Squier (Capitol 5005) | 75 | 67 | 64 | 21 | |
| 94 | SHAKE IT UP TONIGHT Cheryl Lynn (Columbia 02102) | 77 | 72 | 68 | 9 | |
| 95 | (Want You) BACK IN MY LIFE AGAIN Carpenters (A&M 2370) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 96 | FANCY FREE Oak Ridge Boys (MCA 51169) | 98 | — | — | 2 | |
| 97 | I DON’T NEED YOU Kenny Rogers (Liberty 1415) | 71 | 49 | 24 | 17 | |
| 98 | TEMPTED Squeeze (A&M 2345) | 78 | 70 | 65 | 11 | |
| 99 | DOUBLE DUTCH BUS Frankie Smith (WMOT 5356) | 79 | 74 | 71 | 19 | |
| 100 | EASY TO LOVE AGAIN Carole Bayer Sager (Boardwalk 118) | 80 | 76 | 79 | 5 | |
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