| CASH BOX Top 100 Singles | ||||||
| Green square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending OCTOBER 17, 1981 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | ARTHUR’S THEME (Best That You Can Do) Christopher Cross (Warner Bros. 49787) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | |
| 2 | ENDLESS LOVE Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Motown 1519) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | |
| 3 | WHO’S CRYING NOW Journey (Columbia 02241) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 14 | |
| 4 | FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Sheena Easton (Liberty 1418) | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | |
| 5 | STEP BY STEP Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra 47174) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 13 | |
| 6 | QUEEN OF HEARTS Juice Newton (Capitol 4997) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 21 | |
| 7 | PRIVATE EYES Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA 12296) | 10 | 12 | 14 | 8 | |
| 8 | START ME UP Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones 21003) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | |
| 9 | STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty & Heartbreakers) (Modern 7336) | 7 | 5 | 4 | 13 | |
| 10 | HOLD ON TIGHT Electric Light Orchestra (Jet 02408) | 8 | 8 | 9 | 13 | |
| 11 | HARD TO SAY Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon/Epic 02488) | 13 | 19 | 23 | 8 | |
| 12 | THE NIGHT OWLS Little River Band (Capitol 5033) | 15 | 18 | 20 | 9 | |
| 13 | TRYIN’ TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU Bob Seger (Capitol 5042) | 21 | 29 | 34 | 6 | |
| 14 | I COULD NEVER MISS YOU (More Than I Do) Lulu (Alfa 7006) | 14 | 16 | 18 | 12 | |
| 15 | WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. 49746) | 17 | 20 | 27 | 12 | |
| 16 | SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME Kenny Rogers (Liberty 1430) | 18 | 21 | 29 | 7 | |
| 17 | JUST ONCE Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram (A&M 2357) | 19 | 22 | 30 | 10 | |
| 18 | I’VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU Rick Springfield (RCA 12166) | 24 | 27 | 32 | 9 | |
| 19 | WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL Four Tops (Casablanca 2338) | 23 | 26 | 33 | 9 | |
| 20 | SUPER FREAK (pt. 1) Rick James (Gordy 7205) | 22 | 24 | 26 | 11 | |
| 21 | THE BEACH BOYS MEDLEY Beach Boys (Capitol 5030) | 11 | 9 | 8 | 13 | |
| 22 | URGENT Foreigner (Atlantic 3831) | 16 | 13 | 12 | 16 | |
| 23 | EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC Police (A&M 2371) | 31 | 43 | 64 | 4 | |
| 24 | SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD Billy Joel (Columbia 02518) | 27 | 32 | 40 | 6 | |
| 25 | SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) Carl Carlton (20th Century Fox 2488) | 28 | 34 | 39 | 9 | |
| 26 | THE VOICE Moody Blues (Threshold 602) | 20 | 15 | 15 | 11 | |
| 27 | THE THEME FROM HILL STREET BLUES Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton (Elektra 47186) | 30 | 36 | 44 | 9 | |
| 28 | HERE I AM (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) Air Supply (Arista 0626) | 32 | 40 | 55 | 5 | |
| 29 | SLOW HAND Pointer Sisters (Planet 47929) | 12 | 11 | 6 | 21 | |
| 30 | HE’S A LIAR Bee Gees (RSO 1066) | 34 | 45 | 66 | 4 | |
| 31 | ATLANTA LADY (Something About Your Love) Marty Balin (EMI America 8093) | 35 | 41 | 52 | 6 | |
| 32 | OH NO Commodores (Motown 1527) | 40 | 48 | 65 | 5 | |
| 33 | ALIEN Atlanta Rhythm Section (Columbia 02471) | 37 | 42 | 47 | 8 | |
| 34 | BURNIN’ FOR YOU Blue Oyster Cult (Columbia 02415) | 36 | 39 | 43 | 10 | |
| 35 | (There’s) NO GETTIN’ OVER ME Ronnie Milsap (RCA 12264) | 25 | 14 | 13 | 17 | |
| 36 | PHYSICAL Olivia Newton-John (MCA 51182) | 49 | 67 | — | 3 | |
| 37 | SAUSALITO SUMMERNIGHT Diesel (Regency 7339) | 42 | 49 | 59 | 6 | |
| 38 | WORKING IN THE COAL MINE Devo (Full Moon/Asylum 47204) | 41 | 47 | 54 | 7 | |
| 39 | GENERAL HOSPI-TALE Afternoon Delights (MCA 51148) | 33 | 31 | 31 | 13 | |
| 40 | YOU SAVED MY SOUL Burton Cummings (Alfa 7008) | 45 | 52 | 60 | 6 | |
| 41 | BREAKING AWAY Balance (Portrait 02177) | 29 | 23 | 24 | 15 | |
| 42 | WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU Foreigner (Atlantic 3868) | 57 | — | — | 2 | |
| 43 | OUR LIPS ARE SEALED Go-Go’s (I.R.S. 9901) | 47 | 51 | 57 | 8 | |
| 44 | HEAVY METAL (Takin’ A Ride) Don Felder (Full Moon/Epic 47175) | 46 | 50 | 56 | 13 | |
| 45 | LADY (You Bring Me Up) Commodores (Motown 1514) | 26 | 17 | 16 | 18 | |
| 46 | PROMISES IN THE DARK Pat Benatar (Chrysalis 2555) | 53 | 73 | — | 3 | |
| 47 | IN THE DARK Billy Squier (Capitol 5040) | 51 | 57 | 62 | 6 | |
| 48 | IN YOUR LETTER REO Speedwagon (Epic 02457) | 38 | 28 | 28 | 11 | |
| 49 | THE OLD SONGS Barry Manilow (Arista 0633) | 67 | — | — | 2 | |
| 50 | MY GIRL (Gone, Gone, Gone) Chilliwack (Millennium 11813) | 56 | 72 | 83 | 4 | |
| 51 | LOVE ALL THE HURT AWAY Aretha Franklin & George Benson (Arista 0624) | 44 | 46 | 51 | 8 | |
| 52 | DRAW OF THE CARDS Kim Carnes (EMI America 8087) | 39 | 25 | 25 | 11 | |
| 53 | LET’S GROOVE Earth, Wind & Fire (ARC 02536) | 64 | 79 | — | 3 | |
| 54 | NO REPLY AT ALL Genesis (Atlantic 3858) | 62 | 71 | 81 | 4 | |
| 55 | STAY AWAKE Ronnie Laws (Liberty 1424) | 60 | 69 | 76 | 7 | |
| 56 | FEELS SO RIGHT Alabama (RCA 12236) | 48 | 38 | 35 | 19 | |
| 57 | COOL LOVE Pablo Cruise (A&M 2349) | 43 | 33 | 22 | 16 | |
| 58 | NEVER TOO MUCH Luther Vandross (Epic 02409) | 73 | 86 | — | 3 | |
| 59 | A LUCKY GUY Rickie Lee Jones (Warner Bros. 49816) | 66 | 75 | 84 | 4 | |
| 60 | MORE STARS Stars On 45 (Radio 3863) | 63 | 70 | 74 | 5 | |
| 61 | REALLY WANNA KNOW YOU Gary Wright (Warner Bros. 49769) | 50 | 30 | 21 | 16 | |
| 62 | JESSIE’S GIRL Rick Springfield (RCA 12201) | 52 | 35 | 19 | 30 | |
| 63 | WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE Diana Ross (RCA 12349) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 64 | I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU Chris Christian (Boardwalk 126) | 72 | 83 | — | 3 | |
| 65 | FIRE IN THE SKY Dirt Band (Liberty 1429) | 69 | 76 | 87 | 4 | |
| 66 | YOU COULD TAKE MY HEART AWAY Silver Condor (Columbia 02268) | 55 | 44 | 38 | 13 | |
| 67 | YOUNG TURKS Rod Stewart (Warner Bros. 49843) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 68 | BACKFIRED Debbie Harry (Chrysalis 2526) | 58 | 53 | 42 | 10 | |
| 69 | THE BREAKUP SONG (They Don’t Write ’Em) Greg Kihn Band (Beserkley 47149) | 59 | 55 | 46 | 22 | |
| 70 | ONE MORE NIGHT Streek (Columbia 02529) | 78 | — | — | 2 | |
| 71 | MAGIC POWER Triumph (RCA 12298) | 79 | 89 | — | 3 | |
| 72 | IT’S ALL I CAN DO Anne Murray (Capitol 5023) | 80 | 90 | — | 3 | |
| 73 | TAKE MY HEART (You Can Have It If You Want It) Kool & Gang (De-Lite 815) | 82 | — | — | 2 | |
| 74 | WIRED FOR SOUND Cliff Richard (EMI America 8095) | 83 | — | — | 2 | |
| 75 | WHEN SHE DANCES Joey Scarbury (Elektra 47201) | 84 | — | — | 2 | |
| 76 | STILL John Schneider (Scotti Bros. 02489) | 77 | 87 | — | 3 | |
| 77 | LET’S PUT THE FUN BACK IN ROCK N ROLL Freddy Cannon & Belmonts (MiaSound 1002) | 81 | 82 | 89 | 4 | |
| 78 | (Want You) BACK IN MY LIFE AGAIN Carpenters (A&M 2370) | 87 | 95 | — | 3 | |
| 79 | I SURRENDER Arlan Day (Pasha 02480) | 88 | — | — | 2 | |
| 80 | HARDEN MY HEART Quarterflash (Geffen 49824) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 81 | STEAL THE NIGHT Stevie Woods (Cotillion 46016) | 89 | — | — | 2 | |
| 82 | RUN TO ME Savoy Brown (Town House 1055) | 90 | — | — | 2 | |
| 83 | TAKE ME NOW David Gates (Arista 0615) | 85 | — | — | 2 | |
| 84 | IT’S OVER Teddy Baker (Casablanca 2340) | 86 | 91 | 95 | 4 | |
| 85 | THE SWEETEST THING (I’ve Ever Known) Juice Newton (Capitol 5046) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 86 | POOR MAN’S SON Survivor (Scotti Bros. 02560) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 87 | ELVIRA Oak Ridge Boys (MCA 51084) | 61 | 54 | 41 | 24 | |
| 88 | BET YOUR HEART ON ME Johnny Lee (Full Moon/Asylum 47215) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 89 | SILLY Deniece Williams (ARC 02406) | 68 | 64 | 61 | 10 | |
| 90 | NO TIME TO LOSE Tarney/Spencer Band (A&M 2366) | 74 | 77 | 82 | 12 | |
| 91 | A HEART IN NEW YORK Art Garfunkel (Columbia 02307) | 71 | 65 | 58 | 11 | |
| 92 | STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART Allman Brothers Band (Arista 0618) | 65 | 56 | 45 | 12 | |
| 93 | THEME FROM “GREATEST AMERICAN HERO” (Believe It Or Not) Joey Scarbury (Elektra 47147) | 54 | 37 | 17 | 23 | |
| 94 | BEIN’ HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT Gene Cotton (Knoll 5001) | 96 | — | — | 2 | |
| 95 | LEILA ZZ Top (Warner Bros. 49782) | 76 | 80 | 88 | 4 | |
| 96 | AIMING AT YOUR HEART Temptations (Gordy 7208) | 75 | 78 | 85 | 4 | |
| 97 | I’M IN LOVE Evelyn King (RCA 12243) | 70 | 61 | 49 | 13 | |
| 98 | YOU DON’T KNOW ME Mickey Gilley (Epic 02172) | 92 | 68 | 67 | 15 | |
| 99 | MONY MONY Billy Idol (Chrysalis 2543) | 91 | 81 | 86 | 5 | |
| 100 | FANCY FREE Oak Ridge Boys (MCA 51169) | 95 | 96 | 98 | 4 | |
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