| CASH BOX Top 100 Singles | ||||||
| Green square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending DECEMBER 5, 1981 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | PHYSICAL Olivia Newton-John (MCA 51182) | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | |
| 2 | WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU Foreigner (Atlantic 3868) | 3 | 4 | 12 | 9 | |
| 3 | PRIVATE EYES Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA 12296) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 15 | |
| 4 | OH NO Commodores (Motown 1527) | 7 | 8 | 15 | 12 | |
| 5 | HERE I AM (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) Air Supply (Arista 0626) | 5 | 7 | 14 | 12 | |
| 6 | LET’S GROOVE Earth, Wind & Fire (ARC 02536) | 13 | 17 | 26 | 10 | |
| 7 | EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC Police (A&M 2371) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | |
| 8 | YOUNG TURKS Rod Stewart (Warner Bros. 49843) | 9 | 15 | 20 | 8 | |
| 9 | WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE Diana Ross (RCA 12349) | 10 | 14 | 19 | 8 | |
| 10 | START ME UP Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones 21003) | 6 | 5 | 4 | 16 | |
| 11 | ARTHUR’S THEME (Best That You Can Do) Christopher Cross (Warner Bros. 49787) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |
| 12 | THE NIGHT OWLS Little River Band (Capitol 5033) | 11 | 10 | 7 | 16 | |
| 13 | DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ Journey (Columbia 02567) | 17 | 25 | 34 | 6 | |
| 14 | HARDEN MY HEART Quarterflash (Geffen 49824) | 18 | 23 | 29 | 8 | |
| 15 | TROUBLE Lindsey Buckingham (Asylum 47223) | 19 | 22 | 28 | 7 | |
| 16 | THE OLD SONGS Barry Manilow (Arista 0633) | 16 | 18 | 21 | 9 | |
| 17 | YESTERDAY’S SONGS Neil Diamond (Columbia 02604) | 20 | 24 | 32 | 5 | |
| 18 | I CAN’T GO FOR THAT (No Can Do) Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA 12357) | 22 | 39 | 60 | 4 | |
| 19 | COMIN’ IN AND OUT OF YOUR LIFE Barbra Streisand (Columbia 02621) | 23 | 42 | 65 | 4 | |
| 20 | TURN YOUR LOVE AROUND George Benson (Warner Bros. 49846) | 30 | 34 | 45 | 7 | |
| 21 | LEATHER AND LACE Stevie Nicks (with Don Henley) (Modern 7341) | 24 | 29 | 36 | 7 | |
| 22 | MY GIRL (Gone, Gone, Gone) Chilliwack (Millennium 11813) | 25 | 27 | 30 | 11 | |
| 23 | OUR LIPS ARE SEALED Go-Go’s (I.R.S. 9901) | 26 | 28 | 31 | 15 | |
| 24 | TAKE MY HEART (You Can Have It If You Want It) Kool & Gang (De-Lite 815) | 27 | 32 | 39 | 9 | |
| 25 | HOOKED ON CLASSICS Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Louis Clark) (RCA 12304) | 33 | 43 | 59 | 6 | |
| 26 | THE SWEETEST THING (I’ve Ever Known) Juice Newton (Capitol 5046) | 32 | 36 | 43 | 8 | |
| 27 | NEVER TOO MUCH Luther Vandross (Epic 02409) | 28 | 30 | 33 | 10 | |
| 28 | NO REPLY AT ALL Genesis (Atlantic 3858) | 29 | 31 | 35 | 11 | |
| 29 | HEART LIKE A WHEEL Steve Miller Band (Capitol 5068) | 31 | 35 | 41 | 6 | |
| 30 | CENTERFOLD J. Geils Band (EMI America 8102) | 34 | 45 | 55 | 5 | |
| 31 | JUST ONCE Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram (A&M 2357) | 21 | 19 | 13 | 17 | |
| 32 | UNDER PRESSURE Queen & David Bowie (Elektra 47235) | 35 | 41 | 66 | 5 | |
| 33 | SOMEONE COULD LOSE A HEART TONIGHT Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra 47239) | 43 | 62 | 82 | 4 | |
| 34 | COOL NIGHT Paul Davis (Arista 0645) | 41 | 55 | 73 | 5 | |
| 35 | I WOULDN’T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD Ronnie Milsap (RCA 12342) | 39 | 46 | 56 | 7 | |
| 36 | I’VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU Rick Springfield (RCA 12166) | 12 | 11 | 9 | 16 | |
| 37 | THE THEME FROM HILL STREET BLUES Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton (Elektra 47186) | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | |
| 38 | TWILIGHT Electric Light Orchestra (Jet 02559) | 40 | 44 | 52 | 7 | |
| 39 | SHAKE IT UP Cars (Elektra 47250) | 52 | 77 | — | 3 | |
| 40 | WRACK MY BRAIN Ringo Starr (Boardwalk 130) | 44 | 51 | 64 | 5 | |
| 41 | WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL Four Tops (Casablanca 2338) | 14 | 12 | 10 | 16 | |
| 42 | STEAL THE NIGHT Stevie Woods (Cotillion 46016) | 45 | 50 | 53 | 9 | |
| 43 | CASTLES IN THE AIR Don McLean (Millennium 11819) | 47 | 54 | 62 | 7 | |
| 44 | LIVING EYES Bee Gees (RSO 1067) | 48 | 53 | 68 | 5 | |
| 45 | SUPER FREAK (pt. 1) Rick James (Gordy 7205) | 42 | 33 | 22 | 18 | |
| 46 | SAUSALITO SUMMERNIGHT Diesel (Regency 7339) | 37 | 26 | 27 | 13 | |
| 47 | ENDLESS LOVE Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Motown 1519) | 38 | 6 | 3 | 23 | |
| 48 | POOR MAN’S SON Survivor (Scotti Bros. 02560) | 50 | 52 | 57 | 8 | |
| 49 | WAITING ON A FRIEND Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones 21004) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 50 | SHE’S GOT A WAY Billy Joel (Columbia 02628) | 62 | 82 | — | 3 | |
| 51 | I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU Chris Christian (Boardwalk 126) | 36 | 38 | 40 | 10 | |
| 52 | COME GO WITH ME Beach Boys (Caribou 02633) | 69 | 86 | — | 3 | |
| 53 | MAGIC POWER Triumph (RCA 12298) | 46 | 47 | 49 | 10 | |
| 54 | WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND Loverboy (Columbia 02589) | 59 | 71 | 85 | 4 | |
| 55 | FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Sheena Easton (Liberty 1418) | 51 | 13 | 5 | 20 | |
| 56 | TRYIN’ TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU Bob Seger (Capitol 5042) | 49 | 20 | 8 | 13 | |
| 57 | YOU COULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME Sheena Easton (EMI America 8101) | 77 | — | — | 2 | |
| 58 | LET ME LOVE YOU ONCE Greg Lake (Chrysalis 2571) | 68 | 83 | — | 3 | |
| 59 | MORE THAN JUST THE TWO OF US Sneaker (Handshake 02557) | 64 | 75 | 87 | 4 | |
| 60 | TALKING OUT OF TURN Moody Blues (Threshold 603) | 60 | 67 | 79 | 5 | |
| 61 | KEY LARGO Bertie Higgins (Kat Family 02524) | 71 | 80 | 89 | 5 | |
| 62 | SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) Carl Carlton (20th Century Fox 2488) | 54 | 48 | 37 | 16 | |
| 63 | WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. 49746) | 57 | 37 | 23 | 19 | |
| 64 | PROMISES IN THE DARK Pat Benatar (Chrysalis 2555) | 56 | 49 | 42 | 10 | |
| 65 | STEP BY STEP Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra 47174) | 53 | 21 | 16 | 20 | |
| 66 | IF I WERE YOU Lulu (Alfa 7011) | 76 | 84 | — | 3 | |
| 67 | HARD TO SAY Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon/Epic 02488) | 55 | 40 | 18 | 15 | |
| 68 | YOU SAVED MY SOUL Burton Cummings (Alfa 7008) | 61 | 57 | 38 | 13 | |
| 69 | MY KINDA LOVER Billy Squier (Capitol 5037) | 80 | 88 | — | 3 | |
| 70 | BLAZE OF GLORY Kenny Rogers (Liberty 1441) | 79 | 89 | — | 3 | |
| 71 | SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD Billy Joel (Columbia 02518) | 58 | 56 | 24 | 13 | |
| 72 | CONTROVERSY Prince (Warner Bros. 49808) | 75 | 78 | 84 | 7 | |
| 73 | SWEET MERILEE Donnie Iris (MCA/Caurosel 51198) | 65 | 65 | 71 | 6 | |
| 74 | LEADER OF THE BAND Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon/Epic 02647) | 86 | — | — | 2 | |
| 75 | I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (pt. 1) Roger (Warner Bros. 49786) | 78 | 81 | 86 | 7 | |
| 76 | LOVE IS ALRIGHT TONITE Rick Springfield (RCA 13008) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 77 | TAKE IT EASY ON ME Little River Band (Capitol 5057) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 78 | FALLING IN LOVE Balance (Portrait 02608) | 85 | — | — | 2 | |
| 79 | LOVE IN THE FIRST DEGREE Alabama (RCA 12288) | 89 | — | — | 2 | |
| 80 | ANYONE CAN SEE Irene Cara (Network 47950) | 88 | — | — | 2 | |
| 81 | BREAKIN’ AWAY Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. 49842) | 84 | — | — | 2 | |
| 82 | I’M JUST TOO SHY Jermaine Jackson (Motown 1525) | 74 | 68 | 70 | 6 | |
| 83 | ATLANTA LADY (Something About Your Love) Marty Balin (EMI America 8093) | 63 | 58 | 44 | 13 | |
| 84 | THE COWBOY AND THE LADY John Denver (RCA 12345) | 66 | 66 | 72 | 6 | |
| 85 | LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU Tierra (Boardwalk 129) | 72 | 64 | 67 | 7 | |
| 86 | SEA OF LOVE Del Shannon (Network 47951) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 87 | IN THE DARK Billy Squier (Capitol 5040) | 67 | 60 | 46 | 13 | |
| 88 | LITTLE DARLIN’ Sheila (Carrere 02564) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 89 | CLOSER TO THE HEART Rush (Mercury 76124) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 90 | WKRP IN CINCINNATI Steve Carlisle (MCA 51205) | 91 | 93 | — | 3 | |
| 91 | WHO’S CRYING NOW Journey (Columbia 02241) | 70 | 59 | 25 | 21 | |
| 92 | IT’S MY PARTY Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (Platinum 4) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 93 | PAY THE DEVIL (Ooo, Baby, Ooo) Knack (Capitol 5054) | 81 | 69 | 69 | 6 | |
| 94 | MISTAKEN IDENTITY Kim Carnes (EMI America 8098) | 73 | 63 | 63 | 7 | |
| 95 | WORKING IN THE COAL MINE Devo (Full Moon/Asylum 47204) | 82 | 70 | 58 | 14 | |
| 96 | BET YOUR HEART ON ME Johnny Lee (Full Moon/Asylum 47215) | 87 | 72 | 61 | 8 | |
| 97 | BURNIN’ FOR YOU Blue Oyster Cult (Columbia 02415) | 92 | 76 | 51 | 17 | |
| 98 | ALIEN Atlanta Rhythm Section (Columbia 02471) | 90 | 73 | 47 | 15 | |
| 99 | ONE MORE NIGHT Streek (Columbia 02529) | 83 | 61 | 54 | 9 | |
| 100 | QUEEN OF HEARTS Juice Newton (Capitol 4997) | 94 | 79 | 50 | 28 | |
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