Popular Music from the 80s

The 1980s Billboard Music Charts – Top Hits

Popular Music from the Year 1980

*1   CALL ME
Blondie (#1, April)
*2 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (Part 2)
Pink Floyd (#1, March)
*3 MAGIC
Olivia Newton-John (#1, Aug)
*4 ROCK WITH YOU
Michael Jackson (#1, Jan)
*5 DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME
The Captain and Tennille (#1, Feb)
*6 CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE
Queen (#1, Feb)
*7 COMING UP (Live At Glasgow)/
COMING UP
Paul McCartney and Wings (#1, June)
*8 FUNKYTOWN
Lipps Inc. (#1, May)
*9 IT'S STILL ROCK & ROLL TO ME
Billy Joel (#1, July)
10 THE ROSE
Bette Midler (#3, June)
*11 ESCAPE (The Pina Colada Song)
Rupert Holmes (#1, Dec 1979)
12 CARS
Gary Numan (#9, June)
13 CRUSIN'
Smokey Robinson (#4, Feb)
14 WORKING MY WAY BACK TOYOU/FORGIVE ME GIRL (Medley)
The Spinners (#2, March)
15 LOST IN LOVE
Air Supply (#3, May)
16 LITTLE JEANNIE
Elton John (#3, July)
17 RIDE LIKE THE WIND
Christopher Cross (#2, April)
*18 UPSIDE DOWN
Diana Ross (#1, Sept)
*19 PLEASE DON'T GO
K.C. and the Sunshine Band (#1, Jan)
*20 BABE
Styx (#1, Dec 1979)

Popular Music from the Year 1981

*1   BETTE DAVIS EYES
Kim Carnes (#1, May)
*2 ENDLESS LOVE
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (#1, Aug)
*3 LADY
Kenny Rogers (#1, Nov 1980)
*4 (Just Like) STARTING OVER
John Lennon (#1, Dec 1980)
*5 JESSIE'S GIRL
Rick Springfield (#1, Aug)
*6 CELEBRATION
Kool and the Gang (#1, Feb)
*7 KISS ON MY LIST
Daryl Hall and John Oates (#1, April)
*8 I LOVE A RAINY NIGHT
Eddie Rabbitt (#1, Feb)
*9 9 TO 5
Dolly Parton (#1, Feb)
*10 KEEP ON LOVING YOU
REO Speedwagon (#1, March)
11 THE THEME FORM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (Believe It Or Not)
Joey Scarbury (#2, Aug)
*12 MORNING TRAIN (Nine To Five)
Sheena Easton (#1, May)
13 BEING WITH YOU
Smokey Robinson (#2, May)
14 QUEEN OF HEARTS
Juice Newton (#2, Sept)
*15 RAPTURE
Blondie (#1, March)
16 A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (Just Like You Do)
Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio (#4, June)
*17 THE TIDE IS HIGH
Blondie (#1, Jan)
18 JUST THE TWO OF US
Grover Wasington Jr. (with Bill Withers) (#2, May)
19 SLOW HAND
The Pointer Sisters (#2, Aug)
20 I LOVE YOU
The Climax Blues Band (#12, June)

Popular Music from the Year 1982

*1   PHYSICAL
Olivia Newton-John (MCA) (#1, Nov 1981)
*2 EYE OF THE TIGER
Survivor (Scotti Brothers) (#1, July)
*3 I LOVE ROCK 'N' ROLL
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Boardwalk) (#1, March)
*4 EBONY AND IVORY
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder (Columbia) (#1, May)
*5 CENTERFOLD
The J. Geils Band (EMI-America) (#1, Feb)
*6 DON'T YOU WANT ME
The Human League (A&M/Virgin) (#1, July)
*7 JACK AND DIANE
John Cougar (Mellencamp) (Riva) (#1, Oct)
8 HURTS SO GOOD
John Cougar (Mellencamp) (Riva) (#2, Aug)
*9 ABRACADABRA
The Steve Miller Band (Capitol) (#1, Sept)
*10 HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY
Chicago (Full Moon) (#1, Sept)
11. TAINTED LOVE/
WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO
Soft Cell (Sire) (#8, July)
*12 CHARIOTS OF FIRE - TITLES
Vangelis (Polydor) (#1, May)
13 HARDEN MY HEART
Quarterflash (Geffen) (#3, Feb)
14 ROSANNA
Toto (Columbia) (#2, July)
*15 I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (No Can Do)
Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) (#1, Jan)
16 867-5309/JENNY
Tommy Tutone (Columbia) (#4, May)
17 KEY LARGO
Bertie Higgins (Kat Family) (#8, April)
18 YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU
Melissa Manchester (Arista) (#5, Sept)
19 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU
Foreigner (Atlantic) (#2, Nov 1981)
20 DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS
Rick Springfield (RCA) (#2, May)

Popular Music from the Year 1983

*1   EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE
The Police (A&M) (#1, July)
*2 BILLIE JEAN
Michael Jackson (Epic) (#1, March)
*3 FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING
Irene Cara (Casablanca) (#1, May)
*4 DOWN UNDER
Men At Work (Columbia) (#1, Jan)
*5 BEAT IT
Michael Jackson (Epic) (#1, April)
*6 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
Bonnie Tyler (Colimbia) (#1, Oct)
*7 MANEATER
Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) (#1, Dec 1982)
*8 BABY COME TO ME
Patti Austin and James Ingram (Qwest) (#1, Feb)
*9 MANIAC
Michael Sembello (Casablanca) (#1, Sept)
*10 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This)
The Eurythmics (RCA) (#1, Sept)
11 DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME
Culture Club (Virgin) (#2, March)
12 YOU AND I
Eddie Rabbitt with Crystal Gayle (Elektra) (#7, Feb)
*13 COME ON EILEEN
Dexy's Midnight Runner's (Mercury) (#1, April)
14 SHAME ON THE MOON
Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol) (#2, Feb)
15 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY
Donna Summer (Mercury) (#3, Aug)
16 NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO
Sergio Mendes (A&M) (#4, July)
17 HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
Duran Duran (Capitol) (#3, March)
*18 LET'S DANCE
David Bowie (EMI-America) (#1, May)
19 TWILIGHT ZONE
Golden Earring (21 Records) (#10, March)
20 I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON
Frida (Atlantic) (#13, March)

Popular Music from the Year 1984

*1   WHEN DOVES CRY
Prince and the Revolution (Warner Brothers) (#1, July)
*2 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
Tina Turner (Capitol) (#1, Sept)
*3 SAY, SAY, SAY
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (#1, Dec 1983)
*4 FOOTLOOSE
Kenny Loggins (Columbia) (#1, March)
*5 AGAINST ALL ODDS (Take a Look at Me Now)
Phil Collins (Atlantic) (#1, April)
*6 JUMP
Van Halen (Warner Brothers) (#1, Feb)
*7 HELLO
Lionel Richie (#1, May)
*8 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART
Yes (Atco) (#1, Jan)
*9 GHOSTBUSTERS
Ray Parker Jr. (Arista) (#1, Aug)
*10 KARMA CHAMELEON
Culture Club (Virgin) (#1, Feb)
*11 MISSING YOU
John Waite (EMI-America) (#1, Sept)
*12 ALL NIGHT LONG (All Night)
Lionel Richie (Motown) (#1, Nov 1983)
*13 LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY
Denise Williams (Columbia) (#1, May)
14 DANCING IN THE DARK
Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) (#2, June)
15 GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
Cyndi Lauper (Portrait) (#2, March)
*16 THE REFLEX
Duran Duran (Capitol) (#1, June)
*17 TIME AFTER TIME
Cyndi Lauper (Portrait) (#1, June)
18 JUMP (For My Love)
The Pointer Sisters (Planet) (#3, July)
19 TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP
The Romantics (Nemporer) (#3, Jan)
20 SELF CONTROL
Laura Branigan (Atlantic) (#4, June)

Popular Music from the Year 1985

*1   CARELESS WHISPER
Wham! Featuring George Michael (Columbia) (#1, Feb)
*2 LIKE A VIRGIN
Madonna (Sire) (#1, Dec 1984)
*3 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO
Wham! (Columbia) (#1, Nov 1984)
*4 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
Foreigner (Atlantic) (#1, Feb)
5 I FEEL FOR YOU
Chaka Khan (Warner Brothers) (#3, Nov 1984)
*6 OUT OF TOUCH
Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA) (#1, Dec 1984)
*7 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD
Tears For Fears (Mercury) (#1, June)
*8 MONEY FOR NOTHING
Dire Straits (Warner Brothers) (#1, Sept)
*9 CRAZY FOR YOU
Madonna (Sire) (#1, May)
*10 TAKE ON ME
A-Ha (Warner Brothers) (#1, Oct)
*11 EVERYTIME YOU GO AWAY
Paul Young (Columbia) (#1, July)
12 EASY LOVER
Philip Bailey with Phil Collins (Columbia) (#2, Feb)
*13 CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING
REO Speedwagon (Epic) (#1, March)
*14 WE BUILT THIS CITY
Starship (Grunt) (#1, Nov)
*15 THE POWER OF LOVE
Huey Lewis and the News (Chysalis) (#1, Aug)
*16 DON'T YOU (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds (A&M) (#1, May)
17 CHERISH
Kool and the Gang (De-Lite) (#2, Sept)
*18 ST. ELMO'S FIRE (Man In Motion)
John Parr (Atlantic) (#1, Sept)
19 THE HEAT IS ON
Glenn Frey (MCA) (#2, March)
*20 WE ARE THE WORLD
USA For Africa (Columbia) (#1, April)

Popular Music from the Year 1986

*1   THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
Dionne and Friends (Arista) (#1, Jan)
*2 SAY YOU, SAY ME
Lionel Richie (Motown) (#1, Dec 1985)
3 I MISS YOU
Klymaxx (Constellation) (#5, Dec 1985)
*4 ON MY OWN
Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald (MCA) (#1, June)
*5 BROKEN WINGS
Mr. Mister (MCA) (#1, Dec 1985)
*6 HOW WILL I KNOW
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, Feb)
7 PARTY ALL THE TIME
Eddie Murphy (Columbia) (#2, Dec 1985)
8 BURNING HEART
Survivor (Scotti Brothers) (#2, Feb)
*9 KYRIE
Mr. Mister (MCA) (#1, March)
*10 ADDICTED TO LOVE
Robert Palmer (Island) (#1, May)
*11 GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, May)
12 SECRET LOVERS
Atlantic Starr (A&M) (#3, March)
13 FRIENDS AND LOVERS
Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson (USA Carrere) (#2, Sept)
*14 GLORY OF LOVE
Peter Cetera (Warner Brothers) (#1, Aug)
*15 WEST END GIRLS
The Pet Shop Boys (EMI-America) (#1, May)
*16 THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS (To Make You Cry)
Billy Ocean (Jive) (#1, July)
17 ALIVE AND KICKING
Simple Minds (Virgin) (#3, Dec 1985)
18 NEVER
Heart (Capitol) (#4, Dec 1985)
*19 KISS
Prince and the Revolution (Paisley Park) (#1, April)
*20 HIGHER LOVE
Steve Winwood (Island) (#1, Aug)

Popular Music from the Year 1987

*1   WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
The Bangles (Columbia) (#1, Dec 1986)
*2 ALONE
Heart (Capitol) (#1, July)
*3 SHAKE YOU DOWN
Gregory Abbott (Columbia) (#1, Jan)
*4 I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, June)
*5 NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW
Starship (Grunt) (#1, April)
6 C'EST LA VIE
Robbie Nevil (EMI-Manhattan) (#2, Jan)
*7 HERE I GO AGAIN
Whitesnake (Geffen) (#1, Oct)
*8 THE WAY IT IS
Bruce Hornsby and the Range (RCA) (#1, Dec 1986)
*9 SHAKEDOWN
Bob Segar (MCA) (#1, Aug)
*10 LIVIN' ON A PRAYER
Bon Jovi (Mercury) (#1, Feb)
*11 LA BAMBA
Los Lobos (Slash) (#1, Aug)
12 EVERYBODY HAVE FUN TONIGHT
Wang Chung (Geffen) (#2, Dec 1986)
13 DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER
Crowded House (Capitol) (#2, April)
*14 ALWAYS
Atlantic Starr (Warner Brothers) (#1, June)
*15 WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
U2 (Island) (#1, May)
16 LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE
Jody Wately (MCA) (#2, May)
*17 HEAD TO TOE
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam (Columbia) (#1, June)
*18 I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW
Tiffany (MCA) (#1, Nov)
*19 MONY MONY "LIVE"
Billy Idol (Chrysalis) (#1, Nov)
*20 AT THIS MOMENT
Billy Vera and the Beatlers (Rhino) (#1, Jan)

Popular Music from the Year 1988

*1   FAITH
George Michael (Columbia) (#1, Dec 1987)
*2 NEED YOU TONIGHT
INXS (Atlantic) (#1, Jan)
*3 GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU
George Harrison (Dark Horse) (#1, Jan)
*4 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
Rick Astley (RCA) (#1, March)
*5 SWEET CHILD O' MINE
Guns N' Roses (Geffen) (#1, Sept)
*6 SO EMOTIONAL
Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, Jan)
*7 HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH
Belinda Carlisle (MCA) (#1, Dec 1987)
*8 COULD'VE BEEN
Tiffany (MCA) (#1, Feb)
9 HANDS TO HEAVEN
Breathe (A&M) (#2, Aug)
*10 ROLL WITH IT
Steve Winwood (Virgin) (#1, July)
*11 ONE MORE TRY
George Michael (Columbia) (#1, May)
*12 WISHING WELL
Terence Trent D'Arby (Columbia) (#1, May)
*13 ANYTHING FOR YOU
Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine (Epic) (#1, May)
*14 THE FLAME
Cheap Trick (Epic) (#1, July)
*15 GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR
Billy Ocean (Jive) (#1, April)
*16 SEASONS CHANGE
Expose (Arista) (#1, Feb)
17 IS THIS LOVE
Whitesnake (Geffen) (#2, Dec 1987)
*18 WILD, WILD WEST
The Escape Club (Atlantic) (#1, Nov)
19 POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME
Def Leppard (Mercury) (#2, July)
20 I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
Taylor Dayne (Arista) (#3, Sept)

Popular Music from the Year 1989

*1   LOOK AWAY
Chicago (Reprise) (#1, Dec 1988)
*2 MY PEROGATIVE
Bobby Brown (MCA) (#1, Jan)
*3 EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN
Poison (Enigma) (#1, Dec 1988)
*4 STRAIGHT UP
Paula Abdul (Virgin) (#1, Feb)
*5 MISS YOU MUCH
Janet Jackson (A&M) (#1, Oct)
*6 COLD HEARTED
Paula Abdul (Virgin) (#1, Sept)
*7 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS
Bette Midler (Atlantic) (#1, June)
8 GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE
Milli Vanelli (Arista) (#2, April)
*9 BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY/FREEBIRD MEDLEY (Free Baby)
Will To Power (Epic) (#1, Dec 1988)
10 GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT
Anita Baker (Elektra) (#3, Dec 1988)
*11 RIGHT HERE WAITING
Richard Marx (EMI) (#1, Aug)
12 WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL
Boy Meets Girl (RCA) (#5, Dec 1988)
*13 LOST IN YOUR EYES
Debbie Gibson (Atlantic) (#1, March)
*14 DON'T WANNA LOSE YOU
Gloria Estefan (Epic) (#1, Sept)
15 HEAVEN
Warrant (Columbia) (#2, Sept)
*16 GIRL I'M GONNA MISS YOU
Milli Vanelli (Arista) (#1, Sept)
*17 THE LOOK
Roxette (EMI) (#1, April)
*18 SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY
Fine Young Cannibals (I.R.S.) (#1, April)
19 ON OUR OWN
Bobby Brown (MCA) (#2, Aug)
*20 TWO HEARTS
Phil Collins (Atlantic) (#1, Jan)