1981 - Your complete When It Was Cool Guide to the year 1981 in pop-culture, music, and more.
By: Karl Stern
I turned ten years old in 1981. These extensive "Year in Review" articles are meant to be guides to the greatest years of When It Was Cool retro pop-culture. But please remember, we need your help to keep our website going so consider helping us out on Patreon.
Major Events that Happened in 1981:
01-19-1981: The Iran hostages are released ending a tense season of political turmoil between the United States and Iran. The next day Ronald Reagan is sworn in as President of the United States of American having been elected in 1980.
01-25-1981: Quarterback Jim Plunkett leads the Oakland Raiders to a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at the NFL Super Bowl XV at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
03-20-1980: John Hinkley, Jr. attempts to assassinate President Ronald Reagan by shooting him. Reagan is injured but survives. Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady are injured.
04-12-1981: The Space Shuttle Columbia launches, orbits Earth, and returns two days later becoming the first successful reusable space craft and beginning the space shuttle era for NASA. The Columbia Space Shuttle would be used until 2003 when it disintegrated reentering the atmosphere killing all on board.
05-11-1981: Reggae singer and Jamaican icon Bob Marley dies at age 36 of cancer.
05-13-1981: There is an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in Vatican City by a Turkish gunman. The Pope recovers from the shooting.
06-12-1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones debuts in theaters.
07-09-1981: Donkey Kong, an arcade game, is released. It is the first of many video games to feature the character of Mario.
07-29-1981: The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana is seen by around 700 million people world wide on television.
08-01-1981: MTV (Music Television) is launched.
09-17-1981: Ric Flair wins his first of around 20 World heavyweight championships in pro wrestling by defeating Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World heavyweight title in Kansas City, MO. Check out our full history of the year 1981 in pro wrestling in the DragonKingKarl Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling Zone - 1981.
12-11-1981: Muhammad Ali fights for the last time, losing to Trevor Berbick.
The Billboard Top 100 Songs of 1981
1 "Bette Davis Eyes” - Kim Carnes
2 "Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
3 "Lady" - Kenny Rogers
4 "(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon
5 "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield
6 "Celebration" - Kool & the Gang
7 "Kiss on My List" - Hall & Oates
8 "I Love a Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt
9 "9 To 5" - Dolly Parton
10 "Keep on Loving You" - REO Speedwagon
11 "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)" - Joey Scarbury
12 "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" - Sheena Easton
13 "Being with You" - Smokey Robinson
14 "Queen of Hearts" - Juice Newton
15 "Rapture” - Blondie
16 "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)" - Raydio
17 "The Tide Is High" - Blondie
18 "Just the Two of Us" - Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers
19 "Slow Hand" - The Pointer Sisters
20 "I Love You" - Climax Blues Band
21 "Woman" - John Lennon
22 "Sukiyaki" - A Taste of Honey
23 "The Winner Takes It All" - ABBA
24 "Stars on 45 Medley" - Stars on 45
25 "Angel of the Morning" - Juice Newton
26 "Love on the Rocks" - Neil Diamond
27 "Every Woman in the World" - Air Supply
28 "The One That You Love" - Air Supply
29 "Guilty" - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
30 "The Best of Times" - Styx
31 "Elvira" - The Oak Ridge Boys
32 "Take It on the Run" - REO Speedwagon
33 "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" - Ronnie Milsap
34 "Living Inside Myself" - Gino Vannelli
35 "Woman in Love" - Barbra Streisand
36 "The Boy from New York City" - The Manhattan Transfer
37 "Urgent" - Foreigner
38 "Passion" - Rod Stewart
39 "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" - Commodores
40 "Crying" - Don McLean
41 "Hearts" - Marty Balin
42 "It's My Turn" - Diana Ross
43 "You Make My Dreams" - Hall & Oates
44 "I Don't Need You" - Kenny Rogers
45 "How 'Bout Us" - Champaign
46 "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
47 "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" - The Greg Kihn Band
48 "Time" - Alan Parsons Project
49 "Hungry Heart" - Bruce Springsteen
50 "Sweetheart" - Franke and the Knockouts
51 "Somebody's Knockin'" - Terri Gibbs
52 "More Than I Can Say" - Leo Sayer
53 "Together" - Tierra
54 "Too Much Time on My Hands" - Styx
55 "What Are We Doin' in Love" - Dottie West & Kenny Rogers
56 "Who's Crying Now" - Journey
57 "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" - The Police
58 "This Little Girl" - Gary U.S. Bonds
59 "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" - Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty
60 "Giving It Up for Your Love" - Delbert McClinton
61 "A Little in Love" - Cliff Richard
62 "America" - Neil Diamond
63 "Ain't Even Done With The Night" - John Cougar
64 "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" - Christopher Cross
65 "Another One Bites the Dust" - Queen
66 "Games People Play" - The Alan Parsons Project
67 "I Can't Stand It" - Eric Clapton
68 "While You See a Chance" - Steve Winwood
69 "Master Blaster (Jammin')" - Stevie Wonder
70 "Hello Again" - Neil Diamond
71 "Don't Stand So Close to Me" - The Police
72 "Hey Nineteen" - Steely Dan
73 "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" - Stevie Wonder
74 "All Those Years Ago" - George Harrison
75 "Step By Step" - Eddie Rabbitt
76 "The Stroke" - Billy Squire
77 "Feels So Right" - Alabama
78 "Sweet Baby" - George Duke & Stanley Clarke
79 "Same Old Lang Syne" - Dan Fogelberg
80 "Cool Love" - Pablo Cruise
81 "Hold On Tight" - Electric Light Orchestra
82 "It's Now or Never" - John Schneider
83 "Treat Me Right" - Pat Benatar
84 "Winning" - Santana
85 "What Kind of Fool" - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
86 "Watching the Wheels" - John Lennon
87 "Tell It Like It Is" - Heart
88 "Smoky Mountain Rain" - Ronnie Milsap
89 "I Made It Through the Rain" - Barry Manilow
90 "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - Hall & Oates
91 "Suddenly" - Olivia Newton-John & Cliff Richard
92 "For Your Eyes Only" - Sheena Easton
93 "The Beach Boys Medley" - The Beach Boys
94 "Whip It" - Devo
95 "Modern Girl" - Sheena Easton
96 "Really Wanna Know You" - Gary Wright
97 "Seven Year Ache" - Rosanne Cash
98 "I'm Coming Out" - Diana Ross
99 "Miss Sun" - Boz Scaggs
100 "Time Is Time" - Andy Gibb
One of the biggest country music stars of 1981 was blind singer-songwriter Ronnie Milsap who released several big hits that year including: Am I Losing You, There’s No Getting Over Me, and more.
Cool Things of 1981
The Dukes of Hazzard and Star Wars were big items in the toy market in 1981.
1. Das Boot
The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat; boredom, filth and sheer terror. Director: Wolfgang Petersen | Stars: Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch - 11.49M
2. On Golden Pond
Norman is a curmudgeon with an estranged relationship with his daughter Chelsea. At Golden Pond, he and his wife nevertheless agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea's new boyfriend, and a most unexpected relationship blooms. Director: Mark Rydell | Stars: Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon. 119.29M
In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before Adolf Hitler's Nazis can obtain its awesome powers. Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies. 248.16M
4. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
In the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline rich community escape a horde of bandits. Director: George Miller | Stars: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps. 12.47M
5. Quest for Fire
This story takes place in prehistoric time when three tribesmen search for a new fire source. Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud | Stars: Everett McGill, Ron Perlman, Nicholas Kadi, Rae Dawn Chong. 20.96M
6. Vabank
Set in Warsaw in 1930's. After six years in jail, framed for bank robbery by an accomplice, the legendary Kwinto has only revenge on his mind. Director: Juliusz Machulski | Stars: Jan Machulski, Leonard Pietraszak, Witold Pyrkosz, Ewa Szykulska
7. The Evil Dead
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons. Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker
8. Thief
Coming closer to his dream of leading a normal life, a professional safecracker agrees to do a job for the Mafia, who has other plans for him. Director: Michael Mann | Stars: James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, Jim Belushi
9. Kobieta Samotna
A story of a middle-aged woman, Irena, living alone on the outskirts of Wroclaw with her 8-year old son. They live in a drab apartment.Director: Agnieszka Holland | Stars: Maria Chwalibóg, Boguslaw Linda, Pawel Witczak, Danuta Balicka
10. Body Heat
In the midst of a searing Florida heat wave, a woman persuades her lover, a small-town lawyer, to murder her rich husband. Director: Lawrence Kasdan | Stars: William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna, Ted Danson
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