1981 (Kent Music Report)
| Date | Artist | Single | Weeks at number one |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 January | Joe Dolce Music Theatre | "Shaddap You Face" | 8 weeks |
| 12 January | Joe Dolce Music Theatre | "Shaddap You Face" | 8 weeks |
| 19 January | John Lennon | "(Just Like) Starting Over" | 4 weeks |
| 26 January | John Lennon | "(Just Like) Starting Over" | 4 weeks |
| 2 February | John Lennon | "(Just Like) Starting Over" | 4 weeks |
| 9 February | John Lennon | "(Just Like) Starting Over" | 4 weeks |
| 16 February | Slim Dusty | "Duncan" | 2 weeks |
| 23 February | Slim Dusty | "Duncan" | 2 weeks |
| 2 March | The Swingers | "Counting the Beat" | 3 weeks |
| 9 March | The Swingers | "Counting the Beat" | 3 weeks |
| 16 March | The Swingers | "Counting the Beat" | 3 weeks |
| 23 March | Adam and the Ants | "Antmusic" | 5 weeks |
| 30 March | Adam and the Ants | "Antmusic" | 5 weeks |
| 6 April | Adam and the Ants | "Antmusic" | 5 weeks |
| 13 April | Adam and the Ants | "Antmusic" | 5 weeks |
| 20 April | Adam and the Ants | "Antmusic" | 5 weeks |
| 27 April | Sheena Easton | "9 to 5 (Morning Train)" | 2 weeks |
| 4 May | Sheena Easton | "9 to 5 (Morning Train)" | 2 weeks |
| 11 May | Roxy Music | "Jealous Guy" | 4 weeks |
| 18 May | Roxy Music | "Jealous Guy" | 4 weeks |
| 25 May | Roxy Music | "Jealous Guy" | 4 weeks |
| 1 June | Roxy Music | "Jealous Guy" | 4 weeks |
| 8 June | Shakin' Stevens | "This Ole House" | 1 week |
| 15 June | Kim Carnes | "Bette Davis Eyes" | 5 weeks |
| 22 June | Kim Carnes | "Bette Davis Eyes" | 5 weeks |
| 29 June | Kim Carnes | "Bette Davis Eyes" | 5 weeks |
| 6 July | Kim Carnes | "Bette Davis Eyes" | 5 weeks |
| 13 July | Kim Carnes | "Bette Davis Eyes" | 5 weeks |
| 20 July | Stars on 45 | "Stars on 45 Medley" | 4 weeks |
| 27 July | Stars on 45 | "Stars on 45 Medley" | 4 weeks |
| 3 August | Stars on 45 | "Stars on 45 Medley" | 4 weeks |
| 10 August | Stars on 45 | "Stars on 45 Medley" | 4 weeks |
| 17 August | Devo | DEV-O Live (EP) | 3 weeks |
| 24 August | Devo | DEV-O Live (EP) | 3 weeks |
| 31 August | Rick Springfield | "Jessie's Girl" | 1 week |
| 7 September | Devo | DEV-O Live (EP) | 3 weeks |
| 14 September | Shakin' Stevens | "You Drive Me Crazy" | 3 weeks |
| 21 September | Shakin' Stevens | "You Drive Me Crazy" | 3 weeks |
| 28 September | Shakin' Stevens | "You Drive Me Crazy" | 3 weeks |
| 5 October | Diana Ross and Lionel Richie | "Endless Love" | 4 weeks |
| 12 October | Diana Ross and Lionel Richie | "Endless Love" | 4 weeks |
| 19 October | Diana Ross and Lionel Richie | "Endless Love" | 4 weeks |
| 26 October | Diana Ross and Lionel Richie | "Endless Love" | 4 weeks |
| 2 November | Billy Field | "You Weren't in Love with Me" | 1 week |
| 9 November | The Rolling Stones | "Start Me Up" | 1 week |
| 16 November | Olivia Newton-John | "Physical" | 5 weeks |
| 23 November | Olivia Newton-John | "Physical" | 5 weeks |
| 30 November | Olivia Newton-John | "Physical" | 5 weeks |
| 7 December | Olivia Newton-John | "Physical" | 5 weeks |
| 14 December | Olivia Newton-John | "Physical" | 5 weeks |
| 21 December | Men at Work | "Down Under" | 6 weeks |
| 28 December | Men at Work | "Down Under" | 6 weeks |
Other hits
Songs peaking at number 2 included "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work and "Louise (We Get It Right)" by Jona Lewie
"Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy, "Girls Can Get It" by Dr. Hook, "Keep on Loving You" by REO Speedwagon, "Gotta Pull Myself Together" by The Nolans and "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins all peaked at number 3. Other major hits (with their peak positions) were "Jesse" by Carly Simon (4), "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde (5), "Precious to Me" by Phil Seymour (6), "It Must Be Love" by Madness (6) and "Boys in Town" by Divinyls (8).
Hits by Australasian artists included "If I Were a Carpenter" by Swanee, "Bad Habits" by Billy Field and "State of the Heart" by Mondo Rock.
The Swingers' hit "Counting the Beat" was the best charting single of the year.
Read more about this topic: List Of Number-one Singles In Australia During The 1980s
Famous quotes containing the word music:
“Music, ho, music such as charmeth sleep!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)