List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1981
Introduction Swedish group ABBA topped the chart with "The Winner Takes It All"|alt=Two long-haired men, one with a beard, and two women, one with dark curly hair and one with blonde hair, standing together and all smilingAdult Contemporary is a chart published by ''Billboard'' ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1981, 20 songs topped the chart, based on playlists submitted by radio stations.In the year's first issue of ''Billboard'' the number one position was held by British singer Leo Sayer with "More Than I Can Say", which retained the top spot from the last week of 1980.It remained atop the chart for two weeks in 1981 before being replaced by "I Love a Rainy Night" by country singer Eddie Rabbitt, which also topped ''Billboard''s all-genres chart, the Hot 100.Rabbitt's song was one of two tracks which reached the number one spot on both the AC and country charts as well as on the Hot 100 during the early part of 1981, along with Dolly Parton's "9 to 5". The two songs were among just four country songs to top the Hot 100 during the 1980s, and the only two to do so consecutively. Soon after Parton's song exited the number one position on the AC listing, Scottish singer Sheena Easton topped the chart with "Morning Train (9 to 5)". In her native United Kingdom, the song had been a top ten hit under the title "9 to 5", but it was given a new title for the U.S. market to avoid confusion with Parton's identically-titled song.Parton's song "9 to 5" was the theme song from the film of the same name, in which the singer starred, and was one of three AC number ones of 1981 to be taken from film soundtracks. In September Diana Ross and Lionel Richie topped the chart with their duet "Endless Love" from the film of the same name, and this was immediately followed into the number one position by "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" by Christopher Cross, from the film ''Arthur''. The longest-running number one of the year was "I Don't Need You" by Kenny Rogers, which spent six weeks in the top spot. Rogers was one of only two artists to have more than one AC number one in 1981, and his eight weeks atop the chart was the most by any artist. The only other act with multiple number ones during the year was Neil Diamond, who had the final number one of 1981 with "Yesterday's Songs", which held the top spot for the last two weeks of the year.
Chart history Dolly Parton (left) topped the chart with "9 to 5", the theme song from the film of the same name, in which she starred.|alt=Two women, one with blonde hair and one with dark hair, both smiling broadlyBritish-Australian soft rock duo Air Supply's song "Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)" spent a total of three weeks at number one. Sheena Easton reached number one with "Morning Train (9 to 5)". The song had been titled simply "9 to 5" in her native United Kingdom, but was re-titled for the American market to avoid confusion with Parton's song.|alt=A brown-haired woman standing at a microphone and looking to her rightKenny Rogers spent six weeks at number one with "I Don't Need You", the longest-running chart-topper of the year.|alt=A man with grey hair and beard+KeyIndicates best-performing AC song of 1981Issue dateTitleArtist(s)"More Than I Can Say""I Love a Rainy Night"""ABBA"Smoky Mountain Rain""""What Kind of Fool" and Barry Gibb"Angel of the Morning""""Sukiyaki""How 'Bout Us"Champaign"America""All Those Years Ago""I Don't Need You" "Touch Me When We're Dancing""Endless Love" and Lionel Richie"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)""Share Your Love with Me""Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)"Air Supply"""Yesterday's Songs"
References
See also *1981 in music*List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart