1981 in music

Table of contents

1 Events
2 Albums released
3 Top hits on record
4 Published popular music
5 Musical theater
6 Musical films
7 Births
8 Deaths
9 Awards

9.1 Grammy Awards
9.2 Country Music Association Awards
9.3 Eurovision Song Contest

Events

January 10 - Revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith
February 14 - Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career
February 15 - Blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield is found dead in San Francisco. The cause of death was ruled an accidental drug overdose
March 14 - Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clapton's 60 city tour of the US is canceled.
April 7 - Former Who manager Kit Lambert dies after falling down a flight of stairs in his mother's home in London. Lambert managed the band between 1964 and 1967.
April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli
April 17 - Eric Clapton is released from St. Paul's Hospital in Minnesota following a month-long treatment for bleeding ulcers.
April 18 - Yes announces that they're breaking up. (They would however reunite frequently in years to come).
April 20 - The Mamas and the Papas' John Phillips is sentenced to five years in jail after after pleading guilty to drug possesion charges. Phillips' sentence would be suspended after thirty days in exchange for 250 hours of community service
April 22 - Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from brused ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington.
April 25 - Paul McCartney's backing band, Wings, breaks up
August 1 - MTV debuts on cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day
The musical Cats begins its 18 year run on Broadway
Menudo's golden era (1981-1985) begins in Latin America, parts of Europe and Asia.
U2 appears on the Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder, their first U.S. television apperance
Phil Collins releases his first solo album (although he won't leave the band Genesis until 1995)
Joe Walsh leaves the Eagles
Hunters & Collectors forms
Sonic Youth forms
Throbbing Gristle split up
Social Distortion's career starts

Albums released

Wild-Eyed Southern Boys - .38 Special
Damaged - Black Flag
Red - Black Uhuru
Autoamerican - Blondie
Best of Blondie - Blondie
Shot of Love - Bob Dylan
Made in America - The Carpenters
Face Value - Phil Collins
Trust - Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Penis Envy - Crass
Duran Duran - Duran Duran
4 - Foreigner
The Electric Spanking of War Babies - Funkadelic
The Beauty and the Beat - The Go-Go's
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts - David Byrne & Brian Eno
Freeze Frame - J. Geils Band
I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
The Fox Album - Elton John
Captured - Journey
Escape - Journey
Point of Entry - Judas Priest
Discipline - King Crimson
Computer World - Kraftwerk
Get Lucky - Loverboy
Chances Are - Bob Marley and the Wailers
Quiero Ser - Menudo
M.S.G. II - The Michael Schenker Group
One Night at Budokan - The Michael Schenker Group
Self-Titled - The Michael Schenker Group
Minor Threat and In My Eyes - Minor Threat
Fiyou on the Bayou - The Neville Brothers
Physical - Olivia Newton-John
Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
Blizzard Of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne
Diary Of A Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
Ghost In The Machine - The Police
Controversy - Prince
Talk, Talk, Talk - Psychedelic Furs
Quarterflash - Quarterflash
Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones
Moving Pictures - Rush
Mainliner (The Wreckage Of The Past) - Social Distortion
Non-Stop Erotic Caberet - Soft Cell
East Side Story - Squeeze
The Time - The Time
Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
October - U2
Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
Fair Warning - Van Halen

Top hits on record

"Arthur's Theme" - Christopher Cross
"Begin the Beguine (Volver a Empezar)" - Julio Iglesias
"Being With You" - Smokey Robinson
"Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes
"Celebration" - Kool & the Gang
"Don't You Want Me" - Human League
"Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
"Easier Said than Done" - Shakatak
"Endless Love" - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
"Every Litte Thing She Does Is Magic" - The Police
"Ghost Town" - The Specials
"Girls On Film" - Duran Duran
"Green Door" - Shakin' Stevens
"Heading Out To The Highway" - Judas Priest
"Imagine" - John Lennon
"In The Air Tonight" - Phil Collins
"Intruder" - Peter Gabriel
"It's My Party" - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
"Japanese Boy" - Aneka
"Jealous Guy" - Roxy Music
"Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield
"Kiss on My List" - Daryl Hall & John Oates
"Makin' Your Mind Up" - Bucks Fizz
"Morning Train" - Sheena Easton
"Oh Yeah" - Roxy Music
"One Day In Your Life" - Michael Jackson
"Physical" - Olivia Newton-John
"Prince Charming" - Adam & the Ants
"Private Eyes'" - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Radio Free Europe - R.E.M (debut)
Rapture - Blondie
"Seven Bridges Road" - The Eagles
"Shaddap Your Face" - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
"Stand and Deliver" - Adam & the Ants
"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell
"This Ole' House" - Shakin' Stevens
"TV Party" - Black Flag
"Under Pressure" - Queen & David Bowie
"Video Killed The Radio Star" - The Buggles
"What Makes You Think You're The One" - Fleetwood Mac
"Woman" - John Lennon
"Yes, I'm Your Angel" - John Lennon

Published popular music

"Arthur's Theme" w.m. Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, Christopher Cross & Peter Allen
"Good Thing Going (Going Gone)" w.m. Stephen Sondheim
"Key Largo" w.m. Bertie Higgins & Sonny Limbo

Musical theater

Barnum London production
Cats London production
Dreamgirls Broadway production
March of the Falsettoes off-Broadway production
Pirates Of Penzance Broadway revival
Song And Dance London production
Woman Of The Year Broadway production

Musical films

The Jazz Singer
Pennies from Heaven

Births

Deaths

January 23 - Samuel Barber
February 9 - Bill Haley, dies of heart attack
February 15 - Mike Bloomfield, blues guitarist
April 5 - Bob Hite, Canned Heat, heart attack
April 7 - Kit Lambert, former manager for The Who
May 11 - Bob Marley