The Playlist: 1981

As printed in today's Star...

The Playlist by Graham Cawthon

It was the year in which President Ronald Reagan was shot while getting into his limo, Diana Spencer married Prince Charles and MTV debuted.

It was also the year I was born. And with my 26th birthday just last week, I thought it might be fun to take a look at the music of 1981.

The year brought us the formation of Metallica, the Bangles and Wham! but these were the top songs on the charts.


Kim Carnes
Song: Bette Davis Eyes
Album: Mistaken Identity



It was the top song of 1981, spending nine weeks in the number one position, and is only behind Olivia Newton-John's Physical as the most successful single of the 80s. The song earned both Song of the Year and Record of the Year honors at the 1982 Grammy Awards. Personally, it's one of my all-time favorite pop songs.


Phil Collins
Song: In the Air Tonight
Album: Face Value



The song initially reached No. 19 on the US charts but its popularity shot back up in 1985 when it was prominently featured in the pilot episode of Miami Vice (shown above). Many urban legends surround the lyrics but even Collins has said he doesn't know what the song is about, just that he was going through a divorce when he wrote it.


Eddie Rabbitt
Song: I Love a Rainy Night
Album: Horizon



Years before Garth Brooks or Shania Twain, Rabbitt was one of the first country singers to break into the musical mainstream. The song by the late country star reached number one on the Billboard 100, Hot Country Singles and Adult Contemporary charts.


Stevie Nicks (w/ Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
Song: Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Album: Bella Donna



The debut album from the Fleetwood Mac songstress was a number one hit in the US, in part because of its first single. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. As a side note, I was lucky to see this song performed live last summer when Petty, the Heartbreakers, and Nicks came to Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.


The Police
Song: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Album: Ghost in the Machine



The band is in the midst of a reunion tour but it was here that they experienced what was, to that time, their biggest success. The trio reached number 3 on the US charts and number 1 on the UK charts with this song from their fourth studio album. They would reach even greater heights with 1983's Synchonicity, which featured the single, Every Breath You Take.


That's my playlist. Got one of your own? E-mail me at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com and I might use it in a future column.