List of Billboard Mainstream Rock number-one songs of the 1980s
When introduced by Billboard in March 1981, the Mainstream Rock chart was entitled Top Tracks and designed to measure the airplay of songs being played on album-oriented rock radio stations. The chart has undergone several name changes over the years, first to Top Rock Tracks in September 1984 and then to Album Rock Tracks in April 1986. The chart would not be called "mainstream" until 1996. The term "tracks" was used to distinguish itself from singles charts (such as the Billboard Hot 100) as songs played on rock radio were not always released as singles. When an established rock artist released a new album, for example, it was not uncommon for multiple songs from the album to become popular simultaneously.[1]
The song that had the longest run atop the chart during the 1980s was "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones at 13 weeks from the beginning of September through the first week of December in 1981. No other song had a run of more than 10 weeks. Tom Petty (with and without the Heartbreakers) was the act with the most number ones during the 1980s with 6.
Number-one songs
References
- ↑ Trust, Gary (March 23, 2010). "Album, Rock Charts Celebrate Anniversaries". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- ↑ "Urgent" July 25 – August 15, 1981:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (29): 26. July 25, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (30): 28. August 1, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (31): 26. August 8, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (32): 28. August 15, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Burnin' for You" August 22–29, 1981:
- ↑ "Start Me Up" September 5 – November 28, 1981:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (35): 22. September 5, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (36): 30. September 12, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (37): 24. September 19, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (38): 28. September 26, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (39): 30. October 3, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (40): 28. October 10, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (41): 28. October 17, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (42): 30. October 24, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (43): 38. October 31, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (44): 32. November 7, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (45): 40. November 14, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (46): 38. November 21, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (47): 37. November 28, 1981.
- ↑ Waiting for a Girl Like You" December 5, 1981:
- ↑ "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" December 12–19, 1981:
- ↑ "Harden My Heart" December 26, 1981 – January 9, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (51): 40. December 26, 1981. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 93 (52): 35. January 2, 1982.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (1): 38. January 9, 1982.
- ↑ "Centerfold" January 16–30, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (2): 26. January 16, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (3): 36. January 23, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (4): 30. January 30, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" February 6 – March 6, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (5): 24. February 6, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (6): 30. February 13, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (7): 30. February 20, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (8): 24. February 27, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (9): 24. March 6, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "(Oh) Pretty Woman" March 13–20, 1982:
- ↑ "Don't Let Him Know" March 27, 1982:
- ↑ "867-5309/Jenny" April 3–17, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (13): 30. April 3, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (14): 42. April 10, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (15): 31. April 17, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- 1 2 "Heat of the Moment" April 24 – May 22, June 12, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (16): 35. April 24, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (17): 26. May 1, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (18): 30. May 8, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (19): 28. May 15, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (20): 34. May 22, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (23): 58. June 12, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "No One Like You" May 29, 1982:
- ↑ "Stone Cold" June 5, 1982:
- ↑ "Hurt So Good" June 19, 1982:
- ↑ "Caught Up in You" June 26, 1982:
- ↑ "Eye of the Tiger" July 3–31, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (26): 28. July 3, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (27): 28. July 10, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (28): 32. July 17, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (29): 27. July 24, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (30): 24. July 31, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Think I'm in Love" August 7–21, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (31): 30. August 7, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (32): 33. August 14, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (33): 30. August 21, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Everybody Wants You" August 28 – October 2, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (34): 24. August 28, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (35): 33. September 4, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (36): 34. September 11, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (37): 26. September 18, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (38): 32. September 25, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (39): 30. October 2, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- 1 2 "New World Man" October 9 & 30, 1982:
- 1 2 "Dirty Laundry" October 16–23, November 6, 1982:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (41): 32. October 16, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (42): 66. October 23, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (44): 24. November 6, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Shock the Monkey" November 13–20, 1982:
- 1 2 "Down Under" November 27 – December 4, 1982; December 25, 1982 – January 8, 1983:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (47): 26. November 27, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (48): 20. December 4, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (51): 30. December 25, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (52): 25. January 1, 1983.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (53): 18. January 8, 1983. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- 1 2 "You Got Lucky" December 11–18, 1982; January 15, 1983:
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (49): 22. December 11, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (50): 20. December 18, 1982. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- "Top Tracks". Billboard 94 (54): 18. January 15, 1983. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ↑ "I Want to Know What Love Is" January 19, 1985:
- ↑ "The Old Man Down the Road" January 26 – February 9, 1985:
- ↑ "Somebody" February 16–23, 1985:
- ↑ "Just Another Night" March 2–9, 1985:
- ↑ "Radioactive" March 16, 1985:
- ↑ "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" March 23–30, 1985:
- ↑ "Forever Man" April 6–13, 1985:
- ↑ "Don't You (Forget About Me)" April 20 – May 4, 1985:
- ↑ "Trapped" May 11–25, 1985:
- ↑ "Little by Little" June 1–8, 1985:
- ↑ "Tough All Over" June 15–22, 1985:
- ↑ "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" June 29 – July 13, 1985:
- ↑ "The Power of Love" July 20–27, 1985:
- ↑ "Money for Nothing" August 3–17, 1985:
- ↑ "Fortress Around Your Heart" August 24–31, 1985:
- ↑ "Lonely Ol' Night" September 7 – October 5, 1985:
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 07, 1985". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 14, 1985". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 21, 1985". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 28, 1985". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Oct 05, 1985". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ↑ "We Built This City" October 12, 1985:
- ↑ "You Belong to the City" October 19 – November 2, 1985:
- ↑ "Sleeping Bag" November 9–16, 1985:
- ↑ "Tonight She Comes" November 23 – December 7, 1985:
- ↑ "Talk to Me" December 14–21, 1985:
- ↑ "Silent Running" December 28, 1985 – January 25, 1986:
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 28, 1985". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Jan 04, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Jan 11, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Jan 18, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Jan 25, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ↑ "Kyrie" February 1, 1986:
- ↑ "Stages" February 8–15, 1986:
- ↑ "All the King's Horses" February 22 – March 15, 1986:
- ↑ "Addicted to Love" March 22–29, 1986:
- ↑ "Why Can't This Be Love" April 5–19, 1986:
- ↑ "Stick Around" April 26 – May 10, 1986:
- ↑ "Like a Rock" May 17–24, 1986:
- ↑ "Sledgehammer" May 31 – June 7, 1986:
- ↑ "Invisible Touch" June 14–28, 1986:
- ↑ "Secret Separation" July 5–12, 1986:
- ↑ "Higher Love" July 19 – August 9, 1986:
- ↑ "Missionary Man" August 16, 1986:
- ↑ "Throwing It All Away" August 23 – September 6, 1986:
- ↑ "In Your Eyes" September 13, 1986:
- ↑ "Take Me Home Tonight" September 20–27, 1986:
- ↑ "Emotion in Motion" October 4, 1986:
- ↑ "Amanda" October 11–25, 1986:
- ↑ "Hip to Be Square" November 1, 1986:
- ↑ "Don't Get Me Wrong" November 8–22, 1986:
- ↑ "I Want to Make the World Turn Around" November 29, 1986 – January 3, 1987:
- "Mainstream Rock: Nov 29, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 06, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 13, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 20, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 27, 1986". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Jan 03, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "It's in the Way That You Use It" January 10, 1987:
- ↑ "My Baby" January 17–24, 1987:
- ↑ "Livin' on a Prayer" January 31 – February 7, 1987:
- ↑ "Midnight Blue" February 14 – March 14, 1987:
- "Mainstream Rock: Feb 14, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Feb 21, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Feb 28, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Mar 07, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Mar 14, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ↑ "I'm No Angel" March 21, 1987:
- ↑ "Come as You Are" March 28, 1987:
- ↑ "With or Without You" April 4 – May 2, 1987:
- "Mainstream Rock: Apr 04, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Apr 11, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Apr 18, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Apr 25, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: May 02, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Jammin' Me" May 9–30, 1987:
- ↑ "Shakedown" June 6–27, 1987:
- ↑ "Don't Mean Nothing" July 4, 1987:
- ↑ "Give to Live" July 11–25, 1987:
- ↑ "Touch of Grey" August 1–15, 1987:
- ↑ "Paper in Fire" August 22 – September 19, 1987:
- "Mainstream Rock: Aug 22, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Aug 29, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 05, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 12, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 19, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Learning to Fly" September 26 – October 10, 1987:
- ↑ "Brilliant Disguise" October 17, 1987:
- ↑ "Love Will Find a Way" October 24 – November 7, 1987:
- ↑ "Cherry Bomb" November 14, 1987:
- ↑ "Tunnel of Love" November 21 – December 12, 1987:
- ↑ "Say You Will" December 19, 1987 – January 9, 1988:
- ↑ "On the Turning Away" January 16, 1988:
- ↑ "Just Like Paradise" January 23 – February 13, 1988:
- ↑ "Heaven Knows" February 20 – March 26, 1988:
- "Mainstream Rock: Feb 20, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Feb 27, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Mar 05, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Mar 12, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Mar 19, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Mar 26, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "I Wish I Had a Girl" April 2, 1988:
- ↑ "Tall Cool One" April 9–30, 1988:
- ↑ "Only a Memory" May 7, 1988:
- ↑ "The Valley Road" May 14–28, 1988:
- ↑ "Black and Blue" June 4–18, 1988:
- ↑ "Roll with It" June 25 – July 16, 1988:
- ↑ "When It's Love" July 23, 1988:
- ↑ "Simply Irresistible" July 30 – August 13, 1988:
- ↑ "Hate to Lose Your Lovin'" August 20 – September 10, 1988:
- ↑ "Don't You Know What the Night Can Do" September 17–24, 1988:
- ↑ "I'm Not Your Man" October 1, 1988:
- ↑ "Desire" October 8 – November 5, 1988:
- "Mainstream Rock: Oct 08, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Oct 15, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Oct 22, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Oct 29, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Nov 05, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Desire" November 12–19, 1988:
- ↑ "Orange Crush" November 26 – December 3, 1988:
- ↑ "Angel of Harlem" December 10, 1988 – January 14, 1989:
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 10, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 17, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 24, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 31, 1988". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Jan 07, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Jan 14, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Got It Made" January 21–28, 1989:
- ↑ "The Love in Your Eyes" February 4, 1989:
- ↑ "Stand" February 11, 1989:
- ↑ "Driven Out" February 18 – March 11, 1989:
- ↑ "Working On It" March 18, 1989:
- ↑ "I'll Be You" March 25 – April 8, 1989:
- ↑ "Now You're in Heaven" April 15, 1989:
- ↑ "I Won't Back Down" April 22 – May 20, 1989:
- "Mainstream Rock: Apr 22, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Apr 29, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: May 06, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: May 13, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: May 20, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "The Doctor" May 27 – June 10, 1989:
- ↑ "Rooms on Fire" June 17, 1989:
- ↑ "Runnin' Down a Dream" June 24, 1989:
- ↑ "The End of the Innocence" July 1–22, 1989:
- ↑ "Crossfire" July 29 – August 12, 1989:
- ↑ "Let the Day Begin" August 19, 1989:
- ↑ "Free Fallin'" August 26, 1989:
- ↑ "Mixed Emotions" September 2–30, 1989:
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 02, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 09, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 16, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 23, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Sep 30, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Love in an Elevator" October 7–14, 1989:
- ↑ "Rock and a Hard Place" October 21 – November 18, 1989:
- "Mainstream Rock: Oct 21, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Oct 28, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Nov 04, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Nov 11, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Nov 18, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Pretending" November 25 – December 23, 1989:
- "Mainstream Rock: Nov 25, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 02, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 09, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 16, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "Mainstream Rock: Dec 23, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Show Don't Tell" December 30, 1989 – January 6, 1990:
Bibliography
- Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981–2008. Record Research. ISBN 978-0-8982-0174-1.
External links