Top 65 Rock Singles from 1981 - US Billboard Hot 100 Ranked

A selection of singles from the Billboard Top 100 that are part of the rock world. The list is based on what actually charted in the Billboard, so re-releases, live recordings and older songs are included. This isn't meant to be a list of the 65 greatest rock songs. Some songs may have slipped through, and there are always a few that could be debated as to whether they're really “rock” or not. There were more than 65 possible choices, so in some cases I had to choose one over another. This is my selection, and I'm sure there will be some disagreements. 65 Molly Hatchet - The Rambler 64 The Kinks - Destroyer 63 Meat Loaf - I’m Gonna Love Her for Both of Us 62 The Who - Don’t Let Go the Coat 61 Donnie Iris - Sweet Merilee 60 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - A Woman In Love (It’s Not Me) 59 Eric Clapton - Another Ticket 58 ZZ Top - Leila 57 Kansas – Got To Rock On 56 Rush - Closer To The Heart (live) 55 Touch - Don’t You Know What Love Is 54 Henry Paul Band - Keeping Our Love Alive 53 Michael Stanley Band - Lover 52 Bob Seger - Feel Like a Number (Live) 51 Dire Staits – Skateaway 50 April Wine - Sign Of The Gypsy Queen 49 Santana - The Sensitive Kind 48 KISS - A World Without Heroes 47 Loverboy - The Kid Is Hot Tonite 46 Rush - Limelight 45 38 Special - Fantasy Girl 44 Suzi Quatro - Lipstick 43 Billy Squier - My Kinda Lover 42 Triumph - Magic Power 41 Rush - Tom Sawyer 40 Don Felder - Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride) 39 Blackfoot - Fly Away 38 Loverboy - Working For The Weekend 37 Blue Öyster Cult - Burnin’ For You 36 Point Blank - Nicole 35 Pat Benatar - Promises in the Dark 34 AC/DC - Back In Black 33 Billy Squier - In The Dark 32 Loverboy - Turn Me Loose 31 Journey - The Party’s Over (Hopelessly In Love) 30 Survivor - Poor Man’s Son 29 Outlaws - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky 28 Jefferson Starship - Find Your Way Back 27 Donnie Iris - Ah! Leah! 26 38 Special - Hold On Loosely 25 Diesel - Sausalito Summernight 24 REO Speedwagon - Don’t Let Him Go 23 April Wine - Just Between You And Me 22 Bruce Springsteen - Fade Away 21 REO Speedwagon - In Your Letter 20 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - The Waiting 19 The Who - You Better You Bet 18 Pat Benatar - Treat Me Right 17 Pat Benatar - Fire and Ice 16 Santana - Winning 15 Billy Squier - The Stroke 14 The Moody Blues - The Voice 13 The Moody Blues - Gemini Dream 12 Eric Clapton & His Band - I Can’t Stand It 11 Journey - Don’t Stop Believin’ 10 Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot 9 Little River Band - The Night Owls 8 Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You 7 REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run 6 Journey - Who’s Crying Now 5 Foreigner - Urgent 4 Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) - Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around 3 Foreigner - Waiting for a Girl Like You 2 The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up 1 REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You