In 1981, I was actually the program director of a Country radio station here in Nashville, Tennessee (certainly a dream job for any 23-year-old in Music City!).  At the same time, Rock music was going through an identity crisis.  As a result, some of the previous year’s “Urban Cowboy” influence found its way to the top of the Pop charts and onto Rock radio as well.  And the clubs’ dance floors were also beginning to heat-up with a series of long rhythmic unknown titles.  Hello, MTV!  It was certainly a year of mixed genres and musical variety…

Happenings In 1981:

• Minimum wage in the U.S. was $3.35 per hour
• The average annual income was $21,073
• A new car set you back $7,718
• You could build a new house for $78,220
• A loaf of bread was 53 cents
• Gas for your car was only $1.31 per gallon
• First Class postage was just 18 cents!

1981 World News Headlines:

• The American Hostages in Iran were released
• Prince Charles & Lady Diana were married
• President Anwar Sadat of Egypt was assassinated
• Pope John Paul II was wounded by a Turkish gunman in St. Peter’s Square
• Israeli Planes destroyed an Iraqi nuclear reactor

1981 U.S. News Headlines:

• President Reagan was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt
• The first flight of a U.S. Space Shuttle was launched
• AIDS was officially recognized for the first time in the U.S.
• President Reagan ordered 12,000 air-traffic controllers who were fired to end their strike
• Public debt hit $1 trillion dollars

The top TV shows in 1981:  Dynasty, Hill Street Blues, Simon & Simon, Falcon’s Crest, The Greatest American Hero, The Fall Guy, Eight Is Enough, The People’s Court

Favorite movies from 1981:  Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Chariots of Fire, Arthur, Stripes, For Your Eyes Only, The Cannonball Run, Time Bandits, Absence of Malice, Body Heat, Escape From New York, Nighthawks, Outland, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Reds, Porky’s

What was your favorite music of 1981?  Rock?  Techno?  Pop?  Country?  Share your thoughts, comments and opinions with us!

You can hear the music of 1981 on-the-air right now on TuneIn or on Live 365!

Thanks for listening!

– Fred