Early October, sweater weather, the year tipping toward its final stretch. The songs at the top of the chart now were the ones that would carry through Halloween and into the holidays, the last big records before the year-end sprint. Here is what was number one the week of October 5 in each year of the 1980s.
The number one song the week of October 5, 1981 was "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, closing out a nine-week reign that made it the biggest single of the year. It sat at number one that week. Across the decade this same early-October week produced some of the era's biggest and most durable hits, from Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" to Janet Jackson's "Miss You Much."
1980 to 1982
Queen ruled the first week of October 1980 with "Another One Bites the Dust," the funk-driven John Deacon bassline that became the band's biggest American hit and held number one for three weeks.
In 1981 the top belonged to Diana Ross and Lionel Richie with "Endless Love," in the last days of its nine-week stay. And in 1982 the week went to John Cougar and "Jack & Diane," the heartland anthem about two American kids that gave the future John Mellencamp his only number one.
1983 to 1986
Bonnie Tyler held early October 1983 with "Total Eclipse of the Heart," the Jim Steinman epic in the second week of its four-week reign and one of the biggest singles of the year.
In 1984 the top belonged to Prince and the Revolution with "Let's Go Crazy," the second "Purple Rain" number one wrapping up its run. The week of October 5, 1985 went to Dire Straits and "Money for Nothing," in the last stretch of its three-week run, and in 1986 Huey Lewis and the News closed out their three-week stay at the top with "Stuck with You," their second number one.
1987 to 1989
Whitney Houston ruled the first week of October 1987 with "Didn't We Almost Have It All," part of her record streak of seven straight number ones. In 1988 the week produced a first for one of rock's biggest bands: Def Leppard reached number one with "Love Bites," the power ballad from "Hysteria," the album that had already spun off a string of hits and became one of the best-selling records of the decade, yet "Love Bites" was the band's only Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper. And in 1989 the top belonged to Janet Jackson and "Miss You Much," the lead single from "Rhythm Nation 1814" that spent four weeks at number one and opened one of the decade's great album campaigns, a record that would eventually produce a run of hits rivaling her brother Michael's.
The honest bottom line
Early October is where the year shows its heavyweights. These are not disposable records. "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Endless Love" and "Miss You Much" are among the biggest singles their artists ever made, and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Love Bites" are the kind of ballads that still stop a room. The first week of October caught the chart at full strength, loaded with career records rather than filler. That is why this particular week, year after year, reads like a greatest-hits list of the whole decade.
FAQ
What song was number one on October 5, 1981? "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, in the final stretch of a nine-week run that made it the biggest single of 1981.
What was John Mellencamp's only number one? "Jack & Diane," released under the name John Cougar, reached number one in early October 1982 and was the only Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper of his career.
Did Def Leppard have a number one song? Yes, one. "Love Bites," from the album "Hysteria," reached number one the week of October 8, 1988, the band's only Hot 100 chart-topper.
What was the first single from Rhythm Nation 1814? "Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson, which reached number one the week of October 7, 1989 and held the top for four weeks.
Was Another One Bites the Dust Queen's biggest US hit? Yes. "Another One Bites the Dust," number one for three weeks in October 1980, was Queen's biggest-selling American single.
What was the biggest single of 1981? "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, which spent nine weeks at number one, was the biggest single of 1981 and still held the top in the first days of October.
October weeks get the same cold checking.
Part of This Week in 80s Music. Back to the week of September 28.