Diana Ross (left) andLionel Richie (right) spent the most published issues at number one with "Endless Love", the third-most-successful single of the year.[1]
RPM was a Canadian magazine that published the best-performingsingles of Canada from 1964 to 2000. A total of sixteen singles reached number one on theRPM Singles Chart in1981. The year began with "(Just Like) Starting Over" byJohn Lennon at the top spot and ended withOlivia Newton-John's "Physical" at the summit. Eleven of the sixteen artists earned their first Canadian chart-topper this year; those who did so prior to 1981 were John Lennon,Blondie,Styx,The Moody Blues, and Olivia Newton-John. Lennon became the only artist this year to attain the number-one spot with more than one single, and no Canadians topped their home county's chart this year.
The best-performing single of the year in Canada was "Stars on 45 Medley" (also known as "Medley") by Dutch novelty actStars on 45. Because noRPM issues were published between 11 July and 22 August, it remained at number one for 12 weeks, preventing the second-most-successful single of the year, "Bette Davis Eyes" byKim Carnes, from taking the position. The song that spent the most published issues at number one, six, was "Endless Love" byDiana Ross andLionel Richie, becoming Richie's first Canadian number-one hit and Ross's only chart-topper in Canada outsidethe Supremes. The singer who stayed at number one for the most weeks this year was John Lennon, whose singles "(Just Like) Starting Over" and "Woman" gave him seven weeks at the summit. The other acts that remained at number one for at least three weeks were Blondie,Kool & the Gang, andJuice Newton.
^abcDue to a four-week break in publication over the 1980/1981 Christmas/New Year period, the weeks of 3 January, 10 January and 17 January are inferred.
^No charts were published between 11 July and 22 August, so a seven-week gap is inferred.
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