| The CASH BOX Top 100 Black Contemporary | ||||||
| Green square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending AUGUST 22, 1981 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | ENDLESS LOVE Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Motown 1519) | 4 | 16 | 21 | 7 | |
| 2 | I’M IN LOVE Evelyn King (RCA 12243) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | |
| 3 | SQUARE BIZ Teena Marie (Gordy 7202) | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | |
| 4 | LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion 46015) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | |
| 5 | LADY (You Bring Me Up) Commodores (Motown 1514) | 6 | 8 | 11 | 9 | |
| 6 | SHAKE IT UP TONIGHT Cheryl Lynn (Columbia 02102) | 5 | 6 | 9 | 13 | |
| 7 | JUST BE MY LADY Larry Graham (Warner Bros. 49744) | 8 | 9 | 18 | 9 | |
| 8 | SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) Carl Carlton (20th Century-Fox 2488) | 11 | 13 | 19 | 10 | |
| 9 | DOUBLE DUTCH BUS Frankie Smith (WMOT 5356) | 7 | 2 | 1 | 26 | |
| 10 | SLOW HAND Pointer Sisters (Planet 47929) | 15 | 18 | 20 | 11 | |
| 11 | THE REAL THING Brothers Johnson (A&M 2343) | 10 | 11 | 14 | 10 | |
| 12 | GIVE IT TO ME BABY Rick James (Gordy 7197) | 9 | 7 | 3 | 22 | |
| 13 | THIS IS FOR THE LOVER IN YOU Shalamar (Solar 12250) | 16 | 20 | 24 | 10 | |
| 14 | SEND FOR ME Atlantic Starr (A&M 2340) | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | |
| 15 | I LOVE YOU MORE Rene & Angela (Capitol 5010) | 20 | 24 | 29 | 10 | |
| 16 | CAN’T WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson (Arista 0606) | 17 | 19 | 23 | 8 | |
| 17 | SUPER FREAK (pt. 1) Rick James (Gordy 7205) | 25 | 54 | 78 | 4 | |
| 18 | FREAKY DANCIN’ Cameo (Chocolate City 3225) | 14 | 10 | 6 | 16 | |
| 19 | VERY SPECIAL Debra Laws (Elektra 47142) | 18 | 15 | 12 | 14 | |
| 20 | NIGHT (Feel Like Getting Down) Billy Ocean (Epic 02053) | 13 | 5 | 5 | 16 | |
| 21 | I’LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU Denroy Morgan (Becket 45-5) | 23 | 30 | 35 | 9 | |
| 22 | WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. 49746) | 31 | 37 | 48 | 6 | |
| 23 | RUNNING AWAY Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly (Capitol 5000) | 19 | 14 | 8 | 15 | |
| 24 | JUST ONE MOMENT AWAY Manhattans (Columbia 02191) | 26 | 26 | 30 | 8 | |
| 25 | HEARTBEAT Taana Gardner (West End 1232) | 22 | 17 | 15 | 18 | |
| 26 | WE CAN WORK IT OUT Chaka Khan (Warner Bros. 49759) | 27 | 34 | 45 | 7 | |
| 27 | FUNTOWN U.S.A. Rafael Cameron (Salsoul 2144) | 30 | 35 | 40 | 9 | |
| 28 | DO IT NOW (pt. 1) S.O.S. Band (Tabu 02125) | 33 | 38 | 43 | 7 | |
| 29 | HERE I AM Dynasty (Solar 47932) | 34 | 39 | 44 | 8 | |
| 30 | ON THE BEAT B. B. & Q. Band (Capitol 4993) | 35 | 41 | 50 | 8 | |
| 31 | ANYBODY WANNA DANCE Ebonee Webb (Capitol 5008) | 32 | 33 | 38 | 11 | |
| 32 | THAT OLD SONG Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio (Arista 0616) | 38 | 43 | 49 | 6 | |
| 33 | SWEAT (Til You Get Wet) Brick (Bang 02246) | 40 | 52 | 65 | 6 | |
| 34 | HE’S JUST A RUNAWAY (A Tribute To Bob Marley) Sister Sledge (Cotillion 46017) | 41 | 48 | 54 | 5 | |
| 35 | PUSH One Way (MCA 51110) | 28 | 27 | 27 | 15 | |
| 36 | SILLY Deniece Williams (ARC 02406) | 68 | 84 | — | 3 | |
| 37 | YOU STOPPED LOVING ME Roberta Flack (MCA 51126) | 29 | 31 | 33 | 10 | |
| 38 | TURN OUT THE NIGHTLIGHT Tavares (Capitol 5019) | 45 | 51 | 58 | 7 | |
| 39 | TURN IT OUT Emotions (ARC 02239) | 44 | 50 | 56 | 6 | |
| 40 | STAY THE NIGHT LaToya Jackson (Polydor 2177) | 48 | 59 | 68 | 6 | |
| 41 | PULL UP TO THE BUMPER Grace Jones (Island 49697) | 21 | 21 | 10 | 20 | |
| 42 | A LITTLE BIT OF JAZZ Nick Straker Band (Prelude 8034) | 51 | 58 | 72 | 4 | |
| 43 | WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL Four Tops (Casablanca 2338) | 54 | — | — | 2 | |
| 44 | FREEWAY Peaches & Herb (Polydor/MVP 2178) | 52 | 61 | 84 | 4 | |
| 45 | YOU WERE RIGHT GIRL Natalie Cole (Capitol 5021) | 53 | 63 | 71 | 5 | |
| 46 | IT’S YOU Afterbach (ARC 02222) | 49 | 56 | 64 | 6 | |
| 47 | NEVER TOO MUCH Luther Vandross (Epic 02409) | 56 | 66 | — | 3 | |
| 48 | FUNKY BEBOP Vin Zee (Emergency 4512) | 50 | 53 | 63 | 7 | |
| 49 | ARE YOU SINGLE Aurra (Salsoul 2139) | 47 | 23 | 22 | 17 | |
| 50 | WIKKA WRAP Evasions (SAM 5020) | 62 | 71 | 88 | 4 | |
| 51 | MAGIC MAN Herb Alpert (A&M 2356) | 60 | 73 | 83 | 4 | |
| 52 | LOVE ALL THE HURT AWAY Aretha Franklin & George Benson (Arista 0624) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 53 | DO YOU LOVE ME? Patti Austin (Qwest 49754) | 64 | 85 | — | 3 | |
| 54 | GENERAL HOSPI-TALE Afternoon Delights (MCA 51148) | 71 | 90 | — | 3 | |
| 55 | SUMMER FUN Bill Summers & Summers Heat (MCA 51138) | 65 | 77 | 85 | 4 | |
| 56 | SHINE YOUR LIGHT Graingers (BC 002) | 67 | 72 | 81 | 7 | |
| 57 | CLASSY LADY Noel Pointer (Liberty 1421) | 61 | 64 | 74 | 5 | |
| 58 | LOVE HAS COME AROUND Donald Byrd & 125th Street, N.Y.C. (Elektra 47168) | 66 | 74 | — | 3 | |
| 59 | STAY AWAKE Ronnie Laws (Liberty 1424) | 81 | — | — | 2 | |
| 60 | MIGHTY FINE TTF (Gold Coast 1100) | 70 | 80 | — | 3 | |
| 61 | KNOCK! KNOCK! Dazz Band (Motown 1515) | 69 | 78 | 86 | 4 | |
| 62 | HOLD TIGHT Change (Atlantic/RFC 3832) | 39 | 40 | 46 | 7 | |
| 63 | LET ME LET YOU ROCK ME Sue Ann (Warner Bros. 49750) | 58 | 60 | 60 | 8 | |
| 64 | GONNA FIND HER Tierra (Boardwalk 112) | 74 | 87 | — | 3 | |
| 65 | SEARCHING TO FIND THE ONE Unlimited Touch (Prelude 8029) | 37 | 28 | 26 | 14 | |
| 66 | TWO HEARTS Stephanie Mills featuring Teddy Pendergrass (20th Century-Fox 2492) | 36 | 25 | 16 | 18 | |
| 67 | LET’S DANCE (Make Your Body Move) West Street Mob (Sugar Hill 763) | 77 | 94 | — | 3 | |
| 68 | DON’T STOP THE MUSIC Bits & Pieces (Mango 109) | 76 | 86 | — | 3 | |
| 69 | RAZZAMATAZZ Quincy Jones featuring Patti Austin (A&M 2334) | 24 | 22 | 17 | 13 | |
| 70 | (Oh I) NEED YOUR LOVIN’ Eddie Kendricks (Atlantic 3796) | 43 | 42 | 42 | 9 | |
| 71 | I JUST WANT TO LOVE YOU Stanley Clarke/George Duke (Epic 02397) | 79 | — | — | 2 | |
| 72 | GET ON UP DO IT AGAIN Suzy Q (Atlantic/RFC 3837) | 72 | 76 | 76 | 5 | |
| 73 | AIMING AT YOUR HEART Temptations (Gordy 7208) | 84 | — | — | 2 | |
| 74 | EVERYBODY’S BROKE Herbie Hancock (Columbia 02404) | 82 | — | — | 2 | |
| 75 | I’VE BEEN WATCHING YOU Midnight Star (Solar 47933) | 57 | 57 | 59 | 8 | |
| 76 | YOU ARE FOREVER Smokey Robinson (Tamla 54327) | 55 | 32 | 32 | 10 | |
| 77 | IF THAT’LL MAKE YOU HAPPY Gladys Knight & Pips (Columbia 02413) | 86 | — | — | 2 | |
| 78 | I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (pt. 1) Roger (Warner Bros. 49786) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 79 | JAMMIN BIG GUITAR Vaughan Mason (Brunswick 220) | 88 | — | — | 2 | |
| 80 | KEEP ME ON FIRE Clay Hunt (Polydor 2175) | 80 | 81 | 90 | 5 | |
| 81 | JUST ONCE Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram (A&M 2357) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 82 | CUTIE PIE Dayton (Liberty 1414) | 85 | 91 | 89 | 8 | |
| 83 | BEFORE I LET GO Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly (Capitol 5031) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 84 | NIGHT GAMES Stephanie Mills (20th Century-Fox 2506) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 85 | YOU OUGHT TO BE WITH ME Carl Weathers (Mirage 3834) | 91 | — | — | 2 | |
| 86 | GET IT UP The Time (Warner Bros. 49774) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 87 | LOVE’S DANCE Klique (MCA 51099) | 42 | 29 | 28 | 15 | |
| 88 | TAKE IT ANY WAY YOU WANT IT Fatback (Spring 3018) | 75 | 45 | 31 | 16 | |
| 89 | COOL LOVE Pablo Cruise (A&M 2349) | 93 | — | — | 2 | |
| 90 | DANCING ON THE FLOOR (Hooked On Love) Third World (Columbia 02170) | 95 | 96 | 92 | 6 | |
| 91 | INCH BY INCH Strikers (Prelude 8033) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 92 | NOTHING BUT LOVE Peter Tosh (EMI America/Rolling Stones 8083) | 46 | 46 | 47 | 11 | |
| 93 | USE ME Grace Jones (Island 49776) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 94 | NOTHING BETWEEN US BUT LOVE Johnny Mathis (Columbia 02194) | 78 | 79 | 80 | 5 | |
| 95 | WHO’S BEEN KISSING YOU? Hot Cuisine (Prelude 8035) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 96 | SWEET BABY Stanley Clarke/George Duke (Epic 01052) | 59 | 44 | 25 | 20 | |
| 97 | SWEET AND WONDERFUL Jean Carn (TSOP 02183) | 92 | 92 | — | 3 | |
| 98 | IS IT YOU Lee Ritenour (Elektra 47124) | 83 | 70 | 51 | 18 | |
| 99 | YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE Reddings (Believe In A Dream 02066) | 63 | 36 | 36 | 11 | |
| 100 | WALK RIGHT NOW Jacksons (Epic 02132) | 73 | 55 | 55 | 10 | |
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