| The CASH BOX Top 100 Black Contemporary | ||||||
| Green square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending OCTOBER 3, 1981 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | ENDLESS LOVE Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Motown 1519) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | |
| 2 | SUPER FREAK (pt. 1) Rick James (Gordy 7205) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | |
| 3 | WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL Four Tops (Casablanca 2338) | 5 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |
| 4 | SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) Carl Carlton (20th Century-Fox 2488) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | |
| 5 | NEVER TOO MUCH Luther Vandross (Epic 02409) | 7 | 19 | 26 | 9 | |
| 6 | WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. 49746) | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | |
| 7 | JUST BE MY LADY Larry Graham (Warner Bros. 49744) | 6 | 5 | 5 | 15 | |
| 8 | SQUARE BIZ Teena Marie (Gordy 7202) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 16 | |
| 9 | LOVE ALL THE HURT AWAY Aretha Franklin & George Benson (Arista 0624) | 11 | 16 | 20 | 7 | |
| 10 | SWEAT (Til You Get Wet) Brick (Bang 02246) | 8 | 8 | 14 | 12 | |
| 11 | SILLY Deniece Williams (ARC 02406) | 13 | 14 | 19 | 9 | |
| 12 | SLOW HAND Pointer Sisters (Planet 47929) | 9 | 7 | 7 | 17 | |
| 13 | ON THE BEAT B. B. & Q. Band (Capitol 4993) | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | |
| 14 | I’LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU Denroy Morgan (Becket 45-5) | 14 | 9 | 10 | 15 | |
| 15 | GET IT UP The Time (Warner Bros. 49774) | 18 | 23 | 28 | 7 | |
| 16 | I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (pt. 1) Roger (Warner Bros. 49786) | 25 | 38 | 44 | 7 | |
| 17 | I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE Teddy Pendergrass (Philadelphia Int’l 02462) | 23 | 29 | 36 | 6 | |
| 18 | DO IT NOW (pt. 1) S.O.S. Band (Tabu 02125) | 17 | 17 | 18 | 13 | |
| 19 | CAN’T WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson (Arista 0606) | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | |
| 20 | WIKKA WRAP Evasions (SAM 5020) | 20 | 22 | 30 | 10 | |
| 21 | LET’S DANCE (Make Your Body Move) West Street Mob (Sugar Hill 763) | 24 | 35 | 41 | 9 | |
| 22 | BEFORE I LET GO Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly (Capitol 5031) | 32 | 37 | 43 | 7 | |
| 23 | LOVE HAS COME AROUND Donald Byrd & 125th Street, N.Y.C. (Elektra 47168) | 29 | 34 | 39 | 9 | |
| 24 | A LITTLE BIT OF JAZZ Nick Straker Band (Prelude 8034) | 26 | 27 | 29 | 10 | |
| 25 | HERE I AM Dynasty (Solar 47932) | 22 | 24 | 25 | 14 | |
| 26 | I’M IN LOVE Evelyn King (RCA 12243) | 12 | 6 | 6 | 16 | |
| 27 | GENERAL HOSPI-TALE Afternoon Delights (MCA 51148) | 27 | 30 | 31 | 9 | |
| 28 | STAY AWAKE Ronnie Laws (Liberty 1424) | 28 | 33 | 38 | 8 | |
| 29 | JUST ONCE Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram (A&M 2357) | 33 | 39 | 51 | 7 | |
| 30 | DO YOU LOVE ME? Patti Austin (Qwest 49754) | 30 | 32 | 33 | 9 | |
| 31 | LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion 46015) | 16 | 13 | 11 | 18 | |
| 32 | LADY (You Bring Me Up) Commodores (Motown 1514) | 21 | 12 | 8 | 15 | |
| 33 | AIMING AT YOUR HEART Temptations (Gordy 7208) | 35 | 41 | 48 | 8 | |
| 34 | I LOVE YOU MORE Rene & Angela (Capitol 5010) | 34 | 20 | 15 | 16 | |
| 35 | IF THAT’LL MAKE YOU HAPPY Gladys Knight & Pips (Columbia 02413) | 37 | 42 | 47 | 8 | |
| 36 | I LIKE IT Cameo (Chocolate City 3227) | 38 | 44 | 50 | 6 | |
| 37 | SHAKE IT UP TONIGHT Cheryl Lynn (Columbia 02102) | 31 | 21 | 9 | 19 | |
| 38 | NIGHT GAMES Stephanie Mills (20th Century-Fox 2506) | 40 | 43 | 45 | 7 | |
| 39 | THIS KIND OF LOVIN’ Whispers (Solar 12295) | 49 | 55 | 68 | 5 | |
| 40 | EVERYBODY’S BROKE Herbie Hancock (Columbia 02404) | 42 | 48 | 56 | 8 | |
| 41 | SHE’S GOT THE PAPERS (But I Got The Man) Barbara Mason (WMOT 02506) | 44 | 54 | 63 | 6 | |
| 42 | SHE DON’T LET NOBODY (But Me) Curtis Mayfield (Boardwalk 122) | 48 | 56 | 69 | 5 | |
| 43 | SNAP SHOT Slave (Cotillion 46022) | 50 | 57 | 74 | 4 | |
| 44 | TIME TO THINK Rockie Robbins (A&M 2355) | 52 | 60 | 71 | 5 | |
| 45 | SHINE YOUR LIGHT Graingers (BC 002) | 45 | 49 | 49 | 13 | |
| 46 | YOU GOT THE PAPERS (But I Got The Man) Jean Knight & Premium (Cotillion 46020) | 47 | 53 | 62 | 6 | |
| 47 | PULL FANCY DANCER / PULL (pt. 2) One Way (MCA 51165) | 53 | 63 | 73 | 5 | |
| 48 | TAKE MY HEART (You Can Have It If You Want It) Kool & Gang (De-Lite 815) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 49 | SECRETS Bobby Womack (Beverly Glen 2000) | 56 | 64 | 72 | 5 | |
| 50 | IT SHOWS IN THE EYES Ashford & Simpson (Warner Bros. 49805) | 57 | 67 | — | 3 | |
| 51 | DANCIN’ FREE Brothers Johnson (A&M 2368) | 59 | 69 | 84 | 4 | |
| 52 | FUNTOWN U.S.A. Rafael Cameron (Salsoul 2144) | 36 | 25 | 24 | 15 | |
| 53 | DON’T STOP THE MUSIC Bits & Pieces (Mango 109) | 46 | 46 | 52 | 9 | |
| 54 | OH NO Commodores (Motown 1527) | 74 | — | — | 2 | |
| 55 | JAMMIN BIG GUITAR Vaughan Mason (Brunswick 220) | 58 | 58 | 60 | 8 | |
| 56 | CONTROVERSY Prince (Warner Bros. 49808) | 77 | — | — | 2 | |
| 57 | WHO’S BEEN KISSING YOU? Hot Cuisine (Prelude 8035) | 61 | 65 | 67 | 7 | |
| 58 | I’VE GOT TO LEARN TO SAY NO! Richard “Dimples” Fields (Boardwalk 124) | 66 | 74 | 85 | 4 | |
| 59 | TAKE MY LOVE Melba Moore (EMI America 8092) | 67 | 75 | 86 | 4 | |
| 60 | SATURDAY NIGHT Bobby Broom (Arista/GRP 2516) | 63 | 66 | 76 | 6 | |
| 61 | JUST MY LUCK Tyrone Davis (Columbia 02269) | 69 | 77 | 88 | 4 | |
| 62 | FREEWAY Peaches & Herb (Polydor/MVP 2178) | 41 | 31 | 32 | 10 | |
| 63 | INSIDE YOU (pt. 1) Isley Brothers (T-Neck 02531) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 64 | LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY (pt. 1) Jean Carn (TSOP 02501) | 80 | — | — | 2 | |
| 65 | LET’S START II DANCE AGAIN Bohannon featuring Dr. Perri Johnson (Phase II 02573) | 75 | 79 | 92 | 4 | |
| 66 | INCH BY INCH Strikers (Prelude 8033) | 71 | 76 | 79 | 7 | |
| 67 | CLASS (Is What You Got) Reddings (Believe In A Dream 02437) | 70 | 73 | 77 | 6 | |
| 68 | NASTY DISPOSITION Aurra (Salsoul 2148) | 76 | 84 | — | 3 | |
| 69 | MIDDLE OF A SLOW DANCE Klique (MCA 51158) | 78 | 86 | — | 3 | |
| 70 | ANOTHER DAY WON’T MATTER Billy Ocean (Epic/GTO 02485) | 72 | 80 | — | 3 | |
| 71 | WARM WEATHER Pieces Of A Dream (Elektra 47181) | 73 | 81 | 89 | 4 | |
| 72 | MEANT FOR YOU Debra Laws (Elektra 47198) | 87 | — | — | 2 | |
| 73 | JUST ONE MOMENT AWAY Manhattans (Columbia 02191) | 39 | 28 | 21 | 14 | |
| 74 | LET’S GET CRACKIN’ Shock (Fantasy 916) | 79 | 87 | — | 3 | |
| 75 | KOOL WHIP Fatback (Spring 3020) | 65 | 68 | 78 | 5 | |
| 76 | SOMETHING ABOUT YOU Ebonee Webb (Capitol 5044) | 84 | — | — | 2 | |
| 77 | ZULU The Quick (Pavillion 02455) | 85 | 85 | 90 | 4 | |
| 78 | IT WAS SO EASY Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion 46024) | 90 | — | — | 2 | |
| 79 | FREEFALL (Into Love) Lenny Williams (MCA 51179) | 89 | — | — | 2 | |
| 80 | FUNKY SENSATION Gwen McCrae (Atlantic 3853) | 83 | 93 | 91 | 5 | |
| 81 | BACKFIRED Debbie Harry (Chrysalis 2526) | 81 | 78 | 80 | 5 | |
| 82 | SHE BELIEVES IN ME Robert Winters & Fall (Buddah 628) | 82 | 90 | — | 3 | |
| 83 | REGGAE ON BROADWAY Bob Marley (Cotillion 46023) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 84 | IT’S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE Truth (Devaki 4003) | 88 | 94 | — | 3 | |
| 85 | STEAL THE NIGHT Stevie Woods (Cotillion 46016) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 86 | SOMETHIN’ THAT YOU DO TO ME (Keeps Turning Me On) T Life (Arista 0623) | 92 | 92 | — | 3 | |
| 87 | NOTHIN’ BUT A FOOL Natalie Cole (Capitol 5045) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 88 | MIGHTY FINE TTF (Gold Coast 1100) | 43 | 40 | 42 | 9 | |
| 89 | DISCO DREAM Mean Machine (Sugar Hill 768) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 90 | SHAKEDOWN Dream Machine (RCA 12289) | 93 | — | — | 2 | |
| 91 | MAGIC MAN Herb Alpert (A&M 2356) | 55 | 50 | 35 | 10 | |
| 92 | FUNKY SOUND (Tear The Roof Off) Sequence (Sugar Hill 767) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 93 | I JUST WANT TO LOVE YOU Stanley Clarke/George Duke (Epic 02397) | 62 | 62 | 57 | 8 | |
| 94 | KEY TO THE WORLD L. J. Reynolds (Capitol 5035) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 95 | GIGOLETTE Ozone (Motown 1521) | 95 | — | — | 2 | |
| 96 | THIS IS FOR THE LOVER IN YOU Shalamar (Solar 12250) | 54 | 26 | 22 | 16 | |
| 97 | WHO’S SAD Smokey Robinson (Tamla 54332) | 86 | 82 | 82 | 6 | |
| 98 | THAT OLD SONG Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio (Arista 0616) | 51 | 36 | 27 | 12 | |
| 99 | STAY THE NIGHT LaToya Jackson (Polydor 2177) | 64 | 47 | 34 | 12 | |
| 100 | DOUBLE DUTCH BUS Frankie Smith (WMOT 5356) | 60 | 45 | 23 | 32 | |
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