| The CASH BOX Top 100 Black Contemporary | ||||||
| Green square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending OCTOBER 17, 1981 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL Four Tops (Casablanca 2338) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | |
| 2 | NEVER TOO MUCH Luther Vandross (Epic 02409) | 4 | 5 | 7 | 11 | |
| 3 | ENDLESS LOVE Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Motown 1519) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | |
| 4 | SUPER FREAK (pt. 1) Rick James (Gordy 7205) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | |
| 5 | WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. 49746) | 5 | 6 | 10 | 14 | |
| 6 | SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) Carl Carlton (20th Century-Fox 2488) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 18 | |
| 7 | LOVE ALL THE HURT AWAY Aretha Franklin & George Benson (Arista 0624) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | |
| 8 | I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (pt. 1) Roger (Warner Bros. 49786) | 12 | 16 | 25 | 9 | |
| 9 | ON THE BEAT B. B. & Q. Band (Capitol 4993) | 9 | 13 | 15 | 16 | |
| 10 | SILLY Deniece Williams (ARC 02406) | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | |
| 11 | GET IT UP The Time (Warner Bros. 49774) | 13 | 15 | 18 | 9 | |
| 12 | SWEAT (Til You Get Wet) Brick (Bang 02246) | 11 | 10 | 8 | 14 | |
| 13 | JUST BE MY LADY Larry Graham (Warner Bros. 49744) | 7 | 7 | 6 | 17 | |
| 14 | I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE Teddy Pendergrass (Philadelphia Int’l 02462) | 16 | 17 | 23 | 8 | |
| 15 | LOVE HAS COME AROUND Donald Byrd & 125th Street, N.Y.C. (Elektra 47168) | 18 | 23 | 29 | 11 | |
| 16 | BEFORE I LET GO Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly (Capitol 5031) | 19 | 22 | 32 | 9 | |
| 17 | TAKE MY HEART (You Can Have It If You Want It) Kool & Gang (De-Lite 815) | 27 | 48 | — | 3 | |
| 18 | I’LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU Denroy Morgan (Becket 45-5) | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | |
| 19 | SNAP SHOT Slave (Cotillion 46022) | 24 | 43 | 50 | 6 | |
| 20 | JUST ONCE Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram (A&M 2357) | 23 | 29 | 33 | 9 | |
| 21 | SLOW HAND Pointer Sisters (Planet 47929) | 14 | 12 | 9 | 19 | |
| 22 | LET’S DANCE (Make Your Body Move) West Street Mob (Sugar Hill 763) | 21 | 21 | 24 | 11 | |
| 23 | THIS KIND OF LOVIN’ Whispers (Solar 12295) | 31 | 39 | 49 | 7 | |
| 24 | CONTROVERSY Prince (Warner Bros. 49808) | 32 | 56 | 77 | 4 | |
| 25 | DO YOU LOVE ME? Patti Austin (Qwest 49754) | 25 | 30 | 30 | 11 | |
| 26 | STAY AWAKE Ronnie Laws (Liberty 1424) | 26 | 28 | 28 | 10 | |
| 27 | SQUARE BIZ Teena Marie (Gordy 7202) | 17 | 8 | 4 | 18 | |
| 28 | LET’S GROOVE Earth, Wind & Fire (ARC 02536) | 50 | — | — | 2 | |
| 29 | SHE’S GOT THE PAPERS (But I Got The Man) Barbara Mason (WMOT 02506) | 29 | 41 | 44 | 8 | |
| 30 | OH NO Commodores (Motown 1527) | 34 | 54 | 74 | 4 | |
| 31 | HERE I AM Dynasty (Solar 47932) | 28 | 25 | 22 | 16 | |
| 32 | PULL FANCY DANCER / PULL (pt. 2) One Way (MCA 51165) | 39 | 47 | 53 | 7 | |
| 33 | TIME TO THINK Rockie Robbins (A&M 2355) | 38 | 44 | 52 | 7 | |
| 34 | AIMING AT YOUR HEART Temptations (Gordy 7208) | 33 | 33 | 35 | 10 | |
| 35 | SHE DON’T LET NOBODY (But Me) Curtis Mayfield (Boardwalk 122) | 37 | 42 | 48 | 7 | |
| 36 | INSIDE YOU (pt. 1) Isley Brothers (T-Neck 02531) | 48 | 63 | — | 3 | |
| 37 | TAKE MY LOVE Melba Moore (EMI America 8092) | 46 | 59 | 67 | 6 | |
| 38 | SECRETS Bobby Womack (Beverly Glen 2000) | 43 | 49 | 56 | 7 | |
| 39 | IT SHOWS IN THE EYES Ashford & Simpson (Warner Bros. 49805) | 44 | 50 | 57 | 5 | |
| 40 | WIKKA WRAP Evasions (SAM 5020) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 12 | |
| 41 | IF THAT’LL MAKE YOU HAPPY Gladys Knight & Pips (Columbia 02413) | 35 | 35 | 37 | 10 | |
| 42 | DANCIN’ FREE Brothers Johnson (A&M 2368) | 45 | 51 | 59 | 6 | |
| 43 | DO IT NOW (pt. 1) S.O.S. Band (Tabu 02125) | 30 | 18 | 17 | 15 | |
| 44 | I LIKE IT Cameo (Chocolate City 3227) | 36 | 36 | 38 | 8 | |
| 45 | I’VE GOT TO LEARN TO SAY NO! Richard “Dimples” Fields (Boardwalk 124) | 51 | 58 | 66 | 6 | |
| 46 | LOVE DON’T LOVE NOBODY (pt. 1) Jean Carn (TSOP 02501) | 54 | 64 | 80 | 4 | |
| 47 | A LITTLE BIT OF JAZZ Nick Straker Band (Prelude 8034) | 42 | 24 | 26 | 12 | |
| 48 | SOMETHING ABOUT YOU Ebonee Webb (Capitol 5044) | 58 | 76 | 84 | 4 | |
| 49 | GENERAL HOSPI-TALE Afternoon Delights (MCA 51148) | 41 | 27 | 27 | 11 | |
| 50 | EVERYBODY’S BROKE Herbie Hancock (Columbia 02404) | 40 | 40 | 42 | 10 | |
| 51 | MIDDLE OF A SLOW DANCE Klique (MCA 51158) | 61 | 69 | 78 | 5 | |
| 52 | MEANT FOR YOU Debra Laws (Elektra 47198) | 62 | 72 | 87 | 4 | |
| 53 | SHINE YOUR LIGHT Graingers (BC 002) | 53 | 45 | 45 | 15 | |
| 54 | LET’S START II DANCE AGAIN Bohannon featuring Dr. Perri Johnson (Phase II 02573) | 56 | 65 | 75 | 6 | |
| 55 | WARM WEATHER Pieces Of A Dream (Elektra 47181) | 63 | 71 | 73 | 6 | |
| 56 | CAN’T WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson (Arista 0606) | 22 | 19 | 19 | 16 | |
| 57 | NOTHIN’ BUT A FOOL Natalie Cole (Capitol 5045) | 71 | 87 | — | 3 | |
| 58 | BLUE JEANS Chocolate Milk (RCA 12335) | 74 | — | — | 2 | |
| 59 | JUST MY LUCK Tyrone Davis (Columbia 02269) | 59 | 61 | 69 | 6 | |
| 60 | ZULU The Quick (Pavillion 02455) | 68 | 77 | 85 | 6 | |
| 61 | JAMMIN BIG GUITAR Vaughan Mason (Brunswick 220) | 55 | 55 | 58 | 10 | |
| 62 | LET’S GET CRACKIN’ Shock (Fantasy 916) | 64 | 74 | 79 | 5 | |
| 63 | FUNKY SENSATION Gwen McCrae (Atlantic 3853) | 72 | 80 | 83 | 7 | |
| 64 | IT WAS SO EASY Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion 46024) | 69 | 78 | 90 | 4 | |
| 65 | NASTY DISPOSITION Aurra (Salsoul 2148) | 65 | 68 | 76 | 5 | |
| 66 | NIGHT GAMES Stephanie Mills (20th Century-Fox 2506) | 49 | 38 | 40 | 9 | |
| 67 | STEAL THE NIGHT Stevie Woods (Cotillion 46016) | 77 | 85 | — | 3 | |
| 68 | FREEFALL (Into Love) Lenny Williams (MCA 51179) | 76 | 79 | 89 | 4 | |
| 69 | ANOTHER DAY WON’T MATTER Billy Ocean (Epic/GTO 02485) | 70 | 70 | 72 | 5 | |
| 70 | GOODBYE HIM HELLO YOU Betty Wright (Epic 02521) | 80 | — | — | 2 | |
| 71 | INCH BY INCH Strikers (Prelude 8033) | 66 | 66 | 71 | 9 | |
| 72 | REGGAE ON BROADWAY Bob Marley (Cotillion 46023) | 75 | 83 | — | 3 | |
| 73 | DISCO DREAM Mean Machine (Sugar Hill 768) | 81 | 89 | — | 3 | |
| 74 | HANG ON IN THERE Harold Melvin & Blue Notes (MCA 51190) | 82 | — | — | 2 | |
| 75 | WHO’S BEEN KISSING YOU? Hot Cuisine (Prelude 8035) | 57 | 57 | 61 | 9 | |
| 76 | BABY NOT TONIGHT Madagascar (Arista 0625) | 93 | — | — | 2 | |
| 77 | I’M SO GLAD I’M STANDING HERE TODAY Crusaders featuring Joe Cocker (MCA 51177) | 85 | — | — | 2 | |
| 78 | YOU GO YOUR WAY (I’ll Go Mine) Spinners (Atlantic 3865) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 79 | LADY (You Bring Me Up) Commodores (Motown 1514) | 47 | 32 | 21 | 17 | |
| 80 | HEART HEART Geraldine Hunt with Charles Marotta (Prism 412) | 88 | — | — | 2 | |
| 81 | IT MUST BE MAGIC Teena Marie (Gordy 7212) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 82 | FUNKY SOUND (Tear The Roof Off) Sequence (Sugar Hill 767) | 92 | 92 | — | 3 | |
| 83 | I’M IN LOVE Evelyn King (RCA 12243) | 52 | 26 | 12 | 18 | |
| 84 | ALL I WANT Twennynine With Lenny White (Elektra 47208) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 85 | LOVIN’ YOU (Is Such An Easy Thang To Do) Roberta Flack (MCA 51173) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 86 | WALL TO WALL Rene & Angela (Capitol 5052) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 87 | DON’T STOP THE MUSIC Bits & Pieces (Mango 109) | 78 | 53 | 46 | 11 | |
| 88 | TONIGHT YOU AND ME Phyllis Hyman (Arista 0637) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 89 | BOOGIE’S GONNA GET YA’ Rafael Cameron (Salsoul 2151) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 90 | WALKING INTO SUNSHINE Central Line (Mercury 76126) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 91 | 96 TEARS Thelma Houston (RCA 12285) | 91 | — | — | 2 | |
| 92 | I COULD WRITE A LOVE SONG Mighty Fire (Elektra 47199) | 95 | — | — | 2 | |
| 93 | NIGHTLIFE Kwick (EMI America 8091) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 94 | SATURDAY NIGHT Bobby Broom (Arista/GRP 2516) | 60 | 60 | 63 | 8 | |
| 95 | CLASS (Is What You Got) Reddings (Believe In A Dream 02437) | 67 | 67 | 70 | 8 | |
| 96 | JUST ONE MOMENT AWAY Manhattans (Columbia 02191) | 83 | 73 | 39 | 16 | |
| 97 | YOU GOT THE PAPERS (But I Got The Man) Jean Knight & Premium (Cotillion 46020) | 73 | 46 | 47 | 8 | |
| 98 | SOMETHIN’ THAT YOU DO TO ME (Keeps Turning Me On) T Life (Arista 0623) | 86 | 86 | 92 | 5 | |
| 99 | KEY TO THE WORLD L. J. Reynolds (Capitol 5035) | 94 | 94 | — | 3 | |
| 100 | SHAKEDOWN Dream Machine (RCA 12289) | 90 | 90 | 93 | 4 | |
| << GO TO PREVIOUS WEEK GO TO FOLLOWING WEEK >> RETURN TO 1981 |