On this day in 1981: Hall & Oates started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Private Eyes’. This single was the band’s third of six number one hits (the first two being ‘Rich Girl’ and ‘Kiss On My List’), and their second #1 hit of the 1980s at the time. It was succeeded in the #1 position by Olivia Newton John’s ‘Physical’ which was coincidentally succeeded by another #1 single from Hall and Oates, ‘I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)’.
The single carries a similar rhythm to the duo’s #1 hit from earlier that year, ‘Kiss On My List’ with the difference being a handclap chorus that has made the song an audience-participation favorite at live Hall and Oates shows. It was one of the duo’s first songs to appear in heavy rotation on MTV.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1981:
1 3 PRIVATE EYES –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-11 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 2 START ME UP –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-12 (2)
3 1 ARTHUR’S THEME (Best That You Can Do) –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-13 (1)
4 4 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY –•– Sheena Easton (Liberty)-16 (4)
5 6 TRYIN’ TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU –•– Bob Seger (Capitol)-9 (5)
6 8 THE NIGHT OWLS –•– Little River Band (Capitol)-12 (6)
7 7 HARD TO SAY –•– Dan Fogelberg (Epic / Full Moon)-11 (7)
8 9 I’VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-12 (8)
9 11 HERE I AM (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) –•– Air Supply (Arista)-7 (9)
10 15 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-5 (10)
11 12 WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL –•– The Four Tops (Casablanca)-13 (11)
12 13 THE THEME FROM “HILL STREET BLUES” –•– Mike Post (Featuring Larry Carlton) (Elektra)-12 (12)
13 5 ENDLESS LOVE –•– Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (Motown)-18 (1)
14 23 PHYSICAL –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-6 (14)
15 17 WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER Al Jarreau (Warner Brothers)-15 (15)
16 20 OH NO –•– The Commodores (Motown)-7 (16)
17 18 SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-9 (17)
18 19 JUST ONCE –•– Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram (A&M)-13 (18)
19 21 EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC –•– The Police (A&M)-7 (19)
20 26 THE OLD SONGS –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-5 (20)
On this day in 1987: Bruce Springsteen went to #1 on the U.S. album chart with ‘Tunnel Of Love.’ His eighth studio album went triple platinum in the U.S., with ‘Brilliant Disguise’ being one of his biggest hit singles, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
