On this day in 1981: U.S. singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, who had success in the 70s with ‘Taxi’, ‘W-O-L-D’ and the #1 hit ‘Cats In The Cradle’, was killed at age 38, suffering a cardiac arrest while driving on the Long Island Expressway in New York. His car was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer, causing the gas tank to explode.

On this day in 1983: The police were starting their second of eight weeks at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Every Breath You Take.” It would go on to be ranked the #1 song of 1983 by Billboard Magazine on their year-end chart and the #5 song for the entire 80s decade.

Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1983:

1 1 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE –•– The Police (A&M)-7 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 ELECTRIC AVENUE –•– Eddy Grant (Portrait)-14 (2)
3 3 FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING –•– Irene Cara (Casablanca)-16 (1)
4 4 NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO –•– Sergio Mendes (with Joe Pizzulo & Leza Miller) (A&M)-14 (4)
5 6 WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’ –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-8 (5)
6 8 COME DANCING –•– The Kinks (Arista)-11 (6)
7 5 TOO SHY –•– Kajagoogoo (EMI-America)-13 (5)
8 10 OUR HOUSE –•– Madness (Geffen)-11 (8)
9 13 IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-7 (9)
10 7 TIME (Clock Of the Heart) –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-14 (2)

11 14 STAND BACK –•– Stevie Nicks (Modern)-7 (11)
12 12 I’M STILL STANDING –•– Elton John (Geffen)-11 (12)
13 15 **1999** –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-19 (13)
14 18 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY –•– Donna Summer (Mercury)-8 (14)
15 20 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This) –•– The Eurythmics (RCA)-10 (15)
16 19 BABY JANE –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-8 (16)
17 17 ALL THIS LOVE –•– DeBarge (Gordy)-13 (17)
18 9 DON’T LET IT END –•– Styx (A&M)-12 (6)
19 25 MANIAC –•– Michael Sembello (Casablanca)-7 (19)
20 22 CUTS LIKE A KNIFE –•– Bryan Adams (A&M)-6 (20)

On this day in 1988: Cheap Trick were starting their second and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “The Flame.” It would go on to be ranked the #14 song for the entire year of 1988 by Billboard Magazine on their year-end chart,

Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1988:

1 1 THE FLAME –•– Cheap Trick – 15 (1)
2 2 MERCEDES BOY –•– Pebbles – 11 (2)
3 3 POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME –•– Def Leppard – 13 (3)
4 4 NEW SENSATION –•– INXS – 10 (4)
5 8 HOLD ON TO THE NIGHTS –•– Richard Marx – 9 (5)
6 12 ROLL WITH IT –•– Steve Winwood – 6 (6)
7 10 NITE AND DAY –•– Al B. Sure! – 15 (7)
8 14 HANDS TO HEAVEN –•– Breathe – 14 (8)
9 16 MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL –•– Eric Carmen – 9 (9)
10 6 NOTHIN’ BUT A GOOD TIME –•– Poison – 13 (6)

11 15 RUSH HOUR –•– Jane Wiedlin – 11 (11)
12 13 LOST IN YOU –•– Rod Stewart – 11 (12)
13 7 FOOLISH BEAT –•– Debbie Gibson – 13 (1)
14 17 SIGN YOUR NAME –•– Terence Trent D’Arby – 8 (14)
15 5 DIRTY DIANA –•– Michael Jackson – 11 (1)
16 9 THE VALLEY ROAD –•– Bruce Hornsby & The Range – 12 (5)
17 21 PARENTS JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND –•– D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – 9 (17)
18 22 PARADISE –•– Sade – 10 (18)
19 24 1-2-3 –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – 7 (19)
20 11 MAKE IT REAL –•– The Jets – 14 (4)