On this day in 1981: Kim Carnes was enjoying her SIXTH week in the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Bette Davis Eyes.’

“Bette Davis Eyes” is a song originally written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974, but made popular by American singer Kim Carnes in 1981. Carnes’ 1981 version spent nine non-consecutive weeks on top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (originally on top for five weeks, then interrupted for one week by the “Stars on 45 Medley”, then returned to the top spot for another four weeks) and was Billboard’s  biggest hit of the year for 1981. The single also reached #5 on Billboard‘s Top Tracks Charts and #26 on the Dance charts.The song won Grammy Awards  for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song was also a number #1 in 21 countries and peaked at #10 in the U.K., her only Top 40 hit there to date. It also reached #2 in Canada for twelve consecutive weeks, and was the #2 hit of 1981 in the country.

The song was ranked at #12 on Billboard’s list of the top 100 songs in the first 50 years of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Here is the complete Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 for July 3, 1981:

1 2 BETTE DAVIS EYES –•– Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-14 (6 weeks at #1) (1)
2 1 MEDLEY: INTRO VENUS/SUGAR SUGAR/NO REPLY/I’LL BE BACK/DRIVE MY CAR/ DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET/WE CAN WORK IT OUT/I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER/NOWHERE MAN/YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE THAT GIRL/STARS ON 45 –•– Stars On 45 (Radio Records)-12 (1)
3 3 SUKIYAKI –•– A Taste Of Honey (Capitol)-17 (3)
4 4 A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (Just Like You Do) –•– Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio (Arista)-17 (4)
5 5 ALL THOSE YEARS AGO –•– George Harrison (Dark Horse)-6 (5)
6 7 THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-7 (6)
7 9 YOU MAKE MY DREAMS –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-9 (7)
8 8 AMERICA –•– Neil Diamond (Capitol)-10 (8)
9 10 JESSIE’S GIRL –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-14 (9)
10 23 ELVIRA –•– The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA)-7 (10)