Rolling Stone Album Chart Info 1978-85

In the December 14, 1978 edition of Rolling Stone, the magazine introduced a new album chart:

The chart dropped from 100 to 50 albums beginning with the February 17, 1983 issue.

Following my unhealthy obsession with chart data, I compiled a spreadsheet of the Rolling Stone chart data from that first chart through the year-end chart of 1985. If you're ever interested in that data, it is available in PDF form. Help yourself: Rolling Stone Album Chart Info 1978-85.

List of Billboard #1 Top Rock Tracks of 1985

In 1985, Billboard published a weekly list of the 50 top rock tracks (not necessarily released as singles).  The chart was "compiled from national album-oriented radio airplay reports."  Here's the 23 tracks that hit the #1 spot that year:

Week Ending	Track	Artist
January 5	"The Boys of Summer"	Don Henley
January 12
January 19	"I Want to Know What Love Is"	Foreigner
January 26	"The Old Man Down the Road"	John Fogerty
February 2
February 9
February 16	"Somebody"	Bryan Adams
February 23
March 2	"Just Another Night"	Mick Jagger
March 9
March 16	"Radioactive"	The Firm
March 23	"All She Wants to Do is Dance"	Don Henley
March 30
April 6	"Forever Man"	Eric Clapton
April 13
April 20	"Don't You (Forget About Me)"	Simple Minds
April 27
May 4
May 11	"Trapped"	Bruce Springsteen
May 18
May 25
June 1	"Little by Little"	Robert Plant
June 8
June 15	"Tough All Over"	John Caffery and The Beaver Brown Band
June 22
June 29	"If You Love Somebody Set Them Free"	Sting
July 6
July 13
July 20	"The Power of Love"	Huey Lewis and The News
July 27
August 3	"Money for Nothing"	Dire Straits
August 10
August 17
August 24	"Fortress Around Your Heart"	Sting
August 31
September 7	"Lonely Ol' Night"	John Cougar Mellencamp
September 14
September 21
September 28
October 5
October 12	"We Built This City"	Starship
October 19	"You Belong to the City"	Glenn Frey
October 26
November 2
November 9	"Sleeping Bag"	ZZ Top
November 16
November 23	"Tonight She Comes"	The Cars
November 30
December 7
December 14	"Talk to Me"	Stevie Nicks
December 21
December 28	"Silent Running"	Mike & The Mechanics

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List of Billboard #1 Rock Tracks of 1984

Beginning with the March 21, 1981 issue, Billboard published a weekly list of the 50 top rock tracks (not necessarily released as singles).  Billboard put the chart together as a self-described "compilation of Rock Radio Airplay as indicated by the nation's leading Album oriented and Rock Tracks stations."  Here's the tracks that hit #1 in 1984:

Week Ending	Track	Artist
January 7	"If I'd Been the One"	.38 Special
January 14
January 21	"Jump"	Van Halen
January 28
February 4
February 11
February 18
February 25
March 3
March 10
March 17	"Got a Hold on Me"	Christine McVie
March 24
March 31	"A Fine Fine Day"	Tony Carey
April 7	"Against All Odds"	Phil Collins
April 14	"You Might Think"	The Cars
April 21
April 28
May 5	"Oh Sherrie"	Steve Perry
May 12
May 19	"Run Runaway"	Slade
May 26
June 2	"Magic"	The Cars
June 9	"Dancing in the Dark"	Bruce Springsteen
June 16
June 23
June 30
July 7
July 14	"No Way Out"	Jefferson Starship
July 21
July 28	"The Warrior"	Scandal
August 4
August 11	"Rock Me Tonite"	Billy Squier
August 18	"The Warrior"	Scandal
August 25	"Missing You"	John Waite
September 1
September 8	"Are We Ourselves?"	The Fixx
September 15*
September 22	"On the Dark Side"	John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band
September 29
October 6
October 13
October 20
October 27	"I Can't Hold Back"	Survivor
November 3
November 10
November 17	"Run to You"	Bryan Adams
November 24
December 1
December 8
December 15	"The Boys of Summer"	Don Henley
December 22

* the chart title changed to "Top Rock Tracks" beginning with the September 15 issue.

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List of Every Album on the Billboard Rock Albums Chart, March 1981 - September 1984

In June of last year, I started a deep-dive into Billboard's Rock Albums charts, an interesting mix of pop-rock, New Wave, Southern Rock, soft rock, dance, yacht, roots rock, heavy metal, and smooth jazz.  Listed weekly as "A compilation of Rock Radio Airplay as indicated by the nations [sic] leading Album oriented and Rock Tracks stations," the Rock Albums chart consisted of 50 positions and ran from March 21, 1981 through September 8, 1984.

March 21, 1981

For the past few months, I have teased this information by listing all the #1 albums for the years 1981, 1982, 1983, & 1984, but I've also compiled a complete list (alphabetical by artist) of all the Rock Album chart information and offer it to you here. Simply click on the image below to view and/or download a 62 page PDF file.

Disclaimer: the Rock Albums list sometimes included 12" promo singles, imports, and 45s. Go figure. Sometimes the single was just a placeholder on the chart until the album was released. For example, the George Thorogood single, "Nobody but Me," placed on the charts on August 7, 1982. Then, once the Bad to the Bone album was released, the album took over the single's spot and kept the "weeks on chart" tally going. So the first time we see Bad to the Bone on the chart is the August 28 chart, where it has been on the chart for 4 weeks. Doesn't exactly make sense? Precisely.

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These albums spent the longest amount of time on said charts:

1. Eliminator (56 weeks)
2. Sports (51 weeks, at #5 when chart ceased)
3. Don't Say No (46)
4. Midnight Madness (45, at #10 when chart ceased)
5. Pyromania (44)
6. 4 (43)
7. Business as Usual (41)

List of Billboard #1 Rock Albums of 1984

Until the September 15, 1984 issue, Billboard published a weekly list of the 50 top rock albums.  176 albums made the rock albums chart in 1984; here's a chart of the six albums that hit the #1 spot that year:

Week Ending	Track	Artist
January 7	90125	Yes
January 14
January 21	Genesis	Genesis
January 28
February 4	1984	Van Halen
February 11
February 18
February 25
March 3
March 10
March 17
March 24
March 31
April 7	Against All Odds	Soundtrack
April 14	Heartbeat City	The Cars
April 21
April 28
May 5
May 12
May 19
May 26
June 2
June 9
June 16	Born in the U.S.A.	Bruce Springsteen
June 23
June 30	Heartbeat City	The Cars
July 7	Born in the U.S.A.	Bruce Springsteen
July 14
July 21	Heartbeat City	The Cars
July 28	Born in the U.S.A.	Bruce Springsteen
August 4	Heartbeat City	The Cars
August 11
August 18
August 25
September 1
September 8	Born in the U.S.A.	Bruce Springsteen
Chart discontinued

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Blog post #850

List of Billboard #1 Rock Tracks of 1983

Beginning with the March 21, 1981 issue, Billboard published a weekly list of the 50 top rock tracks (not necessarily released as singles).  Billboard put the chart together as a self-described "compilation of Rock Radio Airplay as indicated by the nation's leading Album oriented and Rock Tracks stations."  Here's the 18 tracks that hit the top spot in 1983:

Week Ending	Track	Artist
January 8	"Down Under"	Men at Work
January 15	"You Got Lucky"	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
January 22	"Hungry Like the Wolf"	Duran Duran
January 29
February 5
February 12	"Twilight Zone"	Golden Earring
February 19	"Separate Ways"	Journey
February 26
March 5
March 12
March 19	"Photograph"	Def Leppard
March 26
April 2
April 9
April 16
April 23
April 30	"She's a Beauty"	The Tubes
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 28
June 4	"Rock of Ages"	Def Leppard
June 11	"Every Breath You Take"	The Police
June 18
June 25
July 2
July 9
July 16
July 23
July 30
August 6
August 13	"Other Arms"	Robert Plant
August 20	"Don't Cry"	Asia
August 27	"King of Pain"	The Police
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24	"How Can I Refuse?"	Heart
October 1	"King of Pain"	The Police
October 8	"Suddenly Last Summer"	The Motels
October 15
October 22	"Love is a Battlefield"	Pat Benatar
October 29
November 5	"Heart and Soul"	Huey Lewis & The News
November 12	"Love is a Battlefield"	Pat Benatar
November 20
November 26	"Owner of a Lonely Heart"	Yes
December 3
December 10
December 17
December 24	"If I'd Been the One"	.38 Special

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List of Billboard #1 Rock Albums of 1983

In 1983, Billboard published a weekly Rock Albums list with 50 albums ranked.  A total of 266 albums charted in 1983.  Here's a chart of the #1 rock albums of that year:

Week Ending	Album	Artist
January 7	Long After Dark	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
January 15
January 22
January 29
February 5
February 12	The Distance	Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
February 19
February 26	Frontiers	Journey
March 5
March 12
March 19
March 26
April 2
April 9
April 16	Pyromania	Def Leppard
April 23
April 30	War	U2
May 7	Cargo	Men at Work
May 14
May 21	War	U2
May 28	Cargo	Men at Work
June 4
June 11	"Every Breath You Take" (45 single)	The Police
June 18
June 25	Reach the Beach	The Fixx
July 2
July 9	Synchronicity	The Police
July 16
July 23
July 30
August 6
August 13
August 20
August 27
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24
October 1
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 29	Live from Earth	Pat Benatar
November 5	Genesis	Genesis
November 12
November 19	Uh-Huh	John Cougar Mellencamp
November 26	Undercover	The Rolling Stones
December 3
December 10	Genesis	Genesis
December 17
December 24	90125	Yes

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List of Billboard #1 Rock Tracks of 1982

Beginning with the March 21, 1981 issue, Billboard published a weekly list of the 50 top rock tracks (not necessarily released as singles). Billboard put the chart together as a self-described "compilation of Rock Radio Airplay as indicated by the nation's leading Album oriented and Rock Tracks stations." Here's the 19 tracks that hit the top spot in 1982:

Week Ending	Track	Artist
January 8	"Harden My Heart"	Quarterflash
January 15	"Centerfold"	The J. Geils Band
January 22
January 29
February 5	"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"	Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
February 12
February 19
February 26
March 5
March 12	"Pretty Woman"	Van Halen
March 19
March 26	"Don't Let Him Know"	Prism
April 2	"867-5309/Jenny"	Tommy Tutone
April 9
April 16
April 23	"Heat of the Moment"	Asia
April 30
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 28	"No One Like You"	Scorpions
June 4	"Stone Cold"	Rainbow
June 11	"Heat of the Moment"	Asia
June 18	"Hurts So Good"	John Cougar
June 25	"Caught Up in You"	.38 Special
July 2	"Eye of the Tiger"	Survivor
July 9
July 16
July 23
July 30
August 6	"Think I'm in Love"	Eddie Money
August 13
August 20
August 27	"Everybody Wants You"	Billy Squier
September 3
September 10
September 17
September 24
October 1
October 8	"New World Man"	Rush
October 15	"Dirty Laundry"	Don Henley
October 22
October 29	"New World Man"	Rush
November 5	"Dirty Laundry"	Don Henley
November 12	"Shock the Monkey"	Peter Gabriel
November 19
November 26	"Down Under"	Men at Work
December 3
December 10	"You Got Lucky"	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
December 17
December 24	"Down Under"	Men at Work

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List of Billboard #1 Rock Albums of 1982

In 1982, Billboard published a weekly Rock Albums list with 50 albums ranked. A total of 263 albums charted in 1982; here's a chart of the #1 rock albums of that year:

Week Ending	Album	Artist
January 9	Tattoo You	The Rolling Stone
January 16
January 23	Freeze-Frame	The J. Geils Band
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27
March 6
March 13
March 20
March 27
April 3
April 10	Standing Hampton	Sammy Hagar
April 17
April 24	Asia	Asia
May 1
May 8
May 15
May 22
May 29
June 5
June 12
June 19	American Fool	John Cougar
June 26	Asia	Asia
July 3
July 10
July 17
July 24	Pictures at Eleven	Robert Plant
July 31
August 7
August 14
August 21	Mirage	Fleetwood Mac
August 28	Pictures at Eleven	Robert Plant
September 4	Emotions in Motion	Billy Squier
September 11
September 18
September 25
October 2	It's Hard	The Who
October 9
October 16	Signals	Rush
October 23
October 30
November 6	I Can't Stand Still	Don Henley
November 13	It's Hard	The Who
November 20	Get Nervous	Pat Benatar
November 27	Long After Dark	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
December 4
December 11
December 18
December 25

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List of Billboard #1 Rock Tracks of 1981

Beginning with the March 21, 1981 issue, Billboard published a weekly list of the 50 top rock tracks (not necessarily released as singles). Billboard put the chart together as a self-described "compilation of Rock Radio Airplay as indicated by the nation's leading Album oriented and Rock Tracks stations." Here's the 11 tracks that hit the top spot that year:

Week Ending	Track	Artist
January 10	No chart
January 17
January 24
January 31
February 7
February 14
February 21
February 28
March 7
March 14
March 21	"I Can't Stand It"	Eric Clapton
March 28
April 4	"You Better You Bet"	The Who
April 11
April 18
April 25
May 2
May 9	"The Waiting"	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
May 16
May 23
May 30
June 6
June 13
June 20	"A Life of Illusion"	Joe Walsh
June 27	"The Voice"	The Moody Blues
July 4
July 11
July 18
July 25	"Urgent"	Foreigner
August 1
August 8
August 15
August 22	"Burnin' for You"	Blue Öyster Cult
August 29
September 5	"Start Me Up"	The Rolling Stones
September 12
September 19
September 26
October 3
October 10
October 17
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
November 21
November 28
December 5	"Waiting for a Girl Like You"	Foreigner
December 12	"Every Little Thing She Does is Magic"	The Police
December 19
December 26	"Harden My Heart"	Quarterflash

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List of Billboard #1 Rock Albums of 1981

Beginning with the March 21, 1981 issue, Billboard published a weekly list of the 50 top rock albums. Billboard put the chart together as a self-described "compilation of Rock Radio Airplay as indicated by the nation's leading Album oriented and Rock Tracks stations." 210 albums made the rock albums chart in 1981; here's the 10 albums that hit the #1 spot that year:

Week Ending	Album	Artist
January 10	No chart
January 17
January 24
January 31
February 7
February 14
February 21
February 28
March 7
March 14
March 21	Paradise Theater	Styx
March 28	Hi Infidelity	REO Speedwagon
April 4	Another Ticket	Eric Clapton
April 11	Face Dances	The Who
April 18
April 25	Another Ticket	Eric Clapton
May 2	Face Dances	The Who
May 9
May 16
May 23
May 30	Hard Promises	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
June 6
June 13
June 20
June 27
July 4
July 11
July 18
July 25	Long Distance Voyager	Moody Blues
August 1	4	Foreigner
August 8
August 15	Escape	Journey
August 22	4	Foreigner
August 29	Escape	Journey
September 5	4	Foreigner
September 12	Escape	Journey
September 19	Tattoo You	The Rolling Stones
September 26
October 3
October 10
October 17
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
November 21	Abacab	Genesis
November 28
December 5	Tattoo You	The Rolling Stones
December 12
December 19
December 26

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Billboard Rock Albums & Top Tracks, March 1981 - September 1984

There's gotta be over 50 charts in Billboard these days, but on March 21, 1981 the magazine introduced three new charts and it was a pretty big deal for white, suburban males errrrr.....I mean FM album-oriented rock radio people across the country.

Coincidentally (maybe?), early 1981 was about the time I was moving from KILT-AM (narrowly beating a format switch from Top 40 to country) to stations on the FM dial: 101 KLOL, 97 Rock, and, later, KKBQ.

Anyway, here's that first chart, "A compilation of Rock Radio Airplay as indicated by the nations leading Album oriented and Rock Tracks stations" [sic] :

That album chart is an interesting mix of pop-rock, New Wave, Southern Rock, soft rock, dance, yacht, roots rock, heavy metal, and smooth jazz. I dig! And here's the last chart to feature albums from September 8, 1984:

The Rock Albums chart was discontinued in the September 15 issue and Top Tracks was renamed Top Rock Tracks. It is currently branded as the Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Has anyone ever compiled a Whitburnesque list of the Rock albums charts (1981-84) or is that gonna need to be a new side project for me?  (As if I wasn't gonna do it anyway for shits and giggles.) Update: that rock album chart info, along with other charts, is now available at our sister website: https://albumcharts.wordpress.com/

As seen in the "Top Adds" section above, the Rock Albums list sometimes included 12" promo singles, imports, and 45s. Go figure. Sometimes the single was just a placeholder on the chart until the album was released. For example, the George Thorogood single, "Nobody but Me," placed on the charts on August 7, 1982. Then, once the Bad to the Bone album was released, the album took over the single's spot and kept the "weeks on chart" tally going. So the first time we see Bad to the Bone on the chart is the August 28 chart, where it has been on the chart for 4 weeks. Doesn't make sense? Exactly.

More to come...