1981 Albums

The following is a list of albums released in 1981.

For additional information about bands formed, reformed, disbanded, or on hiatus, for deaths of musicians, and for links to musical awards, see 1981 events. For previous years, see List of album releases by year.

First quarter

January

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

February

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home
Feb. 1981	J. J. Cale	Shades	Blues • Americana • Tulsa Sound	MCA	Tulsa, OK • La Jolla, California

March

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

Second quarter

April

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

May

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

June

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

Third quarter

July

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

August

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

September

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home
Sept. 1981	Reba McEntire	Heart to Heart	Country	Mercury	Kiowa, OK

Fourth quarter

October

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

November

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

December

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home

Unknown Release Date

Unknown

Release date	Artist	Album	Genre	Label	Home
1981	Kay Starr	Kay Starr	Jazz • Soul	GP	Los Angeles, CA
1981	Leon Russell with The New Grass Revival	The Live Album	Rock • Tulsa Sound	Paradise	Tulsa, OK
1981	Sandi Patti	Love Overflowing	Contemporary Christian • Christian	Impact	Oklahoma City, OK
1981	Wanda Jackson	Show Me the Way to Calvary	Christian • Gospel	Capitol	Oklahoma City, OK