Best Albums of 1981

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Listed below are the best albums of 1981 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 53,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1981 year summaryThe best artists of 1981 were Rush, Kraftwerk, King Crimson, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Brian Eno & David Byrne, Electric Light Orchestra, The Cure, The Human League, Black Flag and This Heat.

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81.

You Are What You Is

Frank Zappa

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

53 charts

Rank Score:

300

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

682

Overall Rank:

4,633

Average Rating:

74 (104 votes)

Comments:

82.

Penthouse And Pavement

Heaven 17

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

102 charts

Rank Score:

288

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

706

Overall Rank:

4,786

Average Rating:

71 (106 votes)

Comments:

83.

Give The People What They Want

The Kinks

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

68 charts

Rank Score:

286

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

716

Overall Rank:

4,811

Average Rating:

72 (91 votes)

Comments:

84.

La Folie

The Stranglers

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

62 charts

Rank Score:

285

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

718

Overall Rank:

4,821

Average Rating:

73 (92 votes)

Comments:

85.

Prayers On Fire

The Birthday Party

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

96 charts

Rank Score:

282

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

724

Overall Rank:

4,876

Average Rating:

72 (97 votes)

Comments:

86.

Technodelic

Yellow Magic Orchestra

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

41 charts

Rank Score:

281

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

725

Overall Rank:

4,878

Average Rating:

75 (55 votes)

Comments:

87.

Shake It Up

The Cars

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

76 charts

Rank Score:

281

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

727

Overall Rank:

4,889

Average Rating:

73 (104 votes)

Comments:

88.

Living In Darkness

Agent Orange

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

72 charts

Rank Score:

269

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

741

Overall Rank:

5,010

Average Rating:

74 (76 votes)

Comments:

89.

Almost Blue

Elvis Costello And The Attractions

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

54 charts

Rank Score:

265

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

751

Overall Rank:

5,090

Average Rating:

70 (87 votes)

Comments:

90.

Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call
Compilation

Simple Minds

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

48 charts

Rank Score:

261

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

765

Overall Rank:

5,162

Average Rating:

72 (94 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 9 of 100

Best Albums of 1981 composition

Artist	Albums	%

Various Artists	15	2%
Frank Zappa	5	1%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
David Bowie	3	0%
Kitarō	3	0%
Simple Minds	3	0%
Gary Numan	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	305	31%
	284	28%
	58	6%
	39	4%
	36	4%
	30	3%
	27	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	939	94%
Yes	61	6%

Live?	Albums	%
No	969	97%
Yes	31	3%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	990	99%
Yes	10	1%

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