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:

52 charts

Rank Score:

300

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

681

Overall Rank:

4,630

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:

4,785

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:

4,810

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:

4,820

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:

723

Overall Rank:

4,872

Average Rating:

72 (97 votes)

Comments:

86.

Technodelic

Yellow Magic Orchestra

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

41 charts

Rank Score:

282

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

724

Overall Rank:

4,873

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:

4,887

Average Rating:

73 (104 votes)

Comments:

88.

Living In Darkness

Agent Orange

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

72 charts

Rank Score:

270

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

741

Overall Rank:

5,008

Average Rating:

74 (76 votes)

Comments:

89.

Almost Blue

Elvis Costello And The Attractions

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

54 charts

Rank Score:

264

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

755

Overall Rank:

5,104

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:

764

Overall Rank:

5,160

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%
Gary Numan	3	0%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
Scientist	3	0%
Kitarō	3	0%
David Bowie	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%

« View best albums of 1980View best albums of 1982 »

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Best Artists of 1978
1. Bruce Springsteen
2. Blondie
3. The Cars
4. Elvis Costello
5. Van Halen
6. Kraftwerk
7. Kate Bush
8. The Rolling Stones
9. Talking Heads
10. Steve Reich
11. Rush
12. Brian Eno
13. Dire Straits
14. Pere Ubu
15. Big Star
16. The Jam
17. The Police
18. Wire
19. Devo
20. AC/DC