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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11.

Youth Of America

Wipers

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

246 charts

Rank Score:

1,914

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

144

Overall Rank:

938

Average Rating:

81 (227 votes)

Comments:

12.

Fire Of Love

The Gun Club

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

255 charts

Rank Score:

1,883

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

147

Overall Rank:

956

Average Rating:

77 (296 votes)

Comments:

13.

Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

338 charts

Rank Score:

1,720

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

162

Overall Rank:

1,034

Average Rating:

75 (572 votes)

Comments:

14.

Ghost In The Machine

The Police

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

379 charts

Rank Score:

1,674

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

167

Overall Rank:

1,059

Average Rating:

75 (514 votes)

Comments:

15.

The Ascension

Glenn Branca

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

204 charts

Rank Score:

1,659

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

168

Overall Rank:

1,066

Average Rating:

78 (202 votes)

Comments:

16.

Heaven Up Here

Echo & The Bunnymen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

259 charts

Rank Score:

1,495

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

190

Overall Rank:

1,185

Average Rating:

77 (319 votes)

Comments:

17.

Face Value

Phil Collins

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

241 charts

Rank Score:

1,327

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

209

Overall Rank:

1,317

Average Rating:

73 (301 votes)

Comments:

18.

Killers

Iron Maiden

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

253 charts

Rank Score:

1,277

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

218

Overall Rank:

1,362

Average Rating:

77 (448 votes)

Comments:

19.

Movement

New Order

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

220 charts

Rank Score:

1,179

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

230

Overall Rank:

1,472

Average Rating:

76 (288 votes)

Comments:

20.

Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

194 charts

Rank Score:

1,117

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

240

Overall Rank:

1,547

Average Rating:

76 (213 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 2 of 100

Best Albums of 1981 composition

Artist	Albums	%

Various Artists	16	2%
Frank Zappa	5	1%
Scientist	3	0%
Simple Minds	3	0%
Kitarō	3	0%
Gary Numan	3	0%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	305	31%
	284	28%
	58	6%
	41	4%
	36	4%
	29	3%
	27	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	938	94%
Yes	62	6%

Live?	Albums	%
No	970	97%
Yes	30	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 1980
1. Talking Heads
2. Joy Division
3. AC/DC
4. David Bowie
5. Dead Kennedys
6. Peter Gabriel
7. Bruce Springsteen
8. The Cure
9. Rush
10. Pretenders
11. Dire Straits
12. The Feelies
13. The Clash
14. Black Sabbath
15. Motörhead
16. U2
17. Genesis
18. Elvis Costello
19. Steely Dan
20. Elvis Costello And The Attractions