Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by 
Tamthebam 
Not my most favourite decade but once I started compiling this chart I began to realise that it wasn't that bad! I went through some bad times during this time so that may have influenced my choices, I loved Linda Ronstadt's album "What's New" and this made me investigate the original torch singers who first sang the songs on this great albun of covers. RnB/Soul music was what I was listening to most at this time. I enjoy all types of music except heavy metal. I did not include any compilation albums that are already included in my year charts.
- Chart updated: 10/01/2025 11:45
- (Created: 08/24/2013 15:21).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 13 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 19 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This was away ahead of its time it took me years to get into it ! The 2nd side is an amazing adventure in lyrical musicianship and I never related to it until I was older. Side 1 is not bad either !
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,250
Rank in 1985:
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Her 2nd album is as good as her debut. This album contains 4 of her greatest songs ever Lucky Guy, Living It Up, We Belong Together & the sprawling Traces of the Western Slopes. The title track is also a strong song the weakest track is The Returns. To me its the best album released in the 80's
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
627
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Linda Ronstadt is a well known country/rock singer and released many successful albums during the 70's. This album was one of the first to feature songs from the 1920-50 era that so many singers these days seem to find a need to record and ruin. Linda Ronstadt's versions of these songs are amazing she has a very strong and moving voice and backed by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra brings the songs here to life again. A beautiful late night listen to relax with.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
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This is the best Streisand album out there. After making a whole bunch of pop albums in the 70's, she decided to revisit Broadway songs which was how her recording career began & Broadway songs were basically all she released up to 1968. The orchestration and her choice of songs is impeccable the album flows from one track to another until the climax ,the final track "Somewhere". A wonderful album and her voice is amazing.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
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One of the best soul albums of all time. Anita Baker has an amazing voice jazzy and emotional. This is her best album every track is a winner the best being Sweet Love, Rapture, Same Old Love & U Bring Me Joy. Compositions is another great album of hers.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
503
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One of the best album of the 80's and in my opinion still their best album. Full of great songs Where the Streets...... being the best and the final track Mothers..... being the weakest.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,319
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The best album released in 1980 was appropriately by Bowie the most prolific artist of the 70's. The first 6 tracks are brilliant and then the album tails off, Kingdom Come is the low point and It's No Game Pt.2 is not a patch on Pt.1. Overall though it is a great album and would be the end of Bowie's run of diverse and relevant albums until Outside in 1995.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,718
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Average Rating:
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Rickie Lee Jones 3rd studio album is one of her best. Gravity, It Must Be Love and Runaround are all brilliant songs , the final tracks are a mini suite - Rorschachs/Theme For The Pope - The Unsigned Painting/The Weird Beast and is a haunting end to the album.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
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[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,694
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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My favourite Luther V. album contains 8 amazing songs Tracks 1-8 and a cover of Anyone Who Had A Heart which although good isn't up to the high standard of the rest of this great album.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1981 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1982 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1983 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1984 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1985 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1986 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1987 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1988 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1989 | 11 | 11% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Smiths | 6 | 6% | |
| Linda Ronstadt | 5 | 5% | |
| Eurythmics | 4 | 4% | |
| Kate Bush | 4 | 4% | |
| Prince | 4 | 4% | |
| Pointer Sisters | 3 | 3% | |
| The Cure | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 2 from 9th to 7th Scary Monsters by David Bowie |
| Up 1 from 20th to 19th ...Nothing Like The Sun by Sting |
| Up 1 from 19th to 18th AutoAmerican by Blondie |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 3 from 17th to 20th Breakin' Away by Al Jarreau |
| Down 1 from 7th to 8th The Magazine by Rickie Lee Jones |
| Down 1 from 8th to 9th Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout |
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Other decade charts by Tamthebam
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 90 Music Albums of the 2020s | Tamthebam | 2020s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | Tamthebam | 2010s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Tamthebam | 2000s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | Tamthebam | 1990s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Tamthebam | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
Tamthebam has created 4 other 1980s decade charts - click here to explore them all.
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 19 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 03/14/2025 12:19 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,106 | 85/100 |
| ! | 05/24/2024 15:04 | BorderFreeAndrew | 99 | 81/100 |
| ! | 06/28/2021 21:09 |  Larcx13 | 1,144 | 86/100 |
| ! | 12/19/2020 19:18 |  jnfbn | 310 | 96/100 |
| ! | 12/11/2020 02:44 | Lgk21 | 141 | 95/100 |
Rating metrics:
Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 4% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.1/100, a mean average of 90.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.5.
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
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From BorderFreeAndrew 05/24/2024 15:06 | #303686
Kudos for
a) being brave enough to include a lot of albums that weren't critics' favorites
b) including a lot of RnB/soul albums from the era that tend to forgotten
c) having a unique choice for #1.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From jnfbn 12/19/2020 19:22 | #262946
jnfbn 12/19/2020 19:22 | #262946
Great chart! Don't agree with general dislike of the 80s, i think it's as good as the 90s, and this chart greatly shows one of the reasons why!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Lgk21 12/11/2020 02:44 | #262501
Love seeing Pirates at number 1. Such an unbelievable album.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
seb7 12/10/2020 17:42 | #262491
seb7 12/10/2020 17:42 | #262491
super cool 80s-aficionado list. Rapture is a very cool album
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Purplepash 12/10/2020 09:42 | #262454
Purplepash 12/10/2020 09:42 | #262454
I have total respect for your very different taste in '80s music to mine, yet we still manage to share 19 albums in common atm - admittedly all from only 8 artists :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From WillyMac 06/12/2020 16:40 | #253374
Very interesting chart. It exposes how few women and black artists I have on my 80s chart by comparison. I think I will start exploring with your Joan Armatrading album from 1980. I only know her from her hits in the 70s. Thanks.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
911Turbo 04/22/2020 01:01 | #250335
911Turbo 04/22/2020 01:01 | #250335
i love your chart: original ( i have never seen rickie lee rated so high),
honest (my observations indicate people listen to a top 20 album and it instantly is on their list),
unique ( leans towards female singers- nothing wrong with that. most lists are male oriented),
surprising ( i also love "rattle and hum" and think it is very unrated. nice to see you enjoy it).
definitely worth writing about- dynamite top 3 picks.
#1 rickie lee #2 linda ronstadt #3 anita baker ( who would have known?).
im not a prince fan like you are- im really shocked to see prince and the revolution in the 90s!
different from what i normally listen to, yet we have some similarities- graceland, rattle and hum, tunnel of love ( this is such an amazing album),REM, john lennon (incredible album). not a lot but some!!
one more thing: i wish you would have written a comment for every album. it gives the album a nice personal touch.
Because of this, im going to give Diana Ross, rickie lee and ronstadt a spin.
thankyou for sharing the list with us.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From pctrooper 02/27/2020 13:45 | #248289
Also, thanks for introducing me to Rickie Lee Jones through your charts. Very good!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From pctrooper 02/27/2020 13:33 | #248287
I don't really like 80's much but this chart is sweet. Just needs some Genesis albums :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
bobbyb5 02/04/2017 22:32 | #184913
bobbyb5 02/04/2017 22:32 | #184913
Shouting Stage and Living My Life. Nice move!!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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