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 album of covers. RnB/Soul music was what I was listening to most at this time.
- Chart updated: 10/13/2026 11:15
- (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 create an account 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:
17,733
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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:
619
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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 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:
17,914
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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:
486
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Available from
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]
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,469
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Available from
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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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]
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[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,645
Rank in 1985:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1981 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1982 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1983 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1984 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1985 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1986 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1987 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1988 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1989 | 9 | 9% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Prince | 7 | 7% | |
| The Smiths | 6 | 6% | |
| Kate Bush | 4 | 4% | |
| Linda Ronstadt | 4 | 4% | |
| The Cure | 3 | 3% | |
| Joan Armatrading | 3 | 3% | |
| Rickie Lee Jones | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
Up 1 from 88th to 87th |
Up 1 from 10th to 9th |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 1 from 9th to 10th |
Down 1 from 87th to 88th |
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| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | mjbreuer | 1980s decade chart | 2016 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | mostlymor | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
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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 | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | Tamthebam | 2010s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Tamthebam | 2000s decade chart | 2026 | |
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 3 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 | 1,088 | 86/100 |
| ! | 05/24/2024 15:04 | BorderFreeAndrew | 118 | 82/100 |
| ! | 06/28/2021 21:09 |  Larcx13 | 1,139 | 86/100 |
Rating metrics:
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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 forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 3 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 05/24/2024 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4595): By Tamthebam
BestEverAlbums 05/24/2024 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4595): By Tamthebam“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s by Tamthebam () 1. Pirates by Rickie Lee Jones (1981) 2. Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush (1985) 3. The Broadway Album by Barbra Streisand (1985) 4. What's New by Linda Ronstadt (1983) 5. Rapture by Anita Baker (1986) 6. Parade by Prince And The…”
(3 mentions across Chart of the Day topics)View latest topic →
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
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From
buzzdainer TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/15/2016 20:27 | #171381
buzzdainer TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/15/2016 20:27 | #171381
I know what you mean when you say that the reputation of the eighties is far different (and far worse) from what you come up with when you actually start thinking about the albums that came out then. I love Graceland and Murmur and Remain in Light, and your inclusion of Sign 'O' the Times in your top ten makes a compelling case that I ought to find room for it in my own eighties chart. Thanks for sharing this excellent chart!
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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. (Edited)
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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.
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From
CharlieBarley 01/04/2017 20:25 | #181742
CharlieBarley 01/04/2017 20:25 | #181742
You have a lot of the big hitters from the 80s yet also enough of your own picks to make it a unique chart. 32 albums in common with mine. The 80s were a difficult time for me too. I went from childhood to adolescence then. The first half was largely bliss the 2nd half of the 80s was pants. I still can't listen to half of the music from the year 1987, save the Joshua Tree, Sign O' The Times and Whitney H. But I have to remember there were more good times than bad times. Overall a great chart. Good work Tam!
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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. (Edited)
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