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: 4 days ago
- (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 90 out of 100 (from 18 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
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One of my all time favourite "Country" albums, it has a Blue Grass feel to it but overall a great atmosphere is created. Dwight has a great voice and the songs "Send Me The Pillow" "I Got You" the title track and I Sang Dixie" are gems. The rest of the album is at least 80/100.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
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[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
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The final album Diana Ross recorded with R.C.A. before her return to Motown is one of her better albums. Contains 4 stunning ballads, all 85/100, Its Hard For Me To Say, Tell Me Again, Summertime & Cross My Heart. Dirty Looks, Selfish One & Stranger In Paradise are also good 80/100. There are a great variety of styles here definitely one of her best albums.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
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Another great album from Prince full of Soul & Funky guitar not as "serious" as Sign o The Times but just as good. Most of the tracks are long and full of fun.This was the first album of his that I owned and I still love it.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,581
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[First added to this chart: 08/20/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
646
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One of the best albums of the 80's by far her best album up to this point(1989). She grew in stature with this album, many consider it to be the best thing she has ever done. Best tracks Like a Prayer, Cherish & Promise To Try.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,020
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Comments:
49. (=)
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His 3rd album and one of his best. Dirty Mind is funky sexy and dirty. When you Were Mine is the best track and Uptown, Head & Dirty Mind are also classics in the Prince repertoire. His next album Controversy was a step backwards compared to this.
[First added to this chart: 05/21/2016]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,782
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[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,572
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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The best Jackson 5/Jacksons album contains three stand out tracks Walk Right Now, Can You feel It & Lovely One also the beautiful ballad Time Waits For No One is worth a listen. Only weak track is Wonderin' Who.
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2018]
Total albums: 52. Page 3 of 6
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1980 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1981 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1982 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1983 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1984 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1985 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1986 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1987 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1988 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1989 | 12 | 12% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Smiths | 6 | 6% | |
| Linda Ronstadt | 5 | 5% | |
| Kate Bush | 4 | 4% | |
| Prince | 4 | 4% | |
| Eurythmics | 4 | 4% | |
| Pointer Sisters | 3 | 3% | |
| The Cure | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 76th to 75th Breakin' Away by Al Jarreau |
| Up 1 from 75th to 74th Cry Like A Rainstorm - Howl Like The Wind by Linda Ronstadt |
| Up 1 from 74th to 73rd Mirage by Fleetwood Mac |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 10 from 71st to 81st We Too Are One by Eurythmics |
| Down 1 from 81st to 82nd Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits |
| Down 1 from 82nd to 83rd Diamond Life by Sade |
| New entries |
|---|
 Close Enough For Loveby Shirley Horn |
| Leavers |
|---|
 Soul Miningby The The |
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Tamthebam (2024)Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings
90/100 (from 18 votes)
where:
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 18 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 80/100  | 5 days ago | BorderFreeAndrew | | 81/100 |
| 90/100 | 06/28/2021 21:09 |  Larcx13 | | 86/100 |
| 100/100 | 12/19/2020 19:18 |  jnfbn | | 96/100 |
| 100/100 | 12/11/2020 02:44 | Lgk21 | | 95/100 |
| 95/100 | 12/10/2020 17:42 |  seb7 | | 91/100 |
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).
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This chart is rated in the top 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.1/100, a mean average of 92.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 92.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.9.
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
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80/100
From BorderFreeAndrew 5 days ago
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)
100/100
From jnfbn 12/19/2020 19:22
jnfbn 12/19/2020 19:22
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)
100/100
From Lgk21 12/11/2020 02:44
Love seeing Pirates at number 1. Such an unbelievable album.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
95/100
From seb7 12/10/2020 17:42
seb7 12/10/2020 17:42
super cool 80s-aficionado list. Rapture is a very cool album
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
90/100
From 
Purplepash 12/10/2020 09:42
Purplepash 12/10/2020 09:42
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)
90/100
From WillyMac 06/12/2020 16:40
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)
100/100
From 
911Turbo 04/22/2020 01:01
911Turbo 04/22/2020 01:01
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)
100/100
From pctrooper 02/27/2020 13:45
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)
100/100
From pctrooper 02/27/2020 13:33
I don't really like 80's much but this chart is sweet. Just needs some Genesis albums :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
75/100
From 
bobbyb5 02/04/2017 22:32
bobbyb5 02/04/2017 22:32
Shouting Stage and Living My Life. Nice move!!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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