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 chart is currently filtered to only show albums from Prince. (Remove this filter)
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A great double album full of brilliant songs. Maybe not his best but it is right up there. Sign O The Times, Girlfriend & I Could Never Take .......Man are the best songs followed by Hot Thing, Slow Love & Adore. The album is full of many different styles and that is a good thing. I love albums that make you explore other forms of music.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,821
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
22. (=)
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Prince at his best, Alphabet Street, Glam Slam, Lovesexy, When 2 R in Love, I Wish U Heaven & Positivity make this a great Prince album and one of his better offerings. It runs smoothly from beginning to end.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
588
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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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:
3,773
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
64. (=)
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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:
1,887
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 4. Page 1 of 1
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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% | |
| 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 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 | 1,105 | 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.
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s favourites
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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