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: 06/07/2025 15:15
- (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 register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from 1989. (Remove this filter)
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After a 5 year break marriage and childbirth another great album by Rickie Lee Jones appeared. I used to love listening to this album on a Sunday night a beautiful flow of Jazz Soul and folk. The best tracks are Rodeo Girl, Ghost Train, Away From the Sky, The Horses & a cover of Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying. The title track and Atlas' Marker are also brilliant. Her voice sends shivers it is unique.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
1
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Mary C. Carpenter's second album finds her again doing what she does best songs in a country style. She would slowly move away from this genre but never fully leave it behind her. This was my introduction to her and I have nearly everything she has done, this album however has a special place in my heart. This Shirt & Goodbye Again have become two of my favourite songs of all time even if you don't like country listen to this it might surprise you as it did me.
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
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This album has a cohesiveness sometimes lacking in her previous albums, she really comes of age here. Overall "Hounds" is a much better album but this is worth a listen.
[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,594
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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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:
2,131
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 10/24/2013]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,977
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 08/31/2014]
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Not as good as her debut but a good album nonetheless. The best tracks are the first 2 and the last 2. Be Careful Of My Heart & Subcity are the next best. The only track I would skip is Material World the rest of the album is good.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2018]
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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2013]
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[First added to this chart: 08/26/2013]
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[First added to this chart: 06/10/2024]
Total albums: 11. Page 1 of 2
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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% | |
| Anita Baker | 3 | 3% | |
| Prince And The Revolution | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 66th to 65th Crossroads by Tracy Chapman |
| Up 1 from 54th to 53rd Murmur by R.E.M. |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 53rd to 54th The Fox by Elton John |
| Down 1 from 65th to 66th Me, Myself, I by Joan Armatrading |
| Down 1 from 78th to 79th Giving You The Best That I Got by Anita Baker |
| New entries |
|---|
 Whitneyby Whitney Houston |
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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 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | Tamthebam | 1970s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s | Tamthebam | 1960s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1950s | Tamthebam | 1950s decade chart | 2025 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings
89/100 (from 19 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 19 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 60/100  | 03/14/2025 12:19 | SomethingSpecial | | 85/100 |
| 80/100 | 05/24/2024 15:04 | BorderFreeAndrew | | 80/100 |
| 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 |
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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80/100
From BorderFreeAndrew 05/24/2024 15:06
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) | +1 votes (1 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) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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