Top 13 Music Albums of 1981
by Mother Nature's Son

My favourite albums of 1981.
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Buy album United States
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I had not known this beatlesque time travel very long before it gave strong feelings of nostalgia. The fluffy 80s production might sound dated to some ears, but that's what gives this album its charm. Incredible songwriting too. Jeff Lynne is a genius!

Favourite tracks: "Twilight" & "21st Century Man"
[First added to this chart: 09/17/2013]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,413
Rank in 1981:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Holiday in paradise is not exaggeration. This band is quite similar to Boney M.. It's tropical and delightful, very catchy and hypnotic. To make a distinction, this is probably less fun and more sentimental (AKA cheesy, but in a good way) than Boney M.. It's okay to shed a little tear actually!

Favourite tracks: "Ave Maria No Morro" & "Seven Tears"
[First added to this chart: 12/12/2016]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20
Rank in 1981:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Moving pictures painted by Rush. The more radio-friendly direction of the band took its biggest step with "Tom Sawyer" (what a single!), while having only very little of the long "masturbatory" instrumental passages that Rush and the whole prog-scene otherwise are known for. "YYZ" is an instrumental that surely will blow your mind, it has blown mine many times already!

Favourite tracks: "YYZ" & "Limelight"
[First added to this chart: 08/26/2014]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,910
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
4. (=)
Buy album United States
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If you don't have faith in The Cure's gothic visions by now, then I don't know when you'll have. This is pretty much Cure perfection!

Favourite tracks: "All Cats Are Grey", "The Funeral Party" & "The Drowning Man"
[First added to this chart: 11/11/2013]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,074
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
5. (=)
Buy album United States
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Epic adult-oriented rock. "Don't Stop Believin'" has to be the anthem of the 80s, a perfect beginning for the album. Likewise, "Open Arms" is a fantastic strong power ballad to end it off. Everthing in between is surprisingly strong too. The album can go two ways: either you love it or you hate it with passion!

Favourite tracks: "Don't Stop Believin'", "Mother, Father" & "Open Arms"
[First added to this chart: 09/29/2013]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,066
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Oh my lord - a boring Christmas no longer exists with this joyful holiday collection! Of course you already know all about Mary's boy child, but hearing danceable versions of certain non-danceable classics is truly delightful as well.

Favourite tracks: "Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord" & "Zion's Daughter (Tochter Zion)"
[First added to this chart: 07/10/2016]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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The Human League dared to make a synthpop album this poppy yet dark and strangely mechanical. "Open Your Heart" is a song where they open their hearts though with a touching feel of tension.

Favourite tracks: "Open Your Heart" & "Don't You Want Me"
[First added to this chart: 08/17/2016]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,060
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Sail the night boat of Duran Duran and feel the sound of thunder that is 80s new wave. Duran Duran show you how to start a career properly!

Favourite tracks: "Sound of Thunder" & "Friends of Mine"
[First added to this chart: 11/02/2015]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
638
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
Tattooed by the 80s, totally, which means a slicker sound of course, but all in all it's still The Rolling Stones and they rock perfectly in a surprisingly catchy way. If it doesn't start you up, what does?

Favourite tracks: "Start Me Up" & "Little T&A"
[First added to this chart: 08/31/2014]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,818
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Worthy follow-up to "Oasis" with a couple of reuses of tracks from that album (unfortunately). Still relaxing and revelatory!

Favourite tracks: "Kaleidoscope" & "Tree"
[First added to this chart: 09/01/2016]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 12. Page 1 of 2
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Top 13 Music Albums of 1981 composition

Country Albums %


United Kingdom 6 46%
United States 2 15%
Germany 2 15%
Japan 1 8%
Mixed Nationality 1 8%
Canada 1 8%
Compilation? Albums %
No 12 92%
Yes 1 8%

Top 13 Music Albums of 1981 chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 1 from 9th to 8th
Duran Duran
by Duran Duran
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 8th to 9th
Tattoo You
by The Rolling Stones

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86/100 (from 1 vote)
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10/07/2015 08:16 Leonard   34188/100
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4. Neil Young
5. The Rolling Stones
6. The Clash
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