Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by 
Graeme2 
One album per artist.
The 80s? Hip hop, thrash metal, hair metal, indie labels, electro, acid/house, pop music, post punk, disco, reggae, dub, 2tone, newagespaceambient, mod, folk etc.
I turned a teenager in the mid 80s. I bought the odd record, tape or cd. Most I don't like now. Some I've grown to love again. I taped stuff off mates, the radio and John peel. The few things I had I listened to over and over. The era of the tape/cassette and knowing your favourite stuff inside out.
- Chart updated: 06/23/2025 21:45
- (Created: 12/29/2013 20:51).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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[First added to this chart: 01/03/2014]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
22,463
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/03/2014]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,842
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/14/2014]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,035
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/03/2014]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,422
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/15/2014]
[First added to this chart: 01/14/2014]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
32,760
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/15/2014]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,649
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/14/2014]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,598
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/03/2014]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,656
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 01/03/2014]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,067
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
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 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1981 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1982 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1983 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1984 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1985 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1986 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1987 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1988 | 20 | 20% | |
| 1989 | 12 | 12% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Tears For Fears | 1 | 1% | |
| Talk Talk | 1 | 1% | |
| Thin Lizzy | 1 | 1% | |
| EPMD | 1 | 1% | |
| Soft Cell | 1 | 1% | |
| Queen | 1 | 1% | |
| New Order | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
40 | 40% | |
| |
40 | 40% | |
 |
4 | 4% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 16 from 76th to 60thThe Glow Of Love by Change |
| Up 2 from 33rd to 31stStraight Outta Compton by N.W.A |
| Up 2 from 30th to 28thLove Over Gold by Dire Straits |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 4 from 25th to 29thStrictly Business by EPMD |
| Down 1 from 29th to 30thThe Luxury Gap by Heaven 17 |
| Down 1 from 31st to 32ndPower by Ice-T |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts
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| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | frankoceanlover | 1980s decade chart | 2024 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  StefanR10 | 1980s decade chart | 2020 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  souplipton | 1980s decade chart | 2023 |  |
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| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Kettwig | 1980s decade chart | 2019 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | PapaShiz86 | 1980s decade chart | 2024 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  djnizzi | 1980s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  flyingcitrus | 1980s decade chart | 2018 | |
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Other decade charts by Graeme2
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2020s | Graeme2 | 2020s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | Graeme2 | 2010s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Graeme2 | 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).
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N.B. The average rating for this chart will not be reliable as it has been rated very few times.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 6 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/07/2022 18:34 | TheSmiths82-87 | 1,829 | 83/100 | |
| 08/29/2021 07:36 | leniad | 669 | 85/100 | |
| 02/12/2021 23:43 | DJENNY | 4,338 | 100/100 | |
| 07/05/2016 13:00 |  Leonard | 342 | 88/100 | |
| 05/31/2015 10:36 |  pa | 457 | 91/100 |
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| Best Artists of the 1990s | |
|---|---|
| 1. Radiohead | |
| 2. Nirvana | |
| 3. The Smashing Pumpkins | |
| 4. Neutral Milk Hotel | |
| 5. Oasis | |
| 6. Pearl Jam | |
| 7. R.E.M. | |
| 8. My Bloody Valentine | |
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| 13. Pavement | |
| 14. Portishead | |
| 15. Jeff Buckley | |
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| 19. Massive Attack | |
| 20. Red Hot Chili Peppers |
