Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s by AAL2014

The 1980’s, for me, aren’t nearly as remarkable in their highs nor deeply consistent as either of the decades surrounding it.

Don’t get me wrong, 80’s music is excellent and so much of it is simply so much fun. Maybe also the first period in which music and culture were one and same, at least more so than ever with the advancements in technology, distribution, and uh… oh yeah, music videos.

On the other hand, those same elements had their not so favorable affects. On the technological front, many studios and producers switched their boards and gear entirely at the beginning of the decade and as a result albums don’t sound anywhere as good to me as they did just a couple years prior. Music sales began moving toward CD (ultimately still my preferred method of listening), but early runs of copies failed to deliver the highest rate of fidelity. Music videos, as well the introduction of MTV, is an essay unto itself.

Regardless of outside factors, I LOVE and have a deep respect for so many of the records you’ll find here and the top quarter or so of this list are some of my favorite pieces of music. However, I would probably be able to say that for the top 50 of the 1990’s and nearly the top 75 of the 1970’s.

But focusing on the positives overall, there is a lot of great music here and almost easily the best decade for heavy metal. I apologize not for having every Iron Maiden release here. They’re probably my band of the decade.

Enjoy.

• Chart updated: 03/16/2024 05:15
• (Created: 06/09/2016 05:36).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

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21. (=)

Doolittle 

 Pixies

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[First added to this chart: 09/24/2023]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

2,491 charts

Rank Score:

37,469

Rank in 1989:

1

Rank in 1980s:

2

Overall Rank:

18

Average Rating:

 88 (2,870 votes)

Comments:

289

22. (=)

Appetite For Destruction 

 Guns N' Roses

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[First added to this chart: 04/20/2020]

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

1,348 charts

Rank Score:

12,215

Rank in 1987:

2

Rank in 1980s:

15

Overall Rank:

117

Average Rating:

 79 (1,911 votes)

Comments:

167

23. (=)

Among The Living 

 Anthrax

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[First added to this chart: 05/09/2020]

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

163 charts

Rank Score:

859

Rank in 1987:

37

Rank in 1980s:

301

Overall Rank:

1,939

Average Rating:

 78 (220 votes)

Comments:

13

24. (=)

Peter Gabriel III 

 Peter Gabriel

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[First added to this chart: 04/20/2020]

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

509 charts

Rank Score:

4,397

Rank in 1980:

6

Rank in 1980s:

56

Overall Rank:

408

Average Rating:

 81 (572 votes)

Comments:

24

25. (=)

You're Living All Over Me 

 Dinosaur Jr.

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[First added to this chart: 01/30/2021]

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

638 charts

Rank Score:

5,963

Rank in 1987:

5

Rank in 1980s:

38

Overall Rank:

302

Average Rating:

 82 (715 votes)

Comments:

45

26. (=)

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Surfer Rosa 

 Pixies

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[First added to this chart: 11/27/2020]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

1,289 charts

Rank Score:

13,560

Rank in 1988:

2

Rank in 1980s:

12

Overall Rank:

98

Average Rating:

 85 (1,822 votes)

Comments:

112

27. (=)

Zen Arcade 

 Hüsker Dü

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[First added to this chart: 05/09/2020]

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

487 charts

Rank Score:

4,292

Rank in 1984:

10

Rank in 1980s:

58

Overall Rank:

418

Average Rating:

 79 (579 votes)

Comments:

33

28. (=)

Discipline 

 King Crimson

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[First added to this chart: 02/13/2021]

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

435 charts

Rank Score:

3,238

Rank in 1981:

3

Rank in 1980s:

85

Overall Rank:

553

Average Rating:

 80 (587 votes)

Comments:

25

29. (=)

Reign In Blood 

 Slayer

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[First added to this chart: 04/20/2020]

Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

482 charts

Rank Score:

3,801

Rank in 1986:

7

Rank in 1980s:

67

Overall Rank:

475

Average Rating:

 79 (682 votes)

Comments:

41

30. (=)

Beneath The Remains 

 Sepultura

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[First added to this chart: 09/18/2020]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

111 charts

Rank Score:

270

Rank in 1989:

70

Rank in 1980s:

738

Overall Rank:

4,982

Average Rating:

 77 (127 votes)

Comments:

5

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition

Year	Albums	%
1980	11	11%
1981	8	8%
1982	9	9%
1983	10	10%
1984	11	11%
1985	9	9%
1986	9	9%
1987	9	9%
1988	13	13%
1989	11	11%

Artist	Albums	%
Iron Maiden	8	8%
Rush	4	4%
Metallica	4	4%
U2	3	3%
Peter Gabriel	3	3%
Pixies	2	2%
Motörhead	2	2%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	51	51%
	35	35%
	4	4%
	4	4%
	3	3%
	1	1%
	1	1%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 17 from 83rd to 66th Somewhere In Time by Iron Maiden
Up 4 from 56th to 52nd Kill 'Em All by Metallica
Up 4 from 55th to 51st Double Nickels On The Dime by Minutemen

Biggest fallers
Down 3 from 50th to 53rd Thriller by Michael Jackson
Down 3 from 51st to 54th Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? by Megadeth
Down 3 from 66th to 69th Screaming For Vengeance by Judas Priest

New entries
Control by Janet Jackson

Leavers
Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson

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90/100	03/14/2024 09:32	Purplepash	1,303	88/100
95/100	09/19/2020 10:50	MasterOfPuppets	175	91/100

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