Top 55 Music Albums of the 1980s by 
Repo 
- Chart updated: 03/24/2025 23:45
- (Created: 04/22/2017 02:03).
- Chart size: 55 albums.
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'81:2 He’s Leaving. He waited for so long.
Every day a new start, and she prefers the sudden truth
We'll never learn to guide our heart, we'll never find what we deserve
She's leaving, she waited for so long
She pretends that he cares, invents some tale just to get his heart
With no more dreams she didn't have
She washed her hands of this whole affair
She's leaving, she waited for so long
But as she left, she gave her all, abandoned hope, she took for home - She's Leaving
The Cure. New Order. Depeche Mode. We can all agree they’re the big three of 80s DARK synth pop. Crushing songs. Deep songs. Songs that made us feel understood in the crazy storm called junior high. Songs that could get us through. As an awkward 80s kid, I was a massive fan of all three. But, for some reason (I'm blaming Pretty In Pink!), OMD were relegated to a "best of" in my growing vinyl collection. An LP that I would break out merely for 80s dance parties. I (& most my friends back then) considered them lightweight. Fluff.
So what a surprise when I started revisiting the early 80s due to Mercury’s request to make an 80s chart to find this stunning, deeply touching album. As my Genni would say, “It’s deep, Dad". Deep indeed, I reply in return. My Genni loves things that are deep. And dark. A turn in events from just a few years ago. Things change I guess. I remember hanging out with her in the lobbies of movie theaters to let the scary scenes pass. Watching her jump & twist on the lobbies makeshift attempts at comfortable seating. So happy that we were just there together. Waiting out the scary parts. Waiting for the storm to pass. Waiting for our Tilly, the daredevil oldest, to burst out the exit doors like a tempest gabbing a mile a minute to catch us up on all we had missed.
We had missed nothing though. Because we had each other.
To weathering the storm. And finding those who are willing to wait with us through it. No matter how uncomfortable the seating.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 11/05/2021]
Every day a new start, and she prefers the sudden truth
We'll never learn to guide our heart, we'll never find what we deserve
She's leaving, she waited for so long
She pretends that he cares, invents some tale just to get his heart
With no more dreams she didn't have
She washed her hands of this whole affair
She's leaving, she waited for so long
But as she left, she gave her all, abandoned hope, she took for home - She's Leaving
The Cure. New Order. Depeche Mode. We can all agree they’re the big three of 80s DARK synth pop. Crushing songs. Deep songs. Songs that made us feel understood in the crazy storm called junior high. Songs that could get us through. As an awkward 80s kid, I was a massive fan of all three. But, for some reason (I'm blaming Pretty In Pink!), OMD were relegated to a "best of" in my growing vinyl collection. An LP that I would break out merely for 80s dance parties. I (& most my friends back then) considered them lightweight. Fluff.
So what a surprise when I started revisiting the early 80s due to Mercury’s request to make an 80s chart to find this stunning, deeply touching album. As my Genni would say, “It’s deep, Dad". Deep indeed, I reply in return. My Genni loves things that are deep. And dark. A turn in events from just a few years ago. Things change I guess. I remember hanging out with her in the lobbies of movie theaters to let the scary scenes pass. Watching her jump & twist on the lobbies makeshift attempts at comfortable seating. So happy that we were just there together. Waiting out the scary parts. Waiting for the storm to pass. Waiting for our Tilly, the daredevil oldest, to burst out the exit doors like a tempest gabbing a mile a minute to catch us up on all we had missed.
We had missed nothing though. Because we had each other.
To weathering the storm. And finding those who are willing to wait with us through it. No matter how uncomfortable the seating.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 11/05/2021]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,141
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
16
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81:1 Punk’s NOT Dead!
Say to me that punk is dead
I wish you even more contempt
Don't like the music, don't like the words
You can all piss off, you're a bunch of turds
The Setting: The Crass famously said it first. Presumptiously all the way back in 1978. (Maybe they were just the first click baiters?! That's my guess! ) Those who didn’t just pay attention to the headlines of the New Musical Expressive, those of us who actually went to shows, knew otherwise. Punk was alive and well post The Class of '77 with killer bands like The Buzzcocks, Sham 69, The Ruts, 999, and yes, even The Crass themselves still making important and creative music (not to even mention the entire Post-Punk scene). Some also say, that Brish punk in particular in the early 80s couldn’t compare with what was going in the good 'ol US of A. Was punk rock in '81 England really as stale a day old chip dropped on the wharf?
The Listen: Bloody hell, my friends. Of course not! It’s in the freakin' album title for Christsake. A big middle finger to all the haters. The music critics who, as we have discussed previously, are usually no better than the papparazzi. More interested in making a splash (or getting "clicks" even back then) than actually talking about the actual music. Like scientists fudging their data just to get published. Thoughts on music by the press is typically just fashion and typically has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with THE music itself.
Like a lot of Hardcore in the 80s (and I'm talking about BOTH the Brits & the Americans here), it can get a bit monotonous at times with some songs running into each other. So this is NOT a 5 star album. BUT, there are some all time great punk ANTHEMS on this gnarly mofo such as “Punk’s Not Dead”, "Mucky Pup” and of course “Sex and Violence”. AND, this 1981 album served as crucial bridge to the legendary Class of ’82 (that we will get to if it ever dawns around here).
The Verdict: If you were at a Cockney punk club back in 1981, you'd better believe that THESE were the bloody songs that YOU were belting out until your voice went hoarse no matter how many bitters you were swilling.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 10/24/2021]
Say to me that punk is dead
I wish you even more contempt
Don't like the music, don't like the words
You can all piss off, you're a bunch of turds
The Setting: The Crass famously said it first. Presumptiously all the way back in 1978. (Maybe they were just the first click baiters?! That's my guess! ) Those who didn’t just pay attention to the headlines of the New Musical Expressive, those of us who actually went to shows, knew otherwise. Punk was alive and well post The Class of '77 with killer bands like The Buzzcocks, Sham 69, The Ruts, 999, and yes, even The Crass themselves still making important and creative music (not to even mention the entire Post-Punk scene). Some also say, that Brish punk in particular in the early 80s couldn’t compare with what was going in the good 'ol US of A. Was punk rock in '81 England really as stale a day old chip dropped on the wharf?
The Listen: Bloody hell, my friends. Of course not! It’s in the freakin' album title for Christsake. A big middle finger to all the haters. The music critics who, as we have discussed previously, are usually no better than the papparazzi. More interested in making a splash (or getting "clicks" even back then) than actually talking about the actual music. Like scientists fudging their data just to get published. Thoughts on music by the press is typically just fashion and typically has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with THE music itself.
Like a lot of Hardcore in the 80s (and I'm talking about BOTH the Brits & the Americans here), it can get a bit monotonous at times with some songs running into each other. So this is NOT a 5 star album. BUT, there are some all time great punk ANTHEMS on this gnarly mofo such as “Punk’s Not Dead”, "Mucky Pup” and of course “Sex and Violence”. AND, this 1981 album served as crucial bridge to the legendary Class of ’82 (that we will get to if it ever dawns around here).
The Verdict: If you were at a Cockney punk club back in 1981, you'd better believe that THESE were the bloody songs that YOU were belting out until your voice went hoarse no matter how many bitters you were swilling.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 10/24/2021]
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Indie Rock/Power Pop
Essential [First added to this chart: 07/04/2018]
Essential [First added to this chart: 07/04/2018]
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[First added to this chart: 07/14/2018]
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[First added to this chart: 03/16/2018]
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[First added to this chart: 06/21/2018]
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Grade: B
[First added to this chart: 09/21/2017]
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[First added to this chart: 01/23/2023]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
0
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 8. Page 1 of 1
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Top 55 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| 1980 | 21 | 38% | |
| 1981 | 8 | 15% | |
| 1982 | 4 | 7% | |
| 1983 | 5 | 9% | |
| 1984 | 6 | 11% | |
| 1985 | 2 | 4% | |
| 1986 | 2 | 4% | |
| 1987 | 4 | 7% | |
| 1988 | 1 | 2% | |
| 1989 | 2 | 4% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Cocteau Twins | 2 | 4% | |
| The Durutti Column | 2 | 4% | |
| Iron Maiden | 1 | 2% | |
| J.J. Cale | 1 | 2% | |
| Kurtis Blow | 1 | 2% | |
| Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers | 1 | 2% | |
| MC Shan | 1 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 55 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 4 from 5th to 1st Closer by Joy Division |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 1st to 2nd Sarah's Crime by 日向敏文 [Toshifumi Hinata] |
| Down 1 from 2nd to 3rd Ragin', Full-On by fIREHOSE |
| Down 1 from 3rd to 4th Guilty As Charged by Culprit |
Top 55 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 47 Music Albums of 1980 |  Mercury | 1980 year chart | 2023 | |
| Top 27 Music Albums of 1980 |  Pastiche | 1980 year chart | 2023 |  |
| Top 38 Music Albums of 1980 |  RoundTheBend | 1980 year chart | 2021 | |
| Top 53 Music Albums of 1980 | juanr1096 | 1980 year chart | 2024 | |
| Top 47 Music Albums of 1980 | saltysurprise | 1980 year chart | 2024 |  |
| Top 37 Music Albums of 1980 | daCritic | 1980 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 50 Music Albums of 1980 | Kuzh69 | 1980 year chart | 2016 | |
| Top 47 Music Albums of 1980 |  UofTBlues | 1980 year chart | 2020 | |
| Top 49 Music Albums of 1980 | Hyggevinyl | 1980 year chart | 2024 |  |
| Top 49 Music Albums of 1980 | chriskarman | 1980 year chart | 2022 |  |
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Other decade charts by Repo
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 13 Music Albums of the 2020s | Repo | 2020s decade chart | 2023 | |
| Top 30 Music Albums of the 2010s | Repo | 2010s decade chart | 2024 | |
| Top 14 Music Albums of the 2000s | Repo | 2000s decade chart | 2022 | |
| Top 22 Music Albums of the 1990s | Repo | 1990s decade chart | 2024 | |
| Top 55 Music Albums of the 1980s | Repo | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 34 Music Albums of the 1970s | Repo | 1970s decade chart | 2020 | |
| Top 16 Music Albums of the 1960s | Repo | 1960s decade chart | 2022 | |
| Top 10 Music Albums of the 1950s | Repo | 1950s decade chart | 2022 | |
| Top 4 Music Albums of the 1940s | Repo | 1940s decade chart | 2025 | |
Top 55 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings
87/100 (from 1 vote)
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Showing all 1 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 100/100  | 05/03/2021 21:02 | DJENNY | | 100/100 |
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