Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by Robert Anton Wilson

The 80s. My most hated decade and likely the one I am most familiar with. The fall of so many of my heroes going from great music to crappy attempts at hits or uninspired come-back. This is the beginning of the days when it was possible to make the big bucks with one charting album even if this album did not have staying power and when touring was now officially second to album sales in bringing in the dough. There was also the video revolution with MTV being born. And of course the ultimate thorn on our sides, the switch from vinyl to CD and the need to buy again the good albums. I resisted as long as I could the switch from vinyl to CD but eventually albums were made for the CD format and just did not belong on the vinyl anymore. Albums went from an average length of 40 minutes to 70 ... good thing for good bands ... much more filler for most. The early Beatles albums were often under a half hour of music. But there were new sounds (The Police, The Talking Heads) and new musical powerhouses (U2, REM) and quite a few surprises along the way. As you can see from my list, I never did get into the 80s sound though ... guilty as charged.

• Chart updated: 02/15/2015 18:15
• (Created: 12/15/2011 22:10).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

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1. (=)

Rain Dogs 

 Tom Waits

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

1,139 charts

Rank Score:

11,690

Rank in 1985:

2

Rank in 1980s:

14

Overall Rank:

112

Average Rating:

 84 (1,338 votes)

Comments:

87

2. (=)

The Dreaming 

 Kate Bush

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

659 charts

Rank Score:

6,317

Rank in 1982:

2

Rank in 1980s:

33

Overall Rank:

261

Average Rating:

 81 (790 votes)

Comments:

58

3. (=)

Green 

 R.E.M.

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

519 charts

Rank Score:

3,500

Rank in 1988:

8

Rank in 1980s:

76

Overall Rank:

499

Average Rating:

 78 (750 votes)

Comments:

56

4. (=)

The Joshua Tree 

 U2

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War was the album that broke U2 to the world but The Joshua Tree was the album that made them the greatest band of the day. This album was so unexpected with its tribute to America and its bigger than life attitude from a band of guys who so far had been so shy (sorry people if we disturb your conversation but we are the band playing tonight). Bono did his Elvis act and the band just stole the charts with great songwriting. What makes it really great is that it has something for everyone. Want to spark a romance (With or without You), want to bitch about societal woes (Bullet the Blue Sky), want a good folksy/proggy story (Red Hill Mining town), soul worthy of Ella Fitzgerald (I still haven't found what I'm Looking For). Now that we know where U2 stands, some find this album overproduced and arrogant. Well they are just plain wrong, this definitely wasn't a sell-out. This was the coming of age of the “boys” next door attending their first party without pimples to make them self-conscious. [First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

1,859 charts

Rank Score:

18,319

Rank in 1987:

1

Rank in 1980s:

6

Overall Rank:

52

Average Rating:

 83 (2,456 votes)

Comments:

228

5. (=)

Synchronicity 

 The Police

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1983

Appears in:

815 charts

Rank Score:

5,554

Rank in 1983:

4

Rank in 1980s:

42

Overall Rank:

307

Average Rating:

 79 (1,048 votes)

Comments:

80

6. (=)

Koyaanisqatsi 
Soundtrack

 Philip Glass

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1983

Appears in:

124 charts

Rank Score:

850

Rank in 1983:

30

Rank in 1980s:

301

Overall Rank:

1,951

Average Rating:

 79 (128 votes)

Comments:

4

7. (=)

Love Over Gold 

 Dire Straits

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

394 charts

Rank Score:

2,778

Rank in 1982:

9

Rank in 1980s:

95

Overall Rank:

617

Average Rating:

 79 (544 votes)

Comments:

36

8. (=)

Up To Here 

 The Tragically Hip

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

80 charts

Rank Score:

494

Rank in 1989:

40

Rank in 1980s:

461

Overall Rank:

3,035

Average Rating:

 76 (95 votes)

Comments:

6

9. (=)

Peter Gabriel (1982) 

 Peter Gabriel

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The Rhythm of the Heat .... Peter Gabriel's music was so great in the movie Birdy. His third album (melt) is also outstanding. The US tour with Robert Lepage as scene director was just out of this world particularly the ending when all the musicians walk into a travel bag that Peter then picks up and walks away with, the illusion was unreal. [First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

286 charts

Rank Score:

1,736

Rank in 1982:

14

Rank in 1980s:

156

Overall Rank:

998

Average Rating:

 79 (366 votes)

Comments:

8

10. (=)

Discipline 

 King Crimson

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[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

459 charts

Rank Score:

3,196

Rank in 1981:

3

Rank in 1980s:

85

Overall Rank:

544

Average Rating:

 80 (622 votes)

Comments:

25

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition

Country	Albums	%
	47	47%
	26	26%
	9	9%
	7	7%
	6	6%
	2	2%
	2	2%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	nas062080	1980s decade chart	2013
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	JeffN999	1980s decade chart	2022
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Juneof44	1980s decade chart	2016
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Ashmark	1980s decade chart	2018

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similarity to your chart(s)

Other decade charts by Robert Anton Wilson

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 81 Music Albums of the 2020s	Robert Anton Wilson	2020s decade chart	2024
Top 93 Music Albums of the 2010s	Robert Anton Wilson	2010s decade chart	2021
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s	Robert Anton Wilson	2000s decade chart	2019
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s	Robert Anton Wilson	1990s decade chart	2012
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Robert Anton Wilson	1980s decade chart	2015

Robert Anton Wilson

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
70/100  !	03/08/2019 18:04	mickilennial	715	77/100
70/100  !	12/23/2014 16:54	Decurso	171	82/100
90/100  !	11/14/2013 23:09	sssvnnn	2,864	83/100
90/100  !	02/16/2013 23:11	sheep21	140	89/100
90/100  !	01/08/2013 22:16	WrathchildIX	19	84/100

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70/100

From mickilennial 03/08/2019 18:04 | #233220

Don't agree with you in the slightest still, but this is an alright chart.

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Rating:  

70/100

From Decurso 12/23/2014 16:55 | #130001

I agree with you about the 80's, but I honestly have to say a lot of your picks kind of represent those comments. Some good stuff here, though. Particularly loved Spinal Tap on there.

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Rating:  

90/100

From sssvnnn 11/14/2013 23:09 | #92482

Ok, we have to accept: You hate the 80`s.
You managed to to a 80`s Chart nearly without typical 80`s bands... and it works.
We share the No. 1 and 11 Albums (with is a lot for me), but why didn`t you give some of the 80`s bands a chance:
I think there are bands that transformed the 70`s prog rock into the 80`s sound: Tuxedomoon, Cure, Von Zamla, Bauhaus, Kastrierte Philosophen, Japan, David Sylvian...

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Rating:  

90/100

From sheep21 02/16/2013 23:12 | #65290

Good chart. I agree with you on the 80s blurb at top as well. For me, 80's is the worst decade for music yet so many people of my generation who reject todays music aspire to live in the 80s. Go figure.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

From Robert Anton Wilson 01/09/2013 18:38 | #60832

At WrathchildIX, LOL!!! I undersatnd my chart does not make a strong AGAINST th 80s but a lot of it is 70s artists making good albums in the 80s and as you can see, what we usually think of as the sound of the 80s (Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Sonic Youth, Pixies, 80s metal ...)is wholly absent from my chart.

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Rating:  

90/100

From WrathchildIX 01/08/2013 22:17 | #60740

And u hate 80's?

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Rating:  

80/100

From daftpunter 01/21/2012 04:22 | #35555

A great top ten

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From Hayden 01/05/2012 15:32 | #34547

I love your opener, it's really spot on. I can see you struggled making this chart...I don't really blame you though. I'm not a huge REM fan, and I've never heard Green. Is it that much better than their other albums?

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