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.
There are 8 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s has an average rating of 83 out of 100 (from 8 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
View the complete list of 58,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
11,497
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,202
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,509
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
Rank Score:
18,364
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,450
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
857
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,784
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
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:
Rank Score:
1,703
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/15/2011]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,319
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 16 | 16% | |
| 1981 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1982 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1983 | 12 | 12% | |
| 1984 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1985 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1986 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1987 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1988 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1989 | 6 | 6% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| U2 | 6 | 6% | |
| Marillion | 5 | 5% | |
| Tom Waits | 4 | 4% | |
| Kate Bush | 4 | 4% | |
| Rush | 3 | 3% | |
| Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble | 3 | 3% | |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| 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
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | nas062080 | 1980s decade chart | 2013 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  skelter54 | 1980s decade chart | 2020 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | FieryGunHand | 1980s decade chart | 2013 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  infinitejester | 1980s decade chart | 2020 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Deckiller | 1980s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Top 93 Music Albums of the 1980s | elton229 | 1980s decade chart | 2012 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | mnorris75 | 1980s decade chart | 2013 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Juneof44 | 1980s decade chart | 2016 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | JeffN999 | 1980s decade chart | 2022 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  nextorgd | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
- Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.
- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register now - it only takes a moment!
Other decade charts by Robert Anton Wilson
Robert Anton Wilson has shared 6 more decade charts with the community. Browse them all here.| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 81 Music Albums of the 2020s | Robert Anton Wilson | 2020s decade chart | 2026 | |
| 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 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).
AV = the site mean average rating.
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 8 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/08/2019 18:04 |  mickilennial | 715 | 77/100 | |
| 12/23/2014 16:54 |  Decurso | 171 | 82/100 | |
| 11/14/2013 23:09 |  sssvnnn | 2,872 | 83/100 | |
| 02/16/2013 23:11 |  sheep21 | 140 | 89/100 | |
| 01/08/2013 22:16 |  WrathchildIX | 19 | 84/100 |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s favourites
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
Showing all 8 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
From mickilennial 03/08/2019 18:04 | #233220
mickilennial 03/08/2019 18:04 | #233220
Don't agree with you in the slightest still, but this is an alright chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Decurso 12/23/2014 16:55 | #130001
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.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From sssvnnn 11/14/2013 23:09 | #92482
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...
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From sheep21 02/16/2013 23:12 | #65290
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
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.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From WrathchildIX 01/08/2013 22:17 | #60740
WrathchildIX 01/08/2013 22:17 | #60740
And u hate 80's?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From daftpunter 01/21/2012 04:22 | #35555
A great top ten
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Hayden 01/05/2012 15:32 | #34547
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?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Your feedback for Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
