Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s
by 
Jimmy Dread 
It was in April 2014 that I realised I hadn't edited this 80s chart for about 2 years. Sacrilege. Hence now with added dancehall vibes, tweerific tunage and some other bollocks for your delectation. One album per artist, repetition with Top 100 only where no other decent alternative (in my eyes) remains... blah blah blah. Probably the one decade chart I could safely say where every album featured is still on regular rotation... Jimmy, February 2021.
- Chart updated: 02/27/2024 16:15
- (Created: 01/16/2012 21:10).
- Chart size: 99 albums.
There are 7 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 19 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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PICK - Girl Afraid. A mate called Simon taped me every Smiths album and I played them so much that I nearly wore them out. I could still quote you pretty much every single lyric from HoH word for word. Last time I challenged someone to this was my gig buddy's Norweigan housemate.
[First added to this chart: 09/04/2016]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,019
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PICK - English Scheme. To this date, I have NEVER seen the Fall live. This may sound odd, but from what I've heard MES is not the sort of frontman that lends himself to the overall 'pleasant gig experience' I've enjoyed elsewhere. Like Peel, I want to keep my distance to maintain the mystique. And long may it continue.
[First added to this chart: 04/21/2014]
Available from
PICK - Wurlitzer Jukebox. Still have no idea why I bought it, and partly annoyed with them as it's thanks to YMG that we have to endure the loathesome XX. Only Vic Godard made a ping-pong ball sound so dolorous. Miminalism can be beautiful - here's the proof.
[First added to this chart: 01/16/2012]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,258
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Available from
[First added to this chart: 01/18/2012]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,557
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PICK - I Am The Resurrection. Bless Ma and Pa, they always knew what I wanted. The one band you would NEVER want to reform - one amazing LP, one dud, tons of awful live performances. They'd never capture the magic again. What's that you say... that HAVE reformed. Bugger.
[First added to this chart: 01/16/2012]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,892
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PICK - Plague Of Zombies. Pretty much all the Scientist LPs on Greensleeves are essential, but aside from ...Space Invaders this is the one, and most likely the best place to start for the uninitiated. Great Junjo riddims for the likes of Johnny Osbourne, Wailing Souls and Michael Prophet (the LPs from whence they came to be found lower down this list), twisted and chewed by the man Hopeton Brown. All just been reissued too, so grab 'em whilst you can.
[First added to this chart: 01/16/2012]
Available from
PICK - Only Woman DJ With Degree. You will notice as you go down this list there is an AWFUL LOT of JA nuggets on here. Reason being that early 80s dancehall was the most exciting and fertile period of Jamaican music - no contest. Sister Nancy was way ahead of her time - essential stuff.
[First added to this chart: 01/16/2012]
Available from
[First added to this chart: 05/03/2015]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,336
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Available from
[First added to this chart: 04/13/2017]
Available from
PICK - Bom Dub. Cheers muchly to dividesbyzero for the tip-off on this - a dub LP with Tubby/Sly and Robbie on one side and Scientist/Roots Radics on the other. Heavy, thick and guaranteed to blow your speakers if you're the sort of person who plays such things through your in-built laptop ones.
[First added to this chart: 09/04/2016]
Total albums: 99. Page 1 of 10
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Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1981 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1982 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1983 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1984 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1985 | 5 | 5% | |
| 1986 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1987 | 3 | 3% | |
| 1988 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1989 | 10 | 10% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Dolly Mixture | 1 | 1% | |
| Orange Juice | 1 | 1% | |
| Dennis Bovell | 1 | 1% | |
| Sister Nancy | 1 | 1% | |
| Minor Threat | 1 | 1% | |
| Eric B. & Rakim | 1 | 1% | |
| My Bloody Valentine | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
38 | 38% | |
| |
31 | 31% | |
 |
16 | 16% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
Up 55 from 100th to 45th |
Up 46 from 66th to 20th |
Up 35 from 60th to 25th |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 49 from 50th to 99th |
Down 45 from 32nd to 77th |
Down 45 from 44th to 89th |
| New entries |
|---|
| Leavers |
|---|
Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts
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| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  Hanshiro | 1980s decade chart | 2019 |  |
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| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  Skinny | 1980s decade chart | 2015 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  MrFrogger | 1980s decade chart | 2015 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | badger | 1980s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s |  CellarDoor | 1980s decade chart | 2012 |  |
| Pitchfork: The 100 Best Albums Of The 1980s (2002) | WayneMC | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  RichardSauce | 1980s decade chart | 2018 | |
| Top 100 Albums of the 1980s | Pitchfork | 1980s decade chart | 2002 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | sonicdiscourse | 1980s decade chart | 2016 | |
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Other decade charts by Jimmy Dread
Jimmy Dread has shared 6 more decade charts with the community. Browse them all here.| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 80 Music Albums of the 2010s | Jimmy Dread | 2010s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Jimmy Dread | 2000s decade chart | 2015 | |
Top 99 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.
Showing latest 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 19 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 04/07/2021 05:25 | TheSmiths82-87 | 1,828 | 83/100 |
| ! | 04/06/2021 22:59 |  Rhyner | 1,463 | 99/100 |
| ! | 04/06/2021 21:51 | RioBravo | 200 | 84/100 |
Rating metrics:
Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 10% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.9/100, a mean average of 89.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 9.6.
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Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s favourites
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Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s forum mentions
This chart has been referenced 5 times on the forums, Explore the wider forum discussion to see what members have said about it.
From 
BestEverAlbums 04/06/2021 08:00 in Chart of the day (#3451): By Jimmy Dread
BestEverAlbums 04/06/2021 08:00 in Chart of the day (#3451): By Jimmy Dread“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s by Jimmy Dread () 1. Hatful Of Hollow by The Smiths (1984) 2. Grotesque (After The Gramme) by The Fall (1980) 3. Colossal Youth by Young Marble Giants (1980) 4. Crazy Rhythms by The Feelies (1980) 5. The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses…”
View forum post →From BestEverAlbums 11/01/2017 08:00 in Chart of the day (#2201): By Jimmy Dread
BestEverAlbums 11/01/2017 08:00 in Chart of the day (#2201): By Jimmy Dread“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s by Jimmy Dread () 1. Hatful Of Hollow by The Smiths (1984) 2. Chronic Town by R.E.M. (1982) 3. Grotesque (After The Gramme) by The Fall (1980) 4. Colossal Youth by Young Marble Giants (1980) 5. One, Two by Sister Nancy (1982) 6. Scientist…”
View forum post →From Jimmy Dread 08/16/2016 11:14 in This Diary Isn’t For You
Jimmy Dread 08/16/2016 11:14 in This Diary Isn’t For You“On a little bit of a chart-updating roll this morning with for anyone who cares. A quick mention for this too, which I've just added to the database/80s chart and I bought when I met up with the ever-so-lovely Suedeswede up in Nottingham a few months back. It's one of the blokes from This Heat who…”
View forum post →Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
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From
Graeme2 TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/17/2017 21:32 | #187564
Graeme2 TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/17/2017 21:32 | #187564
Good to see 101 damnations on a chart :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
From
Jimmy Dread TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/27/2014 20:42 | #120535
Jimmy Dread TOP 100 COMMENTER 08/27/2014 20:42 | #120535
Pretty unique comment!
I'm not convinced you've heard the Silicon Teens album. You should. Then comment again.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
From
CharlieBarley 11/02/2017 02:41 | #200438
CharlieBarley 11/02/2017 02:41 | #200438
Good 80s chart. 15 in common with mine. Like your notes esp on Stone Roses, Smiths and Pixies
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 0
From
NowhereMan 11/02/2017 00:34 | #200436
NowhereMan 11/02/2017 00:34 | #200436
I reckon I could match you on the Hatful of Hollow lyric challenge ;)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 0
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