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 register 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:
5,982
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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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]
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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:
1,305
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 01/18/2012]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,658
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Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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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:
23,034
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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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]
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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]
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[First added to this chart: 05/03/2015]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,219
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 04/13/2017]
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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 | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Ranking Dread | 1 | 1% | |
| Mr. Fingers | 1 | 1% | |
| Rick James | 1 | 1% | |
| ESG | 1 | 1% | |
| Public Enemy | 1 | 1% | |
| Dinosaur | 1 | 1% | |
| Hüsker Dü | 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 The Original Smiley Culture by Smiley Culture |
| Up 46 from 66th to 20th Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth |
| Up 35 from 60th to 25th Script Of The Bridge by The Chameleons |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 49 from 50th to 99th Music For Parties by Silicon Teens |
| Down 45 from 32nd to 77th Dancehall Showcase Vol. II by Sugar Minott |
| Down 45 from 44th to 89th Dance by Earthling (JP) |
Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts
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| Pitchfork: The 100 Best Albums Of The 1980s (2002) | WayneMC | Custom chart | 2020 | |
| 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
| 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 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | Jimmy Dread | 1990s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Top 99 Music Albums of the 1980s | Jimmy Dread | 1980s decade chart | 2024 | |
Jimmy Dread has created 4 other 1980s decade charts - click here to explore them all.
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 5 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 | 1,831 | 83/100 |
| ! | 04/06/2021 22:59 |  Rhyner | 1,457 | 99/100 |
| ! | 04/06/2021 21:51 | RioBravo | 201 | 84/100 |
| ! | 11/02/2017 02:39 |  CharlieBarley | 477 | 94/100 |
| ! | 11/02/2017 00:34 |  NowhereMan | 292 | 82/100 |
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 88.0/100, 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 comments
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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 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From LittleM1971 11/01/2017 16:37 | #200414
Love this chart!!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From platus 11/01/2017 15:48 | #200413
Nice chart
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Graeme2 03/17/2017 21:32 | #187564
Graeme2 03/17/2017 21:32 | #187564
Good to see 101 damnations on a chart :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Jimmy Dread 08/27/2014 20:42 | #120535
Jimmy Dread 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 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
greatson 07/23/2014 11:27 | #117539
greatson 07/23/2014 11:27 | #117539
Pretty unique chart!
I`m not convinced of every pick.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
| Best Artists of the 1980s | |
|---|---|
| 1. The Smiths | |
| 2. Prince | |
| 3. Pixies | |
| 4. The Cure | |
| 5. Talking Heads | |
| 6. U2 | |
| 7. Metallica | |
| 8. Kate Bush | |
| 9. R.E.M. | |
| 10. The Stone Roses | |
| 11. Sonic Youth | |
| 12. Michael Jackson | |
| 13. Bruce Springsteen | |
| 14. Iron Maiden | |
| 15. Prince And The Revolution | |
| 16. Tom Waits | |
| 17. Joy Division | |
| 18. New Order | |
| 19. Talk Talk | |
| 20. Rush |
