Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by Jaymantheman 
This is the 80s!! The decade that I grew into music. I levelled up from listening to my parents records (Meatloaf, The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, etc.) and started venturing out on my own. The only decade where I'd buy three different formats within four years. My first vinyl was Hall & Oates- H2O. First cassette was Def Leppard - Pyromania. First CD's were ones just replacing some of my fav cassettes such as Genesis, Crowded House and Melissa Etheridge just to hear that awesome, superior sound! Ha, yes...ok. That led to artists learning you can add more and more music to an album... which was not always a great thing.
Anyway, this list will go through the early eighties, where heavy metal was in for a twelve year old, and the middle of the decade which was more pop with hints of a deeper interest (Yes... what other 15 year old guy was into Kate Bush?). Kate was beautiful, both looks and voice, and I had a few posters (The Dreaming... anyone?).
By the decades' end, I was full on alternative mode. I listened to Alan Cross on CFNY in Toronto and loved the new tunes they played. The hour long shows on New Order, Depeche Mode, The Cure, The Pixies. Some of his shows I recorded and still have. Thanks to a few female friends that would give me copies of older Cure albums, get me listening to some older Bowie and Cocteau Twins. With my interest in female vocals, I would dive into Jane Siberry, Edie Brickell, and Indigo Girls.
From Rock to Pop to Alternative. Here are the 80s.
- Chart updated: 08/10/2023 19:45
- (Created: 04/09/2018 17:11).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,012
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,170
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,778
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,300
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,276
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,300
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
691
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,965
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,503
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/09/2018]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,413
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4 | 4% | |
| 1981 | 2 | 2% | |
| 1982 | 5 | 5% | |
| 1983 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1984 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1985 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1986 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1987 | 19 | 19% | |
| 1988 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1989 | 20 | 20% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Genesis | 4 | 4% | |
| Phil Collins | 4 | 4% | |
| Peter Gabriel | 3 | 3% | |
| The Cure | 3 | 3% | |
| U2 | 3 | 3% | |
| Sade | 3 | 3% | |
| The Police | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 3 from 13th to 10th...Nothing Like The Sun by Sting |
| Up 3 from 7th to 4thFace Value by Phil Collins |
| Up 2 from 15th to 13thPassion: Music For The Last Temptation Of Christ by Peter Gabriel |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 3 from 11th to 14thHeartbeat City by The Cars |
| Down 1 from 4th to 5thDoolittle by Pixies |
| Down 1 from 5th to 6thThe Joshua Tree by U2 |
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Other decade charts by Jaymantheman
Jaymantheman has shared 6 more 1980s decade charts with the community. Browse them all here.
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| Top 37 Music Albums of the 2020s | Jaymantheman | 2020s decade chart | 2026 | |
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings
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Showing all 1 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 09/19/2018 18:03 |  nocturnaldelight | 4 | 83/100 |
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