Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by 
jhuik 
This always seemed to me like it was a horrible decade for music. The interesting thing about these decade lists, though, is you realize that all decades come out about even in the end.
- Chart updated: 09/13/2013 07:02
- (Created: 03/22/2012 02:40).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 5 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s has an average rating of 82 out of 100 (from 9 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Buy album 
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,886
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,839
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,353
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,523
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,388
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,965
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,322
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,907
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 03/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,573
Rank in 1984:
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 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1981 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1982 | 3 | 3% | |
| 1983 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1984 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1985 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1986 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1987 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1988 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1989 | 11 | 11% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| U2 | 7 | 7% | |
| John Cougar Mellencamp | 4 | 4% | |
| Bruce Springsteen | 4 | 4% | |
| R.E.M. | 4 | 4% | |
| The Waterboys | 3 | 3% | |
| The Pogues | 3 | 3% | |
| Van Morrison | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 15 from 49th to 34th Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen |
| Up 2 from 30th to 28th Tom Cochrane & Red Rider by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider |
| Up 1 from 31st to 30th Let It Be by The Replacements |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 5 from 44th to 49th American Fool by John Cougar |
| Down 4 from 27th to 31st Green by R.E.M. |
| Down 2 from 34th to 36th Uh-Huh by John Cougar Mellencamp |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most Spins | jhuik | Custom 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 | matterhornrider | 1980s decade chart | 2025 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  junodog4 | 1980s decade chart | 2023 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | craab | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Ashmark | 1980s decade chart | 2018 | |
| 100 Best Albums of the Eighties | Rolling Stone | 1980s decade chart | 1989 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  Romanelli | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | daftpunter | 1980s decade chart | 2012 | |
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Other decade charts by jhuik
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 14 Music Albums of the 2020s | jhuik | 2020s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | jhuik | 2010s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | jhuik | 2000s decade chart | 2018 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | jhuik | 1990s decade chart | 2018 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | jhuik | 1980s decade chart | 2013 | |
jhuik has created 4 other 1980s decade charts - click here to explore them all.
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 9 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 11/11/2017 22:48 |  Onater | 458 | 90/100 |
| ! | 02/25/2017 05:05 | Kuzh69 | 68 | 90/100 |
| ! | 05/07/2014 20:09 |  greatson | 906 | 80/100 |
| ! | 01/05/2013 22:26 | guigs13 | 237 | 88/100 |
| ! | 10/28/2012 07:43 | ecwashere | 157 | 83/100 |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s favourites
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
Showing all 5 comments |
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From Kuzh69 02/25/2017 05:18 | #186306
Even though I disagree with you're comment on the 80's being a bad
decade, I can't ignore the fact that we have the same #1 album (Bruce)
And u also u seem 2 like U2 almost as much as I do. So I will give the
waterboys an extra listen. Very nice charts overall
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From guigs13 01/05/2013 22:27 | #60227
Love the 80's, but your top doesn't contain any of my favorites, even though they're all very good albums.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From ecwashere 10/28/2012 07:43 | #53592
Good!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From junodog4 05/31/2012 03:19 | #43319
junodog4 05/31/2012 03:19 | #43319
There is quality in the 80s, but I'd still argue that it's the weakest decade. Although the 2010s haven't started well...
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Error Finn 03/22/2012 15:58 | #38734
A great list to see John Hiatt (+ +). JCM is also taken into account in high (+), he has been forgotten to some extent. Unlike in the 1980s. Huey L (-), "sports music", I'd say. Yes, from the 1980s can be found in good material.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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