Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by Junomoogmello

This chart is currently under construction, comments are being added against albums progressively so that the text is based on a recent listen and not just memories.
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My all time favourite eighties album and in my top twenty of all time favourite albums! Drenched in reverb and eighties synth textures, this album is a catalyst for my late teens musical development. Everything about this album is fantastic, the heartfelt lyrics, the electric drums, the superb vocals, guitars, keyboards...

Such a shame that this underrated band never got to the heights of Simple Minds or U2, they should have...

Only available on vinyl to my knowledge and I am lucky to own a really well looked after near mint copy.

If you don't know Silent Running, imagine U2 blended with Simple Minds!

Check it out on YouTube.
[First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
153
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My second favourite album of all time. Imagine early Steve Hogarth Marillion with saxophone and a slightly less heavy style. This is actually the band Hogarth was with prior to taking over vocal duties from Fish in Marillion. In my opinion Steve Hogart'h's best work much as I like Marillion. Only released on vinyl and tape at the time, copies are very rare. I had the tape up until the point where some asshole broke into my car in a Yorkshire hotel car park and stole all my tapes, however, after years of searching, I have just picked up a tidy vinyl from Germany. Most of the songs on this album can be tracked down on YouTube and are definitely worth a listen. [First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
62
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There are few albums I score 100 but this is truly worthy of a full score and is a totally unknown if not forgotten album known only among those but a few by the look of this chart. I still have the original tape which still plays ok despite countless plays in the car I owned in the eighties. I was fortunate to pick up a near mint copy on vinyl recently and the listening experience is even more pleasurable. The album is quite dark as noted by other connisieurs of great music but that does add to the magic of this masterpiece. [First added to this chart: 08/07/2021]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
182
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Further to my comment in 2017, I felt the need to update by feeling on this album. Sadly, with the loss of the great Neil Peart, the album will surely become as iconic as Yes Close to the Edge and King Crimson Court of the Crimson King. If I ever generate enough points to produce custom charts, I think this album may well be in first place in my best progressive albums of all time! [First added to this chart: 06/21/2018]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
8,834
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Superb synth rock with two pivotal tracks, the title track and 'Someone, Somewhere in Summertime'. The best album from the Simple Minds eighties period. [First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,239
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This could become my favourite Marillion album of both the Fish and Hogarth eras. The keyboards on here are awesome with some amazing Mini Moog soloing particularly on Incommunicado. I can see this album standing up among such masterpieces as Genesis Selling England by the Pound and Yes Close to the Edge. Yes, I am serious. [First added to this chart: 08/07/2021]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
985
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Superb eighties Simple Minds album. So many great tracks. Remember putting this vinyl on to celebrate passing my driving test! Borrowed it from my brother when he was out! Got my own copy now, he never knew I borrowed his, may tell him some day! [First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
667
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The first Van Halen album I ever bought. Played it to the point where it was virtually un-playable and so pleased to have picked up another mint vinyl to replace my well worn copy. Not a weak track on the album. Personal favourites 'Take Your Whiskey Home', 'And The Cradle Will Rock'. [First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
484
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Musically brilliant. This band was underrated in my opinion. Never seen as one of the top eighties bands but they were clever in their songwriting ability. [First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,111
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An amazing example of what you can do with a Linn Drum, minimal keyboards and a fantastic vocalist. Sadly this is one of the albums in my collection which is quite affected by the years of playing. I am constantly on the lookout for a replacement, ideally with the same cover design, not the more modern version. Without doubt the best of Alphaville is on this album. Boy does that Linn Drum bite! [First added to this chart: 06/19/2018]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
304
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition

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100 Best Music of the EightiesJunomoogmelloCustom chart2024
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings

Average Rating: 
86/100 (from 4 votes)
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RatingDate updatedMemberChart ratingsAvg. chart rating
 
80/100
 
04/06/2023 11:51 Leonard  Ratings distribution  34288/100
The chart has been updated since this rating was assigned   
70/100
 
04/29/2019 22:32 sssvnnn  Ratings distribution  2,87783/100
The chart has been updated since this rating was assigned   
100/100
 
04/19/2019 21:17 craola  Ratings distribution  21796/100
The chart has been updated since this rating was assigned   
95/100
 
07/15/2018 02:47 bobbyb5  Ratings distribution  72590/100
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments

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Rating:  
95/100
From 07/15/2018 02:48 | #218246
Nice that you've got New Gold Dream way up high where it belongs. You gotta get Flock of Seagulls up there too though. Heh heh
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