Top 100 Music Albums of 1980 by 
Repo 
Films
==============
1. Ordinary People
2. The Long Good Friday
3. Friday The 13th
Punk EPS
=======================
1. The Vopo's - The Vopo's
2. Vice Squad - Last rockers
3. Angry Samoans - Inside My Brain
4. Minutemen - Paranoid Time
5. Black Flag - Jealous Again
6. The Misfits - Beware
6. Mars - EP
- Chart updated: 03/24/2025 00:15
- (Created: 06/21/2018 16:43).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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'80:10 This Is The Way. Step Inside.
[Martin] made it sound like somebody strangling a cat, and to my mind, absolutely killed the song. I was so annoyed with him and went in and gave him a piece of my mind but he just turned around and told me to fuck off. – Peter Hook, bassist for Joy Division on Martin Hammet’s production on "Atrocity Exhibition"
The Setting: Unfathomable pain. Ian was dead. Hung in his kitchen on the eve of their American tour. Bernard, Peter & Stephan are left bereft wondering how they could have missed the signs. Searching for answers that would never arrive. Two months later the album Closer is released.
The Listen: And somehow it was captured. All that inner pain. I do not know how it was captured. Like some kind of ghost. But it was. The Beatles may have a sang a great tune about weeping guitars, but, by God, Bernard’s guitar wept and wailed to the high heavens. Like a strangled cat. Like barbwire. The drums haunt & stalk. Circling around the procession like a slow brooding tempest threatening rain. Meanwhile Ian had no more tears to shed. His tears and blood had long since drained away. Pooled at his feet and reflecting back at him until he saw no way forward.
The Verdict. More a crypt than an album, Ian continues to live in its epically darkened grooves. Providing comfort that he also knows and shares our pain. Forever.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 11/12/2019]
[Martin] made it sound like somebody strangling a cat, and to my mind, absolutely killed the song. I was so annoyed with him and went in and gave him a piece of my mind but he just turned around and told me to fuck off. – Peter Hook, bassist for Joy Division on Martin Hammet’s production on "Atrocity Exhibition"
The Setting: Unfathomable pain. Ian was dead. Hung in his kitchen on the eve of their American tour. Bernard, Peter & Stephan are left bereft wondering how they could have missed the signs. Searching for answers that would never arrive. Two months later the album Closer is released.
The Listen: And somehow it was captured. All that inner pain. I do not know how it was captured. Like some kind of ghost. But it was. The Beatles may have a sang a great tune about weeping guitars, but, by God, Bernard’s guitar wept and wailed to the high heavens. Like a strangled cat. Like barbwire. The drums haunt & stalk. Circling around the procession like a slow brooding tempest threatening rain. Meanwhile Ian had no more tears to shed. His tears and blood had long since drained away. Pooled at his feet and reflecting back at him until he saw no way forward.
The Verdict. More a crypt than an album, Ian continues to live in its epically darkened grooves. Providing comfort that he also knows and shares our pain. Forever.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 11/12/2019]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,782
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
125
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Indie Rock
Essential [First added to this chart: 06/22/2018]
Essential [First added to this chart: 06/22/2018]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,336
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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'80:1 I’m Running to What’s Nothing!
Again & Again & AGAIN! (What’s wrong with me! Brick wall Laughing )
Setting: There was no way to expect this. Not in 1980. Three Imaginary Boys was a brilliant and massively creative album in the realm of punk. Not only that, but clearly they could write songs. Boys Don’t Cry, Killing an Arab and 10:15 Saturday Night are all massive punk singles. So if you were paying attention, you knew they had the potential to be players. Robert Smith had other ideas. And ripped up yesterday and started anew. He conjured an atmosphere that at the time was only rivaled by Joy Division (who just may get a shout out here soon. What do you think? Think )
The Listen: This album still blows my mind this many years later. The minor keys. The world building. One of those albums that brings me to literal tears because it's so brilliant. The Cure would make other great albums. But, this was the initial unveiling of Robert Smith's Extended Universe. And I'd say it's better than Iron Man! Twisted Evil
Verdict: There is no way in hell that this isn't making the cut! A no brainer.
Grade: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil (Stealing this from Mercury! Because I like it! That's how art works, people! lol) [First added to this chart: 06/12/2019]
Again & Again & AGAIN! (What’s wrong with me! Brick wall Laughing )
Setting: There was no way to expect this. Not in 1980. Three Imaginary Boys was a brilliant and massively creative album in the realm of punk. Not only that, but clearly they could write songs. Boys Don’t Cry, Killing an Arab and 10:15 Saturday Night are all massive punk singles. So if you were paying attention, you knew they had the potential to be players. Robert Smith had other ideas. And ripped up yesterday and started anew. He conjured an atmosphere that at the time was only rivaled by Joy Division (who just may get a shout out here soon. What do you think? Think )
The Listen: This album still blows my mind this many years later. The minor keys. The world building. One of those albums that brings me to literal tears because it's so brilliant. The Cure would make other great albums. But, this was the initial unveiling of Robert Smith's Extended Universe. And I'd say it's better than Iron Man! Twisted Evil
Verdict: There is no way in hell that this isn't making the cut! A no brainer.
Grade: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil (Stealing this from Mercury! Because I like it! That's how art works, people! lol) [First added to this chart: 06/12/2019]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,696
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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’80:2 Tears For Remembrance. Tears for Joy.
Setting: It didn’t take very long. Maiden were just that much better than everybody else. And it was bloody obvious right from the beginning, my friends. 1980 was the year that the New Wave Of British Metal (NWOBHM) took the metal world by storm. It boasted seminal releases from Angel Witch, Diamond Head, Saxon (x2!), Judas Priest and Motorhead. (That's a shitload of important albums! I almost feel that one of these SIX ( Twisted Evil ) albums just has to make the list too. Don’t you?! Think ) But the best of them all, even at this stage, was Maiden with this almost unbelievably confident and assured debut.
The Listen: Again, the most startling aspect on hearing this again is their maturity and confidence. Almost impossible to believe that this is their debut. Like The Cure, they create an atmosphere that is unrivaled. “Remember Tomorrow” and “Strange World” being the most obvious examples.
Verdict: This is bloody simple ain’t it! Throw it on the pyre, boys and be down with it. We got ourselves another keeper!
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil
Metal
HOF
I love Maiden's first two albums MORE than anything that came next. Their lead vocalist Paul Di'Anno and his punk background is the big reason why. Essential Maiden in my book. [First added to this chart: 11/12/2019]
Setting: It didn’t take very long. Maiden were just that much better than everybody else. And it was bloody obvious right from the beginning, my friends. 1980 was the year that the New Wave Of British Metal (NWOBHM) took the metal world by storm. It boasted seminal releases from Angel Witch, Diamond Head, Saxon (x2!), Judas Priest and Motorhead. (That's a shitload of important albums! I almost feel that one of these SIX ( Twisted Evil ) albums just has to make the list too. Don’t you?! Think ) But the best of them all, even at this stage, was Maiden with this almost unbelievably confident and assured debut.
The Listen: Again, the most startling aspect on hearing this again is their maturity and confidence. Almost impossible to believe that this is their debut. Like The Cure, they create an atmosphere that is unrivaled. “Remember Tomorrow” and “Strange World” being the most obvious examples.
Verdict: This is bloody simple ain’t it! Throw it on the pyre, boys and be down with it. We got ourselves another keeper!
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil
Metal
HOF
I love Maiden's first two albums MORE than anything that came next. Their lead vocalist Paul Di'Anno and his punk background is the big reason why. Essential Maiden in my book. [First added to this chart: 11/12/2019]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,833
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 04/20/2021]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
682
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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'80:12 Behead The Gorgon
“The whole NWOBHM thing didn’t exist when I wrote Angel Witch,” he recalls. “We were called Lucifer at that point and we were just a heavy rock band. I was in love with Sabbath, you know? I didn’t like anything else I was hearing. I liked bands like Led Zep and Deep Purple, but I preferred the Sabs because it just made more sense to me, with everything that was happening around me. I thought, ‘Why is everyone writing love songs?’ I was into the fantasy thing and horror and I just felt that was more of the way to go.” – Kevin Heybourne, founder, guitarist & vocalist of Angel Witch
The Setting: Two bands really stood out from the pack on the Metal For Muthas compilation. The comp that we can succinctly say heralded the arrival of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). A comp so important I almost named this post after it. Iron Maiden, as I noted earlier in this diary, were the clear head of the class. We all know what happened to them. But what, if anything, did the salutatorians have to add?
The Listen: Demons. Lots & lots of demons. Angel Witches. White Witches. Sorceresses. And Gorgons. Clearly not the kind that hid under his bed. No, my friends. These were the kind of demons poor Kevin wanted in bed. It seems our protagonist had girls on the brain. He tried to will his way into their hearts, but “The more love I feel for you, the more you fade away” he lamented in the their classic title track "Angel Witch". Frustrated, confused, and probably more than a little horny, Kevin took to the dark arts of metal, and crafted one of the few genuine classics of the original NWOBHM movement.
The Verdict: NWOBHM was cut short. Born in 1979, it's growth was quickly stunted once thrash quickened everyone’s pulses in 1983. But, you know what? As of lover of early 80s metal, I’ve always secretly wished that thrash had waited just a few more years to get its ball sack hair. Luckily, Kevin and his Angel Witches gave us this consummate NWOBHM classic. If you love those first two Maiden albums as much as I do, well brother, what the fuck are you waiting for? Unlike Kevin's demons, this is the real deal.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 12/31/2018]
“The whole NWOBHM thing didn’t exist when I wrote Angel Witch,” he recalls. “We were called Lucifer at that point and we were just a heavy rock band. I was in love with Sabbath, you know? I didn’t like anything else I was hearing. I liked bands like Led Zep and Deep Purple, but I preferred the Sabs because it just made more sense to me, with everything that was happening around me. I thought, ‘Why is everyone writing love songs?’ I was into the fantasy thing and horror and I just felt that was more of the way to go.” – Kevin Heybourne, founder, guitarist & vocalist of Angel Witch
The Setting: Two bands really stood out from the pack on the Metal For Muthas compilation. The comp that we can succinctly say heralded the arrival of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). A comp so important I almost named this post after it. Iron Maiden, as I noted earlier in this diary, were the clear head of the class. We all know what happened to them. But what, if anything, did the salutatorians have to add?
The Listen: Demons. Lots & lots of demons. Angel Witches. White Witches. Sorceresses. And Gorgons. Clearly not the kind that hid under his bed. No, my friends. These were the kind of demons poor Kevin wanted in bed. It seems our protagonist had girls on the brain. He tried to will his way into their hearts, but “The more love I feel for you, the more you fade away” he lamented in the their classic title track "Angel Witch". Frustrated, confused, and probably more than a little horny, Kevin took to the dark arts of metal, and crafted one of the few genuine classics of the original NWOBHM movement.
The Verdict: NWOBHM was cut short. Born in 1979, it's growth was quickly stunted once thrash quickened everyone’s pulses in 1983. But, you know what? As of lover of early 80s metal, I’ve always secretly wished that thrash had waited just a few more years to get its ball sack hair. Luckily, Kevin and his Angel Witches gave us this consummate NWOBHM classic. If you love those first two Maiden albums as much as I do, well brother, what the fuck are you waiting for? Unlike Kevin's demons, this is the real deal.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 12/31/2018]
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Metal
HOF
The most influential metal album of 1980. [First added to this chart: 12/17/2019]
HOF
The most influential metal album of 1980. [First added to this chart: 12/17/2019]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,142
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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'80:15 The FUN Factor
The Setting: The Specials were THE definitive band of the second wave of ska. Their debut could almost be considered a greatest hits album for the Two Tone scene. So this is just More of the same, right? Probably just a weak collection of B-sides rushed to market to capitalize on the ska revival, right?
The Listen: I know what you’re thinking. THIS can’t be the FIVE star Specials album. That’s the debut. EVERYONE knows that. That’s what I always assumed too, guys. So I was pretty surprised to see Purplepash pick this. BUT, you know what? It actually works far better as an ALBUM than the debut. The debut feels like a collection of singles whereas this feels cohesive & remarkedly varied. And there’s even MORE genre mashing. The Specials ability to mash up multiple different genres from years past and make it fresh & new & that's right - FUN - is pretty much unparalleled.
The Verdict: A remarkable diversion of an album. Throwing this on creates an instantaneous House Party atmosphere. Like when you were hanging out in your dorm room and that one cool guy down the hall not only had alcohol but new how to make Fuzzy Navels (with Vodka of course!). A total house party classic. I NEED one second-wave ska album on this list to capture the spirit of 1980. This may get knocked off further down the line by The English Beat, but this is certainly a worthy contender for the 1980 ska throne.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 06/08/2021]
The Setting: The Specials were THE definitive band of the second wave of ska. Their debut could almost be considered a greatest hits album for the Two Tone scene. So this is just More of the same, right? Probably just a weak collection of B-sides rushed to market to capitalize on the ska revival, right?
The Listen: I know what you’re thinking. THIS can’t be the FIVE star Specials album. That’s the debut. EVERYONE knows that. That’s what I always assumed too, guys. So I was pretty surprised to see Purplepash pick this. BUT, you know what? It actually works far better as an ALBUM than the debut. The debut feels like a collection of singles whereas this feels cohesive & remarkedly varied. And there’s even MORE genre mashing. The Specials ability to mash up multiple different genres from years past and make it fresh & new & that's right - FUN - is pretty much unparalleled.
The Verdict: A remarkable diversion of an album. Throwing this on creates an instantaneous House Party atmosphere. Like when you were hanging out in your dorm room and that one cool guy down the hall not only had alcohol but new how to make Fuzzy Navels (with Vodka of course!). A total house party classic. I NEED one second-wave ska album on this list to capture the spirit of 1980. This may get knocked off further down the line by The English Beat, but this is certainly a worthy contender for the 1980 ska throne.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 06/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
410
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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'80:17 Solid Rock
The Setting: Let’s face it. Classic rock fans did NOT have a lot of good options in 1980. Neil Young was dealing with domestic issues. Dylan was busy getting Saved. Zeppelin were done. And Pete Townsend was out on his lonesome. So the scene was set for a new face to capture this ardent set of fans. Enter Dire Straits who had already proven their classic rock bonafides with two back-to-back 5 STAR albums of laid-back JJ Cale inflected rock n' roll with their debut and the underrated Communique. Could the boys deliver again?
The Listen: Yes! AND no! Mark and the boys prove that they certainly had what it takes. Although I’m (unsurprisingly) more of a fan of the spare, stripped down sound of their first two albums, it's hard to argue that Mark and his boys created something epic, romantic and downright beautiful on side 1 of Making Movies. Like the title says, this is cinematic music. Music that transports. BUT, side two feels like an afterthought with “Solid Rock” in particular just being a pretty generic rocker. The record simply runs out of too much steam on the back side to get that coveted Five Star mark.
The Verdict: Were Dire Straits the last great Classic Rock band? I’m sincerely asking. We get so caught up in who was first ( The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.) but how about the brothers who kept the torch lit for another decade for all us Dad Rockers & Mama Bunnies out there. Dire Straits don’t get the love they deserve. Their first two albums are untouchable laid back, whiskey drinking rock n’ roll. With Making Movies they added more elements. More cameras. But that second side just runs out of gas. But that first side? Damn. Its fuckability factor is through the roof.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 07/08/2021]
The Setting: Let’s face it. Classic rock fans did NOT have a lot of good options in 1980. Neil Young was dealing with domestic issues. Dylan was busy getting Saved. Zeppelin were done. And Pete Townsend was out on his lonesome. So the scene was set for a new face to capture this ardent set of fans. Enter Dire Straits who had already proven their classic rock bonafides with two back-to-back 5 STAR albums of laid-back JJ Cale inflected rock n' roll with their debut and the underrated Communique. Could the boys deliver again?
The Listen: Yes! AND no! Mark and the boys prove that they certainly had what it takes. Although I’m (unsurprisingly) more of a fan of the spare, stripped down sound of their first two albums, it's hard to argue that Mark and his boys created something epic, romantic and downright beautiful on side 1 of Making Movies. Like the title says, this is cinematic music. Music that transports. BUT, side two feels like an afterthought with “Solid Rock” in particular just being a pretty generic rocker. The record simply runs out of too much steam on the back side to get that coveted Five Star mark.
The Verdict: Were Dire Straits the last great Classic Rock band? I’m sincerely asking. We get so caught up in who was first ( The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.) but how about the brothers who kept the torch lit for another decade for all us Dad Rockers & Mama Bunnies out there. Dire Straits don’t get the love they deserve. Their first two albums are untouchable laid back, whiskey drinking rock n’ roll. With Making Movies they added more elements. More cameras. But that second side just runs out of gas. But that first side? Damn. Its fuckability factor is through the roof.
Rating: Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil [First added to this chart: 07/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,874
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Post-Punk
[First added to this chart: 11/12/2019]
Total albums: 45. Page 1 of 5
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Top 100 Music Albums of 1980 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | 2 | 2% | |
| The Clash | 2 | 2% | |
| The Cure | 2 | 2% | |
| Circle Jerks | 1 | 1% | |
| David Bowie | 1 | 1% | |
| Thin Lizzy | 1 | 1% | |
| Motörhead | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
45 | 45% | |
| |
39 | 39% | |
 |
6 | 6% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of 1980 chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
 Up 14 from 39th to 25thA-Z by Colin Newman |
| Up 3 from 15th to 12th Kaleidoscope by Siouxsie And The Banshees |
| Up 3 from 8th to 5th Seventeen Seconds by The Cure |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 24 from 53rd to 77th Go To Heaven by Grateful Dead |
| Down 5 from 5th to 10th Sacred Songs by Daryl Hall |
| Down 5 from 6th to 11th Voices by Daryl Hall & John Oates |
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Other year charts by Repo
(from the 1980s)| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 99 Music Albums of 1989 | Repo | 1989 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 85 Music Albums of 1988 | Repo | 1988 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 1987 | Repo | 1987 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 1986 | Repo | 1986 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 98 Music Albums of 1985 | Repo | 1985 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 88 Music Albums of 1984 | Repo | 1984 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 99 Music Albums of 1983 | Repo | 1983 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 95 Music Albums of 1982 | Repo | 1982 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 1981 | Repo | 1981 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of 1980 | Repo | 1980 year chart | 2025 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of 1980 ratings
88/100 (from 2 votes)
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Showing all 2 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100  | 04/14/2025 08:08 |  NoisyBeast | | 91/100 |
 100/100 | 03/11/2020 17:19 | DJENNY | | 100/100 |
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