Top 40 Music Albums of 1984
by 
Romanelli 
- Chart updated: 04/25/2026 16:45
- (Created: 04/11/2012 18:54).
- Chart size: 40 albums.
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Produced by Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Bruce Springsteen & Steve Van Zandt. So Bruce made a pop album. And it was made at a time when pop had really bad keyboards. And "Dancing In The Dark" just would not shut up. Still, the man can write the shit out of a song, and perform it twice as well. Underneath the gloss of this album lies more of Springsteen's heart and soul, and underneath songs like "Born In The USA" lies truth, beauty, honesty, and love. I hate that I love this album, but I do.
[First added to this chart: 04/11/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,876
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1984 – SST
Produced By ETHAN JAMES
1. D’s Car Jam / Anxious Mo-Fo
2. Theatre Is The Life Of You
3. Viet Nam
4. Cohesion
5. It’s Expected I’m Gone
6. #1 Hit Song
7. Two Beads At The End
8. Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth?
9. Don’t Look Now
10. Shit From An Old Notebook
11. Nature Without Man
12. One Reporter’s Opinion
13. Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing
14. Maybe Partying Will Help
15. Toadies
16. Retreat
17. The Big Foist
18.God Bows To Math
19. Corona
20. The Glory Of Man
21. Take 5, D.
22. My Heart And The Real World
23. History Lesson – Part II
24. You Need The Glory
25. The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts
26. West Germany
27. The Politics Of Time
28. Themselves
29. Please Don’t Be Gentle With Me
30. Nothing Indeed
31. No Exchange
32. There Ain’t Shit On T.V. Tonight
33. This Ain’t No Picnic
34. Spillage
35. Untitled Song For Latin America
36. Jesus And Tequila
37. June 16th
38. Storm In My House
39. Martin’s Story
40. Dr. Wu
41. The World According To Nouns
42. Love Dance
43. Three Car Jam
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you music for those with impaired attention spans. Minutemen nearly lived up to their name…the track list above is for a single CD (it was a double album). This American punk band lasted just over a minute (they broke up in 1985 after D. Boon was killed in a car accident), but they did release four albums in four years. Double Nickels On The Dime was their third release. It’s a stunning rapid fire collection of brief yet creative songs. The original album was 45 songs in 81 minutes. Remarkable. The longest track here is “The Glory Of Man” at 2:58, but most of the songs are less than 2 minutes long. Let’s just say that there is not a single wasted moment here. Minutemen were fast, loose, and extremely economical.
The speed at which Double Nickels On The Dime moves will probably make you dizzy. But it all works. There are no hits here. There is no jamming, no stretching things out, no singalongs and no production tricks. This is one of the most rock and roll of all rock and roll albums…this is no nonsense, no sugar coating, no prettiness or sweetness. This is what rock and roll should be. This is what PUNK should be. Loud and fast and at times, a bit scary. It’s too bad that just over a year later, Minutemen would be over. It would have been interesting to see what they would have grown into over the years. Mike Watt went on to play with Firehose, Sonic Youth, Porno For Pyros, and still plays shows with Minutemen drummer George Hurley…as a bass and drums only duo. But…for just a minute…this was one amazing band. [First added to this chart: 12/12/2017]
Produced By ETHAN JAMES
1. D’s Car Jam / Anxious Mo-Fo
2. Theatre Is The Life Of You
3. Viet Nam
4. Cohesion
5. It’s Expected I’m Gone
6. #1 Hit Song
7. Two Beads At The End
8. Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth?
9. Don’t Look Now
10. Shit From An Old Notebook
11. Nature Without Man
12. One Reporter’s Opinion
13. Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing
14. Maybe Partying Will Help
15. Toadies
16. Retreat
17. The Big Foist
18.God Bows To Math
19. Corona
20. The Glory Of Man
21. Take 5, D.
22. My Heart And The Real World
23. History Lesson – Part II
24. You Need The Glory
25. The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts
26. West Germany
27. The Politics Of Time
28. Themselves
29. Please Don’t Be Gentle With Me
30. Nothing Indeed
31. No Exchange
32. There Ain’t Shit On T.V. Tonight
33. This Ain’t No Picnic
34. Spillage
35. Untitled Song For Latin America
36. Jesus And Tequila
37. June 16th
38. Storm In My House
39. Martin’s Story
40. Dr. Wu
41. The World According To Nouns
42. Love Dance
43. Three Car Jam
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you music for those with impaired attention spans. Minutemen nearly lived up to their name…the track list above is for a single CD (it was a double album). This American punk band lasted just over a minute (they broke up in 1985 after D. Boon was killed in a car accident), but they did release four albums in four years. Double Nickels On The Dime was their third release. It’s a stunning rapid fire collection of brief yet creative songs. The original album was 45 songs in 81 minutes. Remarkable. The longest track here is “The Glory Of Man” at 2:58, but most of the songs are less than 2 minutes long. Let’s just say that there is not a single wasted moment here. Minutemen were fast, loose, and extremely economical.
The speed at which Double Nickels On The Dime moves will probably make you dizzy. But it all works. There are no hits here. There is no jamming, no stretching things out, no singalongs and no production tricks. This is one of the most rock and roll of all rock and roll albums…this is no nonsense, no sugar coating, no prettiness or sweetness. This is what rock and roll should be. This is what PUNK should be. Loud and fast and at times, a bit scary. It’s too bad that just over a year later, Minutemen would be over. It would have been interesting to see what they would have grown into over the years. Mike Watt went on to play with Firehose, Sonic Youth, Porno For Pyros, and still plays shows with Minutemen drummer George Hurley…as a bass and drums only duo. But…for just a minute…this was one amazing band. [First added to this chart: 12/12/2017]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,589
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 04/13/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,605
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1984 – I.R.S.
Produced By DON DIXON & MITCH EASTER
1. Harborcoat
2. 7 Chinese Bros.
3. So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
4. Pretty Persuasion
5. Time After Time (Annelise)
6. Second Guessing
7. Letter Never Sent
8. Camera
9. (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville
10. Little America
There was nothing like R.E.M. on the rock landscape in 1984. They were practically inventing alternative rock while the masses were into New Wave, hair metal, and the death throes of what is now known as classic rock. Their first album, Murmur, was a hit with critics and the people who took notice of this odd band from Georgia. With Reckoning, R.E.M. not only further solidified their sound, but they also began to reach a wider audience, thanks to a pair of hits in “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” and the almost conventional rock of “Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”. The jangly guitars of Peter Buck, the wandering basslines of Mike Mills, and the almost indecipherable lyrics from Michael Stipe made for exciting and ultimately cool music.
Reckoning is loaded with great moments from the band. “Harborcoat” opens the record with everything that makes R.E.M. great, and still stands as one of their greatest songs. “Pretty Persuasion” and “7 Chinese Brothers” are exceptional as well. R.E.M. was considered to be “college rock” at the time, a label they would soon outgrow as they became more famous. This is a band that has had multiple great albums, and Reckoning is definitely one of those. The growth of alternative rock and R.E.M,. in the decade of the eighties is one of rock’s most important and interesting excursions. A band and an album you can’t go wrong with. [First added to this chart: 06/17/2021]
Produced By DON DIXON & MITCH EASTER
1. Harborcoat
2. 7 Chinese Bros.
3. So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
4. Pretty Persuasion
5. Time After Time (Annelise)
6. Second Guessing
7. Letter Never Sent
8. Camera
9. (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville
10. Little America
There was nothing like R.E.M. on the rock landscape in 1984. They were practically inventing alternative rock while the masses were into New Wave, hair metal, and the death throes of what is now known as classic rock. Their first album, Murmur, was a hit with critics and the people who took notice of this odd band from Georgia. With Reckoning, R.E.M. not only further solidified their sound, but they also began to reach a wider audience, thanks to a pair of hits in “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” and the almost conventional rock of “Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”. The jangly guitars of Peter Buck, the wandering basslines of Mike Mills, and the almost indecipherable lyrics from Michael Stipe made for exciting and ultimately cool music.
Reckoning is loaded with great moments from the band. “Harborcoat” opens the record with everything that makes R.E.M. great, and still stands as one of their greatest songs. “Pretty Persuasion” and “7 Chinese Brothers” are exceptional as well. R.E.M. was considered to be “college rock” at the time, a label they would soon outgrow as they became more famous. This is a band that has had multiple great albums, and Reckoning is definitely one of those. The growth of alternative rock and R.E.M,. in the decade of the eighties is one of rock’s most important and interesting excursions. A band and an album you can’t go wrong with. [First added to this chart: 06/17/2021]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,223
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1984 – ELEKTRA
Produced By JIMMY HAYNES & STEEL PULSE
1. Steppin’ Out
2. Tightrope
3. Throne Of Gold
4. Roller Skates
5. Earth Crisis
6. Bodyguard
7. Grab Education
8. Wild Goose Chase
British reggae inspired by Bob Marley. Steel Pulse came together in 1975, and have been playing ever since. They hold the distinction of being the first non-Jamaican reggae band to win a Best Reggae Album Grammy Award. Earth Crisis is their fifth album, and marks their first decade together. And as pleasant and danceable as it sounds, it covers some serious ground. The album cover gives you ample warning about that…Reagan and Andropov are shown as leaders of the cold war. It also includes images of the Pope, the Ku-Klux Klan, Vietnam refugees and starving African children. Quite the picture. The music is not that depressing, even with the subject matter not being all about love and roses.
“Steppin’ Out” was a hit, and everything else follows suit. Earth Crisis is labeled as a serious protest album, but it’s really not much more than some danceable reggae. Nothing really stands out, making it basically background music. This was a step back from their previous album, True Democracy, and a step behind their next, which would be the Grammy winning Babylon The Bandit. Their label, at the time of Earth Crisis, was trying to move the band into a more mainstream direction, which may be why this seems a bit tentative. Even though they are still together, Steel Pulse has slowed way down. Since 2004, they have released just a pair of records (although the last was nominated for another Grammy). Unfortunately, Earth Crisis is simply not remarkable enough to hold much interest. [First added to this chart: 11/09/2012]
Produced By JIMMY HAYNES & STEEL PULSE
1. Steppin’ Out
2. Tightrope
3. Throne Of Gold
4. Roller Skates
5. Earth Crisis
6. Bodyguard
7. Grab Education
8. Wild Goose Chase
British reggae inspired by Bob Marley. Steel Pulse came together in 1975, and have been playing ever since. They hold the distinction of being the first non-Jamaican reggae band to win a Best Reggae Album Grammy Award. Earth Crisis is their fifth album, and marks their first decade together. And as pleasant and danceable as it sounds, it covers some serious ground. The album cover gives you ample warning about that…Reagan and Andropov are shown as leaders of the cold war. It also includes images of the Pope, the Ku-Klux Klan, Vietnam refugees and starving African children. Quite the picture. The music is not that depressing, even with the subject matter not being all about love and roses.
“Steppin’ Out” was a hit, and everything else follows suit. Earth Crisis is labeled as a serious protest album, but it’s really not much more than some danceable reggae. Nothing really stands out, making it basically background music. This was a step back from their previous album, True Democracy, and a step behind their next, which would be the Grammy winning Babylon The Bandit. Their label, at the time of Earth Crisis, was trying to move the band into a more mainstream direction, which may be why this seems a bit tentative. Even though they are still together, Steel Pulse has slowed way down. Since 2004, they have released just a pair of records (although the last was nominated for another Grammy). Unfortunately, Earth Crisis is simply not remarkable enough to hold much interest. [First added to this chart: 11/09/2012]
1984-GEFFEN
Produced By DON HENLEY, DANNY KORTCHMAR & GREG LADANYI
1. The Boys Of Summer
2. You Can’t Make Love
3. Man With A Mission
4. You’re Not Drinking Enough
5. Not Enough Love In The World
6. Building The Perfect Beast
7. All She Wants To Do Is Dance
8. A Month Of Sundays
9. Sunset Grill
10. Drivin’ With Your Eyes Closed
11. Land Of The Living
Don Henley’s first solo album, I Can’t Stand Still, was pretty bad stuff. His second, 1984’s Building The Perfect Beast, was most definitely a step or two in the right direction. And it definitely established him as a successful solo artist in his own right, and not just that singing drummer from the Eagles. The album was a hit, with four charting singles, helped along with an all star cast that would make anyone envious (Lindsey Buckingham AND Mike Campbell on guitar? Not fair!). And Henley distances himself from his former band by including not one trace of the signature Eagles twang. Henley wisely accepted songwriting help from his collaborators (not just Danny Kortchmar, but three of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers), resulting in a recording loaded with excellent songs. On paper, Building The Perfect Beast looks like the exact formula for a great, classic album.
So, what exactly is the problem here? The year was 1984, and the instrument in vogue in 1984 was the synthesizer. And on top of this collection of well written tunes lies a layer of synthesizers so thick that you could do a line off of them. Ten different musicians are credited with playing keyboards on the album, but it sounds more like twenty. This may be, in fact, the most keyboard heavy album of the 80’s…and that’s saying a lot. And we’re not talking piano here…we’re talking cheesy, plastic sounding 80’s synths that just a decade later sounded horribly dated. It’s now been three decades, and it hasn’t gotten any better. The songs are still there…”The Boys Of Summer”, “Sunset Grill”, “Not Enough Love In The World”, “All She Wants To Do Is Dance”, and the rocking “Dancing With Your Eyes Closed”. You just wish that someday Henley would go back and take all of those hideous keys off of it. Because if he did, this would be a truly amazing album. Maybe someday… [First added to this chart: 04/11/2012]
Produced By DON HENLEY, DANNY KORTCHMAR & GREG LADANYI
1. The Boys Of Summer
2. You Can’t Make Love
3. Man With A Mission
4. You’re Not Drinking Enough
5. Not Enough Love In The World
6. Building The Perfect Beast
7. All She Wants To Do Is Dance
8. A Month Of Sundays
9. Sunset Grill
10. Drivin’ With Your Eyes Closed
11. Land Of The Living
Don Henley’s first solo album, I Can’t Stand Still, was pretty bad stuff. His second, 1984’s Building The Perfect Beast, was most definitely a step or two in the right direction. And it definitely established him as a successful solo artist in his own right, and not just that singing drummer from the Eagles. The album was a hit, with four charting singles, helped along with an all star cast that would make anyone envious (Lindsey Buckingham AND Mike Campbell on guitar? Not fair!). And Henley distances himself from his former band by including not one trace of the signature Eagles twang. Henley wisely accepted songwriting help from his collaborators (not just Danny Kortchmar, but three of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers), resulting in a recording loaded with excellent songs. On paper, Building The Perfect Beast looks like the exact formula for a great, classic album.
So, what exactly is the problem here? The year was 1984, and the instrument in vogue in 1984 was the synthesizer. And on top of this collection of well written tunes lies a layer of synthesizers so thick that you could do a line off of them. Ten different musicians are credited with playing keyboards on the album, but it sounds more like twenty. This may be, in fact, the most keyboard heavy album of the 80’s…and that’s saying a lot. And we’re not talking piano here…we’re talking cheesy, plastic sounding 80’s synths that just a decade later sounded horribly dated. It’s now been three decades, and it hasn’t gotten any better. The songs are still there…”The Boys Of Summer”, “Sunset Grill”, “Not Enough Love In The World”, “All She Wants To Do Is Dance”, and the rocking “Dancing With Your Eyes Closed”. You just wish that someday Henley would go back and take all of those hideous keys off of it. Because if he did, this would be a truly amazing album. Maybe someday… [First added to this chart: 04/11/2012]
[First added to this chart: 04/13/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,142
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 06/04/2013]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
724
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 04/12/2012]
1984-TWIN TONE
Produced By STEVE FJELSTAD, PAUL WESTERBERG & PETER JESPERSON
1. I Will Dare
2. Favorite Thing
3. We're Comin' Out
4. Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
5. Androgynous
6. Black Diamond
7. Unsatisfied
8. Seen Your Video
9. Gary's Got A Boner
10. Sixteen Blue
11. Answering Machine
In 1984, The Replacements had grown tired of playing exclusively loud and fast songs, so they decided to concentrate on songs rather than noise. And, apparently, balls as well. Naming their third album after The Beatles classic (Paul Westerberg has said that they had planned on calling the next one Let It Bleed) and including a KISS cover ("Black Diamond"), this was not going to be a typical record in any way.
And, luckily, it's not. There are bits that are annoying, but it's all washed away by the strength of songs like "I Will Dare", "Sixteen Blue", "Unsatisfied", and "Answering Machine". Stange bits like "Androgynous" offset rockers like "Gary's Got A Boner" quite well. This is a band growing into themselves and realizing that they had a lot more to offer than just fast punk. One of the better albums of the 80's. Gotta love tha Mats! [First added to this chart: 04/13/2012]
Produced By STEVE FJELSTAD, PAUL WESTERBERG & PETER JESPERSON
1. I Will Dare
2. Favorite Thing
3. We're Comin' Out
4. Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
5. Androgynous
6. Black Diamond
7. Unsatisfied
8. Seen Your Video
9. Gary's Got A Boner
10. Sixteen Blue
11. Answering Machine
In 1984, The Replacements had grown tired of playing exclusively loud and fast songs, so they decided to concentrate on songs rather than noise. And, apparently, balls as well. Naming their third album after The Beatles classic (Paul Westerberg has said that they had planned on calling the next one Let It Bleed) and including a KISS cover ("Black Diamond"), this was not going to be a typical record in any way.
And, luckily, it's not. There are bits that are annoying, but it's all washed away by the strength of songs like "I Will Dare", "Sixteen Blue", "Unsatisfied", and "Answering Machine". Stange bits like "Androgynous" offset rockers like "Gary's Got A Boner" quite well. This is a band growing into themselves and realizing that they had a lot more to offer than just fast punk. One of the better albums of the 80's. Gotta love tha Mats! [First added to this chart: 04/13/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,398
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 40. Page 1 of 4
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Top 40 Music Albums of 1984 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Smiths | 2 | 5% | |
| Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble | 1 | 3% | |
| Guadalcanal Diary | 1 | 3% | |
| Booker T. & The M.G.'s | 1 | 3% | |
| The Psychedelic Furs | 1 | 3% | |
| Madonna | 1 | 3% | |
| Merle Haggard | 1 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
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Top 40 Music Albums of 1984 ratings
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| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28/2014 20:12 | jdizzle123456 | 206 | 89/100 | |
| 03/26/2014 23:24 |  sssvnnn | 2,875 | 83/100 | |
| 02/15/2014 20:07 | PauloPaz | 1,759 | 89/100 | |
| 01/10/2013 01:34 | guigs13 | 237 | 88/100 | |
| 11/02/2012 00:36 | strawberryfields | 273 | 95/100 |
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From jdizzle123456 10/28/2014 20:12 | #125660
Good stuff
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From guigs13 01/10/2013 01:34 | #60880
Excellent chart!!
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