Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by leniad

2 Time Chart of the Day

The best Pop Albums Ever , Synthethisizers , First hip-hops albums , The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and MTV

This Decade saw the Biggest Popularity of the Music Industry Ever

Maybe not the best amount of Quality Albums but the singles of this period of time are something else

Hope you can discover new music and share your opinions with me !!!

• Chart updated: 01/12/2026 05:15
• (Created: 08/29/2019 20:11).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

• Summary
• Composition
• Ratings
• Favourites
• Comments
• Your feedback

View the complete list of 58,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

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1. (=)

Sign "O" The Times 

 Prince

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95

Tied with Thriller for Best Pop Album ever
So many Flavors and genres prince achieve in this project, a double album with R&B, Soul, Rock, Funk, Avant pop, etc
Another album where prince play almost all instruments, produce and mix the entire record
For me Prince is the most talented music artist ever and this is his Magnus Opus

Best Songs: U Got The Look / Sign O The Times / I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

886 charts

Rank Score:

8,712

Rank in 1987:

3

Rank in 1980s:

22

Overall Rank:

170

Average Rating:

 81 (949 votes)

Comments:

56

2. (=)

Disintegration 

 The Cure

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95

The Cure is indeed the best band from the 1980s tied with The Smiths
"Disintigration" takes you on a journey of melancholy, sadness, memories, and all sad things for that matter
Pictures of you always makes me cry and that's beautiful in an artistic way, music that let flow your emotions and all that sutff
Robert Smith was frightened about he was going to turn 30 and hasn't created a Masterpiece so he focus and decided to create one, he Succeeded.

Best Songs: Pictures Of You / Lullaby / Love Song [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

1,845 charts

Rank Score:

26,117

Rank in 1989:

2

Rank in 1980s:

4

Overall Rank:

30

Average Rating:

 86 (2,067 votes)

Comments:

152

3. (=)

Hatful Of Hollow 

 The Smiths

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95

This Album contains 16 songs and the average rating is 87!!!

This is one of the albums you fall in love at first listen, all songs here are from good to excellent, Marr was just 21 when this album was released (Feels almost like Harrison at the beatles debut). this feels so fresh, so electrifying and so Morrisey jajaja, love this one and for me this counts like a studio album

Indie Pop / Alternative Rock

How Soon Is Now? / Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want / What Difference Does It Make? [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

632 charts

Rank Score:

5,937

Rank in 1984:

6

Rank in 1980s:

35

Overall Rank:

277

Average Rating:

 85 (1,048 votes)

Comments:

48

4. (=)

Thriller 

 Michael Jackson

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95

Best Pop Album Ever
This Album is to Pop what “Dark side to the Moon” to Progressive Rock and what “Kind Of Blue” to Jazz
Although i consider 2 Prince Records almost as the same level its just undeniable the impact and the legacy this album and MJ have on thounsands of artists since
And i think the best thing an Artist can achieve is inspiring others while creating music (Art)
So many classics and incredible songs from start to finish
I used to think that Lady in my life was a filler but now is one of my favourite feeling songs

Best Songs: Billie Jean / Beat It / Wannabe Startin Something [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

1,653 charts

Rank Score:

16,343

Rank in 1982:

1

Rank in 1980s:

8

Overall Rank:

66

Average Rating:

 82 (2,179 votes)

Comments:

162

5. (=)

Remain In Light 

 Talking Heads

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95

Top Notch New Wave and World Music

This album is the “funnier” you will ever hear and im not talking in like a comedy way, its because you will Groove to it until the end
David Byrne is kind o a Genius and this álbum shows that, Brian Eno here creates an unique Sound with the production of the álbum, maybe this is the most complete álbum of the 80s
After the great Fear of Music this one consolidates Talking Heads as one of the Best Bands Ever

Post-Punk / New Wave / WorldBeat / Art Rock / Afro-Funk

Fav Songs: Born Under Punches / Houses in Motion / Once In A Lifetime [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

2,040 charts

Rank Score:

27,531

Rank in 1980:

1

Rank in 1980s:

3

Overall Rank:

26

Average Rating:

 87 (2,304 votes)

Comments:

196

6. (=)

The Queen Is Dead 

 The Smiths

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95

Best Songs: There Is A Light That Never Goes Out / Bigmouth Strikes Again / The Queen Is Dead (Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty (Medley)) [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

2,490 charts

Rank Score:

33,405

Rank in 1986:

1

Rank in 1980s:

1

Overall Rank:

16

Average Rating:

 88 (2,931 votes)

Comments:

265

7. (=)

The Stone Roses 

 The Stone Roses

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95

Best Songs: I Wanna Be Adored / I Am The Resurrection / She Bangs The Drums [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

2,029 charts

Rank Score:

22,762

Rank in 1989:

3

Rank in 1980s:

5

Overall Rank:

33

Average Rating:

 86 (2,307 votes)

Comments:

203

8. (=)

Hounds Of Love 

 Kate Bush

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94.5 [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

1,418 charts

Rank Score:

18,028

Rank in 1985:

1

Rank in 1980s:

7

Overall Rank:

53

Average Rating:

 85 (1,419 votes)

Comments:

104

9. (=)

Closer 

 Joy Division

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94.444

Best Songs: Decades / Twenty Four Hours / The Eternal [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

1,519 charts

Rank Score:

14,868

Rank in 1980:

2

Rank in 1980s:

11

Overall Rank:

81

Average Rating:

 85 (1,929 votes)

Comments:

126

10. (=)

Purple Rain 
Soundtrack

 Prince And The Revolution

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94.44

Best Songs: Purple Rain / I Would Die 4 U / When Doves Cry [First added to this chart: 08/29/2019]

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

1,446 charts

Rank Score:

15,888

Rank in 1984:

1

Rank in 1980s:

9

Overall Rank:

72

Average Rating:

 83 (1,669 votes)

Comments:

132

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition

Country	Albums	%
	43	43%
	35	35%
	9	9%
	8	8%
	1	1%
	1	1%
	1	1%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	TheNowhereGuy	1980s decade chart	2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	StefanR10	1980s decade chart	2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	flyingcitrus	1980s decade chart	2018
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Manso	1980s decade chart	2021
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	WilliamFrayer	1980s decade chart	2022
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Kettwig	1980s decade chart	2019
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	iamthewalrus	1980s decade chart	2022
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	frankoceanlover	1980s decade chart	2024
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Jamie	1980s decade chart	2023
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Mattdup279	1980s decade chart	2020

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similarity to your chart(s)

Other decade charts by leniad

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2020s	leniad	2020s decade chart	2026
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s	leniad	2010s decade chart	2023
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s	leniad	2000s decade chart	2026

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 18 ratings for this chart.

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• Rating
• Date updated
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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
85/100  !	06/06/2023 14:19	Johnnyo	2,573	80/100
100/100  !	10/17/2022 16:48	Rm12398	98	89/100
80/100  !	09/05/2022 22:27	Moondance	476	85/100
90/100  !	12/14/2020 17:51	TheKing	78	90/100
100/100  !	12/09/2020 01:21	Crhmgs	20	98/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 83.9/100, a mean average of 82.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 82.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 16.4.

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments

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Rating:  

100/100

From Rm12398 10/17/2022 16:48 | #290565

Our top 10's of this decade are eerily similar and 50 albums in common! Great minds think alike haha, great job!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

80/100

From Moondance 09/05/2022 22:29 | #289276

Cool chart ~ good to see the South American artists getting recognition in a BEA for a change.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

85/100

From Johnnyo 09/05/2022 10:53 | #289262

Interesting chart. Rather eclectic but I like that.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

85/100

From Larcx13 11/02/2020 21:49 | #260099

I really dont like the 80s.... and your top picks reflect exactly why. For me the 80s are better when you dig deep into punk and hip hop, which I see that you have a little bit. Some alternative rock is okay, like the Pixies. I like a few songs by The Cure but damn their songs drag on and on and on and on.....

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Rating:  

80/100

From sssvnnn 09/27/2020 22:44 | #258790

good.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

80/100

From Goliath 06/14/2020 09:15 | #253512

33 in common with my 80's chart.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From Purplepash 11/12/2019 10:56 | #244720

Strange....we have 28 great albums in common yet you gave my chart a 40/100? I guess you must really dislike the other 72 albums on mine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

35/100

From cronadigallina 10/05/2019 21:30 | #243439

One of the strangest chart by far. Marillion/Queensryche/Sonic Youth/Michael Jackson in a row... Nice are the R.E.M. in their place

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From Glitterboiii 09/28/2019 19:08 | #243148

Stone Roses! Woot woot!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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