Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by Error Finn

Conceptual Extension - Part 4, 1980s: "The New Union Law"

I am the 1980's young. This decade "taught" me the barometer to measure the good music. At first in the 1980s, it was more important to me to find a day hits, as the so-called "serious music".When listening to music, mainly just a blockbusters, you may feel that, you're at the top of affairs! When the young get older, he/she begins to hate the things that was not so long ago - loved.
My personal love-hate relationship with the music of the 1980s, appears in this list, even too much. Albums and bands which marked before me tremendously, have lost their impact. Moreover, I have no interest in "1980s music genres". In addition, many great bands (which I have favored the 1970s on my list) did in the 1980s - boring albums. The 1980s, commercial music (= terrible sounds of bands albums), which gave birth to poor artists, got me interested in the music more deeply. These things result, I chose only 50 albums (May 2013 - 75 albums)
But, when I'm BEA's member, I have come to this site only because of good music, I promise that My lists albums are a wide range of the elect.
> Ok, but this next lyric - is the best of the decade:

"Your time has come, your second skin.
You climb so high and gain so low.
Walk through the valley.
The written word is a lie...
:
I could be wrong. I could be right.
I could be wrong. I could be right."

Chart updated: 11/22/2024 21:15
(Created: 06/14/2012 14:43).
Chart size: 100 albums.

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1. (=)

Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush

The setting of Kate Bush, 1980's top of the charts is not a bad choice. And in the case of her strongest album, Hound of Love. Bush's albums are expected to always be with great enthusiasm. I remember that it was also in the autumn of 1985 (also in Radio Luxembourg), while the radio journalists began to play album, the best-known tracks such as "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" and "Cloudbusting".Despite these hits, the album is surprisingly content: Memorable melodies and arrangements, with orchestrated progressive pop, and high-wattage traditional folk. Also,Hounds of Love is actually a two-part album;consisting of the suites "Hounds of Love" and "The Ninth Wave." The former is steeped in lyrical and sonic sensuality that tends to wash over the listener, while the latter is about the experiences of birth and rebirth. When you listen to this album, it may be that - you'll be born again! [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

1,418 charts

Rank Score:

18,049

Rank in 1985:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

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2. (3) 1

I knew Pretenders career in the 1980s, but only in 1997, I got stimulus to the purchase, when I saw it be located, Jake Nyman's book "Desert Island Dics'/Aution Saaren Levyt, place in 87. This disc is, a real songwriter Chrissie Hynde's display capabilities to do, melodic sense and streetwise intelligence to create a set of truly remarkable tunes: "Back on the Chain Gang","Middle of the Road", "My City Was Gone","2000 Miles", "Time the Avenger" and one of the best cover, ever "Thin Line Between Love and Hate". LTC is exactly the kind of rock music, which I hoped to hear. By far the best album of 1984. [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

217 charts

Rank Score:

985

Rank in 1984:

Rank in 1980s:

265

Overall Rank:

1,724

Average Rating:

76 (228 votes)

Comments:

3. (5) 2

Disintegration

The Cure

I was in the military service in 1989. Then army friend told that he had bought The Cure's latest album. When I was in the army, I was too lazy to take an interest in acquiring new music (and the military-day money - who would use it to The Cure!).Robert Smith's hair is worse the army to go ... but I bought the vinyl of this fine, and the band's best album, in 2007 (from a German retailer).
Norwegian Albums Chart 7. and 38th on Pitchfork's "Best Albums of the 80s". [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

1,846 charts

Rank Score:

26,205

Rank in 1989:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

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4. (6) 2

When Paul Simon's "Graceland" was released in August 1986 and its rise to the top of British album chart, causing in me feelings of happiness.I thought that's great now came to an old legend, and seemed to *eighties guys*, how good music is made! At that time I was acquainted with Paul Simon's music, from Simon & Garfunkel.Even if, Graceland features an eclectic mixture of musical styles including pop, a cappella, isicathamiya, rock, and mbaqanga, it did n't bother me. Paul Simon and the (South African) friends have made a noble album. [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

1,142 charts

Rank Score:

10,814

Rank in 1986:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

119

Average Rating:

81 (1,361 votes)

Comments:

5. (2) 3

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

Remain in Light is a bold combination of rock, funk and disco music. But it is in Caribbean and African polyrhythmics to use, was a new, rock music in 1980. When you think about afterwards, surprisingly quickly became Talking Heads - new wave front line of the band (4 members) - trans-national team in rhythm. It was logical, knowing that David Byrne and Brian Eno (doing "My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts") had familiarized themselves African music culture.The album is full of "good hooks":"Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)","The Great Curve", "Houses in Motion". And some wonderful phrases, songs:"Crosseyed and Painless" and "Once in the Lifetime". [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

2,040 charts

Rank Score:

27,524

Rank in 1980:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

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6. (12) 6

In early 1981 Robert Fripp and Bill Bruford began consideration of a new band, whose name would be a Discipline. The two search for a bass player for some time without success. Around the same time Fripp contacted guitarist Adrian Belew, who was then the Talking Heads on tour with the band. Previously, Belew had been playing, including Frank Zappa and David Bowie's ensembles. The current King Crimson's music recalled the so-called new wave music. This is probably the result of Belew'' s working with Talking Heads on. This band is often characterized as the originator of this musical trend. Fripp's intent was to create a sound that could be described as rock-gamelan. A special feature would be between the two guitar poly rhythmic dialogue. [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

466 charts

Rank Score:

3,317

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

526

Average Rating:

80 (627 votes)

Comments:

7. (39) 32

Rumat Sävelet

Hassisen Kone

[First added to this chart: 05/19/2013]

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

7 charts

Rank Score:

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

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8. (7) 1

Friday Night In San Francisco
Live

Al Di Meola / John McLaughlin / Paco De Lucía

Spontaneous is perhaps the right word to describe the live album "Friday Night in San Francisco". When I listened to this album for the first time in 2001, I found it to be a technical sense really high level. I have read that many Audiophiles favoring this album. "Friday Night in San Francisco" (three duo,two trio performances and one studio track)catches all three players at the peaks of their quite formidable powers. [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

73 charts

Rank Score:

361

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

582

Overall Rank:

3,986

Average Rating:

78 (92 votes)

Comments:

9. (=)

The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads
Live

Talking Heads

Again, a live album on my list. This is different from the others, because it is the aggregate number of live concerts.In such a compilation album, which lost, "a moment on imprisonment," it tells more the band's development of a live band. The first disc featured the original quartet in recordings from 1977 and 1979, and the second disc the expanded ten-piece lineup that toured in 1980 and 1981.I completely agree with Allmusic: - Although most people probably think the only Talking Heads live release is "Stop Making Sense", the fact is that there's an earlier, better live album called "The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads". - [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

143 charts

Rank Score:

730

Rank in 1982:

Rank in 1980s:

337

Overall Rank:

2,217

Average Rating:

80 (221 votes)

Comments:

10. (=)

Peter Gabriel

My highly appreciate member of the BEA - paladisiac - on Wednesday 11th January 2012:
- "You wouldn't know how deeply engaging this album is by hits "sledgehammer" and "big time". Fellow radio hit "in your eyes" does more to underscore peter's mastery of world music informing his own. Or check out "this is the picture" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueOqnyBSwwI to see how far he's come as a solo artist. This is his best album since "the lamb". - A very interesting album, with the musicians point of view. One of them was Bill Laswell - bass on "In Your Eyes"..an this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66MJ-KOFBFQ [First added to this chart: 06/14/2012]

Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

822 charts

Rank Score:

7,153

Rank in 1986:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

222

Average Rating:

80 (939 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition

Year	Albums	%

1980	11	11%
1981	10	10%
1982	10	10%
1983	13	13%
1984	9	9%
1985	10	10%
1986	8	8%
1987	12	12%
1988	6	6%
1989	11	11%

Artist	Albums	%

U2	3	3%
The Police	3	3%
Talking Heads	3	3%
Kate Bush	3	3%
Depeche Mode	2	2%
Tom Waits	2	2%
Sielun Veljet	2	2%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	40	40%
	30	30%
	11	11%
	7	7%
	3	3%
	2	2%
	1	1%
Show all

Live?	Albums	%
No	97	97%
Yes	3	3%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	99	99%
Yes	1	1%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 32 from 39th to 7thRumat Sävelet by Hassisen Kone
Up 25 from 67th to 42ndCupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti
Up 6 from 12th to 6thDiscipline by King Crimson

Biggest fallers
Down 10 from 4th to 14thHarsoinen Teräs by Hassisen Kone
Down 6 from 42nd to 48thTrio Music, Live In Europe by Chick Corea / Roy Haynes / Miroslav Vitouš
Down 4 from 8th to 12thI'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen

Title	Source	Type	Published
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	matterhornrider	1980s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	StefanR10	1980s decade chart	2020
Best Albums of the 1980s	Slant Magazine	1980s decade chart	2012
Top 93 Music Albums of the 1980s	elton229	1980s decade chart	2012
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Ashmark	1980s decade chart	2018
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Juneof44	1980s decade chart	2016
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	AgainstMeAgainstYou	1980s decade chart	2019
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	JR	1980s decade chart	2024
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Manso	1980s decade chart	2021
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	PapaShiz86	1980s decade chart	2024

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Error Finn has shared 6 more 1980s decade charts with the community. Browse them all here.

Title	Source	Type	Published
Top 10 Music Albums of the 2020s	Error Finn	2020s decade chart	2023
Top 50 Music Albums of the 2010s	Error Finn	2010s decade chart	2023
Top 75 Music Albums of the 2000s	Error Finn	2000s decade chart	2023

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings

Average Rating:

87/100 (from 7 votes)

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
85/100 !	05/15/2023 10:52	RevolverCB72	81	83/100
90/100 !	02/29/2020 01:27	Tamthebam	650	85/100
95/100 !	04/14/2016 12:08	Leonard	341	88/100
95/100 !	07/23/2014 10:26	greatson	906	80/100
90/100 !	05/19/2013 17:25	Pierre0609	15	60/100

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Leonard 04/14/2016 12:08 | #163800

Five point bonus for your words!