Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by mrmcrook 
The 80's was the decade when a lot of premium metal came out. It was the time when I was obsessed with it. My tastes expanded in future years but overall the albums of the heavier nature put out during this time massively dominate this list.
I realize my chart has a few compilations and many people believe compilations shouldn't count. I'm slowly weening them out as I discover an artists superior studio albums
Any footnotes are just personal ramblings for my own entertainment.
And to remind me of the joy the music brings before all memory is erased.
My top 100 from the 196 albums from the 80's I own
- Chart updated: 09/26/2026 21:15
- (Created: 10/02/2020 00:23).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There is 1 comment for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 5 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
Log in or create an account to rate this chart, leave comments or join the discussion.
Available from 
99.12* If you were explaining the definition of NWOBHM to someone, this is the album that perfectly summarizes it. Absolute fucking perfection. Was once the favorite Maiden album. Was once overtaken by Powerslave. Now back to favorite
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,042
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
95.05* One of my favorite Dead Kennedy albums. Not always but over time resonated more and more. Overall much faster paced than there other albums hence how they crammed 21 songs into it. Fantastic from start to finish. Short, fast, furious songs with the always present slap in the face lyrics. One of the most truth bearing bands on the planet but delivered in the happiest way. Love them.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Available from
95.00 Most under rated of all the 'Big 4'. This album is among the best that any of them done. All killer, no filler. One of the greatest thrash albums ever released hands down. Every song is just pure brilliance.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
756
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
94.87* This was the first Metallica I discovered. Still my favorite. The ultimate thrash metal album
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,016
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
94.50 By far Leppard's best album. This rocks right through. One of the greatest albums from the NWOBHM heyday. An absolute classic. All downhill after this as they went more commercial.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
651
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
92.55 Always in the battle for favorite Maiden album
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,027
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
92.22 First Maiden I bought. Hooked forever more so I got a soft spot for this album so I've probably rated it a bit higher than it deserves. Doesn't have the overall quality in songs that are on a few of their other albums but overall still a damn fine record.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,697
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
91.846* This is the album that has had the biggest influence on me. Lyrically, this is the greatest album ever. This tells it how it is, a great reality dose. Probably the album I've listened to more times than anything else. Still love it every time. 'Halloween' being my favorite of all DK songs. 11/25
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
915
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
91.78 Debut from the greatest ever punk band. Not there best but better than almost anything put out from all other bands of this genre. Fast, furious, brilliant. 03/24
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,539
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
90.93* I was 17. A bloke I worked with raved constantly about the DK's. While at a market I came across a DK's 'Halloween' t-shirt. It was fantastic. Bought the shirt before I'd even heard the band. Great insight as this was the first of there albums I got. Loved it and they became and still are one of my favorite bands. All hail the DK's. Even though it's a compilation only 'Uber Alles' & 'Holiday in Cambodia' were on other studio albums, so unless you were a great fan who had all the singles, you wouldn't have had what's on offer here. I've never got sick of this and still enjoy it every time I hear it. High energy, intellectually thought provoking & brilliantly piss taking. Well worthy to have in any collection
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 18 | 18% | |
| 1981 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1982 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1983 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1984 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1985 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1986 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1987 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1988 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1989 | 6 | 6% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Dead Kennedys | 6 | 6% | |
| Iron Maiden | 5 | 5% | |
| Metallica | 4 | 4% | |
| Motörhead | 3 | 3% | |
| Helloween | 3 | 3% | |
| Saxon | 3 | 3% | |
| Judas Priest | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
43 | 43% | |
 |
33 | 33% | |
 |
9 | 9% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
| |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
Up 1 from 14th to 13th |
Up 1 from 13th to 12th |
Up 1 from 12th to 11th |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
Down 3 from 11th to 14th |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similar charts
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  Vaggelis | 1980s decade chart | 2014 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | mrfloosak | 1980s decade chart | 2015 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | spoon836 | 1980s decade chart | 2019 | |
| Top 90 Music Albums of the 1980s | timosbuecherei | 1980s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | adbrack1988 | 1980s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  Bork | 1980s decade chart | 2021 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  IlMala | 1980s decade chart | 2022 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | Highhopes | 1980s decade chart | 2017 | |
| Top 85 Music Albums of the 1980s |  GARY | 1980s decade chart | 2012 |  |
| Top 100 80's Hard Rock Albums | saltysurprise | Custom chart | 2020 |  |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Creating an account is quick, easy and FREE!
Join 50,000+ music fans
- Join a community of over 50,000 music fans.
- Create & share your own charts.
- Influence the overall album rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Unlock Dark Mode and other member features.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- And much more.
Join now It only takes a moment.
Other decade charts by mrmcrook
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 2 Music Albums of the 2020s | mrmcrook | 2020s decade chart | 2024 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | mrmcrook | 2010s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | mrmcrook | 2000s decade chart | 2026 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
N.B. The average rating for this chart will not be reliable as it has been rated very few times.
Showing latest 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 5 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 02/08/2025 11:07 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,090 | 86/100 |
| ! | 02/24/2024 11:27 |  doombringer | 16 | 88/100 |
| ! | 10/26/2022 03:17 | DJENNY | 4,335 | 100/100 |
Please log in or create an account if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s favourites
Please log in or create an account if you want to be able to add a favourite
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s forum mentions
This chart hasn't been referenced yet on the forums.
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
Showing all 1 comments |
Top Comments First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
(Showing comments with any number of votes. Manage Profile)
Top Comments First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
(Showing comments with any number of votes. Manage Profile)
From
doombringer 02/24/2024 11:37 | #302184
doombringer 02/24/2024 11:37 | #302184
From one open-minded metalhead to another :
Your Top 100 is also very interesting . ( Icehouse !!! Grace Jones ! )
Thanx for the kind comment on my chart.
At the moment i'm ''working'' on my 90's list . (Edited)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
What do you think of this chart? Join the conversation!!
Log in or create an account to rate this chart, leave comments or join the discussion.
