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.
- Chart updated: 04/12/2025 01:15
- (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 register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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"How can you have this ahead of any Ozzy Sabbath", I hear some of you cry. Get fucked. Ozzy Sabbath is great but this as a whole is the Sabbath album that oozes supremeness from every core. 'Die Young', 'Heaven and Hell', 'Neon Knights', some of the best Sab songs ever.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,239
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Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
29
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84.76* 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]
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90.00* 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.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
936
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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:
817
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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:
6,365
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This has jumped position with Number of the Beast and now my fave Maiden album
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,048
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89.37 This was the first Metallica I discovered. Still my favorite
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,704
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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]
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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:
4,827
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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One of the first Motorhead I owned. I listened to it so continuously I could recite every lyric of every song after a couple of weeks. Very under rated. A lot of people don't like it due to Eddie leaving and being replaced by Brian Robertson. Regardless, it's a bloody fine album. Holds a dear place in my heart.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1980 | 17 | 17% | |
| 1981 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1982 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1983 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1984 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1985 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1986 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1987 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1988 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1989 | 5 | 5% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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|
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| Dead Kennedys | 6 | 6% | |
| Iron Maiden | 5 | 5% | |
| Metallica | 4 | 4% | |
| Helloween | 3 | 3% | |
| Saxon | 3 | 3% | |
| Motörhead | 3 | 3% | |
| Judas Priest | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
43 | 43% | |
 |
35 | 35% | |
 |
9 | 9% | |
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3 | 3% | |
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3 | 3% | |
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2 | 2% | |
| |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 6th to 5th The Number Of The Beast by Iron Maiden |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 5th to 6th Powerslave by Iron Maiden |
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| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s |  IlMala | 1980s decade chart | 2022 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | MasterOfPuppets | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
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Other decade charts by mrmcrook
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 2 Music Albums of the 2020s | mrmcrook | 2020s decade chart | 2024 | |
| Top 98 Music Albums of the 2010s | mrmcrook | 2010s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | mrmcrook | 2000s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s | mrmcrook | 1990s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | mrmcrook | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | mrmcrook | 1970s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 55 Music Albums of the 1960s | mrmcrook | 1960s decade chart | 2025 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings
89/100 (from 5 votes)
where:
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 all 5 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 85/100  | 02/08/2025 11:07 | SomethingSpecial | | 85/100 |
| 100/100 | 02/24/2024 11:27 |  doombringer | | 89/100 |
| 100/100 | 10/26/2022 03:17 | DJENNY | | 100/100 |
| 100/100 | 07/09/2021 20:12 |  Rhyner | | 99/100 |
| 95/100 | 01/31/2021 14:54 | MasterOfPuppets | | 91/100 |
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100/100
From doombringer 02/24/2024 11:37
doombringer 02/24/2024 11:37
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 .
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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