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 188 albums from the 80's I own
- Chart updated: 5 days ago
- (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.
View the complete list of 58,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
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:
6,120
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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]
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:
795
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
12,514
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
654
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
3,954
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
1,711
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
934
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
4,677
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
91.25 'Creeping Death' being one of the greatest ever metal songs. They were just so fantastic back in their youth and prime.
[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,121
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1983 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1984 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1985 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1986 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1987 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1988 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1989 | 5 | 5% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Dead Kennedys | 6 | 6% | |
| Iron Maiden | 5 | 5% | |
| Metallica | 4 | 4% | |
| Saxon | 3 | 3% | |
| Motörhead | 3 | 3% | |
| Judas Priest | 3 | 3% | |
| Girlschool | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
42 | 42% | |
 |
34 | 34% | |
 |
9 | 9% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 14 from 44th to 30thLiving My Life by Grace Jones |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 30th to 31stStage Struck by Rory Gallagher |
| Down 1 from 31st to 32ndDenim And Leather by Saxon |
| Down 1 from 32nd to 33rdStrong Arm Of The Law by Saxon |
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 80 Music Albums of the 1980s | timosbuecherei | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s | adbrack1988 | 1980s decade chart | 2025 | |
| 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? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
- Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.
- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall 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.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register 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 all 5 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/08/2025 11:07 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,094 | 85/100 | |
| 02/24/2024 11:27 |  doombringer | 16 | 88/100 | |
| 10/26/2022 03:17 | DJENNY | 4,338 | 100/100 | |
| 07/09/2021 20:12 |  Rhyner | 1,452 | 99/100 | |
| 01/31/2021 14:54 | MasterOfPuppets | 174 | 91/100 |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s favourites
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s comments
Showing all 1 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. 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 .
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Your feedback for Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
