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 lot of compilations and many people believe compilations shouldn't count. The reason I have included them is so I can add a few bands/artists that have fantastic music and should be recognized. Otherwise the list will be hugely dominated by a dozen bands that everyone knows has a huge number of worthy albums. Hence why the large amount of compilations and live 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.

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11. (=)
Ramones Mania 
Compilation
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
165
Rank in 1988:
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Average Rating:
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Buy album United States
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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:
4,912
Rank in 1980:
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Metal classic. Some absolute legendary tracks. A couple are a bit cheesy but you can overlook that due to the fantastic musicianship on them. Fantastic album from start to finish. Part of the staple diet of NWOBHM [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,768
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Buy album United States
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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:
609
Rank in 1981:
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Buy album United States
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Rediscovered this after 30 years lost. Raw hard pub rock. If the production was better this would be an ultimate classic. Every song a gem. [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
43
Rank in 1981:
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Comments:
Buy album United States
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Great album. Every song a gem. From up tempo 'Shark Attack' to the melodic joy of 'Poor Boy' this is total gold right through. One of the better albums to come out of NZ [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
490
Rank in 1980:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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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:
1,728
Rank in 1983:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
18. (=)
United States Dio
Buy album United States
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In the top 3 of all he's done. By far the best of his solo albums. On par with the mighty 'Rainbow Rising'. Only surpassed by the ultimate 'Heaven & Hell'. A trifecta like that makes him one of the greatest vocalists ever. [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,728
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
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  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
One of the best debuts ever. 'Four Horsemen' being great thrash prog. 'Jump in the Fire' a brilliant basic metal riff that you can't help but not play air guitar to. Newcomers who overtook all others in the shortest ever period and completely left them in there wake. [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,332
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
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  • iTunes
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  • #Sponsored
Not up to the caliber of 'Heaven and Hell' but not far off. Dio's second effort still produces a solid bit of work. Goes up and down in the pace and tempo of the songs making it a bit of a mish mash as far as flow goes. But still a great album. I rate this above any of Dio's solo albums except for 'Holy Diver' 03/24 [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
690
Rank in 1981:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 2 of 10

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 16 16%
1981 15 15%
1982 10 10%
1983 16 16%
1984 9 9%
1985 6 6%
1986 7 7%
1987 8 8%
1988 9 9%
1989 4 4%
Artist Albums %


Dead Kennedys 6 6%
Iron Maiden 5 5%
Metallica 4 4%
Motörhead 4 4%
Girlschool 4 4%
AC/DC 3 3%
Judas Priest 3 3%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 41 41%
United Kingdom 37 37%
Australia 6 6%
Germany 3 3%
Ireland 3 3%
Jamaica 3 3%
New Zealand 3 3%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 88 88%
Yes 12 12%
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
Climber Up 4 from 24th to 20th
Mob Rules
by Black Sabbath
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 20th to 21st
Demolition
by Girlschool
Faller Down 1 from 21st to 22nd
Ride The Lightning
by Metallica
Faller Down 1 from 22nd to 23rd
Iron Maiden
by Iron Maiden

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings

Average Rating: 
90/100 (from 4 votes)
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100/100
From 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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