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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Buy album United States
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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:
2,299
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Buy album United States
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In the top 3 of my all time favorite bands. This just pips Plastic Surgery Disasters for being there best album. Fast, crisp perfection. [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
229
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Buy album United States
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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:
969
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Buy album United States
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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:
864
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Buy album United States
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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:
13,283
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Buy album United States
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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:
4,231
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
392
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Buy album United States
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If you were explaining the definition of NWOBHM to someone, this is the album that perfectly summarizes it. Was once the favorite Maiden album. Overtaken by Powerslave [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,575
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Buy album United States
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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]
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
203
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Buy album United States
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Ahhh memories. Saw them live for the first time when they visited NZ when I was 16. It was at an 18+ nightclub so by getting in and being there I felt like a big boy. A real man. This was early '84 so they'd put out 'Iron Fist' & 'Another Perfect Day'. Was at the very front and center. They ended up playing nothing off 'Another Perfect Day' but did pretty much play the entire 'Ace of Spades'. Glorious night. True to there word of being one of the loudest bands, my ears were ringing for about a week afterwards. Long live Motorhead [First added to this chart: 10/02/2020]
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,293
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Comments:
Total albums: 99. Page 1 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%
Judas Priest 3 3%
Saxon 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

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s similarity to your chart(s)


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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s ratings

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90/100 (from 4 votes)
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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 .
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