Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s
by drstuey

In my decade charts I'm really focusing on sonic innovation, so there may be some that are flawed or now sound a bit dated, and ones that are "just" rock or pop music (even if amazing collections of songs) will be lower down. This is very much a work in progress and won't be finished until I have reappraised every year.
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Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
105
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,974
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,031
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
230
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • eBay
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  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/10/2021]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
43
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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It's almost impossible to split Surfer Rosa and Doolittle they are both so perfect. Sometimes one is my favourite, sometimes the other, so they can go together in this chart. [First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,040
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
31,522
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Top rated album (88/100 - 2959 votes)  88 (2,959 votes)
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,753
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,754
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
32
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 12 12%
1981 13 13%
1982 6 6%
1983 8 8%
1984 9 9%
1985 11 11%
1986 9 9%
1987 10 10%
1988 12 12%
1989 10 10%
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 62 62%
United States 23 23%
Mixed Nationality 6 6%
Australia 4 4%
Canada 1 1%
Iceland 1 1%
Germany 1 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 95 95%
Yes 5 5%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 62 from 74th to 12th16 Lovers Lane
by The Go-Betweens
Climber Up 56 from 80th to 24thKilimanjaro
by The Teardrop Explodes
Climber Up 44 from 93rd to 49thWhy Should I Stand Up?
by The Colorblind James Experience
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 45 from 15th to 60thSeventeen Seconds
by The Cure
Faller Down 33 from 18th to 51stPornography
by The Cure
Faller Down 5 from 47th to 52ndThe Trinity Session
by Cowboy Junkies
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The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1980sUncut1980s decade chart2024United Kingdom
Uncut: The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1980s (1-100)WayneMCCustom chart2024
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980sWayneMC1980s decade chart2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s Secondsoul1980s decade chart2015
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980svmp1980s decade chart2014
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980swilltoshower1980s decade chart2022Unknown
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980sMrump1980s decade chart2023
Record Mirror Albums Of The '80sSteppenwolf666Custom chart2021
Record Mirror Albums Of The '80sRecord Mirror1980s decade chart1989United Kingdom

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drstuey has shared 6 more 1980s decade charts with the community. Browse them all here.
TitleSourceTypePublishedCountry
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s drstuey2010s decade chart2024
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s drstuey2000s decade chart2024

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Best Albums of the 1950s
1. Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis
2. Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus
3. Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4. Blue Train by John Coltrane
5. Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
6. In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra
7. Here's Little Richard by Little Richard
8. The Shape Of Jazz To Come by Ornette Coleman
9. Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
10. Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry
11. Lady In Satin by Billie Holiday
12. Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk
13. Somethin' Else by Cannonball Adderley
14. Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra
15. The "Chirping" Crickets by The Crickets
16. Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins
17. Chet Baker Sings by Chet Baker
18. Buddy Holly by Buddy Holly
19. Birth Of The Cool by Miles Davis
20. Moanin' In The Moonlight by Howlin' Wolf
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