Top 20 Music Albums of 1981 by Exist-en-ciel 
Favorite songs of the year:
1. Keep It Dark - Genesis
2. Ceremony (single) - New Order
3. Golden Brown - The Stranglers
4. Into the Light - Siouxsie and The Banshees
5. Witch Hunt - Rush
6. I've Seen All Good People (Classic Yes live version) - Yes
7. Computer Love - Kraftwerk
8. Souvenir - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
9. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
10. Genius of Love - Tom Tom Club
- Chart updated: 01/14/2025 18:45
- (Created: 09/02/2022 00:30).
- Chart size: 20 albums.
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Romanticism
8.5/10
Track selection: Klaviersonate Nr. 8 c-moll, Op. 13 - 2nd movement (Adagio cantabile)
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Klaviersonate Nr. 14 cis-moll, Op. 27 Nr. 2 8.5
1. Adagio sostenuto 8.5
2. Allegretto 8.5
3. Presto agitato 8.5
Klaviersonate Nr. 13 Es-dur, Op. 27 Nr. 1 8.5
4. Andante – Allegro – Tempo I 8.5
5. Allegro molto e vivace 8.5
6. Adagio con espressione 8.5
7. Allegro vivace - Presto 8.5
Klaviersonate Nr. 8 c-moll, Op. 13 8.5
8. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio 8.5
9. Adagio cantabile 8.5
10. Rondo. Allegro 8.5 [First added to this chart: 09/05/2022]
8.5/10
Track selection: Klaviersonate Nr. 8 c-moll, Op. 13 - 2nd movement (Adagio cantabile)
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
Klaviersonate Nr. 14 cis-moll, Op. 27 Nr. 2 8.5
1. Adagio sostenuto 8.5
2. Allegretto 8.5
3. Presto agitato 8.5
Klaviersonate Nr. 13 Es-dur, Op. 27 Nr. 1 8.5
4. Andante – Allegro – Tempo I 8.5
5. Allegro molto e vivace 8.5
6. Adagio con espressione 8.5
7. Allegro vivace - Presto 8.5
Klaviersonate Nr. 8 c-moll, Op. 13 8.5
8. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio 8.5
9. Adagio cantabile 8.5
10. Rondo. Allegro 8.5 [First added to this chart: 09/05/2022]
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Progressive Rock, Symphonic Prog
8.3/10
Track selection: I've Seen All Good People (Live)
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1. Heart of the Sunrise 8.5
2. Wonderous Stories 8
3. Yours Is No Disgrace 8
4. Starship Trooper 8.5
5. Long Distance Runaround 8.5
6. The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) 8
7. And You and I 8.5
8. Roundabout (Live) 8.5
9. I've Seen All Good People (Live) 8.5 [First added to this chart: 09/16/2022]
8.3/10
Track selection: I've Seen All Good People (Live)
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Heart of the Sunrise 8.5
2. Wonderous Stories 8
3. Yours Is No Disgrace 8
4. Starship Trooper 8.5
5. Long Distance Runaround 8.5
6. The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) 8
7. And You and I 8.5
8. Roundabout (Live) 8.5
9. I've Seen All Good People (Live) 8.5 [First added to this chart: 09/16/2022]
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Progressive Rock, Hard Rock
8.3/10
Track selection: Witch Hunt
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1. Tom Sawyer 8.5
2. Red Barchetta 8
3. YYZ 8
4. Limelight 8.5
5. The Camera Eye 8
6. Witch Hunt 9
7. Vital Signs 8 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
8.3/10
Track selection: Witch Hunt
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Tom Sawyer 8.5
2. Red Barchetta 8
3. YYZ 8
4. Limelight 8.5
5. The Camera Eye 8
6. Witch Hunt 9
7. Vital Signs 8 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
9,509
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Impressionism, Orchestral, Ballet
8.2/10
Track selection: Tableau I (Une prairie a la lisiére d'un bois sacré)
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1. Tableau I (Une prairie a la lisiére d'un bois sacré) 8.5
2. Tableau II (Camp des pirates) 8
3. Tableau III (Paysage du première 1er tableau, а la fin de la nuit) 8 [First added to this chart: 09/16/2022]
8.2/10
Track selection: Tableau I (Une prairie a la lisiére d'un bois sacré)
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1. Tableau I (Une prairie a la lisiére d'un bois sacré) 8.5
2. Tableau II (Camp des pirates) 8
3. Tableau III (Paysage du première 1er tableau, а la fin de la nuit) 8 [First added to this chart: 09/16/2022]
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Gothic Rock, Post-Punk, Coldwave
8.1/10
Track selection: The Funeral Party
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1. The Holy Hour 8.5
2. Primary 8.5
3. Other Voices 8
4. All Cats Are Grey 8
5. The Funeral Party 8.5
6. Doubt 7.5
7. The Drowning Man 8
8. Faith 8 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
8.1/10
Track selection: The Funeral Party
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. The Holy Hour 8.5
2. Primary 8.5
3. Other Voices 8
4. All Cats Are Grey 8
5. The Funeral Party 8.5
6. Doubt 7.5
7. The Drowning Man 8
8. Faith 8 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,151
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Symphony, Romanticism
8.1/10
Track selection: 3rd movement (Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto - Tempo I)
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1. Allegro non troppo 8
2. Andante moderato 8
3. Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto - Tempo I 8.5
4. Allegro energico e passionato - Più allegro 8 [First added to this chart: 09/14/2022]
8.1/10
Track selection: 3rd movement (Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto - Tempo I)
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Allegro non troppo 8
2. Andante moderato 8
3. Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto - Tempo I 8.5
4. Allegro energico e passionato - Più allegro 8 [First added to this chart: 09/14/2022]
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Gothic Rock, Post-Punk, Art Rock
8/10
Track selection: Into the Light
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Spellbound 8
2. Into the Light 8.5
3. Arabian Knights 8
4. Halloween 8
5. Monitor 8
6. Night Shift 8
7. Sin in My Heart 8
8. Head Cut 8
9. Voodoo Dolly 8 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
8/10
Track selection: Into the Light
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Spellbound 8
2. Into the Light 8.5
3. Arabian Knights 8
4. Halloween 8
5. Monitor 8
6. Night Shift 8
7. Sin in My Heart 8
8. Head Cut 8
9. Voodoo Dolly 8 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,947
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Post-Punk, Punk Rock, Gothic Rock
8/10
Best track: Disorder
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Exercise One 8
2. Ice Age 8
3. The Sound of Music 8
4. Glass 8
5. The Only Mistake 8
6. Walked in Line 8
7. The Kill 8
8. Something Must Break 8
9. Dead Souls 8
10. Sister Ray 7.5
11. Ceremony 8.5
12. Shadowplay 8
13. Means to an End 8
14. Passover 8
15. New Dawn Fades 8
16. Transmission 8
17. Disorder 8.5
18. Isolation 8
19. Decades 8.5
20. Digital 7.5 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
8/10
Best track: Disorder
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Exercise One 8
2. Ice Age 8
3. The Sound of Music 8
4. Glass 8
5. The Only Mistake 8
6. Walked in Line 8
7. The Kill 8
8. Something Must Break 8
9. Dead Souls 8
10. Sister Ray 7.5
11. Ceremony 8.5
12. Shadowplay 8
13. Means to an End 8
14. Passover 8
15. New Dawn Fades 8
16. Transmission 8
17. Disorder 8.5
18. Isolation 8
19. Decades 8.5
20. Digital 7.5 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
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Pop Rock, Progressive Pop, Progressive Rock
7.9/10
Track selection: Keep It Dark
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Abacab 8
2. No Reply at All 8
3. Me and Sarah Jane 7.5
4. Keep It Dark 9
5. Dodo / Lurker 8
6. Who Dunnit? 7.5
7. Man on the Corner 8.5
8. Like It or Not 7.5
9. Another Record 7.5 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
7.9/10
Track selection: Keep It Dark
‐----------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Abacab 8
2. No Reply at All 8
3. Me and Sarah Jane 7.5
4. Keep It Dark 9
5. Dodo / Lurker 8
6. Who Dunnit? 7.5
7. Man on the Corner 8.5
8. Like It or Not 7.5
9. Another Record 7.5 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
788
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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Synthpop, Electronic, Minimal Synth
7.9/10
Track selection: Computer Liebe
-‐---------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Computerwelt 8
2. Taschenrechner 8
3. Nummern 7.5
4. Computerwelt 8
5. Computer Liebe 8.5
6. Heimcomputer 8
7. It’s More Fun to Compute 7.5 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
7.9/10
Track selection: Computer Liebe
-‐---------‐----------------------------------------------------------
1. Computerwelt 8
2. Taschenrechner 8
3. Nummern 7.5
4. Computerwelt 8
5. Computer Liebe 8.5
6. Heimcomputer 8
7. It’s More Fun to Compute 7.5 [First added to this chart: 09/01/2022]
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,563
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 20. Page 1 of 2
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Top 20 Music Albums of 1981 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| Kraftwerk | 1 | 5% | |
| The Sound | 1 | 5% | |
| Емі́ль Гі́лельс [Emil Gilels] | 1 | 5% | |
| Brian Eno & David Byrne | 1 | 5% | |
| Yes | 1 | 5% | |
| New Order | 1 | 5% | |
| Rush | 1 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
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Other year charts by Exist-en-ciel
(from the 1980s)| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 11 Music Albums of 1989 | Exist-en-ciel | 1989 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 17 Music Albums of 1988 | Exist-en-ciel | 1988 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 11 Music Albums of 1987 | Exist-en-ciel | 1987 year chart | 2024 | |
| Top 15 Music Albums of 1986 | Exist-en-ciel | 1986 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 15 Music Albums of 1985 | Exist-en-ciel | 1985 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 13 Music Albums of 1984 | Exist-en-ciel | 1984 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 1983 | Exist-en-ciel | 1983 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 1982 | Exist-en-ciel | 1982 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 1981 | Exist-en-ciel | 1981 year chart | 2025 | |
| Top 20 Music Albums of 1980 | Exist-en-ciel | 1980 year chart | 2025 | |
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