Best Albums of the 1980s

Listed below are the best albums of the 1980s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 57,000 greatest album charts.

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1.

The Queen Is Dead 

 The Smiths

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Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

2,487 charts

Rank Score:

34,895

Rank in 1986:

1

Rank in 1980s:

1

Overall Rank:

16

Average Rating:

 88 (2,911 votes)

Comments:

265

4.

Disintegration 

 The Cure

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Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

1,836 charts

Rank Score:

26,714

Rank in 1989:

2

Rank in 1980s:

4

Overall Rank:

30

Average Rating:

 86 (2,048 votes)

Comments:

152

5.

The Stone Roses 

 The Stone Roses

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Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

2,019 charts

Rank Score:

23,606

Rank in 1989:

3

Rank in 1980s:

5

Overall Rank:

33

Average Rating:

 86 (2,289 votes)

Comments:

203

6.

Hounds Of Love 

 Kate Bush

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Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

1,406 charts

Rank Score:

18,541

Rank in 1985:

1

Rank in 1980s:

6

Overall Rank:

52

Average Rating:

 85 (1,401 votes)

Comments:

102

11.

Closer 

 Joy Division

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Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

1,518 charts

Rank Score:

15,527

Rank in 1980:

2

Rank in 1980s:

11

Overall Rank:

79

Average Rating:

 85 (1,916 votes)

Comments:

126

17.

Spirit Of Eden 

 Talk Talk

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Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

917 charts

Rank Score:

10,418

Rank in 1988:

3

Rank in 1980s:

17

Overall Rank:

133

Average Rating:

 84 (997 votes)

Comments:

69

23.

The Smiths 

 The Smiths

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Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

976 charts

Rank Score:

8,240

Rank in 1984:

3

Rank in 1980s:

23

Overall Rank:

185

Average Rating:

 83 (1,477 votes)

Comments:

86

27.

Brothers In Arms 

 Dire Straits

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Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

858 charts

Rank Score:

7,291

Rank in 1985:

3

Rank in 1980s:

27

Overall Rank:

222

Average Rating:

 78 (1,177 votes)

Comments:

87

28.

So 

 Peter Gabriel

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Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

808 charts

Rank Score:

7,143

Rank in 1986:

4

Rank in 1980s:

28

Overall Rank:

226

Average Rating:

 80 (930 votes)

Comments:

61

31.

Power, Corruption & Lies 

 New Order

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Year of Release:

1983

Appears in:

799 charts

Rank Score:

6,534

Rank in 1983:

3

Rank in 1980s:

31

Overall Rank:

251

Average Rating:

 81 (932 votes)

Comments:

51

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Total albums: 416. Page 1 of 42

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Top 250 Top 100

Year	Albums	%
1980	117	12%
1981	119	12%
1982	108	11%
1983	97	10%
1984	100	10%
1985	85	9%
1986	95	10%
1987	86	9%
1988	98	10%
1989	95	10%

Artist	Albums	%
The Cure	10	1%
The Smiths	8	1%
Rush	8	1%
Iron Maiden	8	1%
Depeche Mode	8	1%
R.E.M.	7	1%
Talking Heads	7	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	416	42%
	388	39%
	40	4%
	27	3%
	23	2%
	22	2%
	11	1%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	964	96%
Yes	36	4%

Live?	Albums	%
No	978	98%
Yes	22	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	988	99%
Yes	12	1%