Best Albums of 1981

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Listed below are the best albums of 1981 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 53,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1981 year summaryThe best artists of 1981 were Rush, Kraftwerk, King Crimson, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Brian Eno & David Byrne, Electric Light Orchestra, The Human League, The Cure, Black Flag and This Heat.

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61.

You Must Believe In Spring

Bill Evans

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

44 charts

Rank Score:

428

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

528

Overall Rank:

3,429

Average Rating:

77 (44 votes)

Comments:

62.

Solid Gold

Gang Of Four

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

115 charts

Rank Score:

427

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

529

Overall Rank:

3,435

Average Rating:

77 (134 votes)

Comments:

63.

Still

Joy Division

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

94 charts

Rank Score:

417

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

538

Overall Rank:

3,511

Average Rating:

77 (157 votes)

Comments:

64.

Fourth World Volume Two: Dream Theory In Malaya

Jon Hassell

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

43 charts

Rank Score:

416

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

541

Overall Rank:

3,519

Average Rating:

75 (54 votes)

Comments:

65.

Paradise Theater

Styx

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

91 charts

Rank Score:

414

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

544

Overall Rank:

3,528

Average Rating:

71 (133 votes)

Comments:

66.

Kollaps

Einstürzende Neubauten

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

83 charts

Rank Score:

399

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

560

Overall Rank:

3,644

Average Rating:

73 (71 votes)

Comments:

67.

Odyshape

The Raincoats

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

65 charts

Rank Score:

388

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

574

Overall Rank:

3,743

Average Rating:

73 (54 votes)

Comments:

68.

Rage In Eden

Ultravox

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

56 charts

Rank Score:

385

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

575

Overall Rank:

3,763

Average Rating:

72 (68 votes)

Comments:

69.

Alturas De Machu Picchu

Los Jaivas

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

47 charts

Rank Score:

378

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

580

Overall Rank:

3,805

Average Rating:

74 (62 votes)

Comments:

70.

Friday Night In San Francisco
Live

Al Di Meola / John McLaughlin / Paco de Lucía

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

70 charts

Rank Score:

375

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

584

Overall Rank:

3,839

Average Rating:

78 (85 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 7 of 100

Best Albums of 1981 composition

Artist	Albums	%

Various Artists	16	2%
Frank Zappa	5	1%
Simple Minds	3	0%
Gary Numan	3	0%
Kitarō	3	0%
Scientist	3	0%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	304	30%
	284	28%
	58	6%
	40	4%
	36	4%
	30	3%
	27	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	937	94%
Yes	63	6%

Live?	Albums	%
No	969	97%
Yes	31	3%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	990	99%
Yes	10	1%

« View best albums of 1980View best albums of 1982 »

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Best Artists of 1969
1. The Beatles
2. Led Zeppelin
3. King Crimson
4. The Rolling Stones
5. The Velvet Underground
6. Nick Drake
7. Creedence Clearwater Revival
8. Frank Zappa
9. Neil Young
10. Neil Young & Crazy Horse
11. Miles Davis
12. The Who
13. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
14. The Band
15. The Kinks
16. Crosby, Stills & Nash
17. The Stooges
18. Fairport Convention
19. Sly & The Family Stone
20. Scott Walker