Best Albums of the 1980s

« View best albums of the 1970sView best albums of the 1990s »

Listed below are the best albums of the 1980s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 56,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

summaryThe best artists of the 1980s were The Smiths, Prince, Pixies, The Cure, Talking Heads, U2, Metallica, Kate Bush, R.E.M. and The Stone Roses.

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101.

Crazy Rhythms

The Feelies

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

370 charts

Rank Score:

2,620

Rank in 1980:

Rank in 1980s:

101

Overall Rank:

669

Average Rating:

79 (440 votes)

Comments:

102.

Diamond Life

Sade

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

386 charts

Rank Score:

2,614

Rank in 1984:

Rank in 1980s:

102

Overall Rank:

673

Average Rating:

79 (357 votes)

Comments:

103.

Let's Dance

David Bowie

Year of Release:

1983

Appears in:

527 charts

Rank Score:

2,606

Rank in 1983:

Rank in 1980s:

103

Overall Rank:

677

Average Rating:

75 (819 votes)

Comments:

104.

The Nightfly

Donald Fagen

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

334 charts

Rank Score:

2,565

Rank in 1982:

Rank in 1980s:

104

Overall Rank:

689

Average Rating:

77 (374 votes)

Comments:

105.

Black Celebration

Depeche Mode

Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

361 charts

Rank Score:

2,557

Rank in 1986:

Rank in 1980s:

105

Overall Rank:

691

Average Rating:

78 (495 votes)

Comments:

106.

New York

Lou Reed

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

381 charts

Rank Score:

2,543

Rank in 1989:

Rank in 1980s:

106

Overall Rank:

695

Average Rating:

78 (433 votes)

Comments:

107.

Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

Iron Maiden

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

360 charts

Rank Score:

2,536

Rank in 1988:

Rank in 1980s:

107

Overall Rank:

698

Average Rating:

80 (553 votes)

Comments:

108.

Louder Than Bombs
Compilation

The Smiths

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

313 charts

Rank Score:

2,513

Rank in 1987:

Rank in 1980s:

108

Overall Rank:

704

Average Rating:

83 (660 votes)

Comments:

109.

Time

Electric Light Orchestra

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

284 charts

Rank Score:

2,495

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

109

Overall Rank:

709

Average Rating:

76 (387 votes)

Comments:

110.

Sandinista!

The Clash

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

411 charts

Rank Score:

2,494

Rank in 1980:

Rank in 1980s:

110

Overall Rank:

710

Average Rating:

76 (660 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 11 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year	Albums	%

1980	119	12%
1981	119	12%
1982	108	11%
1983	97	10%
1984	101	10%
1985	82	8%
1986	97	10%
1987	87	9%
1988	96	10%
1989	94	9%

Artist	Albums	%

The Cure	10	1%
Iron Maiden	8	1%
Depeche Mode	8	1%
The Smiths	8	1%
Rush	8	1%
U2	7	1%
The Fall	7	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	418	42%
	390	39%
	40	4%
	27	3%
	23	2%
	23	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%

« View best albums of the 1970sView best albums of the 1990s »

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Best Artists of 1985
1. Kate Bush
2. Tom Waits
3. Dire Straits
4. The Smiths
5. The Jesus And Mary Chain
6. Tears For Fears
7. The Cure
8. The Replacements
9. Prefab Sprout
10. The Pogues
11. Marillion
12. New Order
13. Hüsker Dü
14. The Waterboys
15. The Fall
16. R.E.M.
17. Talking Heads
18. Prince
19. Prince And The Revolution
20. The Cult