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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• Overall Rank
• Num. Charts
• Avg. Rating
• Num. Ratings
• Release Date
• Title
• Artist

11.

Closer 

 Joy Division

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Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

1,520 charts

Rank Score:

15,176

Rank in 1980:

2

Rank in 1980s:

11

Overall Rank:

79

Average Rating:

 85 (1,925 votes)

Comments:

126

12.

Master Of Puppets 

 Metallica

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Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

1,283 charts

Rank Score:

12,493

Rank in 1986:

2

Rank in 1980s:

12

Overall Rank:

97

Average Rating:

 83 (1,833 votes)

Comments:

120

13.

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Surfer Rosa 

 Pixies

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Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

1,313 charts

Rank Score:

12,011

Rank in 1988:

2

Rank in 1980s:

13

Overall Rank:

106

Average Rating:

 84 (1,871 votes)

Comments:

112

14.

Rain Dogs 

 Tom Waits

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Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

1,143 charts

Rank Score:

11,719

Rank in 1985:

2

Rank in 1980s:

14

Overall Rank:

112

Average Rating:

 84 (1,341 votes)

Comments:

87

15.

Appetite For Destruction 

 Guns N' Roses

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Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

1,401 charts

Rank Score:

11,170

Rank in 1987:

2

Rank in 1980s:

15

Overall Rank:

117

Average Rating:

 78 (1,950 votes)

Comments:

168

16.

Graceland 

 Paul Simon

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Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

1,139 charts

Rank Score:

10,746

Rank in 1986:

3

Rank in 1980s:

16

Overall Rank:

122

Average Rating:

 81 (1,354 votes)

Comments:

81

17.

Spirit Of Eden 

 Talk Talk

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Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

924 charts

Rank Score:

10,192

Rank in 1988:

3

Rank in 1980s:

17

Overall Rank:

133

Average Rating:

 84 (1,003 votes)

Comments:

69

18.

Murmur 

 R.E.M.

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Year of Release:

1983

Appears in:

1,147 charts

Rank Score:

10,041

Rank in 1983:

1

Rank in 1980s:

18

Overall Rank:

136

Average Rating:

 83 (1,419 votes)

Comments:

99

19.

Back In Black 

 AC/DC

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Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

1,279 charts

Rank Score:

10,024

Rank in 1980:

3

Rank in 1980s:

19

Overall Rank:

137

Average Rating:

 80 (1,878 votes)

Comments:

142

20.

Ride The Lightning 

 Metallica

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Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

921 charts

Rank Score:

9,196

Rank in 1984:

2

Rank in 1980s:

20

Overall Rank:

154

Average Rating:

 84 (1,374 votes)

Comments:

81

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 2 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Top 1,000 Top 500 Top 250 Top 100

Year	Albums	%
1980	119	12%
1981	120	12%
1982	106	11%
1983	97	10%
1984	102	10%
1985	83	8%
1986	94	9%
1987	87	9%
1988	98	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%
R.E.M.	7	1%
Talking Heads	7	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	417	42%
	388	39%
	40	4%
	27	3%
	23	2%
	20	2%
	12	1%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	965	97%
Yes	35	4%

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

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