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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121.

Volume One

The Traveling Wilburys

Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

323 charts

Rank Score:

2,190

Rank in 1988:

Rank in 1980s:

121

Overall Rank:

801

Average Rating:

77 (390 votes)

Comments:

122.

Boy

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

424 charts

Rank Score:

2,176

Rank in 1980:

Rank in 1980s:

122

Overall Rank:

802

Average Rating:

75 (760 votes)

Comments:

123.

Ace Of Spades

Motörhead

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

399 charts

Rank Score:

2,162

Rank in 1980:

Rank in 1980s:

123

Overall Rank:

809

Average Rating:

78 (485 votes)

Comments:

124.

Faith

The Cure

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

387 charts

Rank Score:

2,152

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

124

Overall Rank:

815

Average Rating:

78 (589 votes)

Comments:

125.

Darklands

The Jesus And Mary Chain

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

341 charts

Rank Score:

2,149

Rank in 1987:

Rank in 1980s:

125

Overall Rank:

816

Average Rating:

79 (382 votes)

Comments:

126.

Like A Prayer

Madonna

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

364 charts

Rank Score:

2,136

Rank in 1989:

Rank in 1980s:

126

Overall Rank:

821

Average Rating:

72 (538 votes)

Comments:

127.

Clics Modernos

Charly García

Year of Release:

1983

Appears in:

183 charts

Rank Score:

2,125

Rank in 1983:

Rank in 1980s:

127

Overall Rank:

826

Average Rating:

81 (180 votes)

Comments:

128.

Dare

The Human League

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

407 charts

Rank Score:

2,123

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

128

Overall Rank:

827

Average Rating:

75 (462 votes)

Comments:

129.

1984

Van Halen

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

426 charts

Rank Score:

2,088

Rank in 1984:

Rank in 1980s:

129

Overall Rank:

838

Average Rating:

76 (646 votes)

Comments:

130.

Come On Pilgrim

Pixies

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

306 charts

Rank Score:

2,072

Rank in 1987:

Rank in 1980s:

130

Overall Rank:

848

Average Rating:

80 (558 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 13 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year	Albums	%

1980	118	12%
1981	119	12%
1982	107	11%
1983	99	10%
1984	101	10%
1985	81	8%
1986	99	10%
1987	87	9%
1988	95	10%
1989	94	9%

Artist	Albums	%

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

Country	Albums	%

	417	42%
	391	39%
	40	4%
	27	3%
	23	2%
	21	2%
	11	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%

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Best Ever Artists
1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Led Zeppelin
7. The Rolling Stones
8. Arcade Fire
9. The Velvet Underground
10. Nirvana
11. Kendrick Lamar
12. Neil Young
13. Miles Davis
14. The Smiths
15. The Beach Boys
16. Kanye West
17. R.E.M.
18. Pixies
19. Jimi Hendrix
20. Bruce Springsteen