Best Albums of the 1980s

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
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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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Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
189
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
189
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
188
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
188
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
188
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
187
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
187
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
187
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
186
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
186
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 1,000. Page 100 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 118 12%
1981 120 12%
1982 108 11%
1983 98 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%
Rush 8 1%
Iron Maiden 8 1%
Depeche Mode 8 1%
The Smiths 8 1%
R.E.M. 7 1%
Talking Heads 7 1%
Show all
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 418 42%
United States 391 39%
Australia 41 4%
Mixed Nationality 27 3%
Canada 23 2%
Germany 21 2%
Argentina 11 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 965 96%
Yes 36 4%
Live? Albums %
No 979 98%
Yes 22 2%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 989 99%
Yes 12 1%
Best Albums of 1993
1. Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins
2. In Utero by Nirvana
3. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan
4. Souvlaki by Slowdive
5. Vs. by Pearl Jam
6. Debut by Björk
7. Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest
8. Suede by Suede
9. Last Splash by The Breeders
10. August And Everything After by Counting Crows
11. Doggystyle by Snoop Doggy Dogg
12. Red House Painters (Rollercoaster) by Red House Painters
13. Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey
14. Exile In Guyville by Liz Phair
15. So Tonight That I Might See by Mazzy Star
16. Modern Life Is Rubbish by Blur
17. Songs Of Faith And Devotion by Depeche Mode
18. Pablo Honey by Radiohead
19. Undertow by Tool
20. Zooropa by U2
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