Best Albums of 1981

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Listed below are the best albums of 1981 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 1981 were Rush, Kraftwerk, King Crimson, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Brian Eno & David Byrne, Electric Light Orchestra, The Cure, The Human League, Black Flag and This Heat.

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11.

Youth Of America

Wipers

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

253 charts

Rank Score:

1,832

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

147

Overall Rank:

967

Average Rating:

81 (240 votes)

Comments:

12.

Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

357 charts

Rank Score:

1,829

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

148

Overall Rank:

968

Average Rating:

75 (592 votes)

Comments:

13.

Fire Of Love

The Gun Club

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

264 charts

Rank Score:

1,769

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

154

Overall Rank:

998

Average Rating:

77 (308 votes)

Comments:

14.

Ghost In The Machine

The Police

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

394 charts

Rank Score:

1,709

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

162

Overall Rank:

1,029

Average Rating:

75 (527 votes)

Comments:

15.

The Ascension

Glenn Branca

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

210 charts

Rank Score:

1,609

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

170

Overall Rank:

1,089

Average Rating:

79 (208 votes)

Comments:

16.

Heaven Up Here

Echo & The Bunnymen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

270 charts

Rank Score:

1,478

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

191

Overall Rank:

1,194

Average Rating:

77 (327 votes)

Comments:

17.

Face Value

Phil Collins

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

256 charts

Rank Score:

1,355

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

208

Overall Rank:

1,289

Average Rating:

72 (308 votes)

Comments:

18.

Killers

Iron Maiden

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

265 charts

Rank Score:

1,238

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

222

Overall Rank:

1,401

Average Rating:

77 (458 votes)

Comments:

19.

Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

212 charts

Rank Score:

1,138

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

236

Overall Rank:

1,517

Average Rating:

76 (222 votes)

Comments:

20.

Movement

New Order

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

225 charts

Rank Score:

1,130

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

238

Overall Rank:

1,527

Average Rating:

76 (303 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 2 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%
Scientist	3	0%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
Tangerine Dream	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	315	32%
	277	28%
	61	6%
	39	4%
	36	4%
	30	3%
	29	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	938	94%
Yes	62	6%

Live?	Albums	%
No	970	97%
Yes	30	3%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	989	99%
Yes	11	1%

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