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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231.

Head Over Heels

Cocteau Twins

Year of Release:

1983

Appears in:

228 charts

Rank Score:

1,172

Rank in 1983:

Rank in 1980s:

231

Overall Rank:

1,465

Average Rating:

77 (266 votes)

Comments:

232.

Love

The Cult

Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

228 charts

Rank Score:

1,170

Rank in 1985:

Rank in 1980s:

232

Overall Rank:

1,468

Average Rating:

77 (256 votes)

Comments:

233.

True Blue

Madonna

Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

255 charts

Rank Score:

1,169

Rank in 1986:

Rank in 1980s:

233

Overall Rank:

1,470

Average Rating:

73 (345 votes)

Comments:

234.

Freedom

Neil Young

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

277 charts

Rank Score:

1,165

Rank in 1989:

Rank in 1980s:

234

Overall Rank:

1,478

Average Rating:

77 (324 votes)

Comments:

235.

It's My Life

Talk Talk

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

195 charts

Rank Score:

1,156

Rank in 1984:

Rank in 1980s:

235

Overall Rank:

1,489

Average Rating:

76 (269 votes)

Comments:

236.

Nightclubbing

Grace Jones

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

234 charts

Rank Score:

1,150

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

236

Overall Rank:

1,498

Average Rating:

79 (210 votes)

Comments:

237.

Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

215 charts

Rank Score:

1,143

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

237

Overall Rank:

1,507

Average Rating:

76 (223 votes)

Comments:

238.

Reckless

Bryan Adams

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

198 charts

Rank Score:

1,129

Rank in 1984:

Rank in 1980s:

238

Overall Rank:

1,522

Average Rating:

71 (256 votes)

Comments:

239.

Signals

Rush

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

224 charts

Rank Score:

1,126

Rank in 1982:

Rank in 1980s:

239

Overall Rank:

1,524

Average Rating:

79 (356 votes)

Comments:

240.

Movement

New Order

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

226 charts

Rank Score:

1,124

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

240

Overall Rank:

1,526

Average Rating:

76 (303 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 24 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%
R.E.M.	7	1%
Talking Heads	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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