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%

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Best Artists of the 1970s
1. Pink Floyd
2. David Bowie
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Neil Young
5. The Rolling Stones
6. The Clash
7. Fleetwood Mac
8. Black Sabbath
9. Stevie Wonder
10. The Who
11. Genesis
12. Brian Eno
13. Joni Mitchell
14. Paul McCartney
15. Bob Dylan
16. Yes
17. Bob Marley
18. Bruce Springsteen
19. Nick Drake
20. Marvin Gaye