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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31.

Abacab

Genesis

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

169 charts

Rank Score:

788

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

317

Overall Rank:

2,093

Average Rating:

70 (312 votes)

Comments:

32.

October

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

209 charts

Rank Score:

772

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

322

Overall Rank:

2,134

Average Rating:

72 (428 votes)

Comments:

33.

Mob Rules

Black Sabbath

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

173 charts

Rank Score:

737

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

337

Overall Rank:

2,214

Average Rating:

75 (257 votes)

Comments:

34.

...And Don't The Kids Just Love It

Television Personalities

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

153 charts

Rank Score:

717

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

343

Overall Rank:

2,249

Average Rating:

77 (144 votes)

Comments:

35.

Fair Warning

Van Halen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

155 charts

Rank Score:

704

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

349

Overall Rank:

2,291

Average Rating:

75 (262 votes)

Comments:

36.

Bella Donna

Stevie Nicks

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

179 charts

Rank Score:

693

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

353

Overall Rank:

2,318

Average Rating:

76 (198 votes)

Comments:

37.

Foreigner

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

182 charts

Rank Score:

688

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

356

Overall Rank:

2,332

Average Rating:

72 (224 votes)

Comments:

38.

Dolmen Music

Meredith Monk

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

73 charts

Rank Score:

682

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

360

Overall Rank:

2,360

Average Rating:

74 (81 votes)

Comments:

39.

Trust

Elvis Costello And The Attractions

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

158 charts

Rank Score:

672

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

365

Overall Rank:

2,389

Average Rating:

78 (199 votes)

Comments:

40.

Controversy

Prince

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

170 charts

Rank Score:

650

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

371

Overall Rank:

2,452

Average Rating:

75 (241 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 4 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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