Best Albums of 1981

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Listed below are the best albums of 1981 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 57,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1981 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.

Beauty And The Beat

Go-Go's

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

195 charts

Rank Score:

787

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

316

Overall Rank:

2,086

Average Rating:

75 (180 votes)

Comments:

32.

Abacab

Genesis

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

169 charts

Rank Score:

770

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

323

Overall Rank:

2,126

Average Rating:

70 (317 votes)

Comments:

33.

October

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

212 charts

Rank Score:

759

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

328

Overall Rank:

2,153

Average Rating:

72 (433 votes)

Comments:

34.

Bella Donna

Stevie Nicks

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

185 charts

Rank Score:

703

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

348

Overall Rank:

2,286

Average Rating:

76 (202 votes)

Comments:

35.

Fair Warning

Van Halen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

159 charts

Rank Score:

685

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

352

Overall Rank:

2,337

Average Rating:

75 (264 votes)

Comments:

36.

Trust

Elvis Costello And The Attractions

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

163 charts

Rank Score:

665

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

360

Overall Rank:

2,399

Average Rating:

78 (200 votes)

Comments:

37.

High 'N' Dry

Def Leppard

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

129 charts

Rank Score:

658

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

363

Overall Rank:

2,416

Average Rating:

72 (166 votes)

Comments:

38.

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

Television Personalities

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

149 charts

Rank Score:

654

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

364

Overall Rank:

2,431

Average Rating:

77 (144 votes)

Comments:

39.

Foreigner

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

181 charts

Rank Score:

652

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

365

Overall Rank:

2,435

Average Rating:

72 (227 votes)

Comments:

40.

Dolmen Music

Meredith Monk

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

75 charts

Rank Score:

651

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

367

Overall Rank:

2,443

Average Rating:

75 (83 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 4 of 100

Best Albums of 1981 composition

Artist	Albums	%

Various Artists	15	1%
Frank Zappa	5	0%
Gary Numan	3	0%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
Scientist	3	0%
Tangerine Dream	3	0%
David Bowie	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	313	31%
	273	27%
	62	6%
	40	4%
	35	3%
	30	3%
	29	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	942	94%
Yes	59	6%

Live?	Albums	%
No	970	97%
Yes	31	3%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	992	99%
Yes	9	1%

« View best albums of 1980View best albums of 1982 »

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Best Artists of 1987
1. U2
2. Guns N' Roses
3. Prince
4. The Smiths
5. Dinosaur Jr.
6. Dinosaur
7. R.E.M.
8. Michael Jackson
9. Depeche Mode
10. Sonic Youth
11. New Order
12. Def Leppard
13. INXS
14. The Cure
15. The Jesus And Mary Chain
16. Pixies
17. Midnight Oil
18. Eric B. & Rakim
19. Fleetwood Mac
20. Bruce Springsteen