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.

Mob Rules

Black Sabbath

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

175 charts

Rank Score:

779

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

320

Overall Rank:

2,106

Average Rating:

75 (260 votes)

Comments:

32.

Beauty And The Beat

Go-Go's

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

188 charts

Rank Score:

777

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

322

Overall Rank:

2,113

Average Rating:

75 (174 votes)

Comments:

33.

October

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

211 charts

Rank Score:

775

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

323

Overall Rank:

2,120

Average Rating:

72 (430 votes)

Comments:

34.

Fair Warning

Van Halen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

157 charts

Rank Score:

708

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

346

Overall Rank:

2,274

Average Rating:

75 (263 votes)

Comments:

35.

Bella Donna

Stevie Nicks

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

182 charts

Rank Score:

703

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

349

Overall Rank:

2,291

Average Rating:

76 (200 votes)

Comments:

36.

Dolmen Music

Meredith Monk

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

73 charts

Rank Score:

684

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

355

Overall Rank:

2,338

Average Rating:

75 (82 votes)

Comments:

37.

High 'N' Dry

Def Leppard

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

126 charts

Rank Score:

668

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

363

Overall Rank:

2,391

Average Rating:

72 (163 votes)

Comments:

38.

Foreigner

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

181 charts

Rank Score:

665

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

364

Overall Rank:

2,403

Average Rating:

72 (224 votes)

Comments:

39.

Trust

Elvis Costello And The Attractions

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

158 charts

Rank Score:

663

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

366

Overall Rank:

2,408

Average Rating:

78 (200 votes)

Comments:

40.

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

Television Personalities

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

150 charts

Rank Score:

658

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

369

Overall Rank:

2,424

Average Rating:

77 (143 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 4 of 100

Best Albums of 1981 composition

Artist	Albums	%

Various Artists	17	2%
Frank Zappa	5	1%
David Bowie	3	0%
喜多郎 [Kitarō]	3	0%
Simple Minds	3	0%
Gary Numan	3	0%
Scientist	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	316	32%
	276	28%
	60	6%
	40	4%
	35	4%
	30	3%
	29	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	937	94%
Yes	63	6%

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

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	990	99%
Yes	10	1%

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

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Best Artists of 2001
1. The Strokes
2. Radiohead
3. Daft Punk
4. Björk
5. Tool
6. The Microphones
7. Phil Elverum
8. Muse
9. System Of A Down
10. The White Stripes
11. Jay-Z
12. The Shins
13. Gorillaz
14. Opeth
15. Unwound
16. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
17. Nick Cave
18. Converge
19. Jimmy Eat World
20. Aphex Twin