Best Albums of the 1980s

Listed below are the best albums of the 1980s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 57,000 greatest album charts.

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• Num. Ratings
• Release Date
• Title
• Artist

1.

The Queen Is Dead 

 The Smiths

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Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

2,489 charts

Rank Score:

34,443

Rank in 1986:

1

Rank in 1980s:

1

Overall Rank:

16

Average Rating:

 88 (2,913 votes)

Comments:

265

2.

Doolittle 

 Pixies

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Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

2,543 charts

Rank Score:

32,232

Rank in 1989:

1

Rank in 1980s:

2

Overall Rank:

18

Average Rating:

 88 (2,949 votes)

Comments:

293

3.

Remain In Light 

 Talking Heads

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Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

2,030 charts

Rank Score:

28,107

Rank in 1980:

1

Rank in 1980s:

3

Overall Rank:

26

Average Rating:

 87 (2,295 votes)

Comments:

196

4.

Disintegration 

 The Cure

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Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

1,834 charts

Rank Score:

26,467

Rank in 1989:

2

Rank in 1980s:

4

Overall Rank:

30

Average Rating:

 86 (2,051 votes)

Comments:

152

5.

The Stone Roses 

 The Stone Roses

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Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

2,017 charts

Rank Score:

23,375

Rank in 1989:

3

Rank in 1980s:

5

Overall Rank:

33

Average Rating:

 86 (2,293 votes)

Comments:

203

6.

The Joshua Tree 

 U2

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Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

1,858 charts

Rank Score:

18,430

Rank in 1987:

1

Rank in 1980s:

6

Overall Rank:

52

Average Rating:

 83 (2,452 votes)

Comments:

228

7.

Hounds Of Love 

 Kate Bush

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Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

1,406 charts

Rank Score:

18,393

Rank in 1985:

1

Rank in 1980s:

7

Overall Rank:

53

Average Rating:

 85 (1,404 votes)

Comments:

103

8.

Thriller 

 Michael Jackson

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Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

1,636 charts

Rank Score:

16,233

Rank in 1982:

1

Rank in 1980s:

8

Overall Rank:

71

Average Rating:

 82 (2,160 votes)

Comments:

162

9.

Purple Rain 
Soundtrack

 Prince And The Revolution

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Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

1,437 charts

Rank Score:

16,079

Rank in 1984:

1

Rank in 1980s:

9

Overall Rank:

72

Average Rating:

 83 (1,657 votes)

Comments:

130

10.

Daydream Nation 

 Sonic Youth

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Year of Release:

1988

Appears in:

1,584 charts

Rank Score:

15,826

Rank in 1988:

1

Rank in 1980s:

10

Overall Rank:

75

Average Rating:

 84 (1,867 votes)

Comments:

147

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 1 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Top 1,000 Top 500 Top 250 Top 100

Year	Albums	%
1980	118	12%
1981	120	12%
1982	108	11%
1983	97	10%
1984	102	10%
1985	83	8%
1986	94	9%
1987	85	9%
1988	97	10%
1989	96	10%

Artist	Albums	%
The Cure	10	1%
The Smiths	8	1%
Rush	8	1%
Iron Maiden	8	1%
Depeche Mode	8	1%
R.E.M.	7	1%
Talking Heads	7	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	416	42%
	388	39%
	40	4%
	27	3%
	23	2%
	22	2%
	11	1%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	966	97%
Yes	34	3%

Live?	Albums	%
No	977	98%
Yes	23	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	988	99%
Yes	12	1%