Best Albums of the 1980s

Listed below are the best albums of the 1980s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 56,000 greatest album charts.

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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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Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
35,561
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
33,276
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
28,618
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
26,932
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,779
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,793
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
18,573
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,422
Rank in 1982:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,321
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,089
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 964. Page 1 of 97

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 119 12%
1981 119 12%
1982 108 11%
1983 96 10%
1984 101 10%
1985 83 8%
1986 95 10%
1987 87 9%
1988 97 10%
1989 95 10%
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 %


United Kingdom 416 42%
United States 390 39%
Australia 40 4%
Mixed Nationality 27 3%
Germany 23 2%
Canada 23 2%
Ireland 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%
Best Albums of 1951
1. Genius Of Modern Music by Thelonious Monk
2. Masterpieces By Ellington by Duke Ellington And His Orchestra
3. Hank Williams Sings by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
4. Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite by Machito
5. Ritual Of The Savage by Les Baxter
6. On Moonlight Bay by Doris Day
7. Les Paul's New Sound, Vol. 2 by Les Paul & Mary Ford
8. Satchmo At Symphony Hall by Louis Armstrong
9. Lover Man by Billie Holiday
10. Sonatas And Interludes For Prepared Piano By John Cage by Maro Ajemian
11. The New Sounds by Miles Davis
12. Judy At The Palace by Judy Garland
13. Talking And Drum Solos by Baby Dodds
14. Encores by Édith Piaf
15. Lullaby Of Broadway by Doris Day
16. 1ère Série: Félix Leclerc Chante Ses Derniers Succès by Félix Leclerc
17. George Gershwin: Porgy And Bess by Lehman Engel / Lawrence Winters / Camilla Williams / Inez Matthews / Warren Coleman / Avon Long
18. The Great Caruso by Mario Lanza
19. Blessed Assurance by Sister Rosetta Tharpe
20. I'll See You In My Dreams by Doris Day
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