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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Collector's summary (top 118) (filtered)Log in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!

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Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
29,028
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,961
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,660
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,818
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,828
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,253
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,887
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,138
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • eBay
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,045
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,895
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 118. Page 1 of 12

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 118 12%
1981 119 12%
1982 107 11%
1983 99 10%
1984 101 10%
1985 81 8%
1986 99 10%
1987 87 9%
1988 95 10%
1989 94 9%
Artist Albums %


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


United Kingdom 417 42%
United States 391 39%
Australia 40 4%
Mixed Nationality 27 3%
Canada 23 2%
Germany 21 2%
Ireland 11 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 965 97%
Yes 35 4%
Live? Albums %
No 978 98%
Yes 22 2%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 988 99%
Yes 12 1%
Best Albums of 2025
1. Eusexua by FKA twigs
2. People Watching by Sam Fender
3. Sinister Grift by Panda Bear
4. Forever Howlong by Black Country, New Road
5. Cowards by Squid (2020s)
6. Sable, Fable by Bon Iver
7. Lonely People With Power by Deafheaven
8. Glory by Perfume Genius
9. Luminescent Creatures by 青葉市子 [Ichiko Aoba]
10. Mayhem by Lady Gaga
11. For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) by Japanese Breakfast
12. Parasomnia by Dream Theater
13. Tír Na NÓg by Maruja
14. Foxes In The Snow by Jason Isbell
15. Phonetics On And On by Horsegirl
16. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory by Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
17. Who Let The Dogs Out by Lambrini Girls
18. Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd
19. Dead Channel Sky by Clipping.
20. Balloonerism by Mac Miller
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