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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11.

Youth Of America

Wipers

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

253 charts

Rank Score:

1,839

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

146

Overall Rank:

965

Average Rating:

81 (240 votes)

Comments:

12.

Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

356 charts

Rank Score:

1,832

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

148

Overall Rank:

970

Average Rating:

75 (592 votes)

Comments:

13.

Fire Of Love

The Gun Club

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

264 charts

Rank Score:

1,783

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

153

Overall Rank:

993

Average Rating:

77 (307 votes)

Comments:

14.

Ghost In The Machine

The Police

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

393 charts

Rank Score:

1,703

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

162

Overall Rank:

1,036

Average Rating:

75 (528 votes)

Comments:

15.

The Ascension

Glenn Branca

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

209 charts

Rank Score:

1,609

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

172

Overall Rank:

1,096

Average Rating:

79 (207 votes)

Comments:

16.

Heaven Up Here

Echo & The Bunnymen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

269 charts

Rank Score:

1,476

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

192

Overall Rank:

1,194

Average Rating:

77 (327 votes)

Comments:

17.

Face Value

Phil Collins

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

254 charts

Rank Score:

1,332

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

212

Overall Rank:

1,314

Average Rating:

72 (308 votes)

Comments:

18.

Killers

Iron Maiden

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

265 charts

Rank Score:

1,246

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

221

Overall Rank:

1,397

Average Rating:

77 (457 votes)

Comments:

19.

Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

211 charts

Rank Score:

1,142

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

236

Overall Rank:

1,515

Average Rating:

76 (222 votes)

Comments:

20.

Movement

New Order

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

225 charts

Rank Score:

1,134

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

237

Overall Rank:

1,522

Average Rating:

76 (301 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 2 of 100

Best Albums of 1981 composition

Artist	Albums	%

Various Artists	15	2%
Frank Zappa	5	1%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
Scientist	3	0%
Tangerine Dream	3	0%
David Bowie	3	0%
喜多郎 [Kitarō]	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	314	31%
	276	28%
	61	6%
	38	4%
	36	4%
	30	3%
	29	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	940	94%
Yes	60	6%

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

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	991	99%
Yes	9	1%

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