Best Albums of 1981

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Listed below are the best albums of 1981 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 54,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1981 year summaryThe best artists of 1981 were Rush, Kraftwerk, King Crimson, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Brian Eno & David Byrne, Electric Light Orchestra, The Human League, The Cure, Black Flag and This Heat.

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11.

Youth Of America

Wipers

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

253 charts

Rank Score:

1,890

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

143

Overall Rank:

948

Average Rating:

81 (236 votes)

Comments:

12.

Fire Of Love

The Gun Club

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

263 charts

Rank Score:

1,860

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

147

Overall Rank:

967

Average Rating:

77 (303 votes)

Comments:

13.

Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

357 charts

Rank Score:

1,846

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

148

Overall Rank:

969

Average Rating:

75 (586 votes)

Comments:

14.

Ghost In The Machine

The Police

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

392 charts

Rank Score:

1,729

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

158

Overall Rank:

1,021

Average Rating:

75 (521 votes)

Comments:

15.

The Ascension

Glenn Branca

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

209 charts

Rank Score:

1,640

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

168

Overall Rank:

1,072

Average Rating:

79 (206 votes)

Comments:

16.

Heaven Up Here

Echo & The Bunnymen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

268 charts

Rank Score:

1,485

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

192

Overall Rank:

1,196

Average Rating:

77 (321 votes)

Comments:

17.

Face Value

Phil Collins

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

249 charts

Rank Score:

1,336

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

213

Overall Rank:

1,310

Average Rating:

72 (307 votes)

Comments:

18.

Killers

Iron Maiden

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

259 charts

Rank Score:

1,260

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

218

Overall Rank:

1,379

Average Rating:

77 (451 votes)

Comments:

19.

Movement

New Order

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

222 charts

Rank Score:

1,158

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

235

Overall Rank:

1,492

Average Rating:

76 (296 votes)

Comments:

20.

Architecture & Morality

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

203 charts

Rank Score:

1,098

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

242

Overall Rank:

1,568

Average Rating:

76 (218 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%
Scientist	3	0%
Tangerine Dream	3	0%
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra	3	0%
David Bowie	3	0%
Simple Minds	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	312	31%
	279	28%
	60	6%
	38	4%
	35	4%
	29	3%
	28	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	939	94%
Yes	61	6%

Live?	Albums	%
No	969	97%
Yes	31	3%

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

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