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.

Best albums by year or decade
Decade:
Year:
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.
View chart at point in time
 Show this chart as it was on the following date
Share this chart
Collector's summary (top 1,000)Log in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!
Sort by
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,245
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,244
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,238
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
224.
United Kingdom Yes
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,237
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,236
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,224
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1987
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,219
Rank in 1987:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1988
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,211
Rank in 1988:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,209
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,208
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 1,000. Page 23 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 120 12%
1981 120 12%
1982 107 11%
1983 99 10%
1984 101 10%
1985 81 8%
1986 98 10%
1987 86 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 418 42%
United States 389 39%
Australia 40 4%
Mixed Nationality 27 3%
Canada 23 2%
Germany 22 2%
Ireland 11 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 967 97%
Yes 34 3%
Live? Albums %
No 979 98%
Yes 22 2%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 989 99%
Yes 12 1%
Popular  Charts
1. 100 Best Albums - 2024 Edition by Apple Music (2024)
2. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone (2020)
3. The Top 100 Albums by VH1 (2001)
4. The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time by New Music Express (2013)
5. 200 Greatest Albums of All Time by Uncut (2016)
6. Top 100 Albums by ABC (2006)
7. The Definitive 200 by National Association of Recording Merchandisers (2007)
8. Virgin All-Time Top 1000 Albums by Virgin (2000)
9. The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time by Consequence of Sound (2022)
10. Die 20 besten Alben der Geschichte by Musikexpress.de (2011)
11. 100 Greatest Albums Ever by Q (2006)
12. The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time (1-100) by Paste (2024)
13. Die 100 besten Alben der Musikgeschichte by radioeins (2019)
14. Greatest 100 Albums of All Time by The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums with NME (2006)
15. Mojo Readers: The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made by Mojo (1996)
16. Los 48 mejores discos de la historia by Esquire España (2022)
17. Die 100 Alben des Jahrhunderts by Spex (2000)
18. Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by Melody Maker (2000)
19. The 100 Greatest Albums Of All Time by Absolute Radio (2012)
20. Die 100 besten Platten des Jahrhunderts by Wiener (1999)
Back to Top