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:
1989
Appears in:
Rank Score:
687
Rank in 1989:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1986
Appears in:
Rank Score:
684
Rank in 1986:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1984
Appears in:
Rank Score:
682
Rank in 1984:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
676
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
365.
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1983
Appears in:
Rank Score:
675
Rank in 1983:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
670
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:
669
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • iTunes
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1980
Appears in:
Rank Score:
664
Rank in 1980:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1985
Appears in:
Rank Score:
655
Rank in 1985:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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  • eBay
  • iTunes
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
652
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 1,000. Page 37 of 100

Best Albums of the 1980s composition

Year Albums %


1980 119 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%
The Smiths 8 1%
Rush 8 1%
Iron Maiden 8 1%
R.E.M. 7 1%
Talking Heads 7 1%
U2 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%
Argentina 11 1%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 966 97%
Yes 34 3%
Live? Albums %
No 978 98%
Yes 22 2%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 988 99%
Yes 12 1%
Best Albums of 2016
1. A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
2. Blond by Frank Ocean
3. ★ [Blackstar] by David Bowie
4. Teens Of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
5. Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
6. 22, A Million by Bon Iver
7. Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
8. The Life Of Pablo by Kanye West
9. Lemonade by Beyoncé
10. We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service by A Tribe Called Quest
11. Nonagon Infinity by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
12. "Awaken, My Love!" by Childish Gambino
13. My Woman by Angel Olsen
14. Untitled Unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar
15. Malibu by Anderson .Paak
16. Weezer (White Album) by Weezer
17. A Seat At The Table by Solange
18. You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
19. Worry. by Jeff Rosenstock
20. Run The Jewels 3 by Run The Jewels
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