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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31.

October

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

208 charts

Rank Score:

788

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

321

Overall Rank:

2,084

Average Rating:

72 (425 votes)

Comments:

32.

...And Don't The Kids Just Love It

Television Personalities

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

153 charts

Rank Score:

737

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

335

Overall Rank:

2,203

Average Rating:

77 (144 votes)

Comments:

33.

Fair Warning

Van Halen

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

152 charts

Rank Score:

729

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

338

Overall Rank:

2,218

Average Rating:

75 (259 votes)

Comments:

34.

Bella Donna

Stevie Nicks

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

180 charts

Rank Score:

715

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

346

Overall Rank:

2,264

Average Rating:

76 (198 votes)

Comments:

35.

Mob Rules

Black Sabbath

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

163 charts

Rank Score:

711

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

349

Overall Rank:

2,281

Average Rating:

75 (255 votes)

Comments:

36.

Trust

Elvis Costello And The Attractions

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

153 charts

Rank Score:

706

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

353

Overall Rank:

2,288

Average Rating:

78 (196 votes)

Comments:

37.

Dolmen Music

Meredith Monk

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

72 charts

Rank Score:

696

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

356

Overall Rank:

2,311

Average Rating:

74 (80 votes)

Comments:

38.

Foreigner

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

175 charts

Rank Score:

685

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

362

Overall Rank:

2,338

Average Rating:

72 (217 votes)

Comments:

39.

Beauty And The Beat

Go-Go's

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

185 charts

Rank Score:

671

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

366

Overall Rank:

2,379

Average Rating:

75 (170 votes)

Comments:

40.

Controversy

Prince

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

167 charts

Rank Score:

665

Rank in 1981:

Rank in 1980s:

369

Overall Rank:

2,402

Average Rating:

75 (239 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 4 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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