Best Albums of 1981

Listed below are the best albums of 1981 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 55,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade
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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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841.
Love Songs 
Compilation
Buy album United States
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Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
845.
Anthology 
Compilation
Buy album United States
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  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Year of Release:
1981
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5
Rank in 1981:
Rank in 1980s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 1,000. Page 85 of 100

Best Albums of 1981 composition

Artist Albums %


Various Artists 15 1%
Frank Zappa 5 0%
Scientist 3 0%
David Bowie 3 0%
Tangerine Dream 3 0%
Simple Minds 3 0%
Gary Numan 3 0%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 312 31%
United Kingdom 278 28%
Germany 60 6%
Mixed Nationality 39 4%
Australia 36 4%
Japan 29 3%
France 29 3%
Show all
Compilation? Albums %
No 941 94%
Yes 61 6%
Live? Albums %
No 971 97%
Yes 31 3%
Soundtrack? Albums %
No 993 99%
Yes 9 1%
Best Albums of 1979
1. London Calling by The Clash
2. The Wall by Pink Floyd
3. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
4. Fear Of Music by Talking Heads
5. Off The Wall by Michael Jackson
6. Breakfast In America by Supertramp
7. Entertainment! by Gang Of Four
8. Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
9. Highway To Hell by AC/DC
10. Reggatta De Blanc by The Police
11. Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
12. Damn The Torpedoes by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
13. Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
14. The B-52's by The B-52's
15. Specials by The Specials
16. Armed Forces by Elvis Costello And The Attractions
17. Singles Going Steady by Buzzcocks
18. 154 by Wire
19. Setting Sons by The Jam
20. Drums And Wires by XTC
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