Top Ten Lists of Eighties Albums

What are your top ten favorite albums from the 80s?

This page currently edited by: stingr22. Past editor: Junior

By: ASH
  • 10. The River by Bruce Springsteen
    "Music to lie awake at night to"
  • 9. Doolittle by The Pixies
    "I hope Kurt's listening"
  • 8. Sign O' The Times by Prince
    "Cry, dance, contemplate"
  • 7. Green by R.E.M.
    "This is my world"
  • 6. Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes
    "Don't come near me"
  • 5. A Distant Shore by Tracey Thorn
    "Perfect soundtrack for a perfect summer"
  • 4. Atomiser by Big Black
    "Don't think about it, cos if you do you go crazy"
  • 3. This Nation's Saving Grace by The Fall
    "Have we got a drummer here or what?"
  • 2. Master Of Puppets by Metallica
    "No frills, no gimmicks, just four young men and some very loud music indeed"
  • 1. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
    "It has been called the 'Sgt Pepper' of the '80s, I tend to think of 'Sgt Pepper' being the 'Queen Is Dead' of the '60s"
By: charles
By: tnatrnr fan
By: James Walker
  • 10. Women & Children First by Van Halen
    y&t, saxon, helix, duran duran, All hair metal bands
  • 9. Lies by Guns 'N' Roses
  • 8. Shout At The Devil by Motley Crue
  • 7. Eliminator by ZZ Top
  • 6. Loced After Dark by Tone-loc
  • 5. Kick by INXS
  • 4. In God We Trust by Stryper
  • 3. Blackout by Scorpions
  • 2. Joshua Tree by u2
  • 1. Back In Black by AC/DC
By: Chuck Warren
  • 10. Bad by Michael Jackson
    So many hits! This was the gloved one's first big "return", after a period of falling popularity (this would be repeated with "Dangerous"). Doubters turned into fans overnight - I remember people walking around carrying boom-boxes blasting "Bad".
  • 9. Make It Big by Wham!
    George Michael's ascendancy was begun...sorry, Andrew Ridgely. "Careless Whispers" is one of the top 3 songs of the entire decade.
  • 8. Appetite For Destruction by Guns 'N' Roses
    Another album that changed the staus quo. Only Nirvana has had a similar impact since. Did anyone popular sound like G n' R at the time?? With the opening strains of "Sweet Child of Mine", Slash was reinventing hard rock for the 80s generation.
  • 7. 1984 by Van Halen
    After this phenomenal album, it was all downhill. Today VH is a shadow of its former self. Bring back Dave, before it's too late!
  • 6. She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper
    Another truly ahead-of-its-time recording. Lauper still makes good music, but it's a shame she has turned her back on her pop roots. "All Through the Night" seems more hauntingly beautiful today that it did in 1984.
  • 5. Back In Black by AD/DC
    Motoring along on the seamy underside of pop music was AC/DC. Everyone knows someone who was a huge AC/DC freak in the 80s. They were the "anti-Wham"!!
  • 4. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    Can't leave this one off the list. "Billie Jean" is one of the top 3 songs of the whole decade. MJ was visionary.
  • 3. Kick by INXS
    I was in high school when this one hit the stores/airwaves. Remember how it seemd to CHANGE everything? Music was never the same.
  • 2. True Blue by Madonna
    In my opinion, "real" 80s music was released during a period roughly corresponding to the one from "Like a Virgin" to "True Blue". This was the last true 80s album, except for maybe INXS "Kick".
  • 1. Seven And The Ragged Tiger by Duran Duran
    This album didn't just typify 80s music - it exemplified it!
I left off many, many others, including (but not limited to): 1) Any 80s album by the Pet Shop Boys. 2) Police - Synchronicity. 3) U2 - The Joshua Tree. 4) Duran Duran - Rio. 5) Madonna - Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer. 6) Culture Club - Color by Numbers. 7) Cyndi Lauper - True Colors. 8) Any 80s album from the Human League. 9) Arcadia - So Red the Rose. 10) Prince - Purple Rain.
By: Nicola
By: L LeBlond
  • 10. Kick by INXS
    This Album is killer. Aussie rock is killer. Just like the music!
  • 9. License To Ill by Beastie Boys
    This Album Rocks(or Raps)! One of my all-time favorite rappers out of the eighties. Run DMC would be second of course!
  • 8. Pyromania by Def Leppard
    Like I said, Leppard fan to the Max. Gotta like these brits.
  • 7. Reckless by Bryan Adams
    This was and still is a decent album. One of the better canadian rockers to make it big in the US!
  • 6. Purple Rain by Prince
    Basically the only album I ever liked by him. It was worth every penny I paid for the album. And I still crank it up often.
  • 5. Who Made Who by AC/DC
    I didn't know much about this album until I saw Maximum Overdrive! But when I picked it up I was jammin for days!
  • 4. Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen
    Very good music indeed. Makes you proud to be an American!
  • 3. The Wall by Pink Floyd
    This Album defines the early days of the eighties. Pure, pleasurable, and pretty much awesome.
  • 2. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    I am a Leppard fan to the max. I did like Pyromania almost as much, but this one offers a little more enjoyment for me!
  • 1. Permanent Vacation by Aerosmith
    Not only one of the best albums of the eighties, but one of Aerosmith's best albums also.
Other bands I enjoy out of the 80's include: Dead or Alive; U2; Dire Straits; Poison; Primus; Faith No More; The Romantics; Golden Earring; and too many more to list!
By: petri jones
  • 10. Third Stage by Boston
    Don't pull this one out as often but I sure got a lot of mileage out of it back then. Boston made a great sound.
  • 9. Electric Dreams Soundtrack by Various Artists
    This represents the positive energy, naivete,' and optimism of the 80's. Has a somewhat dated sound now, but I still love it, especially the lost gems from Culture Club.
  • 8. Yoyo by Bourgeois Tagg
    Man, this was just so different than anything else at the time. I really enjoyed this last effort by a short-lived group.
  • 7. Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears
    Three great hits on this album. Loved it.
  • 6. So by Peter Gabriel
    Once again, love every piece on here.
  • 5. Dream of the Blue Turtles by Sting
    Must've played this cassette hundreds of times. Quite a diverse mix by the Police's former front man.
  • 4. Misplaced Childhood by Marillion
    Didn't hear this one until after the 80's, but it's a classic nonetheless.
  • 3. Scoundrel Days by A-Ha
    Great use of the synths, along with Morten Harket's unique pipes.
  • 2. Joshua Tree by U2
    Why did these guys have to turn into cross-dressing freaks after this seminal album? Oh well.
  • 1. Watermark by Enya
    High water mark for Enya (heh, heh). This was perfection.
By: Rafael Valdizan
  • 10. Back In Black by AC/DC
    This record made Bon Scott's death less painful.
  • 9. Defenders Of The Faith by Judas Priest
    Along with Screaming For Vengeance, the peak moment of these british metalists.
  • 8. Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche
    One step forward to the progressive metal at that time.
  • 7. Holy Diver by DIO
    His best solo work ever.
  • 6. Don't Break The Oath by Mercyful Fate
    One of the greatest heavy metal records of all time. Every single song is a masterpiece!
  • 5. Moving Pictures by Rush
    Rush at their best!
  • 4. Mob Rules by Black Sabbath
    It could be "Heaven & hell" or "Live Evil", the fact is that Black Sabbath had in Ronnie James Dio a new life.
  • 3. The Wall by Pink Floyd
    One of the most amazing concept records. Legendary.
  • 2. Third Stage by Boston
    Great songs, great musicians, great voices. Great band.
  • 1. Foreigner 4 by Foreigner
    Simply, the best album from the best band in history.
By: Mark Montgomery
  • 10. Invisible Touch by Genesis
  • 9. Eliminator by ZZ top
    If you were 13 & male at the time this was THE album :))
  • 8. Music For The Masses by Depeche Mode
  • 7. Heartbeat City by The Cars
  • 6. Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
  • 5. So by Peter Gabriel
    In your eyes & Red rain are 2 of my all time favs!
  • 4. Kick by INXS
    Guns in the sky!!
  • 3. Sychronicity by The Police
    Sting at his peak!!
  • 2. Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears
    very good stuff.
  • 1. The Joshua Tree by U2
    Simply the best of the 80s. Wore the tape out in 87. Still have the cd in my car stacker.

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