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: Claudio Linaza
By: Lucas
  • 10. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    Ok, I had to include 1 hair album and they were the best of a bad bunch. Every song on it was a hit. Perfectly suited and even depicted the times.
  • 9. Graceland by Paul Simon
    You've got to hand it to the guy. He was 47 years old at the time and to come up with a African/pop fusion that works with everything song is a rare commodity. The title befits the vision the album creates.
  • 8. Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce's commercial peak. I wasn't born in the USA but singing that song made me feel like an expatriot.
  • 7. Sports by Huey Lewis And The News
    The ultimate classic feel good 80's rock/pop album. Bad is bad and that's good!
  • 6. Synchronicity by The Police
    Ok, I'll make it a close second. It deserved it.
  • 5. Business As Usual by Men At Work
    I'm an aussie so I'm biased to this album over Synchronicity but this album summed up early 80's new wave rock for me.
  • 4. Appetite For Destruction by Guns 'N' Roses
    This album rocked and was much rawer than all the other hair flavoured albums of the time.
  • 3. The Joshua Tree by U2
    The most spiritually uplifting album of the 80's.
  • 2. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    Can't go past it, changed MTV and music forever. He was the hippest and the most cutting edge back then. Even if he didn't turn so weird that couldn't have been sustained.
  • 1. Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits
    I listened to this one for years. I've always been a blues fan and this one encapsulates perfectly the blues/rock/pop/jazz worlds like no other.
The 80's were a very commercial period but some of the better albums stand up as some of the best of all time. Other mentions go to - ZZ Top - Eliminator, AC/DC - Back in Black, Van Halen - 1984, George Michael - Faith, INXS - Kick, Crowded House - Crowded House.
By: Nidz
  • 10. Kick by INXS
    Yer this was one of the biggest Australian albums of the 80s. There were a lot of good albums from Australian bands but this one had lots of hits.
  • 9. Back In Black by AC/DC
    Yer I had to include a AC/DC album. There are heaps of good ones before and after this one.
  • 8. Lies by Guns 'N' Roses
    This was where The Gunners first started.. I guess Patience was the big hit from this album.
  • 7. .....And justice For All by Metallica
    This album rocks and I can't believe it's this old and still sounds wicked today..
  • 6. Peace Sells..But Who's Buying by Megadeath
    Cool Metal from the 80's.. They are still rockin' hard these days.
  • 5. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
    This was a cool album of the 80's. It had a lot of hits.
  • 4. Appetite For Destruction by Guns 'N' Roses
    What can I say.. this album is the best album of the 80's. No doubt. These listings are in no order whatsoever.
  • 3. Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue
    This was another cool album which people are missing on this site.
  • 2. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    YEs this album was cool. And the songs haven't dated much since then either.
  • 1. Flesh And Blood by Poison
    I loved this album in the 80's. They never had another good hit after this album. This album is missing from all the lists for some reason.
Theres heaps I couldn't mention (simply because I couldn't remember them).. I had to visit cdnow to jog my memory on a few of these albums cause I wasn't sure if they were 80s or early 90s..
By: Patrick (from Canada)
  • 10. 54*40 (1985) by 54*40
    A Canadian favourite.
  • 9. Love At First Sting (1983) by The Scorpions
    As a guitarist, this album rocks. As a music lover, this album rocks.
  • 8. Signals (1982) by Rush
    A different twist from their 70's efforts, but a thoroughly enjoyable one
  • 7. Now And Again (1989) by Grapes Of Wrath
    Tell Me All The Things I Wasn't Could Have Made A Bit of Difference To All The Things I Was
  • 6. Zen Arcade (1985) by Husker Du
    You may not be able to tell from this album alone, but Bob Mould is a musical genius
  • 5. Violent Femmes (1982) by Violent Femmes
    Those who have this album know what I mean...those who don't...better get a copy
  • 4. English Settlement (1982) by XTC
    Make sure you get the original 2 vinyl set to fully appreciate the magnitude of this band's greatness
  • 3. Red Sails In The Sunset (1984) by Midnight Oil
    Jimmy Sharman's Boxers is a very powerful song on a great album
  • 2. Darklands (1987) by Jesus And Mary Chain
    Awesome describes this most aptly
  • 1. Closer (1980) by Joy Division
    Not as good as their debut effort in my opinion, but still the best album of the 80s
With over 10,000 80s albums to choose from, it was a difficult task, but I narrowed it down to "mainstream" music that received enough airplay in Toronto to make people familiar with it. Honourable mentions to Kate Bush, The Cure, The Jam, New Order, Madonna, U2, The Smiths, and some others who have a lot of great albums and it was difficult to pick just one.
By: jerrel
  • 10. Bad Animals by Heart
    good rock album. love the song alone
  • 9. Rio by Duran Duran
    the first band that i really like
  • 8. thriller by Michael Jackson
    enough said
  • 7. Like A Virgin by Madonna
    queen of pop
  • 6. The Joshua Tree by U2
    got really big with this one.
  • 5. Permanent Vacation by Aerosmith
    this band keeps on rockin, they never get tired
  • 4. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
    what else can i say from the boys from new jersey
  • 3. Appitite For Destruction by Guns 'N' Roses
    one the best hard rock albums in the 80's
  • 2. War by U2
    used to be my number one fav. still there best album
  • 1. Kick by INXS
    that's my fav
By: Axl 2
  • 10. Purple Rain by Prince
  • 9. Skid Row by Skid Row
  • 8. 1984 by Van Halen
  • 7. Blizzard Of Oz by Ozzy Ozbourne
  • 6. Back In Black by AC/DC
  • 5. Moving Pictures by Rush
  • 4. Thriller by Micheal Jackson
  • 3. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
  • 2. Hysteria by Def Leppard
  • 1. Appetite For Destruction by Guns 'N' Roses
    Guns N' Roses is unbeatable on this album
No One can match Axl Rose's voice or creativity!!!!!!
By: Grazza
  • 10. Stoneage Romeos by Hoodoo Gurus
  • 9. Workers' Playtime by Billy Bragg
  • 8. Distemper by New Christs
  • 7. Before Hollywood by Go Betweens
  • 6. Temple of Low Men by Crowded House
  • 5. Spike by Elvis Costello
  • 4. Document by REM
  • 3. Murmur by REM
  • 2. Goo by Sonic Youth
  • 1. Free Dirt by Died Pretty
By: Melissa
  • 10. ....And justice For All by Metallica
  • 9. Ignition by Ignition
  • 8. Embrace by Embrace
  • 7. Bedtime For Democracy by Dead kennedys
    *Take This Job and Shove It*
  • 6. Boogadaboogadaboogada by Screaching Weasel
  • 5. Powerage by AC/DC
  • 4. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me by The Cure
    *Catch*
  • 3. Mommy's Little Monster by Social Distortion
    *The Creeps*
  • 2. 7 Songs by Fugazi
    *Suggestion*
  • 1. Necklace of Heads by Lungfish
    *Devilhead*Fambly*
By: Nick
  • 10. Tiffany by Tiffany
    She was a really good singer too! Her debut album is a "must-have" if you want an 80's flashback.
  • 9. Martika by Martika
    I remember how much I used to love her when she was on "Kids Incorporated", so when she released an album I had to have it. Not a bad album either.
  • 8. She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper
    I loved her music but as for her image, the album title says it all *L*
  • 7. Colour By Numbers by Culture Club
    They had a LOT of good songs on this album. I loved "Karma Chameleon".
  • 6. Cosmic Thing by B-52's
    They were a slightly odd band, but they had great music. "Love Shack" and "Roam" were two of my fave songs for 1989.
  • 5. Exposure by Expose
    I thought that they were quite a group. A good group that is.
  • 4. Heaven On Earth by Belinda Carlisle
    God she had a beautiful voice! Her solo career was as successful as her career with the Go-Go's too.
  • 3. Best Shots by Pat Benatar
    I think that you couldn't ask for a better compilation from the genuine lady rocker of the 80's. Particular gems on this album include "One Love" and "Painted Desert"
  • 2. Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson
    Debbie's second album. How could you not like songs such as "Lost In Your Eyes"? And don't forget the video for the title track. Whew!
  • 1. Out Of The Blue by Debbie Gibson
    An awesome singer. She could really sing, in my opinion. A very good debut album
Honorable Mention: "Different Light", The Bangles "WOW", Bananarama And we can't forget country: "Turn The Tide", Baillie & The Boys "Sweet Sixteen", Reba McEntire "80's Ladies", K.T. Oslin
By: Joe Burmeister
  • 10. Reckless by Bryan Adams
    This was a perfect example of early Bryan Adams. A perfect blend of rough cut rock and roll (see "Its Only Love"), pop (see "Somebody", "Summer of '69" and "Run To You") and soft rock (see "Heaven").
  • 9. Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
    That sneer...that hair...Idol showed pop music lovers how to rock, and was always there to remind us that he "wanted his MTV".
  • 8. An Innocent Man by Billy Joel
    Billy unleashes such timeless classics as "Easy Money", "An Innocent Man", "Uptown Girl", "Leave A Tender Moment Alone", and "Tell Her About It".
  • 7. Footloose Soundtrack by Various
    Kenny Loggins, Shalamar, Bonnie Tyler, Denise Williams, and Mike Reno/Ann Wilson all popped off big hits from this album, one of the greatest soundtracks of all time.
  • 6. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    Love him or hate him--this album has become a pop music icon in its own right.
  • 5. Born In the USA by Bruce Springsteen
    Was there a song on this album that wasn't on the American Top 40?
  • 4. Purple Rain by Prince
    Prince took over as "King" of pop music when this incredible album and not-so-incredible movie came out.
  • 3. IV by Toto
    "Africa", "Rosanna", "Make Believe", and "I Won't Hold You Back" all staples of early 80's radio.
  • 2. Business As Usual by Men At Work
    The biggest question on everybody's lips in the 80's: Exactly what is a "vegamite sandwich"?
  • 1. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
    Album that thoroughly--and finally--bridged the gap between heavy metal and pop music.
So many great LP's that it is hard to limit this list to ten--such as: Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet by Rick Springfield; Colour By Numbers by Culture Club; H2O by Daryl Hall and John Oates; Kilroy Was Here by Styx; Kick by INXS; Top Gun Soundtrack; and Appetite for Destruction by Guns 'N' Roses just to name a few.

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