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: Andrea
  • 10. Ray Parker Jr. Greatest Hits by Ray Parker Jr.
  • 9. Two Places At The Same Time by Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio
  • 8. Sex And The Single Man by Ray Parker Jr.
  • 7. Woman Out Of Control by Ray Parker Jr.
  • 6. After Dark by Ray Parker Jr.
  • 5. A Woman Needs Love by Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio
  • 4. The Other Woman by Ray Parker Jr.
  • 3. Chartbusters by Ray Parker Jr.
  • 2. Ghostbusters II by Various Artist
  • 1. Original Soundtrack Album Ghostbusters by Various Artist
Ray is a greatest artist, and I just love it!
By: Alan Berry
By: Tim
  • 10. The Dream Of The Blue Turtles by Sting
    We waited in anticipation to see what Sting would do after the Police and we were pleasantly surprised. This album covers a number of musical styles that leads you on a journey of joy and pain ending with the brilliant Fortress Around Your Heart. Sting was now beginning an even more successful solo career.
  • 9. Rhythm Of Youth by Men Without Hats
    A pop gem that deserved much more recognition. Took another 12+ years to be released on CD by the brave and honorable Oglio.
  • 8. Human's Lib by Howard Jones
    Great vocals on layers of warm synth proved that you didn't need traditional instruments to express emotion in music.
  • 7. Dare by Human League
    I must have listened to this album at least 50 times. This was the album that converted me to 'modern' music back in 1981. I still remember the first time I heard it in stereo a few years later. Still remember every lyric!
  • 6. Forever Young by Alphaville
    A huge album on the European continent but largely ignored in the UK and US. I think this was their high point musically. The best synthpop to come out of Germany (sorry Camouflage!)
  • 5. Rain Town by Deacon Blue
    Glasgow has produced some great music over the years. Simple Minds, Hue and Cry, Wet Wet Wet and Deacon Blue to mention a few. Deacon Blue dared to cross the line between pop, folk and country. Gorgeous melodies, lyrics and soundscapes form a masterpiece that was highly acclaimed in the UK but unfortunately didn't cross the Atlantic.
  • 4. The Hurting by Tears For Fears
    I received this album for my 15th birthday in 1984 and it was already over a year old. Couldn't get enough of it and probably drove my parents nuts. Was delighted when they toured in Frankfurt, W. Germany and I made Tears For Fears my first 'real' concert.
  • 3. Rio by Duran Duran
    Also known as the 'MTV' album, slickly produced and powerfully performed. Simon's voice has aged better than his looks!
  • 2. Upstairs At Eric's by Yaz(oo)
    Who could've predicted a successful merger of bluesy vocals and synth pop? This album stands as a milestone of early new wave and an essential for any true 80's fan.
  • 1. Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
    A Big change in direction for the boys from Basildon. It isn't recognized as a big commercial hit but it is often the highest ranked album by fans.
I wish I could have had a top 20. So many more albums and groups worth mentioning. I may do a Top 10 part 2!
By: Vincent Frank
  • 10. What Up, Dog? by Was (Not Was)
    You know, "Walk the Dinosaur" is the *worst* song on this album.... This is one group that really SHOULD get back together.
  • 9. Ancient Evenings by Garry Hughes
    The greatest electronic album of the 1980s. LONG out-of-print, which is a shame.
  • 8. Purple Rain by Prince & The Revolution
    Prince at his peak. Actually, even his lesser albums are interesting, but this is the Mount Everest of 80s soundtracks.
  • 7. Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
    Any darker, and it would have been a Joy Division album.
  • 6. The Number Of The Beast by Iron Maiden
    WICKED album cover, and features "Run To the Hills," arguably the greatest heavy metal song of all time!
  • 5. Heartbeat City by The Cars
    Only slightly inferior to Duran Duran's _Rio_, this album is 80s new wave/pop at its best.
  • 4. Rio by Duran Duran
    It took me years to admit it, but this is definitely an album I would want with me on a desert island. 'nuf said....
  • 3. Avalon by Roxy Music
    If the music on this album were any more beautiful, it would be lethal. One of the greatest albums covers of all-time, too!
  • 2. Closer by Joy Division
    Don't listen to this album if you have razor blades lying around. I can't even listen to this any more. The album cover is incredible, too....
  • 1. The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
    Simply the best. What more can I say? "Ninety minutes from New York to Paris/ There'll be Spandex jackets--one for everyone...." Perfecto! (Oh! And a great album cover!)
Honorable mentions: The Cure: Disintegration The Cramps: Psychadelic Jungle Devo: New Traditionalists A Flock of Seagulls: A Flock of Seagulls Stray Cats: Rant 'n' Rave Tangerine Dream: LeParc Lindsay Buckingham: Go Insane 45 Grave: Sleep in Safety Dio: Holy Diver Ozzy Osbourne: Bark at the Moon Black Sabbath: Heaven and Hell Iron Maiden: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA David Arkenstone: Valley in the Clouds Vangelis: Bladerunner (soundtrack) Jean-Michel Jarre: Zoolook Metallica: Master of Puppets Van Halen: 1984 Sting: Dream of the Blue Turtles The Police: Ghost in the Machine They Might Be Giants: They Might Be Giants
By: gee_q_jay
  • 10. Straight Outta Compton by NWA
    the bridge from the suburban dream to the urban nightmare...HARDCORE FO' REAL
  • 9. Legend - The Best Of... by Bob Marley And The Wailers
    the title of the collection says it all and to this day bob marley is still synonymous with reggae music
  • 8. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
    like straight outta compton expresses the anger and self-destructive cycle of the african-american male, this groundbreaking masterpiece offers that as well as a remedy
  • 7. Paid In Full by Eric B & Rakim
    if you consider yourself a true hip-hop purist and this isn't in your collection, YOU SHOULD GET IT...rakim remains among the ranks of the top mc's in hip-hop history
  • 6. Kick by INXS
    these cats KICK ass, an appropriate title for their breakthrough album R.I.P. michael hutchence
  • 5. Rock & Soul Part 1 by Hall And Oates
    true blue-eyed soulsters hailing from the city of brotherly love
  • 4. Purple Rain by Prince And The Revolution
    1982's "1999" served as the prelude to this multimedia blockbuster. 82 may have been ruled by the king of pop, but 84 was the year his royal badness, who ruled the world of music and film.
  • 3. Diamond Life/Promise/Stronger Than Pride by sade
    this woman's soulful blend of jazz and quiet storm-esque music in the 80's, laid the foundation for what we call today "neo-soul".
  • 2. Raising Hell by Run-DMC
    the original kings of rock whose potent delivery of rap and rock was a match made in heaven while RAISING HELL in the process. kid rock, limp bizkit, korn SIT DOWN!!!
  • 1. 1999/ Sign 'o' The Times by Prince
    these two albums are my favorite prince releases and to this day, i stand behind the proclamation that prince is not a piece of 80's memorabilia like a rubik's cube, but one of the most talented and influential artists of our time. he may not ever acheive the commercial heights he's had with 'purple rain' again, but a true artist should be measured by his or her uncompromising love for their art not the 'bling bling' or platinum plaques.
By: Jeff Tinnea
  • 10. Ride The Lightning by Metallica
    had a tough time between this and Queen's 'The Game'
  • 9. Asia by Asia
  • 8. Synchronicity by The Police
  • 7. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
  • 6. Appitite For Destruction by Guns 'N' Roses
    I didn't see this on anyone else's list. That should be illegal.
  • 5. 1984 by Van Halen
  • 4. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    8 singles? 9?
  • 3. Thriller by Micheal Jackson
    best selling album for how long?...
  • 2. Vital Idol by Billy Idol
  • 1. Escape/Frontiers by Journey
    No way you can choose just one.
By: mike toth
  • 10. Rising Force by Yngwie Malmsteen
    somthing about snotty, sweedish, noodlie, guitar players, which i can't spell their names i like.
  • 9. Blizzard Of Oz by Ozzy Osbourne
    only if randy was alive today, things might be different.
  • 8. Appitite For Destruction by Guns 'N'd Roses
    sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll!!! what it was all about!!!
  • 7. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
    yes it is rap and has "kill whitey" overtones but they sampled slayer!
  • 6. Skid Row by Skid Row
    ".....hey baby, wanna go to my house? my mom's not home."
  • 5. Powerslave by Iron Maiden
    from aces high to ryme of the ancient mariner not a bad song in there.
  • 4. Nothing's Shocking by Jane's Addiction
    perry may sound like a bug but this still rocks!
  • 3. The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste by Ministry
    where would marylin manson and the of them be without it?
  • 2. Reign In Blood by Slayer
    when on a date, you can't go wrong with side one, cut one.
  • 1. Kill 'em All by Metallica
    the album that defined metal
my theroy on why there is so much depression, negitivity, why me my life sucks in the world today....NO GUITAR SOLOS IN TODAYS MUSIC!!!!
By: alejandro
  • 10. Automatic by Jesus And Mary Chain
    a great influence
  • 9. Deep by Peter murphy
    glommiest pop
  • 8. Songs To Learn And Sing by Echo And The Bunnymen
    another compliation...but ian was the best 80s singer,,,,
  • 7. Express by Love & Rockets
    its goth? its Rock? its pop? idont know,,,,,but are great sounds
  • 6. People Are People Singles by Depeche mode
    a great collection.
  • 5. Gold Afternoon Fix by The Church
    an beautiful australian band,,a great melancolic album
  • 4. Strange Ways by The Smiths
    the morrissey lirycs
  • 3. Doolittle by Pixies
    attitude, punk and a little of bittersweetness
  • 2. Standing In The Beach by The Cure
    yes,,its a compilation, but it s a representative sampler of the 80s tendencies (goth, postpunk and pop very 80s style)
  • 1. Time by ELO
    one of the first tecno s album. Great songs.
first and last and always (sisters of mercy). a flock of seagulls 80s.what could sounds like 80s? flock of seagulls,,,the hair, the clothes, the sounds of their syntethizers New order etc
By: Alazaf
  • 10. Silk Road II by Kitaro
    The God of "New Age" king of music
  • 9. Fugazi by Marillion
    Marillion is the best neo-progressive band, with astonishing musical variations and the almost-perfect Fisch voice timber.
  • 8. Material Girl by Madonna
    Even nowadays several "madonna clones" try to immitate her, without the same charm.
  • 7. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    Top Seller of all times. A "must".
  • 6. Pornography by The Cure
    The perfect soundtrack for a suicide. Gods of self-destruction
  • 5. The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden
    The King of Heavy Metal in its best album in the the maximum decade of metal.
  • 4. Diesel and Dust by Midnight Oil
    The most important Australian Rock Band since AC/DC shows the world his power with protest lyrics.
  • 3. War by U2
    Post-Punk echoes in the Traditional Rock side.
  • 2. Music For The Masses by Depeche Mode
    Technopop was very important to the 80īs musical style.
  • 1. Mask by Bauhaus
    The "darkest" album from the Gothic Masters.
By: Frank
The only good thing about 80's music besides Van Halen with Roth is it's underground

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