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: Jeff
That last list got messed up. This is the actual one. Runners Up: Closer by Joy Division, Remain in Light by the Talking Heads, Argybargy by Squeeze, The Pretenders by the Pretenders, Meat Puppets II by the Meat Puppets, 13 Songs by Fugazi
By: Guillaume
  • 10. Vulture Culture (1984) by Alan Parsons Project
    Alan Parsons has abandonned his ambitious, progressive sound of the 70's and is now producing first-rate pop.
  • 9. Flaunt the Imperfection (1985) by China Crisis
    Produced by Steely Dan's Walter Becker, this is jazzy synth pop. Kinda hard to describe. Every track is memorable.
  • 8. Dare! (1981) by Human League
    100% synth. The cold image of the modern society through danceable synth-pop.
  • 7. Blue Bell Knoll (1988) by Cocteau Twins
    Swirling soundscapes, hypnotic drum machines, vocal acrobatics, lush and heavy electric guitar, wonderful melodies and arangements.
  • 6. Once Upon A Time (1985) by Simple Minds
    Sounding curiously like U2, these guys knew how to make an 80's rock song. Every track is catchy, intense and energetic.
  • 5. Lament (1984) by Ultravox
    Nothing much to say here. Cold, synth-driven pop which is remarkably effective.
  • 4. The Lexicon Of Love (1982) by ABC
    Some complain this one is a little overproduced and they're right. But that's the point. Martin Fry's soulful vocals and Trevor Horn's juicy production illustrate perfectly the main theme of the album. This called the Lexicon of Love, and it shows musically all the energy, the intense joy and pain we can live when in love. This one can cheer you up at any time.
  • 3. Scoundrel Days (1986) by A-ha
    Forget Hunting High an Low; this IS A-Ha's masterpiece. Every track is a winner. All fans of powerful synth pop have to own this one.
  • 2. Hounds Of Love (1985) by Kate Bush
    Don't get fooled by the album cover, this album is one of the most ambitious and effective ever recorded. Kate is at her creative peak and this gem is one of the most immaculately produced album ever. Every track will catch your attention sooner or later. An album you can listen over and over again and still discover new voices, instruments, backwards vocals, melodies and meaning to the lyrics.
  • 1. Secrets Of The Beehive (1987) by David Sylvian
    This is the best album I know. Ambitious, but not pretentious work with tripped-down songs, organic yet complicated textures, great lyrics, awesome voice and the perfect mood for a warm and lonely sunday afternoon.
The Stone Roses would be in the list, but it's more a 90's band than and 80's one Runner-ups: Adam Ant - Friend or Foe, Bryan Ferry - Boys and Girls, The Buggles - The Age of Plastic, Tears for Fears - The Hurting, Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna, Dream Academy - Dream Academy, Japan - Tin Drum, Crowded House - Crowded House, Re-Flex - The Politics of Dancing, Dexy's Midnight Runners - Too-rye-ay, Arcadia - So Red the Rose, Tears for Fears - Songs From the Big Chair, Talk Talk - It's My Life
By: ES
  • 10. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
    Need I say more?
  • 9. Atomic Arena by Barren Cross
    A Christian heavy metal band that sounded a lot like Iron Maiden only better!
  • 8. The Warning by Queensryche
    True classic heavy metal.
  • 7. 1984 by Van Halen
    One of the most fun albums ever recorded!
  • 6. First Watch by Guardian
    A great Christian hard rock album.
  • 5. Pyromania by Def Leppard
    One of the best concerts I have ever seen.
  • 4. Joshua Tree by U2
    A true rock classic. Music with meaning.
  • 3. Holy Diver by Dio
    Dark and heavy!
  • 2. Frontiers by Journey
    THE classic AOR melodic rock album of the century!
  • 1. Under Lock And Key by Dokken
    The epitome of all 80's hard rock! An absolute classic!
By: JOHN
  • 10. 5150 by Van Halen
    Very big no one knew if the new Halen would fly they soared
  • 9. Whitesnake by Whitesnake
    This was a also big and Tawney looked hot on that hood in the video
  • 8. Purple Rain by Prince
    Not A fan but I remember how big this record was
  • 7. Dairy Of A Madman by Ozzie Osbourn
    What a player Randy Rhoads was
  • 6. Ghosts in the Machine by Police
    Never was a fan but this album was Huge and did have stuff almost anyone could listen to
  • 5. Joshua Tree by U2
    I was never a big fan of my irish cousins until this album not a bad song on it
  • 4. Shout At The Devil by Motley Crue
    Very big album started the whole glam thing for the 80's
  • 3. Thriller by Micheal Jackson
    Cough em what can I say this was a mega huge record and Eddie Van Halen does a killer solo for Beat it and No Im not a Jacko fan
  • 2. Back In Black by AC/DC
    Not one bad song on the whole album thier opus recording
  • 1. 1984 by Van Halen
    This was Van Halen at thier peak
By: Michael K
  • 10. Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads
    One of the great bands of the new wave era, their early career is encapsulated and transformed in this album, one of the great concert albums of all-time (especially after it was expanded a few years back!).
  • 9. Joshua Tree by U2
    Ummm . . . it's freakin' Joshua Tree! What could I possibly add? :-)
  • 8. Doolittle by Pixies
    Brining the carnage of punk rock back into music at a time when Tiffany ruled the airwaves, the Pixies inspired nearly every "alternative" band that followed. With "Doolittle," the band were at the height of their powers, writing great songs and playing them with focused intensity.
  • 7. Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello
    The fork-tongued master of catchy tunes teamed up with former Beatles sound innovator Geoff Emerick(sp?) to create a deliriously hooky album of driving chamber pop. Any album that starts with a song like "Beyond Belief" is worth the price of admission; fortunately, the rest of Imperial Bedroom is far from a let down.
  • 6. Key Lime Pie by Camper Van Beethoven
    The goofy college band from Santa Cruz ended their career with a mostly dark and very rich collection of songs that seemed to tear right into the subconscious of the entire history of Americana.
  • 5. Purple Rain by Prince
    Moving beyond R&B, new wave, rock, bubblegum pop or any other established genre, Prince created music all his own and was fabulously commericlaly successful at the same time. It's a little bit silly, but it remains a great album. And "The Beautiful Ones" is an all-time classic song.
  • 4. Crush by OMD
    At the tail end of the new wave movement, synth-pop pioneers OMD released this odd little gem which features a couple of radio-friendly pop hits, plus a lot of other quirky and generally sober meditations on societal trappings. This album has held up remarkably well over the years!
  • 3. Misplaced Childhood by Marillion
    In this neo-prog rock masterpiece, Marillion (with original lead singer Fish) explore a crumbling life in a crumbling world and find possible salvation in the childhood heart. A glorious concept album.
  • 2. Mind Bomb by The The
    Finally turning his project into a proper band, Matt johnson's songs were able to become more expansive and richly texturized on this amazing album about the perils of war and love. Johnny Marr's guitar parts are astounding, and Sinead O'Connor sings a wonderful, steamy duet with Matt on "Kingdom Of Rain."
  • 1. Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush
    Hounds Of Love remains my favorite from this decade, because it sounds unlike any other album before or since. The unqiue palette of sounds/instrumentation employed keep this album sounding as fresh as the day it was released. While side one has most of the great songs, side two is a spellbinding journey that will take you deeper into a dream world with each listen.
These are my ten *favorite* 80's albums, as opposed to my objective evaluation of the most important albums of that decade. Enjoy! :-)
By: Jesse
The 80's f'n rocked, and you know it :) I'm only 19, but I know it did!
By: Gurinder
  • 10. Madonna by Madonna
    Her first album. What a gem!
  • 9. Whitney by Whitney
    Her finest album.
  • 8. Idol Songs by Billy Idol
    The maestro at his best.
  • 7. Bad by Michael Jackson
    I remember the hype surrounding this album and song. Warranted, though.
  • 6. Actually by Pet Shop Boys
    It's a sin, Heart... Classic tunes
  • 5. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    EVERY song is a classic on this one.
  • 4. Scoundrel Days by A-ha
    Soulful and tortured.
  • 3. Hunting High And Low by A-ha
    Amazing lyrics. Listening to an a-ha song is like reading poetry.
  • 2. True Blue by Madonna
    Pure class.
  • 1. Like A Virgin by Madonna
    You need to ask?!
In no particular order.
By: Jose Ramos
  • 10. Purple Rain by Prince
    The greatest soundtrack of the 1980's! Includes: "Let's Go Crazy", "When Doves Cry", and "Purple Rain". Despite the great soundtrack, the movie was mediocre. In my opinion.
  • 9. Kick by INXS
    Great song selections and album cover. Includes: "Devil Inside", "Never Tear Us Apart, and "Need You Tonight"
  • 8. Pyromania by Def Leppard
    A staight *** kickin' record! Includes: "Rock Of Ages", "Foolin", and "Photgraph".
  • 7. Rio by Duran Duran
    One of the greatest new wave albums and covers of the 1980's. Includes: "Rio", "Hungry Like The Wolf", and "Save A Prayer".
  • 6. Like A Virgin by Madonna
    The album that defined the "Material Girl". Includes: "Dress You Up", "Like A Virgin", and "Material Girl"
  • 5. Raising Hell by Run DMC
    A classic rap record. Includes: "You Be Illin", "It's Tricky", and "Walk This Way".
  • 4. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
    Great song selections and, unlike many hairbands (no offense), Bon Jovi wrote some great lyrics. Include: "Livin' On A Prayer", "Wanted Dead Or Alive", and "You Give Love A Bad Name".
  • 3. Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads
    One of the greatest live albums I've ever heard. Based upon the concert film of the same name. Includes: "Once In A Lifetime", Girlfriend Is Better", and "Burning Down The House".
  • 2. Joshua Tree by U2
    Very uplifting and different from most rock albums from 1987. Includes: "With Or Without You", "Where The Streets Have No Name", and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".
  • 1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    The definitive album from the 1980's! Includes: "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)","Billie Jean", and "Beat It".
Greatest '80's comeback album: Aerosmith "Pernament Vacation" Greatest '80's Guilty Pleasure albums: Debbie Gibson "Out Of The Blue" & "Electric Youth"... Second Greatest '80's sountrack: "Pretty In Pink" Greatest '80's album cover: Go Go's "Vacation" and Duran Duran "Rio" (tie) Worst cover from a good 80's album: Peter Gabriel "So"... with innovating videos, why a plain picture of Peter Gabriel? It's just my opinion. Worst '80's album: Tiffany "Tiffany"...OK voice, but her debut album was mainly 100% covers. Even Milli Vanilli had original songs!
By: gustavo
By: Charles da Silva Pereira

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