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: William Norling
  • 10. Master of Puppets by Metallica
    I could write for ever on this one. Title track is my favorite to date. A great sone in "Orion" no lyrics and some mean solos. "Sanitarium" is another instant classic on this album. My underground favorite is "Dissposable Heros" Fast, long, and has a solo that goes for 1 min. and 10 seconds. "Battery" is also a great opening song, and food for thought---canadian band (you should know) Rush helped put the guys songs in order on the album (they helped)
  • 9. Back in Black by AC/DC
    Is there a more classic rock album. Nobody will ever make a rock album the same. The only equal (rockwise) is Van Halen's debut. Both deserve credit, but Back in Black is just amazing.
  • 8. Randy Rhodes Tribute by Ozzy Osbourne
    The Prince of Darkness does all his greatest solo hits with his greatest guitar player by his side (live)!!!! Randy is my favorite guitarist and plays at the top of his game in this album. A must have for any rockers with old school tracks with new solos like "Iron Man" "Paranoid" and has a great guitar solo at the end of "Suicide Solution" Buy this album.
  • 7. Surfing with the Alien by Joe Satriani
    Amazing album. Joe lays down some firey tracks in Surfing with the Alien and Crush. Anybody that has everybeen interested in playing the guitar, or even likes listening to great music, this is a must buy album. You could pay twice the price for the album and it would be worth it.
  • 6. Appetite for Destruction by Guns and Roses
    What else can I say? Amazing album and some of the greatest guitar work in late 80's and definetly the best in the 90's. (being that Nirvana killed the guitar solo)
  • 5. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    Used to own the album. Not my style, but the Eddie Van Halen solo in "Beat It" is classic Eddie. Thriller is also a classic.
  • 4. The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden
    Iron maiden is my second favorite band (to metallica) of all time. The number of the beast has some of their greatest songs, and Dickenson brings something to the band that was missing in the first albums. Amazing album, as all of them are.
  • 3. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    I know all the words to all the songs. Amazing album. Could be a little too produced at times, but still worth every penny.
  • 2. ...and justice for all by Metallica
    Not as good as master of pups. but still has "one" on the album. Had the song not gotten so much radio play, it would be the greatest metal song of all time. Other tracks including the title track, and to live is to die are worth buying the album for. The bass on the album is a little to thumpy for me. I always need to turn down the bass when I put the album in, but all in all great album.
  • 1. Kill em' All by Metallica
    Kirk Hammet has some of his best solo work on their debut album. One of the few revolutionary speed metal albums of all time. Amazing bass player (that is now missed) and James Hets. voice is rough, rugged, and raw. No metallica album would ever be as fast or in your face.
I didn't put Ride the Lightning on here because some of the album is mediocore. Fade to Black and the title track do deserve credit though.
By: Mike
By: Alex
  • 10. The Legendary Pink Dots by Island of Jewels
    1986. Another old favorite, this time in a sort of industrial meets synthpop meets prog meets 20th century orchestral music vein. Very weird, thoroughly original concept album, with harrowing vocals from lead singer Edward Ka-Spel.
  • 9. Kate Bush by The Dreaming
    1982. Freaky, theatrical, demented art-rock. Kate Bush can use her voice in more ways than most, and she really throws everything in here. Far and away her best work.
  • 8. Stormy Six by Macchina Maccheronica
    1980. Extremely dense Italian avant-prog. Some of the most intricate composition in all of rock. Some circus music here, too.
  • 7. Thinking Plague by In This Life
    1989. An old avant-prog favorite.
  • 6. News from Babel by Letters Home
    1986. Beautiful, delicate chamber rock from former members of Henry Cow (Lindsay Cooper, Chris Cutler, Dagmar Krause) plus Soft Machine's Robert Wyatt. Hints of klezmer, art song, experimental electronics. Very subtle.
  • 5. XTC by The Big Express
    1984. Clunky, awkward and brilliantly written. One of XTC's best (though not quite as good as 1979's Drums and Wires).
  • 4. Cardiacs by A Little Man and a House & the Whole World Window
    1988. British prog-punk, with Gentle Giant counterpoint, Spike Jones wackiness and a circus music vibe. Far better than it has any right to be.
  • 3. The Pixies by Surfer Rosa
    1988. The classic that accidentally started both indie rock and alternative. Almost every song taken on its own seems badly proportioned or annoying, but together they're somehow fantastic.
  • 2. Kukl by Holidays in Europe
    1986. Björk's early post-punk band's second album. Dissonant, sample-heavy, very complex and better than anything she's done since.
  • 1. Only a Lad by Oingo Boingo
    1981. Debut of Danny Elfman's spiky, hyperactive New Wave band. Shocklingy catchy tunes, perverse and vitriolic lyrics, theatrical and versatile vocals with plenty of falsetto. Completely amazing. I listened to it three or four times the day I got it.
Yeah, I've already done this twice, but I felt like doing it again in tribute to my discovery of OINGO BOINGO. Also, this time I'm limiting myself to one album per band.
By: Victor P.B.
  • 10. Frontiers by Journey
    1983 Best Song: Faithfully
  • 9. Heaven On Earth by Belinda Carlisle
    1988 Best Song: Heaven Is A Place On Earth
  • 8. Substance by New Order
    1987 Best Song: True Faith
  • 7. Escape by Journey
    1981 Best Song: Open Arms
  • 6. Danger Danger by Danger Danger
    1989 Best Song: Don't Walk Away
  • 5. Live In The City of Light by Simple Minds
    1987 Best Song: Big Sleep
  • 4. No Protection by Starship
    1987 Best Song: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
  • 3. The Seeds of Love by Tears For Fears
    1989 Best Song: Famous Last Words
  • 2. Great Southern Land by Icehouse
    1989 Best Song: No Promises
  • 1. Raised on Radio by Journey
    1986 Best Song: Suzanne
Big Country, excellent songs spread across mediocre albums.
By: Biff Taubin
  • 10. Introducing the Hardline by Terence Trent D'arby
    One great voice, one great album, never to be heard from again.
  • 9. Raising Hell by Run DMC
    This album was the Hip Hop equivallent of the Beatles Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It's the dividing line between what came before it and what came after it.
  • 8. She's so Unusual by Cyndi Lauper
    She was the Christina Aguilera to Madonna's Britney musically and asthetically. (She Bop, Girl's Just wanna have fun, Time after time and the awesome remake of Prince's when you were mine.
  • 7. Madonna by Madonna
    All of Madonna's best pop is right here...Borderline, Burnin Up, Lucky Star, Holiday. You better ask somebody!!!
  • 6. Candy Girl by New Edition
    This album gave us the formula by which all boy bands would follow while borrowing from the original boy band of brothers...the Jackson 5
  • 5. Sign o' the times by Prince
    Too good to be classified as just an 80's album
  • 4. Purple Rain by Prince
    The master of all he surveyed...this put folks on their a**.
  • 3. Pyromania by Def Leppard
    The most well crafted pop metal album ever, heavier that Bon Jovi yet not too pretty to hate
  • 2. Rio by Duran Duran
    This album and group typified the boy band and second British invasion of the 80s.
  • 1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    For all the right reasons and all the wrong reasons this is the quitessential 80s album
All of prince's 80's catalog, U2 Joshua Tree, Kissing to be Clever Culture Club, Debarge, Van Halen 1984, John Lennon Double Fantasy
By: Lorene
  • 10. Rolling Stones by Tattoo You
    My favorite of the Stones. Also reminds me of cruising when I was 16.
  • 9. J Geils Band by Freeze Frame
    Reminds me of being 16 and cruising. We were the first at school to like them.
  • 8. Prince by Purple Rain
    Wow! Reminds me of cruising summer 1984. One of our favorites for cruising.
  • 7. Def Leppard by Hysteria
    Great great album! Saw them in concert during this album & they are just as great in concert!
  • 6. Survivor by Vital Signs
  • 5. Bruce Springsteen by The River
    Another album my husband turned me on to. I never like Bruce Springsteen before this album. Great album! My favorite of Bruce.
  • 4. The Kinks by Give The People What They Want
    My husband turned me on to this album when we met & it is great! I never liked the Kinks before this album. It is kind of weird & quirky.
  • 3. Bryan Adams by Cuts Like A Knife
    Makes me think of my senior year in high school. This may have been his first. I know it was the first one that produced hits & I loved it. Still do.
  • 2. Duran Duran by Rio
    First album to put Duran Duran on the map. Feel good album.
  • 1. Pyromania by Def Leppard
    The first album that put Def Leppard on the map! Has a lot of great songs. I love the whole album.
These are in no particular order. These are my personal favorite of the 80s. I was 15-25 years old in that decade.
By: Eddie
  • 10. Stone Roses by Stone Roses
    The 80s precursor (and prototype) for Oasis, Blur, Coldplay, etal...
  • 9. Straight Outta Compton by NWA
    Scared the he** out of me...
  • 8. Back In Black by AC/DC
    Great album that ushered in a decade of crappy, big hair/heavy plastic rip-offs...
  • 7. Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
    Gave white rappers everywhere hope...for better or worse...
  • 6. Closer by Joy Division
    Not exactly my cup of tea, but you can't deny the lasting influence...
  • 5. Zen Arcade by Husker Du
    The defining album of the forefathers of "Alternative"...
  • 4. Like A Virgin by Madonna
    Yes, she can't sing, but what female, pop act doesn't emulate her?...
  • 3. Raising Hell by Run DMC
    Maybe its just me, but had you heard of rap before this album? (OK, save "Rappers' Delight")...
  • 2. Surfer Rosa by Pixies
    The 80s album and band with arguably the greatest influence on the 90s...
  • 1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    The "Gold Standard" for pop albums ever since...
These are not my favorite albums, but these are the albums from the 80s that have had a lasting influence. The albums that capture the "magic" of the 80s (i.e.: Songs From The Big Chair/Tears For Fears, Lexicon Of Love/ABC) would be a different list all together (well, save Purple Rain...see below). I obviously couldn't contain myself to the Top 10. Honorable Mention (yes, essentially #11-#20): Murmur/REM, Master of Puppets/Metallica, Doolittle/Pixies, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back/Public Enemy, Nothing Shocking/Jane's Addiction, Purple Rain/Prince, Daydream Nation/Sonic Youth, Rio/Duran Duran, Pretty Hate Machine/Nine Inch Nails, Pyromania/Def Leppard
By: Joe Rags
  • 10. Colour By Numbers by Culture Club
  • 9. 5150 by Van Halen
  • 8. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
  • 7. Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
  • 6. 1984 by Van Halen
  • 5. War by U2
  • 4. Hysteria by Def Leppard
  • 3. Scarecrow by John Mellencamp
    What rock n roll is all about. R-O-C-K in the U.S.A. always pumps me up.
  • 2. Appetite for Destruction by GNR
    Every song is kick-a**. Slash is one of the best guitar players of all-time. Izzy is one of the coolest rockers ever.
  • 1. The Joshua Tree by U2
    The Edge's guitar playing on every single song is masterful. Bono's singing is simply emotional and genuine.
By: Leoncio
By: johnny
  • 10. Rio by Duran Duran
    Her name is Rio
  • 9. Pyromania by Def Leppard
    Photograph is one of the best songs ever
  • 8. Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen
    The Boss is still the man
  • 7. Slippery when Wet by Bon Jovi
    unbelievable
  • 6. Reckless by Bryan Adams
    Wow, Canada did something right
  • 5. War by U2
    give Ireland back to the Irish
  • 4. The Last American Virgin by soundtrack
    this may be the best movie soundtrack ever with songs by the Cars, U2, Devo and more
  • 3. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    ridiculous
  • 2. Appetite for Destruction by Guns n' Roses
    every song rocks hard.
  • 1. The Joshua Tree by U2
    possibly the greatest album of all time.
I miss the '80s

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