Top Albums of the 80s
The top albums of the 80s, which we meticulously compiled from a variety of sources, represent the decade’s definitive impact on music. These sources include chart rankings, music video rotations, radio airplay, genre influence, and cultural resonance, showcasing the rich and diverse musical landscape of the 80s. Each album selected not only achieved commercial success but also significantly shaped the musical ethos of its time.
In each artist’s name, you’ll find the years they made their mark on the charts during the 80s. This approach offers a chronological exploration of the decade’s music scene, providing both new listeners and seasoned fans a pathway to discover or rediscover the soundtracks that defined an era. The list encapsulates a wide range of genres, from the electronic beats of synth-pop to the raw energy of rock and roll, each contributing uniquely to the tapestry of 80s music.
Moreover, the influence of these albums extends beyond mere numbers and chart positions. They played pivotal roles in setting trends, influencing future generations of musicians, and shifting the public’s musical taste. Albums like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” didn’t just sell millions of copies; they became cultural phenomena, reshaping not only music but also fashion and media.
At the bottom of this page, you can delve deeper into 80s culture with our TOP40Weekly Tribute collections. These include “Romantic Sax,” “Piano By Candlelight,” “25 Great Love Songs,” and “40 Best of the ’80s.” Each collection is carefully curated to evoke the romantic and innovative spirit of the decade, offering a nostalgic escape to a time when music was as visually captivating as it was audibly.
This journey through the top albums of the 80s is more than a mere recapitulation of musical milestones. It is an invitation to experience the creativity, diversity, and innovation that defined the decade, making it a pivotal period in the history of music.
Top Albums of the 1980s
1. Thriller (1982) – Michael Jackson
2. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988) – Public Enemy
3. Purple Rain (1984) – Prince and the Revolution
4. The Joshua Tree (1987) – U2
5. Raising Hell (1986) – Run-D.M.C.
6. Appetite For Destruction (1987) – Guns N’ Roses
7. Back In Black (1980) – AC/DC
8. Licensed To Ill (1986) – Beastie Boys
9. Born in the USA (1984) – Bruce Springsteen
10. Sign O’ The Times (1987) – Prince
11. Straight Outta Compton (1988) – N.W.A.
12. Murmur (1983) – R.E.M.
13. Like A Virgin (1984) – Madonna
14. Synchronicity (1983) – The Police
15. Graceland (1986) – Paul Simon
16. The Queen Is Dead (1986) – The Smiths
17. 1999 (1982) – Prince
18. Remain In Light (1980) – Talking Heads
19. Whitesnake (1987) – Whitesnake
20. 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) – De La Soul
21. Doolittle (1989) – Pixies
22. Master of Puppets (1984) – Metallica
23. The Stone Roses (1989) – The Stone Roses
24. Paul’s Boutique (1989) – Beastie Boys
25. Daydream Nation (1988) – Sonic Youth
26. Paid In Full (1987) – Eric B. & Rakim
27. Number Of The Beast (1982) – Iron Maiden
28. Run-D.M.C. (1984) – Run-D.M.C.
29. Like A Prayer (1989) – Madonna
30. Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) – Janet Jackson
31. Hysteria (1987) – Def Leppard
32. Radio (1985) – LL Cool J
33. Brothers In Arms (1985) – Dire Straits
34. Tracy Chapman (1989) – Tracy Chapman
35. Closer (1980) – Joy Division
36. Bad (1987) – Michael Jackson
37. 1984 (1984) – Van Halen
38. So (1986) – Peter Gabriel
39. War (1983) – U2
40. Ace Of Spades (1980) – Motorhead
41. Pretenders (1980) – Pretenders
42. The River (1980) – Bruce Springsteen
43. The Unforgettable Fire (1984) – U2
44. Disintegration (1989) – The Cure
45. Dirty Mind (1980) – Prince
46. The Message (1982) – Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
47. Rain Dogs (1985) – Tom Waits
48. Let It Be (1984) – The Replacements
49. Faith (1987) – George Michael
50. The Smiths (1984) – The Smiths
51. King Of Rock (1985) – Run-D.M.C.
52. Beauty And The Beat (1982) – The Go-Go’s
53. Psychocandy (1984) – The Jesus and Mary Chain
54. She’s So Unusual (1983) – Cindi Lauper
55. Ride The Lightning (1984) – Metallica
56. Dare! (1981) – The Human League
57. Private Dancer (1984) – Tina Turner
58. Nothing’s Shocking (1988) – Jane’s Addiction
59. Hounds Of Love (1985) – Kate Bush
60. Document (1987) – R.E.M.
61. Nebraska (1982) – Bruce Springsteen
62. Slippery When Wet (1986) – Bon Jovi
63. Nick of Time (1989) – Bonnie Raitt
64. Reign In Blood (1986) – Slayer
65. Zen Arcade (1984) – Husker Du
66. Hi Infidelity (1981) – REO Speedwagon
67. True Blue (1986) – Madonna
68. Can’t Slow Down (1983) – Lionel Ritchie
69. Kick (1987) – INXS
70. No Jacket Required (1985) – Phil Collins
71. Break Out (1983) – Pointer Sisters
72. The Game (1980) – Queen
73. Avalon (1982) – Roxy Music
74. Criminal Minded (1987) – Boogie Down Productions
75. Rio (1982) – Duran Duran
76. The Nightfly (1982) – Donald Fagen
77. Swordfishtrombones (1983) – Tom Waits
78. Ghost In The Machine (1981) – The Police
79. Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980) – Dead Kennedys
80. Sister (1987) – Sonic Youth
81. Surfa Rosa (1988) – Pixies
82. The End Of Innocence (1989) – Don Henley
83. Whitney Houston (1986) – Whitney Houston
84. Blizzard Of Ozz (1980) – Ozzy Osbourne
85. Double Nickels On The Dime (1984) – Minutemen
86. Pyromania (1983) – Def Leppard
87. Rapture (1986) – Anita Baker
88. Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good (1985) – Prefab Sprout
89. Moving Pictures (1981) – Rush
90. Technique (1989) – New Order
91. Strictly Business (1988) – EPMD
92. Live At The Harlem Square Club 1963 (1985) – Sam Cooke
93. Business As Usual (1982) – Men At Work
94. Imperial Bedroom (1982) – Elvis Costello and The Attractions
95. Whitney (1987) – Whitney Houston
96. Eliminator (1983) – ZZ Top
97. Tattoo You (1980) – The Rolling Stones
98. Violent Femmes (1983) – Violent Femmes
99. Control (1986) – Janet Jackson
100. Shoot Out The Lights (1982) – Richard and Linda Thompson
101. Searching For Young Soul Rebels (1980) – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
102. The Lexicon Of Love (1982) – ABC
103. Piece Of Mind (1983) – Iron Maiden
104. Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (1985) – The Pogues
105. Damaged (1981) – Black Flag
106. Speaking In Tongues(1983) – Talking Heads
107. Freedom (1989) – Neil Young
108. Pretty Hate Machine (1989) – Nine Inch Nails
109. Texas Flood (1983) – Stevie Ray Vaughan
110. Yo! Bum Rush The Show (1987) – Public Enemy
111. Heart (1985) – Heart
112. Tim (1985) – The Replacements
113. Low-Life (1985) – New Order
114. Tunnel Of Love (1987) – Bruce Springsteen
115. New Day Rising (1985) – Husker Du
116. Rattlesnakes (1984) – Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
117. Life’s Rich Pageant (1986) – R.E.M.
118. Madonna (1983) – Madonna
119. Touch (1983) – Eurythmics
120. My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (1981) – Brian Eno & David Byrne
121. Zenyatta Mondatta (1980) – The Police
122. Spirit Of Eden (1988) – Talk Talk
123. How Will The Wolf Survive? (1984) – Los Lobos
124. Green (1988) – R.E.M.
125. The Head On The Door (1985) – The Cure
126. Los Angeles (1980) – X
127. Let’s Dance (1984) – David Bowie
128. Meat Is Murder (1985) – The Smiths
129. Skylarking (1986) – XTC
130. Combat Rock (1982) – The Clash
131. Scarecrow (1985) – John Cougar Mellencamp
132. Peter Gabriel (III) (1980) – Peter Gabriel
133. Toto IV (1982) – Toto
134. Sandinista! (1980) – The Clash
135. Parade (1986) – Prince
136. Midnight Love (1982) – Marvin Gaye
137. Boy (1980) – U2
138. Crazy Rhythms (1980) – The Feelies
139. Escape (1981) – Journey
140. …And Justice For All (1988) – Metallica
141. Double Fantasy (1980) – John Lennon and Yoko Ono
142. Giving You The Best That I Got (1988) – Anita Baker
143. Full Moon Fever (1989) – Tom Petty
144. Scary Monsters (1980) – David Bowie
145. Songs From The Big Chair (1985) – Tears For Fears
146. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987) – The Cure
147. Different Light (1986) – The Bangles
148. Sound Affects (1980) – The Jam
149. Screaming For Vengeance (1982) – Judas Priest
150. An Innocent Man (1983) – Billy Joel
151. 4 (1981) – Foreigner
152. This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985) – The Fall
153. Pump (1989) – Aerosmith
154. Private Eyes (1981) – Hall & Oates
155. Straight Out The Jungle (1988) – The Jungle Brothers
156. Club Classics Vol. 1/Keep On Movin’ (1989) – Soul II Soul
157. Reckoning (1984) – R.E.M.
158. New York (1989) – Lou Reed
159. Stop Making Sense (1984) – Talking Heads
160. Diesel & Dust (1987) – Midnight Oil
161. Wild Gift (1981) – X
162. Pornography (1982) – The Cure
162. Ocean Rain (1984) – Echo and the Bunnymen
163. Lucinda Williams (1988) – Lucinda Williams
164. Face Value (1981) – Phil Collins
165. Kill Em All (1983) – Metallica
166. The Dream Of The Blue Turtles (1985) – Sting
167. Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) – The Smiths
168. Learning To Crawl (1984) – Pretenders
169. American Fool (1982) – John Cougar
170. Bad Brains (1982) – Bad Brains
171. Little Creatures (1985) – Talking Heads
172. Bella Donna (1981) – Stevie Nicks
173. Operation: Mindcrime (1988) – Queensryche
174. Reckless (1984) – Bryan Adams
175. Bring The Family (1987) – John Hiatt
176. Colour By Numbers (1983) – Culture Club
177. Introducing the Hardline According To Terence Trent D’ Arby (1987) – Terence Trent D’Arby
178. The Wanderer (1980) – Donna Summer
179. Strong Persuader (1986) – Robert Cray Band
180. Get Happy!! (1980) – Elvis Costello and The Attractions
181. Make It Big (1984) – Wham!
182. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981) – Soft Cell
183. Dr. Feelgood (1989) – Motley Crue
184. No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (1981) – Motorhead
185. Heartbeat City (1984) – Cars
186. Hunting High & Low (1985) – A-Ha
187. Street Songs (1981) – Rick James
188. Forever Your Girl (1988) – Paula Abdul
190. Back In the High Life (1986) – Steve Winwood
191. Don’t Be Cruel (1988) – Bobby Brown
192. I’m Your Man (1988) – Leonard Cohen
193. You’re Living All Over Me (1987) – Dinosaur Jr.
194. Isn’t Anything (1988) – My Bloody Valentine
195. Rattle and Hum (1988) – U2
196. 16 Lovers Lane (1988) – The Go-Betweens
197. Frontiers (1983) – Journey
198. New Jersey (1988) – Bon Jovi
199. The Real Thing (1989) – Faith No More
200. The Raw & The Cooked (1989) – Fine Young Cannibals
Compiled in regards to popularity in 2013 and is not indicative of original sales or airplay during it’s initial release.
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