The Greatest Music The Greatest Music

Greatest Albums of the 1980s

All Time 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

Custom Year Range

Leave "From" empty to show all albums through a year.
Leave "To" empty to show all albums since a year.

The Great Twenty‐Eight
#537
1982

The Great Twenty‐Eight

by Chuck Berry

Rock And Roll Blues Rock +1 more
The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
#544
1985

The Indestructible Beat of Soweto

by Various Artists

Mbaqanga
New Day Rising
#550
1985

New Day Rising

by Hüsker Dü

Alternative Rock Hardcore Punk Noise Pop +2 more
British Steel
#551
1980

British Steel

by Judas Priest

Heavy Metal Metal Hard Rock
High Land, Hard Rain
#552
1983

High Land, Hard Rain

by Aztec Camera

Alternative Rock Rock Art Rock +2 more
Rio
#554
1982

Rio

by Duran Duran

New Wave Synth-Pop New Romantic +2 more
Moving Pictures
#567
1981

Moving Pictures

by Rush

Progressive Rock Rock Hard Rock
Let's Dance
#568
1983

Let's Dance

by David Bowie

New Wave Pop Pop Rock +2 more
Nick of Time
#571
1989

Nick of Time

by Bonnie Raitt

Blues Rock Rock Pop Rock +1 more
The Unforgettable Fire
#573
1984

The Unforgettable Fire

by U2

Rock Pop Pop Rock
Throwing Muses
#578
1986

Throwing Muses

by Throwing Muses

Indie Rock Alternative Rock Post-Punk +1 more
You're Living All Over Me
#586
1987

You're Living All Over Me

by Dinosaur Jr.

Alternative Rock Indie Rock Rock +1 more
Nothing's Shocking
#587
1988

Nothing's Shocking

by Jane's Addiction

Alternative Rock Rock Alternative Metal +2 more
Whitney Houston
#594
1985

Whitney Houston

by Whitney Houston

Pop Contemporary R&b Dance-Pop +2 more
Bleach
#599
1989

Bleach

by Nirvana

Rock Sludge Metal Noise Rock +2 more
New Gold Dream (81‐82‐83‐84)
#601
1982

New Gold Dream (81‐82‐83‐84)

by Simple Minds

New Wave New Romantic Synth-Pop +1 more
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
#607
1980

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

by Dead Kennedys

Punk Hardcore Punk Rock
Spirit of Eden
#627
1988

Spirit of Eden

by Talk Talk

Post-Rock Art Rock Ambient Pop +2 more
Lucinda Williams
#631
1988

Lucinda Williams

by Lucinda Williams

Alternative Country Country Rock
Kings of the Wild Frontier
#635
1980

Kings of the Wild Frontier

by Adam and the Ants

New Wave Rock New Romantic +2 more
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
#639
1988

If I Should Fall From Grace With God

by The Pogues

Folk Rock Celtic Punk Alternative Rock +4 more
Sulk
#665
1982

Sulk

by The Associates

Synth-Pop New Wave Art Rock +2 more
Floodland
#667
1987

Floodland

by The Sisters of Mercy

Gothic Rock Rock Dark Wave +2 more
Scary Monsters… and Super Creeps
#672
1980

Scary Monsters… and Super Creeps

by David Bowie

Art Rock Rock New Wave +2 more
Blood & Chocolate
#681
1986

Blood & Chocolate

by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Rock Alternative Rock New Wave +1 more
Computerwelt
#689
1981

Computerwelt

by Kraftwerk

Electro Electronic Synth-Pop +2 more
Let Love Rule
#691
1989

Let Love Rule

by Lenny Kravitz

Rock Neo-Psychedelia Pop Rock +2 more
Don't Stand Me Down
#692
1985

Don't Stand Me Down

by Dexys Midnight Runners

New Wave Soul Blue-Eyed Soul +2 more
Music for the Masses
#697
1987

Music for the Masses

by Depeche Mode

Electronic Synth-Pop Rock +2 more
The House of Love
#698
1988

The House of Love

by The House of Love

Indie Pop Rock Alternative Rock +2 more
Document
#700
1987

Document

by R.E.M.

Alternative Rock Rock Jangle Pop +1 more
Songs From the Big Chair
#703
1985

Songs From the Big Chair

by Tears for Fears

New Wave Pop Rock Synth-Pop +2 more
A Walk Across the Rooftops
#704
1983

A Walk Across the Rooftops

by The Blue Nile

Sophisti-Pop Art Pop
13 Songs
#705
1989

13 Songs

by Fugazi

Post-Hardcore
Big Science
#728
1982

Big Science

by Laurie Anderson

Experimental Electronic Art Pop +1 more
Atomizer
#730
1986

Atomizer

by Big Black

Post-Hardcore Electronic Indie Rock +2 more
Stop Making Sense
#737
1984

Stop Making Sense

by Talking Heads

New Wave Rock Electronic +2 more
King of America
#746
1986

King of America

by Elvis Costello, The Attractions, The Confederates

Rock Alternative Rock Country Rock +2 more
Slippery When Wet
#749
1986

Slippery When Wet

by Bon Jovi

Rock Hard Rock Glam Metal +2 more
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
#751
1981

Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)

by David Bowie

Classic Rock Pop Rock Rock
Like a Virgin
#752
1984

Like a Virgin

by Madonna

Pop Dance-Pop Electronic +2 more
16 Lovers Lane
#756
1988

16 Lovers Lane

by The Go‐Betweens

Indie Pop Indie Rock Alternative Rock +2 more
Welcome to the Pleasuredome
#757
1984

Welcome to the Pleasuredome

by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Alternative Dance Synth-Pop Electronic +4 more
World of Echo
#760
1986

World of Echo

by Arthur Russell

Experimental Electronic Ambient +2 more
Eliminator
#761
1983

Eliminator

by ZZ Top

Blues Rock Hard Rock Rock +2 more
Fisherman's Blues
#762
1988

Fisherman's Blues

by The Waterboys

Folk Rock Rock
Killing Joke
#764
1980

Killing Joke

by Killing Joke

Rock New Wave Industrial Rock +2 more
Hunting High and Low
#767
1985

Hunting High and Low

by a‐ha

Pop New Wave Synth-Pop +2 more
Kilimanjaro
#768
1980

Kilimanjaro

by The Teardrop Explodes

New Wave Pop Post-Punk +2 more
Penthouse and Pavement
#773
1981

Penthouse and Pavement

by Heaven 17

New Wave Synth-Pop
Colour by Numbers
#776
1983

Colour by Numbers

by Culture Club

Pop Electronic New Romantic +1 more
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith
#778
1981

No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith

by Motörhead

Hard Rock Heavy Metal Rock
Architecture & Morality
#786
1981

Architecture & Morality

by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Electronic New Wave New Romantic +2 more
Talk Talk Talk
#788
1981

Talk Talk Talk

by The Psychedelic Furs

New Wave Pop Post-Punk +1 more
Non‐Stop Erotic Cabaret
#789
1981

Non‐Stop Erotic Cabaret

by Soft Cell

New Wave Pop Dance-Pop +2 more
Hysteria
#794
1987

Hysteria

by Def Leppard

Hard Rock Rock Glam Metal +3 more
This Is the Sea
#798
1985

This Is the Sea

by The Waterboys

Folk Rock Pop Rock Rock +1 more
The Trinity Session
#807
1988

The Trinity Session

by Cowboy Junkies

Blues Rock Country Rock +2 more
Combat Rock
#810
1982

Combat Rock

by The Clash

Punk Rock New Wave Dub +2 more
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
#818
1988

The Great Adventures of Slick Rick

by Slick Rick

Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop
Immigrés / Bitim Rew
#823
1984

Immigrés / Bitim Rew

by Youssou N'Dour & Le Super Étoile

Mbalax
From Gardens Where We Feel Secure
#831
1983

From Gardens Where We Feel Secure

by Virginia Astley

Ambient Modern Classical Neoclassical New Age +1 more
Full Moon Fever
#842
1989

Full Moon Fever

by Tom Petty

Rock Classic Rock Heartland Rock +2 more
Field Day
#843
1983

Field Day

by Marshall Crenshaw

Pop Rock
The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
#848
1982

The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads

by Talking Heads

New Wave Art Punk Electronic +2 more
LC
#850
1981

LC

by The Durutti Column

Avant-Garde Post-Punk Rock
End of the Century
#851
1980

End of the Century

by Ramones

Punk New Wave Pop +2 more
The Dub Factor
#852
1983

The Dub Factor

by Black Uhuru

Dub Reggae
Water From an Ancient Well
#854
1986

Water From an Ancient Well

by Abdullah Ibrahim

Jazz
Parade
#863
1986

Parade

by Prince, The Revolution

Funk Contemporary R&b Pop +2 more
The Colour of Spring
#865
1986

The Colour of Spring

by Talk Talk

Art Pop Pop
Rum Sodomy & the Lash
#867
1985

Rum Sodomy & the Lash

by The Pogues

Celtic Punk Folk Punk Folk Rock +2 more
Straight Out the Jungle
#873
1988

Straight Out the Jungle

by Jungle Brothers

Hip Hop
Tin Drum
#877
1981

Tin Drum

by Japan

New Wave Art Pop Electronic
Escape
#880
1984

Escape

by Whodini

Hip Hop Electro Electronic +1 more
Seventeen Seconds
#882
1980

Seventeen Seconds

by The Cure

New Wave Gothic Rock Alternative Rock +1 more
Life Is… Too $hort
#885
1988

Life Is… Too $hort

by Too $hort

Hip Hop Gangsta Rap Old School Hip Hop +1 more
Bummed
#889
1988

Bummed

by Happy Mondays

Electronic Indie Rock Rock +2 more
Songs About Fucking
#890
1987

Songs About Fucking

by Big Black

Noise Rock Industrial Rock Pigfuck +1 more
Colossal Youth
#892
1980

Colossal Youth

by Young Marble Giants

Electronic Indie Rock Rock +2 more
No Image
#902
1986

Thoroughly Years : Phonography II (73-76)

by R. Stevie Moore

Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads to Death
#903
1986

Let the Snakes Crinkle Their Heads to Death

by Felt

Instrumental Ambient Dream Pop +2 more
Strange Times
#904
1986

Strange Times

by The Chameleons

Indie Rock New Wave Post-Punk +1 more
The Poison Boyfriend
#917
1987

The Poison Boyfriend

by Momus

Alternative Rock Rock Pop Rock
Djam Leelii
#921
1989

Djam Leelii

by Baaba Maal, Mansour Seck

Country Blues Blues Folk +1 more
Never Too Much
#922
1981

Never Too Much

by Luther Vandross

Disco Soul Boogie +2 more
How Will the Wolf Survive?
#931
1984

How Will the Wolf Survive?

by Los Lobos

Latin Rock Blues +1 more
Bo Diddley / Go Bo Diddley
#935
1986

Bo Diddley / Go Bo Diddley

by Bo Diddley

Blues Blues Rock Doo-Wop +2 more
War
#942
1983

War

by U2

Rock Post-Punk Alternative Rock +2 more
The Story of The Clash, Volume 1
#954
1988

The Story of The Clash, Volume 1

by The Clash

Punk Rock Alternative Rock +2 more
Buffalo Tom
#955
1988

Buffalo Tom

by Buffalo Tom

Rock Alternative Rock Indie Rock
Floating Into the Night
#959
1989

Floating Into the Night

by Julee Cruise

Dream Pop Ethereal Wave Ambient Pop +2 more
Complete Discography
#964
1989

Complete Discography

by Minor Threat

Hardcore Punk Punk Rock
No Image
#967
1982

Juju Music

by King Sunny Adé and His African Beats

On Fire
#970
1989

On Fire

by Galaxie 500

Alternative Rock Rock Dream Pop +1 more
Skylarking
#974
1986

Skylarking

by XTC

Pop Rock Neo-Psychedelia New Wave +2 more
Critical Beatdown
#976
1988

Critical Beatdown

by Ultramagnetic MC's

Hip Hop Electronic
Substance 1987
#981
1987

Substance 1987

by New Order

New Wave Alternative Dance Post-Punk +2 more
Tunnel of Love
#983
1987

Tunnel of Love

by Bruce Springsteen

Pop Rock Rock
Tom Tom Club
#987
1981

Tom Tom Club

by Tom Tom Club

New Wave Pop Alternative Rock +2 more

Add to list

Your lists

+ Create a new list

Sign In

or