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: udaynatha
  • 10. Boy In The Box by Corey Hart
    every young man should listen this
  • 9. Heart by Heart
  • 8. Control by Janet Jackson
    anyone doubt?
  • 7. Like A Virgin by Madonna
  • 6. Soul Kiss by Olivia newton John
    Commercial Loss but best
  • 5. Private Dancer by Tina Turner
    no need to mention more
  • 4. I Feel for You by Chaka Khan
    Delicious
  • 3. Self Control by Laura Branigan
    The most powerfol femal vocalist
  • 2. Swept Away by Diana Ross
    Her best
  • 1. A Private Heaven by Sheena Easton
    Sheena was on her peak era
Howard Johns, Donna Summer , Whitney Houston
By: Jerry Watson
  • 10. Jane Wiedlin by Fur
  • 9. Jane Wiedlin by Jane Wiedlin
  • 8. Perfect View by The Graces
  • 7. House of Schock by House of Schock
  • 6. Runaway Horses by Belinda Carlisle
  • 5. Vacation by Go-Go's
  • 4. Belinda by Belinda
  • 3. Talk Show by Go-Go's
  • 2. Heaven on Earth by Belinda Carlisle
  • 1. Beauty and the Beat by The Go-Go's
    Definitely, a stranded on a desert island must! Timeless!
Did I say the Go-Go's or any part there of? lol
By: moe
  • 10. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    A very good album every song is good!
  • 9. Glass Houses by Billy Joel
    A very Good Album love the song You May Be Right!
  • 8. Building The Perfect Beast by Don Henley
    A Classic Every Song Rocks!
  • 7. Elimantor by ZZ Top
    Ilove this album all the songs kick-ass!
  • 6. Scarecrow by John Mellencamp
    Very Good Album Really Love The Song Small Town!
  • 5. The Joshua Tree by U2
    A Outstanding Album I Love Every Song!
  • 4. Heart by Heart
    A very fine album!
  • 3. Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits
    A Excellent Album!
  • 2. 5150 by Van Halen
    I love this album!
  • 1. Born In The USA by The Boss
    Best 80's album!
By: paolo casetta
  • 10. Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen
    I discovered the boss thanks to "dancing in the dark"
  • 9. Reckless by Bryan Adams
    great rocker
  • 8. Parade by Spandau Ballet
    all songs are good
  • 7. Lexicon Of Love by ABC
    great 80's band
  • 6. The Final Countdown by Europe
    great rock album: very listeneable
  • 5. Hunting High And Low by A-ha
    great album
  • 4. So Red The Rose by Arcadia
    most underrated album ever
  • 3. Duran Duran by Duran Duran
    new wave started there
  • 2. True by Spandau Ballet
    great album: not a bad tune
  • 1. Rio by Duran Duran
    best album ever
By: Johannes
  • 10. Mothers Milk by Red Hot Chili Peppers
    This album was their first album with John Frusciante i like self more the follow up Blood Sugar Sex Magix.
  • 9. The Joshua Tree by U2
    This album for 50% great and 50% grap. songs like where the streets have no name,still havent found what im looking for, with or without you, bullet the blue sky, red hill mining town, exit and the mothers of the disapeards are great the rest not.
  • 8. China Town by Thin Lizzy
    Well this album is thin lizzys best album ever.
  • 7. Bleach by Nirvana
    This is their least commercial album very heavy expressions great album.
  • 6. 1984 by Van Halen
    Well i like jump and i think that Eddie Van Halen one of the best guitar players ever is.
  • 5. Outlandos Damour by The Police
    Well this album is a mix of very happy sky and serious music like sting's solo albums.
  • 4. From Here To Eternity by Nick Cave
    Nick Cave sing so good its a very great album. Very depressive.
  • 3. The Real Thing by Faith No More
    Well this album ins't their master piece but it is their only album with mike patton in the 80's.
  • 2. And Justice For All by Metallica
    Its Metallica's best album ever 100x better than the boring black album. It is very musical.
  • 1. The Unforgettable Fire by U2
    This album is a album with a lot of opposites fast songs like pride, wire, under indian sky and extatic music like unforgettable fire and elvis and america its one of their best albums ever.
By: Steph J
  • 10. Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing by Discharge
    The ultimate hardcore punk band of all time in my book. This album rocked my socks off back in 1982 and still sound fresh to me after all these years. I grew up on this album and I still listen to it today!
  • 9. Front By Front by Front 242
    This is the compilation that introduced me to the godfathers of EBM, upon its release back in 1988. "Headhunter" was their most grandiose hit of their career and a dancefloor killer too.
  • 8. Mind: The Perpetual Intercouse by Skinny Puppy
    My first ever industrial band I ever listened to and bought. This is still my favourite SP album since its release in 1986.
  • 7. Black Celebration by Depeche Mode
    My all-time favourite DM album: exceptionally good instrumentation, great lyrics without being cheesy. I especially liked Alan Wilder's musical contribution to the DM sound. Thanks for the "indutrial elements" you introduced into their music!
  • 6. Pleasant Dreams by Ramones
    This album hit the stores in 1981. Being an avid fan of the Ramones since the late 70s (I discovered them with the album Rocket To Russia back in 1977 when I was still a young brat!!!), I loved this one from the grandfathers of punk rock. Even though the 80s were a struggeling period for the Ramones, trying as hard as they could to climb the charts to a decent position. My love for them never ceased even if they tried to polished their sound throughout that decade.
  • 5. First And Last And Always by Sisters Of Mercy
    First full-lenght album from another legendary band from the "dark" scene of the 80s. Absolutely magnificient... Too bad the magic was lost after the subsequent releases. This album was release in 1985.
  • 4. The Nephilim by Fields Of The Nephilim
    Atmospheric guitars, esoteric & occult lyrics anyone? This first album is a classic in Gothic music and an album that has rarely left unplayed since its release in 1987.
  • 3. In The Flat Field by Bauhaus
    Their first full-lenght album, and ironically their best. Dark post-punk known as "Batcave"... We're miles away from Michael Jackson here! Released in 1980.
  • 2. Faith by The Cure
    "Faith", released in 1981, was strongly inspired by Joy Division's "Closer". Cold, dark and gloomy... Perfect cure for the usual bright & joyful sound of the 80s I hated with a dedication back in the days.
  • 1. Closer by Joy Division
    This was the last album of Ian Curtis, recorded a few months before his suicide in may 18th 1980. "Closer" is a masterpiece of self-delusion, doubts, depression and introspective darkness. The music might left the impression of being still in its infancy, of being a bit dated but the desperate poetry of Curtis is far from being immature nor juvenile. "This is a crisis I knew had to come Destroying the balance I'd kept Turning around to the next set of lives Wondering what will come next." (Passover)
By: Bruce Chiasson
  • 10. Poison by Look What The Cat Drag In
  • 9. Bryan Adams by Reckless
  • 8. Van Halen by Van Halen
  • 7. Ac Dc by Back In Black
  • 6. Def Leppard by Pyromania
  • 5. Motley Crue by Girls Girls Girls
  • 4. Bon Jovi by Slippery When Wet
  • 3. Poison by Open Up And Say Ah
  • 2. Kiss by Crazy Night
  • 1. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    Best Album and band ever Def Leppard really Rock!!!!!!
By: John Mickles, Jr.
  • 10. The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby & The Range
    Songs Like The Way It Is, Madolain Rain, Every Little Kiss Was A Smash From The Record By The Band & I Like This Album!!!
  • 9. Whitney by Whitney Houston
    The Album Of This Pop Icon That I Love Hits Like I Wanna Dance With Somebody & So Emotional Were Both Became #1 In 1987.
  • 8. Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson
    I loved and have a lot of respect of Janet Jackson when she first hooked up with Famous Producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis with her 1986 record Control hit at the top of the charts.
  • 7. Make It Last Forever by Keith Sweat
    This 1987 R&B ALBUM WAS AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS END OF THAT YEAR. New Jack Swing was just about to start during the late 1980's & became an outstanding pop mainstream of our time.
  • 6. Riptide by Robert Palmer
    Songs Like Addictive To Love & I Didn't Mean to Turn You On was an awesome album by Robert Palmer the time he teamed up with famous Producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to produce a hit that men wants to marry a woman of his rights to broke up with a woman who don't get alone with each other. A Song , I Didn't Mean to Turn You On was a outstanding hit in 1986.
  • 5. Like A Prayer by Madonna
    I have never got into one of Madonna's favorite albums in the 80's but I'VE got into of my favorite songs is Express Yourself & Like A Prayer. THAT'S IT.''
  • 4. Beverly Hills Cop II by Various Artists
    The soundtrack of this outstanding & funniest comedy movie ever was a hit. This motion picture soundtack was the best that I heard of of our time.
  • 3. True Blue by Madonna
    Madonna has been a huge rock star since she was that large & I still love this joyful record .
  • 2. Bad by Michael Jackson
    This is the best album better than MJ's 1982 album Thriller. I love hits like Man In The Mirror became an instant #1 hit of all time. Michael Jackson has been a huge genius since his early childhood. I respect The King Of Pop's 1987 record better like I ever known I like this album a lo!!!
  • 1. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    This album From Def Leppard is not only when they sold more than a million copies but they still sold millions of albums worldwide. They still having fun with their success of touring one country to another so Def Leppard will have the 1987 blockbuster album of all time including Heavy Metal Groups Like Whitesnake,Motley Crue,Poison,Bon Jovi,Winger, & other Heavy Metal bands were tooking the world since they became more famous than other rock stars. Def Leppard's 1987 album Hysteria was bigger than other rock star albums . Esspecially Bon Jovi's Slippery Went Wet was a big time record when it sold $1.8 million copies worldwide. Bon Jovi & Def Leppard are still going all the to the top of the mountain since riding high in the 80's."
By: Suker
  • 10. ...And Justice For All by Metallica
    Excellent hard hitting heavy metal.
  • 9. Open Up And Say Ahh! by Poison
    This is some of the best party music I could think of from the 80s.
  • 8. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
    A great LP with songs like Livin On A Prayer and Wanted Dead Or Alive. I still hear some of these tracks in dance clubs, 17 years after their release.
  • 7. Electric by The Cult
    One of my personal favourites, almost every song sounds like pure rock; I just wish I could understand the words being sung by Ian Astbury at least half the time.
  • 6. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    Sure it launched great videos and contained "Billie Jean", but I just don't think this album deserves to be Number One based on the sheer quality of its music.
  • 5. The Joshua Tree by U2
    U2's best album. Ever.
  • 4. Synchronicity by The Police
    Just on the strength of "Every Breath You Take" this should be Top 20 material. With a bunch of other really good songs though, it easily cracks my Top 5.
  • 3. Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue
    What a great album, the Crue's finest, made after they finally decided to stop drinking and doing drugs (finally??). Tracks like Dr. Feelgood, Kickstart My Heart, Without You, Same Ol' Situation, Time For Change all on one album. Definately deserves its place at Number 3.
  • 2. Hysteria by Def Leppard
    Seven US Top 40 Singles. Seven. That includes Love Bites (A number one), Rocket, Animal, and my favourite, Pour Some Sugar On Me (this one reached Number 2).
  • 1. Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses
    Where do I begin. Everyone in L.A. in 1987 had a feeling this group was gonna take the world by storm. One of the most successful debut albums ever, G n' R introduced its particular brand of raging punk-metal. Sweet Child O' Mine, Out Ta Get Me, My Michelle, Rocket Queen, Mr. Brownstone...Axl was no Beethoven or Mozart, but who else expressed rage better? (even the way Guns n' Roses self-destructed is in keeping with their punk rock roots).
1984 by Van Halen, Pyromania by Def Leppard, Building The Perfect Beast by Don Henley, New Jersey by Bon Jovi, Rattle & Hum by U2, Licenced to Ill by the Beastie Boys, Look What the Cat Dragged In by Poison, Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen, Lies by Guns n' Roses.
By: Jeff M.
  • 10. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got by Sinead O' Connor
    This album is a little on the dark and depressing side, but O'Connor's ability to sustain this mood throughout its entirety is what makes it so good.
  • 9. The Wishing Chair by 10,000 Maniacs
    A little less radio-friendly than In My Tribe, this album has a very original sound to it. Cryptic lyrics make it more interesting.
  • 8. Popped In, Souled Out by Wet Wet Wet
    Great pop album with good energy and catchy songs. Wet Wet Wet should have had a much better career than they did.
  • 7. The Language of Life by Everything But the Girl
    Before they sold out and went techno, EBTG was an overlooked pop group. This album has sort of a '70's feel to it.
  • 6. Appetite For Destruction by Guns 'n' Roses
    Hey, if you're going to make an in your face album, why not go all the way? This album pulls no punches.
  • 5. Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians
    Don't know how to describe this album. Kind of a hippie thing with funky drums and loopy guitars - great lyrics and vocals, too.
  • 4. Kaleidoscope World by Swing Out Sister
    An interesting combination of musical styles fusing jazz, big band, 60's pop, and synth rock. Another underrated band from the '80's.
  • 3. Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys
    The most impressive debut album of the '80's. I think this album reached a whole new audience for rap music and added to its popularity.
  • 2. Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A.
    N.W.A. perfected gangsta rap. A timeless hip-hop classic.
  • 1. In My Tribe by 10,000 Maniacs
    Best album from one of rock's most underrated bands. Great lyrics, Natalie Merchant's beautiful voice, and top-notch musicianship. What more could you want?
Overall, I think the '80's was more about hit singles and less about good albums. I have many '80's albums that have two or three hit songs and the rest are pretty disappointing. A great decade for Top 40 music, though.

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