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: Lee
By: Material Girl
  • 10. She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper
    Known for having fun and being quite outrageous and misunderstood.
  • 9. Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli
    The Record industries biggest lie.
  • 8. Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen
    The ALL American Rock Star
  • 7. Out Of the Blue by Debbie Gibson
    The 1'st Britney
  • 6. Colour By Numbers by Culture Club
    Non-Deliberate Shock Pop and a whole lot of gender confusion, but absolutely adored by teenagers everywhere.
  • 5. Hangin' Tough by New Kids On the Block
    The Late 80's Boy Band
  • 4. Purple Rain by Prince and The Revolution
    The Beginning of New Wave R&B
  • 3. Make it Big by Wham
    The Ultimate teen craze !
  • 2. Thriller by Michael Jackson
    He defined an era !
  • 1. Like A Virgin by Madonna
    Nobody in the industry was bigger than her !
This is close to being accurate. This is what kids were listening to in the 80s. I did not mention REO Speedwagon and John Cougar Mellancamp, because these bands with kids were bigger at the time.
By: Laura
  • 10. Synchronicity by The Police
    Not a huge fan of The Police but this album is fantastic.
  • 9. Listen Like Theives by INXS
    When they started becoming mainstream but still a very good album, love the whole 'Aussie Outback' feel to it.
  • 8. Power ,lies, and corruption by New order
    This is sublime all the way through.
  • 7. WAR by U2
    Love it! New Year's Day is the greatest track!
  • 6. Primitive Man by Icehouse
    Great Aussie rock band, has "Great Southern Land" which I love.
  • 5. Rio by Duran Duran
    I LOVE every song on this album. The only good 'boy band' ever. My Own Way is my fave track.
  • 4. Midnight Oil by Diesle and Dust
    The Oils @ their best!
  • 3. October by U2
    My 2nd fave band, again like INXS, love the earlier stuff. Gloria & Rejoice are just amazing.
  • 2. The Swing by INXS
    Another classic which was the highest selling album in OZ 4 quite some time! Original sin and Love Is (What I Say) are awesome.
  • 1. Shabooh Shoobah by INXS
    AMAZING! Love INXS but I especially love their earlier work, a true masterpiece!
By: Justin from Brisbane
  • 10. Making Movies ('80) by Dire Straits
    Another lesson in how to play a guitar!
  • 9. Bring on the Night ('86) by Sting
    I've never been into 'live' albums, except this one. 'Consider Me Gone' and 'I Burn for You' are great...
  • 8. Graceland ('86) by Paul Simon
    A fantastic mix of African music into Paul Simon's usually great lyrics and music.
  • 7. Invisible Touch ('86) by Genesis
    This album had some great radio songs, and some really unusual music... but it all sounded good!
  • 6. Synchronicity ('83) by The Police
    Every 2nd person on this website has this album in their top 10 - and why not? Best track: 'Synchronicity II'
  • 5. Songs from the Big Chair ('85) by Tears for Fears
    Some classic tracks on this album - 'Shout', 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' and 'Head Over Heels'
  • 4. Love Over Gold ('82) by Dire Straits
    Mark Knofler and co. were just on a roll in the 80's.
  • 3. Great Southern Land ('89) by Icehouse
    Australia produced some great music in the 80's... this was a good example. Notable tracks from this compilation - 'No Promises' and 'Don't Believe Anymore'
  • 2. So ('86) by Peter Gabriel
    Another brilliant album... the whole thing just works... from the eerie 'Mercy Street' and 'We Do What We Told' to 'Big Time'. Best listened to at night while driving.
  • 1. Brothers in Arms ('85) by Dire Straits
    This album can't be flawed. From start to finish, it's full of classics. And remarkably, some of the best songs are among those that didn't get much radio play - eg. 'Man's Too Strong' and 'Ride Across the River'
By: james
  • 10. Strangeways Here We Come by The Smiths
    What a way to go out!
  • 9. Vivid by Living Color
    1987 was a great year for "music has changed forever" albums, I guess. This one really holds up well.
  • 8. Nothing's Shocking by Jane's Addiction
    Doesn't hold up, but the first time I heard it was one of those "music has changed forever" kind of moments. Like so many bands, they're records never lived up to their shows. They were so incredible live.
  • 7. Synchronicity by The Police
    Really this should be all five Police albums. They were all perfect. Has anybody else ever done that? Even the Beatles released a couple of dogs.
  • 6. Welcome to the Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
    Man, what a great album. Zang Tum Tum strikes again!
  • 5. (Who's Afraid of) The Art of Noise by Art of Noise
    I think it still holds up. I played it for a non-80s buddy, though, and he thought it sounded like bad techno.
  • 4. The Swing by INXS
    Deserves to be on the list just for "Johnson's Aeroplane"
  • 3. More Fun in the New World by X
    Greatest L.A. punk band at the height of their powers
  • 2. The Hurting by Tears for Fears
    This album was so great! Why did they have to go on to fame and fortune? They were so much better as ugly mopes with bad haircuts (weren't we all?)
  • 1. Hyaena by Siouxsie and the Banshees
    Loved it then, love it now.
All of REM's IRS albums belong on here. All The Cars records through "Heartbeat City" belong here, too. Not to mention the 'Mats, the Huskers, and on and on and on. Ten just isn't enough!
By: adam
By: Martin Urquiza
By: Bailey
  • 10. Here Come The Brides by Brides of Destruction
    Awesome! I love Guns and Sixx. Nikki is always the rocker of the millenium!
  • 9. Appetite For Destruction by Guns N Roses
    Pure rock, it's awesome. The best Guns N Roses ever!
  • 8. Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue
    Brilliant.
  • 7. Diver Down by Van Halen
    I love it! Van Halen is awesome!
  • 6. Flesh & Blood by Poison
    Great CD.
  • 5. Shout At The Devil by Motley Crue
    Really, Really brilliant, a masterpiece for all ages.
  • 4. Girls Girls Girls by Motley Crue
    Leather, Motorcycles and..... The Crue! Nikki and Vince are so hott!
  • 3. Too Fast For Love by Motley Crue
    I love the old stuff, it's great. Compare it to Dr Feelgood, and it's not worse, it has it's own style, I Love it!
  • 2. Open Up And Say...AHH! by Poison
    Glam, glittery and girly, Poison can wear makeup and still be hot!
  • 1. Theatre Of Pain by Motley Crue
    What is there to say? Nikki Sixx is pure genius!
Hey you guys, Motley Crue is the best, hottest, sexiest, bad assed group on the planet! They live it and breath it(and sometimes sleep with it and smoke it!). I just wanted to say, if you don't have all the Crue albums yet, you better get em' cause the Crue is the best group ever, and most of the albums are out of print now! Long live the Crue!
By: SteveO
  • 10. Where's The Party? by Eddie Money
    With lyrics like 'Her t**s were shaking till the middle of the night', how can you not put in the top ten?
  • 9. Hi Infidelity by REO Speedwagon
    Come on and admit it. When you're in the car alone and 'Keep On Lovin' You' comes on the radio - you turn the volume up and sing.
  • 8. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
    The first time I heard 'Runaway' on the radio I told all my friends that Bon Jovi would become the biggest thing in rock. This record proved me right.
  • 7. The River by Bruce Springsteen
    Forget 'Born in the USA', this record has it all. I still get shivers down my spine when I hear the harmonica on the title track.
  • 6. Pyromaia by Def Leppard
    The 2nd greatest party record ever recorded.
  • 5. Back in Black by ACDC
    The greatest party record ever recorded.
  • 4. Don't Say No by Billy Squire
    A true guilty pleasure. Too bad Billy had to kill his career with the video for 'Rock Me Tonight'!
  • 3. Appetite for Destruction by Guns and Roses
    The opening guitar riff to 'Welcome to the Jungle' will be burned into my brain forever. Side note: Ever see the original artwork for this record?
  • 2. London Calling by The Clash
    The greatest album cover in the history of music (and the songs ain't bad either).
  • 1. Let's Dance by David Bowie
    Let's Dance, China Girl, Modern Love, and don't forget Putting Out Fire(The Theme from Cat People).
By: Saul Hudson

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