Best 1980s Albums Ranked
The 1980s saw the emergence of electronic dance music and new wave, also known as Modern Rock. As disco fell out of fashion in the decade’s early years, genres such as post-disco, Italo disco, Euro disco, and dance-pop became more popular. Rock music continued to enjoy a wide audience. Soft rock, glam metal, thrash metal, shred guitar characterized by heavy distortion, pinch harmonics, and whammy bar abuse became very popular. Adult contemporary, quiet storm, and smooth jazz gained popularity. In the late 1980s, glam metal became the largest, most commercially successful brand of music worldwide. A 2010 survey conducted by the digital broadcaster Music Choice, which polled over 11,000 European participants, revealed that the 1980s was the most favoured tune decade of the last 40 years. Here are the best 1980s albums ranked.
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10. Hounds of Love – Kate Bush
“Kate Bush’s 1985 album Hounds of Love helped revitalize her career after a lag throughout the early-mid 1980s. The single Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) climbed to No. 1 on the charts in the UK; the album is one of Bush’s most successful works and is considered an exemplary work of progressive rock. In 2022, Running Up That Hill returned to the top of the charts after it was featured prominently on the fourth season of the show Stranger Things.”
9. The Number of the Beast – Iron Maiden
“Maiden’s best album is inarguably one of the decade’s finest. Classic songs (ranging from the well known – the title track, Hallowed By Thy Name, Run To The Hills – to the underrated gems – the much Maligned Gangland, 22 Acacia Avenue) fantastic production and the ever marvellous vocals of Bruce Dickinson help to solidify this album’s stance as one of heavy metal’s greats. While early Maiden had been fantastic, this is where they hit their peak, and continues to represent the best that metal had to offer, both in the 80’s and of all time. An utterly timeless album (not very many popular 80’s albums you can say that about) which represents heavy metal at its finest hour.”
8. True Blue – Madonna
“Best album and album cover of the 80s! Madonna was at her pinnacle with true blue. Every song is awesome but I have to say my favorite is where’s the party, it always gets me in a good mood and brings me back.”
7. Back In Black – AC/DC
“AC/DC did the almost impossible, replacing their lead singer after frontman Bon Scott’s death. Their next album was 1980’s Back in Black. It was undoubtedly one of their biggest successes—and in fact, one of the best-selling albums in history. The title was a mark of respect for Scott.”
6. Purple Rain – Prince
“If 1982’s 1999 was Prince’s breakthrough, 1985’s Purple Rain cemented his superstar status. It also established his reputation as a flamboyant but androgynous sex symbol, particularly due to his sultry music video for the single When Doves Cry. The album was both controversial and widely acclaimed, having been called one of the most influential and skillful albums of all time. It was also seen as the work that established Prince’s signature style of over-the-top, musically complex performances.”
5. Appetite For Destruction – Guns N Roses
“Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, Sweet Child O mine. All of these songs everybody here has at least heard once in their life, they are huge songs that have all come off this one album, more than most other albums can say, and the album is full of other underrated songs, it definitely deserves to be in the top ten.”
4. Born In The U.S.A. — Bruce Springsteen
“There are few albums that more perfectly exemplify the 1980s than Bruce Springsteen’s Born in The U.S.A. Thought by many to be an expression of patriotism, the title song is also a subtle critique of life in the United States, particularly in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The album solidified Springsteen as a pop star, spawning seven hit singles. Born in The U.S.A. remains one of Springsteen’s most iconic songs and is still regularly performed at his shows.”
3. Master of Puppets – Metallica
“I’m not primarily into metal or metallica but this is an amazing album that I have listened to many times, it fits together perfectly and the songs are of the kind that get better with every listen and not only does is sound great but it is a lyrical masterpiece.”
2. Doolittle – The Pixies
“The Pixies were one of the most influential indie rock bands of the 1980s, a genre still in its infancy at the time. The group’s best work is widely considered to be 1989’s Doolittle. The album produced two hit singles, Monkey Gone to Heaven and Here Comes Your Man. It was hugely influential in the development of indie rock over the following decade, particularly in its focus on topics such as surrealism, violence, and death. “
1. Thriller — Michael Jackson
“Ask anyone for the first 80s song that pops into their head, and there is no small chance they will say Thriller. Michael Jackson, then a rising star, intended to create an album where every song was an amazing experience. He undoubtedly achieved his goal with 1982’s Thriller. Though the title song is undeniably the most iconic, the album also featured some of his other famous tracks, such as Billie Jean, Beat It, and Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’. It also cemented Jackson’s reputation as an astounding live performer, as proven by his introduction of the famous moonwalk at a performance of Billie Jean.”
