Best Albums of the 1980s
100 albums ranked by Wavelength users
Thriller
Michael Jackson • 1982
Disintegration (2010 Remaster)
The Cure • 1989
Bad
Michael Jackson • 1987
![Album cover art for Ride the Lightning (Remastered) [2016 Remastered Version]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis1-ssl.mzstatic.com%2Fimage%2Fthumb%2FFeatures125%2Fv4%2F0f%2F7a%2F74%2F0f7a7472-92fa-e77d-384a-1e4304705e83%2Fdj.jbiruenb.png%2F512x512bb.jpg&w=128&q=85)
Ride the Lightning (Remastered) [2016 Remastered Version]
Metallica • 1984
The Stone Roses (Remastered 2009)
The Stone Roses • 1989
Remain In Light
Talking Heads • 1980
...And Justice for All (Remastered)
Metallica • 1988
Doolittle
Pixies • 1989
Like a Virgin
Madonna • 1984
Rust In Peace
Megadeth • 1989
Appetite for Destruction
Guns N' Roses • 1987
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul • 1989
You're Living All Over Me (Bonus Track Version)
Dinosaur Jr. • 1987
Purple Rain
Prince & The Revolution • 1984
Born In the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen • 1984
Songs from the Big Chair
Tears for Fears • 1985
Master of Puppets (Remastered)
Metallica • 1986
Treasure
Cocteau Twins • 1984
Back In Black
AC/DC • 1980
Wish
The Cure • 1984
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A • 1988
Hounds of Love
Kate Bush • 1985
Floating Into the Night
Julee Cruise • 1989
![Album cover art for Paul's Boutique (20th Anniversary Remastered Edition)[Bonus B-Boy Bouillabaisse]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis1-ssl.mzstatic.com%2Fimage%2Fthumb%2FMusic118%2Fv4%2Fbf%2Fb9%2F82%2Fbfb9825b-e130-0664-2f2f-3a766a1161c6%2F05099969330056.rgb.jpg%2F512x512bb.jpg&w=128&q=85)
Paul's Boutique (20th Anniversary Remastered Edition)[Bonus B-Boy Bouillabaisse]
Beastie Boys • 1989
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths • 1986
The Number of the Beast (2015 Remaster)
Iron Maiden • 1982
The Head On the Door
The Cure • 1985
Hotter Than July
Stevie Wonder • 1980
Pornography
The Cure • 1982
Diamond Life
Sade • 1984
Madonna
Madonna • 1983
Control
Janet Jackson • 1986
Spirit of Eden
Talk Talk • 1988
Timely!!
Anri • 1983
![Album cover art for Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition) [Live]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis1-ssl.mzstatic.com%2Fimage%2Fthumb%2FMusic116%2Fv4%2F9b%2Fc7%2Ff7%2F9bc7f7d5-fefa-cb5a-6ebb-ccd5e862f215%2F603497831289.jpg%2F512x512bb.jpg&w=128&q=85)
Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition) [Live]
Talking Heads • 1984
The Ascension
Glenn Branca • 1981
The Joshua Tree
U2 • 1987
One Night Stand! Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963
Sam Cooke • 1985
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman • 1988
Like a Prayer
Madonna • 1989
Bleach (Deluxe Edition)
Nirvana • 1989
Reign In Blood
Slayer • 1986
Power, Corruption & Lies
New Order • 1983
1999 (2019 Remaster)
Prince • 1982
Dirty Mind
Prince • 1980
FLYING BEAGLE
Himiko Kikuchi • 1987
Tim (Let It Bleed Edition)
The Replacements • 1985
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 (Remastered)
Midnight Oil • 1982
Murmur
R.E.M. • 1983
L'Amour
Lewis Baloue • 1982
Sister
Sonic Youth • 1987
Street Songs
Rick James • 1981
The Sensual World (2018 Remaster)
Kate Bush • 1989
Bug (Bonus Track Version)
Dinosaur Jr. • 1988
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen • 1987
True Blue
Madonna • 1986
Stronger Than Pride
Sade • 1988
Zen Arcade
Hüsker Dü • 1984
Hex Enduction Hour (Expanded Deluxe Edition)
The Fall • 1982
Bad Brains
Bad Brains • 1982
Fugazi (Live at Wilson Center, Washington DC, USA, 09/03/1987) FLS0001
Fugazi • 1987
![Album cover art for The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (Live) [Expanded Version]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis1-ssl.mzstatic.com%2Fimage%2Fthumb%2FMusic%2Fy2004%2Fm08%2Fd19%2Fh16%2Fs06.zcmvphnv.jpg%2F512x512bb.jpg&w=128&q=85)
The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (Live) [Expanded Version]
Talking Heads • 1982
Double Nickels on the Dime
Minutemen • 1984
Fire of Unknown Origin
Blue Öyster Cult • 1981
Critical Beatdown
Ultramagnetic MC's • 1988
![Album cover art for Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) [2017 Remaster]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis1-ssl.mzstatic.com%2Fimage%2Fthumb%2FMusic124%2Fv4%2F71%2Ffe%2F14%2F71fe14df-5d77-9d69-2968-c38b6bfa82a4%2F190295842598.jpg%2F512x512bb.jpg&w=128&q=85)
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) [2017 Remaster]
David Bowie • 1980
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits • 1985
The Smiths
The Smiths • 1984
Pretty Hate Machine
Nine Inch Nails • 1989
Skylarking (Remastered)
XTC • 1986
Red Sails In The Sunset
Midnight Oil • 1983
Reckoning
R.E.M. • 1984
Iron Maiden (Remastered)
Iron Maiden • 1980
Uprising
Bob Marley & The Wailers • 1980
Psychocandy
The Jesus and Mary Chain • 1985
Promise
Sade • 1985
Horse Rotorvator
Coil • 1986
Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson • 1989
Fear and Whiskey
Mekons • 1984
Today
Galaxie 500 • 1988
![Album cover art for Pleased To Meet Me (Super Deluxe Edition) [2020 Remaster]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis1-ssl.mzstatic.com%2Fimage%2Fthumb%2FMusic114%2Fv4%2Fec%2F76%2F9e%2Fec769eb0-751c-205a-5dad-173c1cfcc334%2F603497845682.jpg%2F512x512bb.jpg&w=128&q=85)
Pleased To Meet Me (Super Deluxe Edition) [2020 Remaster]
The Replacements • 1987
Diana
Diana Ross • 1980
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes • 1983
Evol
Sonic Youth • 1986
Computer World (Remastered)
Kraftwerk • 1981
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode • 1987
Crazy Rhythms (Bonus Track Version)
The Feelies • 1980
Daydream Nation (Deluxe Edition)
Sonic Youth • 1988
Altars of Madness
Morbid Angel • 1989
Purple Rain
Prince • 1989
On Fire
Galaxie 500 • 1989
Gaucho
Steely Dan • 1980
This Nation's Saving Grace
The Fall • 1985
Criminal Minded
Boogie Down Productions • 1987
Paul’s Boutique
Beastie Boys • 1989
Follow the Leader (Expanded Edition)
Eric B. & Rakim • 1988
![Album cover art for Closer (40th Anniversary) [2020 Digital Master]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fis1-ssl.mzstatic.com%2Fimage%2Fthumb%2FMusic115%2Fv4%2Fa9%2F7a%2Fc0%2Fa97ac0aa-33c9-af46-c4f8-d46d5d6e233c%2F190295264437.jpg%2F512x512bb.jpg&w=128&q=85)
Closer (40th Anniversary) [2020 Digital Master]
Joy Division • 1980
Juju Music
King Sunny Ade • 1981
Head Over Heels
Cocteau Twins • 1983
The Lion and the Cobra
Sinéad O'Connor • 1987
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