Greatest Albums of the '80s

First L Power
Ranker 3,788 views 91 items 41 voters

The greatest albums of the 1980s are being counted down on this list of classic albums. In a decade filled with synth beats, new wave, and neon colors, we chart the most impactful albums of the decade. This is an open list for true '80s fans to expand on.

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Rank Name

1

Up 13

Down 5

Thriller

Michael Jackson

#50 on the original list

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2

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Master of Puppets

Metallica

#7 on the original list
added by: Uber

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3

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1984

Van Halen

#11 on the original list

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4

Up 7

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The Number of the Beast

Dream Theater, Iron Maiden

#5 on the original list
added by: Uber

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5

Up 8

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Back in Black

AC/DC

#3 on the original list

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6

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Like a Virgin

Madonna

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7

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Like a Prayer

Madonna

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8

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Whitney

Whitney Houston

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9

Up 7

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Synchronicity

The Police

#12 on the original list

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10

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Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman

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11

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Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones

#17 on the original list

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12

Up 4

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Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston

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13

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The Smiths

The Smiths

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14

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London Calling

The Clash

added by: mal1

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15

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Remain in Light

Talking Heads

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16

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She's So Unusual

Cyndi Lauper

#49 on the original list

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17

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Kill 'Em All

Metallica

#22 on the original list

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18

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Billy Idol

Billy Idol

added by: mal1

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19

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Heaven and Hell

Black Sabbath

#6 on the original list
added by: Uber

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20

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South of Heaven

Slayer

#9 on the original list
added by: Uber

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21

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Whitesnake

Whitesnake

added by: mal1

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22

Up 4

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Ghost in the Machine

The Police

#15 on the original list
added by: Uber

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23

Up 1

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The Very Best of Stan Freberg

Stan Freberg

added by: TommyWimmer

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24

Up 7

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The Joshua Tree

U2

#8 on the original list

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25

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Pyromania

Def Leppard

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26

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Appetite for Destruction

Guns N' Roses

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27

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Sign 'O' the Times

Prince

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28

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Pump

Aerosmith

added by: mal1

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29

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1999

Prince

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30

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Rio

Duran Duran

added by: mal1

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31

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So

Peter Gabriel

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32

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I Love Rock 'n' Roll

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

added by: mal1

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33

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Control

Janet Jackson

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34

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Fear of a Black Planet

Public Enemy

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35

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Permanent Vacation

Aerosmith

added by: mal1

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36

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Raw Like Sushi

Neneh Cherry

added by: mal1

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37

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Rhythm Nation 1814

Janet Jackson

added by: mal1

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38

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Purple Rain

The Revolution

#18 on the original list

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39

Up 4

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Stronger Than Pride

Sade

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40

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Autoamerican

Blondie

added by: mal1

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41

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War

U2

#13 on the original list

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42

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Bella Donna

Stevie Nicks

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43

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Private Dancer

Tina Turner

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44

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Radio

LL Cool J

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45

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Born in the U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen

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46

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Faith

George Michael

#48 on the original list

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47

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Diary of a Madman

Ozzy Osbourne

added by: mal1

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48

Up 4

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Nightclubbing

Grace Jones

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49

Up 4

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Hatful of Hollow

The Smiths

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50

Up 4

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Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth

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