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- Tom Petty, Full Moon Fever (1989) – I loved this album when it came out, and I love it even more today. If you don’t scream the chorus of “Free Fallin’” at the top of your lungs when driving alone, you’re probably not breathing.
- Prince, Purple Rain (1984) – This album is a masterpiece. “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy” both hit number one, while “Purple Rain” and “I Would Die For You” both hit the Top Ten.
- Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982) – It may be hard to believe, but in my sixth grade class, virtually every boy wanted to be Michael Jackson. As we waited for the doors of our elementary school to open each morning, we’d have Michael Jackson imitation contests.
- U2, The Joshua Tree (1987) – Bono and the boys made their name earlier in the decade, but The Joshua Tree exploded the band into the mainstream. The band’s only two U.S. number one songs—“With Or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”—are both here, along with “Where The Streets Have No Name.”
Sep 10, 2018 · The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s Kate Bush, N.W.A., Brian Eno, Madonna, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Sade, Sonic Youth, Janet Jackson, and the other icons who defined a decade By Pitchfork
- Pitchfork
- The Cramps – Songs The Lord Taught Us
- UB40 – Signing Off
- Devo – Freedom of Choice
- Art Ensemble of Chicago – Full Force
- Black Sabbath – Heaven & Hell
- Pete Townshend – Empty Glass
- Egberto Gismonti – Circense
- George Jones – I Am What I Am
- Jon Hassell / Brian Eno – Fourth World Vol. 1 – Possible Musics
- Harold Budd/Brian Eno – Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror
Combining rockabilly with spooky theatrics, the band’s debut album avoids gimmick in its originality and flawless production.
The multicultural pop-reggae band’s debut album features their sharpest and most political lyricism from the fiery “Little By Little” and its denouncement of class inequality to the MLK tribute, “King.”
Home to the ubiquitous earworm “Whip It,” the band’s third studio album solidified their transition from new wave outfit to synth-pop mainstays.
The improvisational jazz group’s 1980 album includes some of their most inviting work – see the touching tribute to Charles Mingus, “Charlie M” – and cemented their place in the mainstream.
The heavy metal band’s ninth studio album is their first without Ozzy, and while little compares to the early days, the brilliance of this album showed that the band was flexible and dynamic even without their most famous member.
The Whoco-founder’s solo album is an intimate and revealing portrait of an artist struggling with more questions than answers.
Taking its inspiration from the both global and local aspect of the circus, the Brazilian composer’s 1980 album brings together traditional Brazilian rhythms with sounds from all over the world.
The country singer’s 1980 album was one of his most commercially successful records and features hits like “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “I’m Not Ready Yet.”
Eno’s storied collaboration with Hassell is an ambient record with a global perspective, pre-dating pop music’s eventual love affair with music from Africa and Asia.
The second volume of Eno’s series of ambient works weaves together the beautiful piano fragments of Harold Budd with Eno’s electronic tinkering to produce a subtle yet stirring work that still sounds ahead of its time.
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Nov 20, 2002 · The Top 100 Albums of the 1980s. A fast and furious decade featuring Pixies, Public Enemy, the Jesus and Mary Chain, New Order, Prince and more. By Pitchfork. November 20, 2002. Graphic by...
- Pitchfork
- Take On Me. 2,135 votes. "Take On Me," the iconic 1980s synth-pop anthem by Norwegian band A-ha, is a high-energy love song that captures the essence of youthful passion and adventure.
- Beat It. 1,801 votes. Michael Jackson's invigorating anthem, "Beat It," combines a driving beat, blistering guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen, and empowering lyrics to create an unstoppable force in 80s pop culture.
- Thriller. 1,718 votes. Michael Jackson's legendary opus, "Thriller," enthralls listeners with its ominous synth lines, infectious dance beats, and masterful storytelling.
- Africa. 1,386 votes. Toto's "Africa" envelops listeners in a lush, evocative soundscape, masterfully fusing ethereal harmonies and earthy rhythms. As an enigmatic tribute to a distant continent, the song quickly became an irresistible 80s favorite.
Jan 13, 2020 · There’s a little bit of rap, folk, country, jazz, pop and a lot of rock ’n’ roll in its various incarnations. Here are the 80 best albums of the 1980s.
Mar 5, 2012 · Cinquemani. 19. Paul Simon, Graceland. Modern-day indie purveyors like Vampire Weekend, Tanlines, and even the Very Best owe the lifeblood of their mbaqanga-meets-baroque pop sound to Graceland, the album that singlehandedly revived Paul Simon’s career in the ’80s.
