The Greatest Albums of the ’80s
It’s not hyperbole to say the ’80s were a decade filled with experimentation and fantastic music, so the greatest albums of the ’80s mix a variety of genres and sounds. – Author: Cat Badra, Prince “Purple Rain” album cover via Warner Records
The 1980s were a decade that really had everything, from massive pop hits to big arena rock to hair metal. It’s not hyperbole to say the ’80s were a decade filled with experimentation and fantastic music, so the greatest albums of the ’80s mix a variety of genres and sounds. Some rockers like to call the 1980s the decade for rock music, because it’s the decade where rock bands ruled the top 40 chart. It’s certainly more difficult for rock bands to get to that No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 today, but that doesn’t mean good rock music doesn’t exist anymore. Regardless, we’re getting into the greatest albums of the ’80s in a variety of genres.
The Best Albums of the ’80s
AC/DC, “Back in Black”
“Back in Black” arrived right in 1980, and with it, AC/DC started off the decade with a bang. In a sense, this album has the kind of huge rock sound that the rest of the decade would emulate, so it was ahead of its time. It’s certainly one of the greatest albums of the ’80s.
Guns N’ Roses, “Appetite For Destruction”
Guns N’ Roses weren’t really hair metal, btu they appealed to hair metal fans while also bridging the gap with more mainstream rock fans. With Slash’s incredible guitar work and Axl Rose’s charisma, “Appetite For Destruction,” released in 1987, became their flagship record. These were no one-hit wonders guys, as this album alone scored them numerous hits. It’s also one of the most revered classic rock albums of all time.
Michael Jackson, “Thriller”
Michael Jackson became the biggest superstar in the world with his 1982 release “Thriller.” There’s possibly no bigger album in pop music in any era. “Thriller” wasn’t just an album, it was the genesis of a movement that would last for years. It’s absolutely one of the best albums of the ’80s.
Metallica, “Master of Puppets”
Really, any of the Metallica albums from the 1980s could have made this tally, but “Master of Puppets,” out in 1984, appealed to everyone from hardcore metalheads to mainstream rockers. Unlike “The Black Album,” “Master of Puppets” didn’t get pushback from longtime fans, but it still appealed to the masses.
N.W.A., “Straight Outta Compton”
As with Public Enemy, who appears later on this tally, N.W.A. was an absolute originator of hip-hop music in the 1980s. Their “Straight Outta Compton” release dropped in 1988 and woke the world up to what infection rap and hip-hop could sound like. It’s a classic.
Prince, “Purple Rain”
Prince ruled the 1980s, and nothing really tops his 1984 album, “Purple Rain.” It’s really the defining album of his catalog and helped Prince become a worldwide star. Songs such as “When Doves Cry” and “I Would Die 4 U” are simply classics and they really changed what defined pop music in the 1980s. Prince did it all, from singing to songwriting to playing everything instrument imaginable.
Public Enemy, “It Takes A Nation of Millions”
Rap was certainly a think in the 1980s, although not as big as it would be the next decade. Public Enemy were early originators of rap music, and their 1988 album, “It Takes A Nation of Millions,” is a blueprint for hip-hop. This one was super influential on hip-hop for years to come and solidified it as a viable genre.
The Cure, “Disintegration”
The ’80s weren’t known for alternative, but the Cure brought their own brand of gothic alternative music to the center of attention during the decade. Their 1989 release “Disintegration” was a foreshadowing of sorts for the major alternative rock explosion that happened in the next decade.
U2, “The Joshua Tree”
In the middle of the hair metal movement, U2 thrived with their arena rock that was very opposite of hair metal. The band’s 1987 album “The Joshua Tree” is considered their opus. It launched Bono, The Edge and the group into the mainstream and landed them some of the biggest rock hits of all time. This album really stands up to the test of time, too, and still sounds great.
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