# Albums which define the 1980s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 25, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184 "2023-04-25T23:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fortyfold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7c8e57/32.png) [@Fortyfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fortyfold)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/21 "2023-04-26T01:37:30Z")
_Tango In The Night_, Fleetwood Mac. I don’t think it was popular in the US, but _High Land, Hard Rain_ by Aztec Camera is a quintessential 80s LP for me. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/22 "2023-04-26T01:49:41Z")
More obscure, but the Giorgio Moroder soundtrack for **Metropolis**. Adam Ant, Pat Benatar, Loverboy, Freddie Mercury. Billy Squier. Bonnie Tyler. Jon Anderson. It’s one of my favorite albums. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/23 "2023-04-26T02:06:11Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Madonna’s Like a Virgin. > > First album I bought with my own money. I am not ashamed! Nor should you be. Madonna put out a lot of good music in the 80s and 90s. I am surprised it took until the 11th post before someone mentioned _Thriller._ The only song on the album I don’t care for these days is “The Girl is Mine” Jackson sang with Paul McCartney. These kinds of lists are always tough because it’s difficult to distinguish a good album I liked from one that helped define a decade. But, in a way, I suppose any album that was popular helped define the decade, right? I’m going to go with Synchronicity by The Police. King of Pain is one of my favorite songs by them and the album includes Every Breath You Take which is probably their most famous song. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/24 "2023-04-26T02:17:31Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > These kinds of lists are always tough because it’s difficult to distinguish a good album I liked from one that helped define a decade. Yep. I’ll put two of my favorites in that group: The Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues; and The Cars - Heartbeat City. Great albums, but not quite decade defining. And I’ll add the aforementioned Rolling Stones - Tattoo You as well (and I love that one). One that I think is decade defining that isn’t mentioned yet: Culture Club - Kissing to Be Clever. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/25 "2023-04-26T02:19:43Z")
Cindy Lauper _She’s So Unusual_ Pretenders _Pretenders_ The Clash _London Calling_ ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/26 "2023-04-26T02:28:10Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > **Appetite For Destruction** : the first side kicks off with _Welcome To The Jungle_ and wraps up with _Paradise City_, and the second gives us _Sweet Child o’ Mine_. I went to a lot of college parties during this period and this was the soundtrack of many of them. The entire album played, front to back. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits I had this album on constant rotation for a period on my Walkman (tape). > [@DoubleG](#): > > Joshua Tree - U2 Another one that seemed to be played over and over. I loved that album, and the previous U2 albums. My own contribution: Metallica’s _Master of Puppets_ as well as _And Justice for All_. Their first two were huge in my circles, but these two dominated. They were definitive 80s light-thrash metal. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/27 "2023-04-26T02:31:55Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I’m going to go with Synchronicity by The Police. And that was the first album that _I_ bought with _my_ own money. It certainly belongs on at least the long list (if not the short list) of albums that define the 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/28 "2023-04-26T02:36:42Z")
My go-to’s were Wall of Voodoo (Both versions) Genesis (And any solo album by Mike, Phil or Tony) Split Enz The Police Peter Gabriel Kate Bush ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/29 "2023-04-26T03:00:33Z")
Metallica Master of Puppets Motley Crue Shout at the Devil Scorpions Love at First Sting Run DMC Raising Hell Twisted Sister Stay Hungry Bryan Adams Reckless For soundtracks, I’d throw in Back to the Future. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/30 "2023-04-26T04:17:19Z")
Supertramp! _Breakfast In America_ came out in 1979, but they’re an 80’s band through and through. ---
**Author:** ![doc481](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@doc481](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc481)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/31 "2023-04-26T05:11:43Z")
ZZ Top! _Eliminator_. Leggs, Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Loving, a lot of fun songs. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/32 "2023-04-26T05:43:08Z")
In 1980, I was a freshman in high school; in 1989, I got my master’s degree and started my career. Throughout that decade, music was a huge part of my life. Most of the albums that come to mind for me as being definitional for the '80s have already been mentioned: - Purple Rain (Prince) - Thriller (Michael Jackson) - So (Peter Gabriel) - The Joshua Tree (U2) - Like a Virgin (Madonna) - Let’s Dance (David Bowie) - Synchronicity (The Police) - Footloose (various artists) - Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits) - Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen) - Hi Infidelity (REO Speedwagon) - Licensed to Ill (Beastie Boys) - Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) - Rio (Duran Duran) - No Jacket Required (Phil Collins) ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/33 "2023-04-26T06:08:05Z")
_9 to 5 and Odd Jobs_ – Dolly Parton _The Pressure Is On_ --Hank Williams Jr with two of his most famous songs “A Country Boy Will Survive” and "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down) " ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/34 "2023-04-26T06:52:07Z")
I cant remember the album but didn’t the pet shop boys have something like 7 or 8 top 10 hits in a row or was that just in the UK? My source it a TOTP intro saying the song that they had on was the 7th or 8th one ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/35 "2023-04-26T08:38:13Z")
As soon as I read the the thread title, the first that came to mind were _Blizzard of Ozz_ and _Diary of a Madman_ by **Ozzy Osbourne**. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/36 "2023-04-26T09:10:13Z")
While not necessarily my cup of tea, any mention of the 1980s popular music that doesn’t include AC/DC would be remiss. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/37 "2023-04-26T09:39:34Z")
While AC/DC was certain popular in the 1980s, I wouldn’t say any of their albums during that time defined the _ **era** _. Because their style remained pretty much the same throughout the 80s, and 90s, and 00s, etc. But at the same time, whenever I hear anything from _Back in Black_, it does _remind_ me of the early 80s. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/38 "2023-04-26T10:28:32Z")
Many worthy albums already mentioned, but albums defining the 80s must include Depeche Mode and the Cure. It’s hard to pick one for each, but I propose: The Head on The Door - The Cure Black Celebration - Depeche Mode ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/39 "2023-04-26T11:13:39Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > Supertramp! _Breakfast In America_ came out in 1979, but they’re an 80’s band through and through. I’m going to disagree there. I don’t recall ever seeing a music video by Supertramp (on MTV or anywhere else), and music videos are one of the things that really defined the decade. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184/40 "2023-04-26T11:17:51Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I’m going to disagree there. I don’t recall ever seeing a music video by Supertramp (on MTV or anywhere else), and music videos are one of the things that really defined the decade. I agree. Supertramp did their major work (and most of their albums) in the seventies, doing prog/art-rock that was typical for the decade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-which-define-the-1980s/983184.md?page=3)