# Give me your top ten 80's albums. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870 "2014-10-20T00:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/21 "2014-10-20T11:59:05Z")
Today, it would be: My Bloody Valentine - Isn’t Anything Bauhaus - Mask The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me This Mortal Coil - Filigree and Shadow Various Artists - [C86](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C86_%28album%29) Jesus and Mary Chain - Darklands Sugarcubes - Life’s Too Good Swans - Children of God Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Tender Prey Shelleyan Orphan - Century Flower I’ve cheated outrageously - by including a couple of double albums, one not-really-a-group and one compilation (but _C86_ is seminal and can not be ignored!) - and tomorrow the list would look very different in specifics (but the gist would be the same) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/22 "2014-10-20T12:25:16Z")
Good lord - I wouldn’t know where to begin. I like a lot of what I see in the thread so far, but I’d definitely include Prince’s Sign O’ the Times, which I haven’t seen mentioned yet. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/23 "2014-10-20T12:28:01Z")
Post #3, (he says triumphantly… if not a little lamely. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/24 "2014-10-20T12:30:08Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Post #3, (he says triumphantly… if not a little lamely. 😉 ) Oops - sorry! and: great taste! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/25 "2014-10-20T12:39:48Z")
I hated the 80’s’musically @ the time, but in hindsight I stand corrected. I don’t have 10 that weren’t repeated but I would like to add. Joe Satriani-Not of this earth ---
**Author:** ![moldmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@moldmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/26 "2014-10-20T14:59:50Z")
Pogues-Rum Sodomy & the Lash Ministry-A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste Cowboy Junkies-The Trinity Sessions Prince-Sign O’The Times Yaz(oo)-Upstairs At Erics XTC-Skylarking Fugazi-13 Songs Pixies-Doolittle Jane’s Addiction-Nothings Shocking Operation Ivy-Energy ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/27 "2014-10-20T15:17:30Z")
1. \*\*\*Making Movies _**by Dire Straits 2.**_ Argybargy \*\*\*by Squeeze 2. _ **Watermark** _ by Enya 3. _ **Discipline** _ by King Crimson 4. _**Back in Black by AC/DC 6. Love Junk**_ by the Pursuit of Happiness 7.\*\*\* Heartbeat City \*\*\*by the Cars 5. _ **Synchronicity** _ by the Police 6. \*\*\*Especially for You \*\*\*by the Smithereens 7. \*\*\* Maverick \*\*\*by George Thorogood and the Destroyers ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/28 "2014-10-20T15:21:41Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > 1. The Clash - London Calling This one would definitely be in my list if it counts. I believe it was released early 1980 in the US, but 1979 in the UK. I was going to add it on as a footnote, as its one of my favorite rock albums, period. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/29 "2014-10-20T15:36:59Z")
[ol] [li] **Parade - Music from the Motion Picture _Under the Cherry Moon_** - Prince and the Revolution[/li][li] **It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back** - Public Enemy[/li][li] **Skylarking** - XTC[/li][li] **Synchronicity** - The Police[/li][li] **Master of Puppets** - Metallica[/li][li] **Appetite for Destruction** - Guns N’ Roses[/li][li] **The Queen Is Dead** - The Smiths[/li][li] **License to Ill** - Beastie Boys[/li][li] **Murmur** - R.E.M.[/li][li] **Nothing’s Shocking** - Jane’s Addiction[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Abracadebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Abracadebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abracadebra)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/30 "2014-10-20T15:42:11Z")
U2 - The Joshua Tree Pet Shop Boys - Actually Pete Townshend - White City Don Henley - The End of the Innocence The Pretenders - Pretenders George Michael - Faith R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant Roxy Music - Avalon Michael Jackson - Thriller Bruce Springsteen - Born In the USA Robbie Robertson - Robbie Robertson ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/31 "2014-10-20T15:47:11Z")
The Smiths – The Queen is Dead Tom Waits – Rain Dogs Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine Joy Division – Closer Depeche Mode – Black Celebration The Cure – Disintegration Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Tender Prey Morrissey – Viva Hate The Clash – Combat Rock Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/32 "2014-10-20T16:14:53Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Oops - sorry! and: great taste! 😉 Thanks (it was my list). ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/33 "2014-10-20T16:20:48Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This one would definitely be in my list if it counts. I believe it was released early 1980 in the US, but 1979 in the UK. I was going to add it on as a footnote, as its one of my favorite rock albums, period. Yes, I’m definitely hanging my hat on the US release date for this one, since it’s “my” top 10, and January, 1980 was the earliest I could have bought (and did buy!) the album. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/34 "2014-10-20T16:21:00Z")
**Disintegration** – The Cure **The Joshua Tree** – U2 **Thriller** – Michael Jackson **1999** – Prince **101** – Depeche Mode **Appetite for Destruction** – Guns n’ Roses **Back in Black** – AC/DC **Stop Making Sense** – Talking Heads **Synchronicity** – The Police **Brothers in Arms** – Dire Straits Obviously, there are tons of albums I hated leaving off. And I have plenty at home from all of your lists; these are just the ten that came to mind. Disintegration and The Joshua Tree, (and, O.k.: Thriller) are the only ones that absolutely have to be on my list. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/35 "2014-10-20T16:27:27Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Yes, I’m definitely hanging my hat on the US release date for this one, since it’s “my” top 10, and January, 1980 was the earliest I could have bought (and did buy!) the album. Hmm…then I need to jettison one of my choices, because it definitely needs to be on my list. I’ll swap it Beastie Boys for it. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/36 "2014-10-20T16:56:08Z")
I cheated a little. In ABC order: The Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll The Cure - Disintegration Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal Depeche Mode - Black Celebration Stevie Nicks - Belladonna The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead Tom Waits - Rain Dogs U2 - War OR The Unforgettable Fire OR The Joshua Tree XTC - Oranges & Lemons Picking the Smiths’ best album was really hard because they’re all diamonds. Stevie Nicks - torn between Belladonna and The Other Side of the Mirror. The Psychedelic Furs - torn between Forever Now and Talk Talk Talk. Picking the best U2 album of the 1980s is just plain impossible for me. BTW, The Cure’s Disintegration was the first album (cassette) I ever bought, at age 10, and that album STILL is one of my all-time favorites. I want to go back in time and shake my little hand for having such good taste so young. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/37 "2014-10-20T20:33:41Z")
The Clash - London Calling (Released in the USA in 1980!) Prince - Purple Rain Descendents - Milo Goes To College Metallica - Master of Puppets (Just barely edges out Ride The Lightning) U2 - The Joshua Tree The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (I’d rather pick one of their singles compilations, but that’s cheating…) The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses Celtic Frost - Into The Pandemonium Fugazi - Fugazi The Pixies - Doolittle ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/38 "2014-10-20T20:59:27Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Thanks (it was my list). Then it’s no surprise! Always good to discuss music. **gallows fodder** - I have a story: a few years ago, there was an attempt to establish a Surround Sound/5.1 remix as a new format. Some Classic albums were getting 5.1 remixes. My friend the Producer spoke with Robert Smith about doing one for Disintegration. So my friend received the masters of the album - to do a track or two which, I believe, never played out as the format never got traction. But I got to hear a bit of it when I visited my friend’s studio. Isolating tracks on Pictures of You was very, very cool. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/39 "2014-10-20T21:15:13Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > The Clash - London Calling (Released in the USA in 1980!) > Prince - Purple Rain > Descendents - Milo Goes To College > Metallica - Master of Puppets (Just barely edges out Ride The Lightning) > U2 - The Joshua Tree > The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (I’d rather pick one of their singles compilations, but that’s cheating…) > The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses > Celtic Frost - Into The Pandemonium > Fugazi - Fugazi > The Pixies - Doolittle Ugh, it is seriously killing me that… Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation Husker Du - New Day Rising The Cure - Pornography Ramones - Pleasant Dreams Echo and the Bunnymen - self-titled …are not on my list. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870/40 "2014-10-20T23:24:18Z")
So far, here are the (kind of) totals for albums with 2 or more picks (I left in re-thinks, and counted “The Unforgettable Fire” as the album from whoever had a multiple choice for U2, to get it up to 2): Michael Jackson - Thriller (7) The Police - Synchronicity (6) Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms (5) Guns ‘n’ Roses - Appetite for Destruction (5) Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain (5) Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (4) Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever (4) R.E.M. - Murmur (4) The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (4) U2 - The Joshua Tree (4) XTC - Skylarking (4) The Clash - London Calling (3) The Cure - Disintegration (3) Pixies - Doolittle (3) The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy & The Lash (3) Roxy Music - Avalon (3) Paul Simon - Graceland (3) Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (3) AC/DC - Back in Black (2) Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (2) Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique (2) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Tender Prey (2) Depeche Mode - Black Celebration (2) Peter Gabriel - So (2) Joe Jackson - Night and Day (2) Jane’s Addiction - Nothing’s Shocking (2) Joy Division - Closer (2) Metallica - Master of Puppets (2) Pretenders - Pretenders (2) Prince - Sign O The Times (2) Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (2) R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant (2) The Replacements - Let It Be (2) Rush - Moving Pictures (2) Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (2) Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska (2) The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (2) Talking Heads - Remain in Light (2) Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (2) U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky (2) U2 - The Unforgettable Fire (2) Obviously, as would be true of anyone, there are some on here I’d consider garbage, but overall a surprisingly strong list. Didn’t mean to step on the OP’s toes here - just needed to look like I was working on something at the office. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-your-top-ten-80s-albums/701870.md?page=3)