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The top 21 albums of the 1980's

jhawk98jhawk98 Posts: 145
edited May 2006 in Other Music
Well I did a ranking of all of my albums from this current decade, and followed that up with ranking all of my 90's collection, and so now I present...

the best albums of the 1980's (that I own at least) 21 to be exact.

As with my other lists I used my Ipod to help me rank the albums by ranking each song (1-5) on each record, adding them up and then dividing by the total possible for that album. This list is far smaller than my other ones, as I only own 21 albums from the decade of excess as compared with nearly 100 from the 90's for example. I didn't realize that I had so little music from that time. I do have a number of greatest hits releases from artists of the time (talking heads, tears for fears, etc.) but I omitted those and restricted the list to only original albums. Here goes...

21.Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation
20.Aerosmith - Pump
19.Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
18.The Clash - Combat Rock
17.U2 - War
16.REM - Green (note: Eponymous was also ommitted because of it's greatest hits nature)
15.Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother's Milk
14.Van Halen - 1984
13.NWA - Straight Outta Compton
12.Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
11.INXS - Kick
10.The Cult - Electric
09.Micheal Jackson - Thriller
08.Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
07.Run DMC - Raising Hell
06.Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
05.Beastie Boys - License To Ill
04.Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
03.U2 - The Joshua Tree
02.Paul Simon - Graceland
01.Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain

Lots of pop in there, especially compared to my more recent musical tastes. Goes to show how one grows up I suppose. On the other hand some of these records are every bit as sophisticated in their own way as anything put out by the bands I revere today.
I would appreciate suggestions on where I should look to for additions to my 80's music collection. What holes do I have? I'm sure there are many due to the sheer number of records I have here. don't give me early REM or U2. I already know there is more great work by bands like this that I need to investigate and I plan to do so. Give me something more. Reactions and suggestions are welcome.
rock chalk
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Comments

  • enharmonicenharmonic Posts: 1,917
    What? No Louder Than Love? No Ride The Lightning?

    :(
    new music: http://www.myspace.com/blackbirdsymphonique

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  • prytocorduroyprytocorduroy Posts: 4,355
    Where the hell is Master of Puppets?! That one's a classic. I also like Powerslave and The Number of the Beast.
  • jhawk98jhawk98 Posts: 145
    never was much into Metallica. I know they have a large passionate bunch of fans, but I just never thought there was anything special about them.
    rock chalk
  • enharmonicenharmonic Posts: 1,917
    They lost me after the black album.
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  • ramspamramspam Posts: 130
    Pixies, Surfer Rosa and Doolittle!! And Faith No More The Real Thing must be on the list. Master of Puppets, Ultramega Ok and Louder than love should be there too
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  • jhawk98jhawk98 Posts: 145
    Pixies is a band I definitely want to check out ram. Not following your other suggestions though - Ultramega OK??? Louder Than Love???
    rock chalk
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    1) Sonic Youth - Confusion Is Sex/Daydream NAtion/Bad Moon Rising
    2) The Pixies - Doolittle
    3) That NWA album is the best you have on that list, should be way higher
    4) Talking Heads
    5) Talk Talk
    6) Jesus And MAry Chain


    those are the faults I find in your list. But I've seen much much worse, some good albums there.
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    jhawk98 wrote:
    Ultramega OK??? Louder Than Love???

    Soundgarden???
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    enharmonic wrote:
    They lost me after the black album.

    that was their worst album
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • EchoesEchoes Posts: 1,279
    and don't forget Rain Dogs, that album is GREAT

    the Smiths put out some great stuff in that era too
    printf("shiver in eternal darkness\n");
  • AxlUlrichAxlUlrich Posts: 12,652
    AC/DC's Back in Black should definitely be on that list!
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  • enharmonicenharmonic Posts: 1,917
    AxlUlrich wrote:
    AC/DC's Back in Black should definitely be on that list!

    Went all the way back to 80 for that one, did ya? Good call, and absolutely correct! :)
    new music: http://www.myspace.com/blackbirdsymphonique

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  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    these are basically the best of the 80's:

    Rain Dogs - Tom Waits
    Frank's Wild Years - Tom Waits
    You're Living All Over Me - Dinosaur Jr.
    Bug - Dinosaur Jr.
    Self Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia - Guided by Voices
    Murmur - REM
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • brhf9brhf9 Posts: 1,475
    i know sting is an easy target nowadays but i would put 'Synchronicity' on the list.
    'Go easy, step lightly, stay free!'

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  • jhawk98jhawk98 Posts: 145
    Some interesting suggestions folks. Thanks.
    Daydream Nation is already on my wanted list. I've spent some time with that one already and I like it a lot. I'll have to check out the other stuff you all point out. Dinosaur Jr. intrigues me. I'm not familiar at all with any of their stuff before Without A Sound, but that album is decent so maybe I'll enjoy their previous work too.

    I can't agree with putting the NWA album any higher. While I think it's great for what it is, and has some weight to it as a social commentary of the time, it's also a bit of a one trick pony. Most of the songs deal with exactly the same thing, just described a different way. As a rap album, it's also not as much fun as something like Raising Hell, nor as musically interesting as Paul's Boutique.

    Like I said, I was surprised after puting this thing together that I have so little music from that time. Out of the 500+ albums that I own, only 21 were released in the 80's. Who'd a thunk it?

    How about your collections? Are they especially heavy on any one period?
    rock chalk
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    I looked at this thread hoping to find some hidden gold, seeing your list I'm thinking never gonna happen. The eighties are pretty much full of shit music.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    bleach came out mid 89.
    hear my name
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  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    catefrances wrote:
    bleach came out mid 89.


    Yes I know. I said pretty much didn't I. I see Nirvana more as a ninties band though.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    karma defect wrote:
    Yes I know. I said pretty much didn't I. I see Nirvana more as a ninties band though.

    yes you did. but that doesn't change the fact that bleach was six months old when the 90s rocked around. you wanted hidden gold, i gave you some.
    but this is purely subjective of course.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • brhf9brhf9 Posts: 1,475
    where's the love for kajagoogoo?
    'Go easy, step lightly, stay free!'

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  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    brhf9 wrote:
    where's the love for kajagoogoo?



    kajagoowho?
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • karma defectkarma defect Posts: 5,483
    catefrances wrote:
    yes you did. but that doesn't change the fact that bleach was six months old when the 90s rocked around. you wanted hidden gold, i gave you some.
    but this is purely subjective of course.


    That is hardly hidden is it? Gold it is though.
    « One man's glory is another man's hell.
    You’re on the outside, never bound by such a spell.
    Together in the darkness, alone in the light.
    I took it upon me to be yours, Timmy,
    I’ll lead your angels and demons at play tonight......»
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    brhf9 wrote:
    where's the love for kajagoogoo?

    oh my god i'd have thought anyone was too shy shy to mention them.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • brhf9brhf9 Posts: 1,475
    catefrances wrote:
    oh my god i'd have thought anyone was too shy shy to mention them.

    hehehe, touche my friend, touche...
    'Go easy, step lightly, stay free!'

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  • jhawk98jhawk98 Posts: 145
    catefrances wrote:
    oh my god i'd have thought anyone was too shy shy to mention them.


    wow. will you be here all week? I'll be sure to tip my waitress.
    rock chalk
  • jhawk98jhawk98 Posts: 145
    karma defect wrote:
    I looked at this thread hoping to find some hidden gold, seeing your list I'm thinking never gonna happen. The eighties are pretty much full of shit music.

    you may be right my friend. I've got to believe there is some good stuff out there though. Hence my reason for starting this thread.
    rock chalk
  • JOHNNY VS.JOHNNY VS. Posts: 39
    People forget what a great band MIDNIGHT OIL were. From Austarlia. I saw them many times and they were amazing . Diesel and Dust is essential on any 80's list
  • jhawk98jhawk98 Posts: 145
    JOHNNY VS. wrote:
    People forget what a great band MIDNIGHT OIL were. From Austarlia. I saw them many times and they were amazing . Diesel and Dust is essential on any 80's list

    Midnight Oil is one of the greatest hits CD's I have, so they didn't make the list, but I agree with you. Great band. I had Diesel and Dust on cassette back in the day and played the hell out of it. Good album. i remember playing that and Rattle & Hum a lot back in Jr. High. Need to pick it up on CD and it would probably be in my top 10 for the decade. Most of their other records came out in the 90's to my knowledge. Do they have another one from the 80's that's any good besides D&D?
    rock chalk
  • JOHNNY VS.JOHNNY VS. Posts: 39
    Absolutely. Blue Sky MIne is very good (follow up to diesel from 90. Also 10,9,8,7.... is good )
  • brhf9brhf9 Posts: 1,475
    i love that 'truganini' song.

    midnight oil still get a lot of love here in brazil...
    'Go easy, step lightly, stay free!'

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