247 Album Verdict
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40th Anniversary · 1986

40th Anniversary Albums (1986)

Forty years on and the influence is everywhere. The class of 1986 left marks on virtually everything recorded since.

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The Queen Is DeadThe Smiths
1986 · Punk & New Wave

The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths

Morrissey's wit and Marr's chiming guitars at their combined peak, swinging from biting satire to aching tenderness. Widely held to be their masterpiece and a cornerstone of British indie. Funny, sad and gorgeous.

Vinyl → CD →
ControlJanet Jackson
1986 · Pop

Control

Janet Jackson

The album that made Janet a force, sleek Jam-and-Lewis funk-pop of independence. Sharp and danceable. A defining record.

Vinyl → CD →
Raising HellRun-DMC
1986 · Hip-Hop

Raising Hell

Run-DMC

The album that took rap to the mainstream, home to the Aerosmith team-up 'Walk This Way'. Tough and tuneful. A landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
GracelandPaul Simon
1986 · Rock

Graceland

Paul Simon

A landmark fusion of pop and South African music, joyful and intricate. Controversial and acclaimed. One of the great 80s albums.

Vinyl → CD →
Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?Megadeth
1986 · Metal

Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?

Megadeth

A sharp, technical thrash peak of political bite. Tight and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Pleasure to KillKreator
1986 · Metal

Pleasure to Kill

Kreator

A blistering German thrash landmark of relentless speed. Brutal and influential. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
RaptureAnita Baker
1986 · Soul & R&B

Rapture

Anita Baker

A smooth, sophisticated quiet-storm peak, home to 'Sweet Love'. Lush and huge. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Epicus Doomicus MetallicusCandlemass
1986 · Metal

Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

Candlemass

A foundational epic-doom landmark of slow, majestic heaviness. Grand and influential. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Born Too LateSaint Vitus
1986 · Metal

Born Too Late

Saint Vitus

A foundational doom-metal landmark of slow, heavy alienation. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Storms of LifeRandy Travis
1986 · Country & Americana

Storms of Life

Randy Travis

A neo-traditionalist debut that revived classic country. Warm and acclaimed. A landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
Master of PuppetsMetallica
1986 · Metal

Master of Puppets

Metallica

Thrash metal's high-water mark, complex and crushing across eight tightly written epics. Widely held to be the best metal album ever made. Relentless and precise.

Vinyl → CD →
True BlueMadonna
1986 · Pop

True Blue

Madonna

A bright, confident pop peak, home to 'Papa Don't Preach' and 'La Isla Bonita'. Tuneful and huge. A commercial high.

Vinyl → CD →
Licensed to IllBeastie Boys
1986 · Hip-Hop

Licensed to Ill

Beastie Boys

A rowdy, rock-sampling debut that made rap a pop force. Fun and brash. A cultural landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
Reign in BloodSlayer
1986 · Metal

Reign in Blood

Slayer

Twenty-nine minutes of pure, brutal velocity that redefined extreme thrash, bookended by 'Angel of Death' and 'Raining Blood'. Ferocious and flawless. A genre touchstone.

Vinyl → CD →
SoPeter Gabriel
1986 · Rock

So

Peter Gabriel

Gabriel's accessible, art-pop blockbuster, home to 'Sledgehammer' and 'In Your Eyes'. Polished and soulful. His commercial peak.

Vinyl → CD →
SkylarkingXTC
1986 · Punk & New Wave

Skylarking

XTC

A sunny, Todd Rundgren-produced song-cycle of pastoral English pop. Tuneful and clever. Their most beloved record.

Vinyl → CD →
PleasePet Shop Boys
1986 · Pop

Please

Pet Shop Boys

A sleek, witty synth-pop debut, home to 'West End Girls'. Cool and tuneful. A strong start.

Vinyl → CD →
BrotherhoodNew Order
1986 · Electronic

Brotherhood

New Order

A balanced peak of guitar-and-synth dance-rock. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
ParadePrince
1986 · Pop

Parade

Prince

An adventurous, orchestral-funk peak tied to a film, home to 'Kiss'. Inventive and acclaimed. A creative high.

Vinyl → CD →
Somewhere in TimeIron Maiden
1986 · Metal

Somewhere in Time

Iron Maiden

A polished, synth-tinged peak of melodic metal. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
The Colour of SpringTalk Talk
1986 · Punk & New Wave

The Colour of Spring

Talk Talk

A lush, sophisticated peak before their post-rock turn. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.Dwight Yoakam
1986 · Country & Americana

Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.

Dwight Yoakam

A sharp Bakersfield-revival debut of honky-tonk fire. Tuneful and acclaimed. A genre highlight.

Vinyl → CD →
Guitar TownSteve Earle
1986 · Country & Americana

Guitar Town

Steve Earle

A sharp, rootsy debut of new-traditionalist country. Tough and acclaimed. A genre highlight.

Vinyl → CD →
Strong PersuaderRobert Cray
1986 · Blues

Strong Persuader

Robert Cray

A polished, soulful blues peak that crossed over, home to 'Smoking Gun'. Smooth and acclaimed. A genre highlight.

Vinyl → CD →
Word Up!Cameo
1986 · Funk & Disco

Word Up!

Cameo

A sleek, synth-funk peak built around its irresistible title hit. Sharp and beloved. A commercial high.

Vinyl → CD →
Time of No ReplyNick Drake
1986 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Time of No Reply

Nick Drake

The posthumous collection of outtakes and demos that deepened the canon — raw versions that show the craft behind the finished recordings.

Vinyl → CD →
Give Me the ReasonLuther Vandross
1986 · Soul & R&B

Give Me the Reason

Luther Vandross

Mid-period Vandross at his most assured — lush production and an unbroken string of ballads that confirmed him as the era's finest soul singer.

Vinyl → CD →
Black CelebrationDepeche Mode
1986 · Electronic

Black Celebration

Depeche Mode

A dark, atmospheric synth-pop peak. Brooding and beloved. A fan favourite.

Vinyl → CD →