The Best Rock Albums of the 1980s
Our pick of the essential rock records released in the 1980s, ranked.
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1NebraskaBruce Springsteen
Nebraska
A stark solo home-recording of murder ballads and desperation, just voice, guitar and tape hiss. Haunting and uncompromising. Unlike anything else in his catalogue.
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2Born in the U.S.A.Bruce Springsteen
Born in the U.S.A.
A massive, misread blockbuster whose anthemic surface hides bitter Vietnam-era disillusion. Seven hit singles deep. His commercial peak.
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3Back in BlackAC/DC
Back in Black
A thunderous tribute to the late Bon Scott and one of the best-selling albums ever, riff after immortal riff. Lean and monstrous. A hard-rock cornerstone.
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4Appetite for DestructionGuns N' Roses
Appetite for Destruction
A dangerous, electric debut that revived raw rock'n'roll in the hair-metal era. 'Sweet Child o' Mine' and 'Welcome to the Jungle' lead it. A blockbuster classic.
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5Full Moon FeverTom Petty
Full Moon Fever
A breezy, hook-laden solo record of perfect radio rock, from 'Free Fallin'' on. Warm and effortless. His most beloved album.
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6Brothers in ArmsDire Straits
Brothers in Arms
A polished, digital-era blockbuster of immaculate guitar and 'Money for Nothing'. Slick and enormous. A CD-era landmark.
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7The Joshua TreeU2
The Joshua Tree
The album that made U2 the biggest band in the world, widescreen and spiritual, anchored by its towering opening trio. Anthemic and assured. Their masterpiece.
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8SynchronicityThe Police
Synchronicity
The band's polished, tense final album, home to 'Every Breath You Take'. Sleek and dark. Their commercial peak.
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9Tattoo YouThe Rolling Stones
Tattoo You
A polished late peak assembled from outtakes, home to 'Start Me Up'. Tuneful and big. Their last great commercial record.
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10Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)David Bowie
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
A sharp, art-rock peak that closed his classic run, home to 'Ashes to Ashes'. Angular and assured. Often called his last great album of the era.
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11Moving PicturesRush
Moving Pictures
Rush's most accessible peak, balancing prog ambition with tight songs like 'Tom Sawyer' and 'Limelight'. Polished and powerful. Their defining record.
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12The RiverBruce Springsteen
The River
A sprawling double album balancing bar-band joy and stark ballads. Generous and beloved. A peak.
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13EliminatorZZ Top
Eliminator
A synth-and-boogie blockbuster, home to 'Sharp Dressed Man' and 'Legs'. Sleek and huge. Their commercial peak.
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141984Van Halen
1984
A synth-driven peak, home to 'Jump' and 'Panama'. Bright and huge. Their commercial high.
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15EscapeJourney
Escape
A blockbuster of arena-rock anthems, home to 'Don't Stop Believin''. Polished and huge. Their commercial peak.
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16AvalonRoxy Music
Avalon
A lush, sophisticated farewell of romantic art-pop, immaculately produced. Smooth and atmospheric. A late peak.
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17SoPeter Gabriel
So
Gabriel's accessible, art-pop blockbuster, home to 'Sledgehammer' and 'In Your Eyes'. Polished and soulful. His commercial peak.
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18GracelandPaul Simon
Graceland
A landmark fusion of pop and South African music, joyful and intricate. Controversial and acclaimed. One of the great 80s albums.
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19PretendersPretenders
Pretenders
A sharp, tuneful debut of new-wave swagger, home to 'Brass in Pocket'. Tough and beloved. A landmark.
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20WarU2
War
A fierce, political early peak, home to 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and 'New Year's Day'. Urgent and anthemic. The album that broke them.
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21The Final CutPink Floyd
The Final Cut
A bleak, Waters-dominated song-cycle of war and grief. Sombre and divisive. A poignant late record.
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22Let's DanceDavid Bowie
Let's Dance
Bowie's glossy, Nile Rodgers-produced pop blockbuster, home to its irresistible title track. Slick and huge. His commercial high.
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23The GameQueen
The Game
A leaner, hit-packed peak, home to 'Another One Bites the Dust' and 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'. Tuneful and huge. A commercial high.
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24Permanent WavesRush
Permanent Waves
A tighter, new-wave-influenced pivot, home to 'The Spirit of Radio'. Sharp and beloved. A turning point.
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25GauchoSteely Dan
Gaucho
An immaculate, glossy final-era peak. Polished and acclaimed. A high point.
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26Speaking in TonguesTalking Heads
Speaking in Tongues
A funky, accessible peak, home to 'Burning Down the House'. Danceable and beloved. A commercial high.
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27Little CreaturesTalking Heads
Little Creatures
A bright, accessible peak, home to 'Road to Nowhere'. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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28Zenyatta MondattaThe Police
Zenyatta Mondatta
A peak of reggae-tinged new wave, home to 'Don't Stand So Close to Me'. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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29Ghost in the MachineThe Police
Ghost in the Machine
A horn-tinged peak, home to 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic'. Polished and beloved. A high point.
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30Making MoviesDire Straits
Making Movies
A cinematic, romantic peak, home to 'Romeo and Juliet'. Lush and acclaimed. A creative high.
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31Love over GoldDire Straits
Love over Gold
An ambitious, long-form peak, home to 'Telegraph Road'. Cinematic and acclaimed. A creative high.
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32The Unforgettable FireU2
The Unforgettable Fire
An atmospheric, Eno-and-Lanois-shaped turn, home to 'Pride'. Bold and acclaimed. A pivotal record.
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33BoyU2
Boy
An urgent, atmospheric debut of youthful post-punk. Bold and acclaimed. A striking start.
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34Nothing's ShockingJane's Addiction
Nothing's Shocking
A wild, genre-blurring debut that bridged metal, punk and art-rock. Adventurous and influential. An alt-rock landmark.
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35PumpAerosmith
Pump
A polished, hit-stuffed comeback peak. Tuneful and huge. A commercial high.
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36Toto IVToto
Toto IV
A polished pop-rock blockbuster, home to 'Africa' and 'Rosanna'. Slick and huge. Their peak.
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37Peter Gabriel (Melt)Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel (Melt)
A dark, art-rock peak, home to 'Games Without Frontiers'. Inventive and acclaimed. A creative high.
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38The DreamingKate Bush
The Dreaming
An experimental, dense art-pop peak of restless invention. Bold and acclaimed. A cult favourite.
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39PretendersThe Pretenders
Pretenders
A sharp, tuneful debut of new-wave swagger, home to 'Brass in Pocket'. Tough and beloved. A landmark.
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40DisciplineKing Crimson
Discipline
A taut, polyrhythmic 80s reinvention. Inventive and acclaimed. A creative high.