Albums of 1982

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1. 1
   Bad BrainsBad Brains

   Bad Brains

   Bad Brains · 1982 · Punk & New Wave

   A ferocious hardcore-meets-reggae debut of blistering speed. Explosive and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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2. 2
   NebraskaBruce Springsteen

   Nebraska

   Bruce Springsteen · 1982 · Rock

   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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3. 3
   Plastic Surgery DisastersDead Kennedys

   Plastic Surgery Disasters

   Dead Kennedys · 1982 · Punk & New Wave

   A sharp, satirical hardcore peak. Fast and acclaimed. A high point.

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4. 4
   Love over GoldDire Straits

   Love over Gold

   Dire Straits · 1982 · Rock

   An ambitious, long-form peak, home to 'Telegraph Road'. Cinematic and acclaimed. A creative high.

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5. 5
   Imperial BedroomElvis Costello

   Imperial Bedroom

   Elvis Costello · 1982 · Punk & New Wave

   A lush, ambitious pop peak of intricate songcraft. Sophisticated and acclaimed. One of his finest.

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6. 6
   Night NurseGregory Isaacs

   Night Nurse

   Gregory Isaacs · 1982 · Reggae & Dub

   Smooth, romantic lovers-rock reggae defined by Isaacs's cool delivery. Warm and seductive. His signature record.

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7. 7
   The Number of the BeastIron Maiden

   The Number of the Beast

   Iron Maiden · 1982 · Metal

   The arrival of Bruce Dickinson and the band's classic era, galloping, melodic and theatrical. Anthemic from start to finish. A heavy-metal landmark.

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8. 8
   Screaming for VengeanceJudas Priest

   Screaming for Vengeance

   Judas Priest · 1982 · Metal

   A sharp, commercial peak, home to 'You've Got Another Thing Comin''. Tight and huge. Their best-selling record.

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9. 9
   The DreamingKate Bush

   The Dreaming

   Kate Bush · 1982 · Rock

   An experimental, dense art-pop peak of restless invention. Bold and acclaimed. A cult favourite.

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10. 10
    Midnight LoveMarvin Gaye

    Midnight Love

    Marvin Gaye · 1982 · Soul & R&B

    A smooth, comeback peak, home to 'Sexual Healing'. Sleek and beloved. A late high.

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11. 11
    ThrillerMichael Jackson

    Thriller

    Michael Jackson · 1982 · Pop

    The best-selling album of all time and a flawless run of pop, funk, rock and balladry produced with Quincy Jones. Every single became a standard, and the craft holds up decades on. The benchmark for mainstream pop ambition.

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12. 12
    Walk Among UsMisfits

    Walk Among Us

    Misfits · 1982 · Punk & New Wave

    A catchy, horror-themed punk landmark of melody and menace. Fun and influential. A cult classic.

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13. 13
    Straight from the HeartPatrice Rushen

    Straight from the Heart

    Patrice Rushen · 1982 · Funk & Disco

    A polished funk-soul peak, home to the much-sampled 'Forget Me Nots'. Smooth and beloved. A genre highlight.

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14. 14
    1999Prince

    1999

    Prince · 1982 · Pop

    A funky, futuristic double album, home to its title track and 'Little Red Corvette'. Inventive and huge. A breakthrough.

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15. 15
    AvalonRoxy Music

    Avalon

    Roxy Music · 1982 · Rock

    A lush, sophisticated farewell of romantic art-pop, immaculately produced. Smooth and atmospheric. A late peak.

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16. 16
    True DemocracySteel Pulse

    True Democracy

    Steel Pulse · 1982 · Reggae & Dub

    A sharp, soulful British roots peak. Polished and acclaimed. A high point.

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17. 17
    Combat RockThe Clash

    Combat Rock

    The Clash · 1982 · Punk & New Wave

    Their biggest album, home to 'Rock the Casbah' and 'Should I Stay or Should I Go'. Tuneful and huge. A commercial peak.

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18. 18
    PornographyThe Cure

    Pornography

    The Cure · 1982 · Alternative & Indie

    A bleak, claustrophobic goth landmark of despair. Dark and acclaimed. A pivotal record.

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19. 19
    Hex Enduction HourThe Fall

    Hex Enduction Hour

    The Fall · 1982 · Punk & New Wave

    A dense, abrasive post-punk peak of Mark E. Smith's invective. Sharp and acclaimed. A cult cornerstone.

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20. 20
    Gap Band IVThe Gap Band

    Gap Band IV

    The Gap Band · 1982 · Funk & Disco

    A peak of bouncy, synth-driven funk, home to 'You Dropped a Bomb on Me' and 'Early in the Morning'. Fun and huge. A genre high point.

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21. 21
    Toto IVToto

    Toto IV

    Toto · 1982 · Rock

    A polished pop-rock blockbuster, home to 'Africa' and 'Rosanna'. Slick and huge. Their peak.

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22. 22
    Black MetalVenom

    Black Metal

    Venom · 1982 · Metal

    The crude, foundational album that named a genre. Raw and influential. A genre origin point.

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23. 23
    English SettlementXTC

    English Settlement

    XTC · 1982 · Punk & New Wave

    A sprawling, pastoral peak of inventive English pop. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.

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24. 24
    Mister YellowmanYellowman

    Mister Yellowman

    Yellowman · 1982 · Reggae & Dub

    A landmark dancehall peak of charismatic toasting. Fun and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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