Albums of 1982
The records from 1982 that made our lists.
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1Bad BrainsBad Brains
Bad Brains
A ferocious hardcore-meets-reggae debut of blistering speed. Explosive and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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2NebraskaBruce 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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3Plastic Surgery DisastersDead Kennedys
Plastic Surgery Disasters
A sharp, satirical hardcore peak. Fast and acclaimed. A high point.
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4Love 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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5Imperial BedroomElvis Costello
Imperial Bedroom
A lush, ambitious pop peak of intricate songcraft. Sophisticated and acclaimed. One of his finest.
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6Night NurseGregory Isaacs
Night Nurse
Smooth, romantic lovers-rock reggae defined by Isaacs's cool delivery. Warm and seductive. His signature record.
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7The Number of the BeastIron Maiden
The Number of the Beast
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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8Screaming for VengeanceJudas Priest
Screaming for Vengeance
A sharp, commercial peak, home to 'You've Got Another Thing Comin''. Tight and huge. Their best-selling record.
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9The DreamingKate Bush
The Dreaming
An experimental, dense art-pop peak of restless invention. Bold and acclaimed. A cult favourite.
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10Midnight LoveMarvin Gaye
Midnight Love
A smooth, comeback peak, home to 'Sexual Healing'. Sleek and beloved. A late high.
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11ThrillerMichael Jackson
Thriller
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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12Walk Among UsMisfits
Walk Among Us
A catchy, horror-themed punk landmark of melody and menace. Fun and influential. A cult classic.
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13Straight from the HeartPatrice Rushen
Straight from the Heart
A polished funk-soul peak, home to the much-sampled 'Forget Me Nots'. Smooth and beloved. A genre highlight.
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141999Prince
1999
A funky, futuristic double album, home to its title track and 'Little Red Corvette'. Inventive and huge. A breakthrough.
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15AvalonRoxy Music
Avalon
A lush, sophisticated farewell of romantic art-pop, immaculately produced. Smooth and atmospheric. A late peak.
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16True DemocracySteel Pulse
True Democracy
A sharp, soulful British roots peak. Polished and acclaimed. A high point.
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17Combat RockThe Clash
Combat Rock
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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18PornographyThe Cure
Pornography
A bleak, claustrophobic goth landmark of despair. Dark and acclaimed. A pivotal record.
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19Hex Enduction HourThe Fall
Hex Enduction Hour
A dense, abrasive post-punk peak of Mark E. Smith's invective. Sharp and acclaimed. A cult cornerstone.
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20Gap Band IVThe Gap Band
Gap Band IV
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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21Toto IVToto
Toto IV
A polished pop-rock blockbuster, home to 'Africa' and 'Rosanna'. Slick and huge. Their peak.
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22Black MetalVenom
Black Metal
The crude, foundational album that named a genre. Raw and influential. A genre origin point.
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23English SettlementXTC
English Settlement
A sprawling, pastoral peak of inventive English pop. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
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24Mister YellowmanYellowman
Mister Yellowman
A landmark dancehall peak of charismatic toasting. Fun and influential. A genre cornerstone.