THE 1980s - TEN BEST ALBUMS 

10. The Go-Betweens - Before Hollywood (1983) 9. Pixies - Doolittle (1989) 8. Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights (1982) 7. Midnight Oil - 10...(1982) 6. Rush - Moving Pictures (1981) 5. The The - Infected (1986) 4. Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980) 3. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses (1987) 2. The The - Soul Mining (1983) 1. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (1985) Honourable mentions: Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985) Mission of Burma - Vs (1982) Prince - Purple Rain (1984) Pixies - Surfa Rosa (1988) Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (1988) And everything Iron Maiden released between 1982 and 1988

The Stone Roses is still one of my all time favs.

Interesting post and follow-ups. 'Rattlesnakes' by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions would always be on my own list.

Love your choices from Pretenders and The Smiths. XTC has several stellar releases in the 80s which qualify in my book. Most notably Black Sea (1980) English Settlement (1982) and Skylarking (1986) Also New Model Army, Thunder and Consolation.

A fine list. My one quibble: Joy Division's Closer came out in 1980. It remains iconic. Keep up the great work, and hope you're well.

Some of my overlooked faves from the 80's - Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (1985), Jane's Addiction - Nothing Shocking (1988), Roxy Music - Avalon (1982), Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand the Weather (1984) and King Crimson - Discipline (1981)

The The 's Infected and Killing Joke 's self titled I would suggest as stand out albums from the 80's. Nice to see the Cramps get the recognition they deserve , just a short jump to the Gun Club.

A well reasoned 10 choices and your person selection, however, one essential omission as it truly was a thing of beautiful uniqueness: “Treasure” Cocteau Twins 1984

Have always felt that here in Australia, we were fortunate to have a higher quality than most, when it came to eighties music. Acts like Hoodoo Gurus, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, INXS, The Saints, The Angels, Mental As Anything, Jimmy Barnes, The Go Betweens, Crowded House, Boom Crash Opera, Men At Work, Australian Crawl, Gangajang, Mondo Rock and Dragon among others releasing albums, there was no reason to settle for listening to dross from overseas. Thought The Cult “Electric” or “Sonic Temple”, or Big Country and XTC might have made your list Barry. Nice video sir.

My picks Bowie-Scary monsters and super freaks Talking heads-Remain in light King crimson-Discipline The police-Ghost in the machine Kate Bush -The dreaming Hounds of love Years for fears-The hurting Pixies -Doolittle Cocteau Twins -Garlands The thing soundtrack. It's either those, or something else

1. On a Storyteller's Night - Magnum 2. Clutching at Straws - Marillion 3. Alpha - Asia 4. Melt - Peter Gabriel 5. Drama - Yes 6. Discipline - King Crimson 7. Duke - Genesis 8. Time - ELO 9. Love Over Gold - Dire Straits 10. Brother Where You Bound - Supertramp

Two bands I’d like Bazza to cover? Thunder and the Heavy Metal Kids. Two great - underrated - bands. Great channel. 👏👏👏👏

The Psych Furs debut at the dawn of the decade is pretty brilliant.

1. Born Sandy Devotional (1986) The Triffids 2. Gossip (1986) Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls. 3. Kick (1987) INXS 4. 16 Lovers Lane (1988) The Go-Betweens 5. Junkyard (1982) The Birthday Party (Nick Cave) 6. Human Frailty (1986) Hunters and Collectors 7. Stoneage Romeos (1984) Hoodoo Gurus 8. Starfish (1988) The Church (Under the Milky Way) 9. Quasimodo's Dream (1981) The Reels. 10. Sunnyboys (1981) The Sunnyboys. The best of Australia. There's more than the UK and North America.

That's a good list. I have five of those albums in my collection so I'm feeling quite smug now. Just a correction re The Pretenders, Jim Scott died before Pete Farndon.

I don't agree with everything you say, but I love listening to your point of view.

Ten personal favourite '80s albums: DAVID SYLVIAN: Brilliant Trees JOY DIVISION: Closer THE SMITHS: The Queen is Dead TALKING HEADS: Remain in Light NEW ORDER: Movement XTC: English Settlement ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN: Heaven Up Here COCTEAU TWINS: Victorialand SIMPLE MINDS: New Gold Dream THIS MORTAL COIL: Filigree and Shadow A lot more actually (BLUE NILE: A Walk Across The Rooftops; PREFAB SPROUT: Steve McQueen; AZTEC CAMERA: High Land Hard Rain; KATE BUSH: The Dreaming; X: Wild Gift; PIXIES: Doolittle; HAPPY MONDAYS: Bummed; HUSKER DU: Warehouse Songs and Stories; U2: Boy; ELVIS COSTELLO: Trust; THE CLASH: Sandinista; FRANK ZAPPA: You Are What You Is... enough already)

Some of my favorite 80's albums; Fables of the Reconstruction-REM English Settlement-XTC Strong Persuader-Robert Cray The Blue Mask-Lou Reed Warehouse-Husker Du Hex Enduction Hour-The Fall Hounds of Love-Kate Bush Youth of America-Wipers Tim-The Replacements Unforgettable Fire-U2

Doolittle is an undersung masterpiece. Nirvana clearly took so many elements from this: the loud/quiet/loud dynamics, desperate vocal screams, and ping-ponging basslines, just to name a few. The Joshua Tree struck a perfect balance between epic, accessible songs and real intimacy and darkness. For an 80s album, the production is so tasteful and that has helped it age beautifully. Purple Rain is just incredible - not one weak track on it. It sounded great then and it sounds great now. As always, very elegant, articulate commentary here. Great job!

Excellent work. Thanks brother, you're appreciated.

New Gold Dream by Simple Minds (1982) is awesome in my opinion

My 80s album list, in no order... -Duran Duran: Rio. A better album as a whole that their detractors give them credit for. Very sensual with Lonely In Your Nightmare. Arty with The Chauffeur. Proof that they were in this for the long haul. The version with the David Kershembaum remixes, longer versions of Hungry Like The Wolf and Hold Back The Rain, is the only one that will do. -Rush: Signals. Moving Pictures gets the huzzahs and rightfully so. But I don't think I've heard drums sound better than this album. An album where they became aware of the musical world around them, namely The Police, and tried to see what they could do with some new influences while still keeping their prog instincts. Great lyrics from Neil as well. -The Stone Roses' debut. Just for I Am The Resurrection alone. Yet there are a whole album's worth of great songs to work with. It's stood the test of time. -Yes: 90125. Their first album with new guitarist Trevor Rabin. This one brought them into the 80s with Trevor's edgier guitar sound. Plus another decade-defining track, like Roundabout in the 70s, in Owner Of A Lonely Heart. Like with Signals, they condensed their prog instincts with the new musical and tech landscape around them -The Cure: Faith. Stretching out some newly dark wings, perfected on Pornography. Key track: All Cats Are Grey, my favorite Cure song. This isn't Sunday brunch music. -Prince: Lovesexy. Where he upped the thematic and compositional complexity. You have to give this multiple listens to "get" it; it's very demanding listening (again, not for a brunch or cleaning your house). He's using more jazzy intonations in his chords. His guitar sound here is my favorite...dark, fuzzy, sustained, complex. -X: More Fun In The New World. Just a great bunch of country-influenced punk songs. Billy Zoom is their MVP. -Depeche Mode: Music For The Masses. If Black Celebration was a little (purposely) thin in its production and sound, then MFTM opened up as if for the stadiums the band later played. I've often wanted to hear this one on ultra huge IMAX speakers, for example. It begs to be played LOUD. It totally envelopes you, helps you get immersed in its sound. Btw, the total story of the album has to include the bonus cuts and remixes, such as Pleasure Little Treasure, Agent Orange, etc ie the cassette version. Still listening to this one after more than 35 years. -Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique. It's fun to play "spot the sample" with this one. I always feel like I found something new. Fun times

Love your vids , partly because of your content, partly due to your voice lol😮. I’m happy to find a video of yours that is current and not yrs old. I am a new inductie to your channel and thought perhaps you stopped and all I could find were couple yrs old. Also great to see I own all those records but the Cramps. Not bad eh?

Saw the Pretenders and The Cramps in 1981 in smaller venues in DC. Epic!

Wow! Just discovered this channel. The one thing I’ve learned. Is I have to work on my vocabulary.

Talking Heads - Remain in Light Prince - Purple Rain Kate Bush - Hounds of Love Peter Gabriel - 3 The Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops Pixies - Doolittle U2 - The Joshua Tree David Bowie - Scary Monsters Jane’s Addiction - Nothing’s Shocking Roxy Music - Avalon And so many more

Thank you so much for reminding of the Pretenders. OMG. These two albums hold up extremely well.

Hey Barry. Another great show. I'm now starting to be able to follow your trail of breadcrumbs that leads me to understanding your taste in music. It's interesting for me because it differs in many ways from mine. To sprinkle a small trail of breadcrumbs for albums that I enjoy, here's my top 5 for the year 1983 only. (40 years ago) #5-UNDERCOVER by THE ROLLING STONES #4-ELIMINATOR by ZZ TOP #3-SHOUT AT THE DEVIL by MOTLEY CRUE #2-PYROMANIA by DEF LEPPARD #1-LIVING IN OZ by RICK SPRINGFIELD

Tears for fears-The Hurting, Oingo Boingo-Nothing to Fear, Motley Crue-Too Fast for Love, Rem-Lifes Rich Pageant, AC/DC- Back in Black, Black Sabbath- Heaven and Hell, David Bowie-Scary Monsters, The Cure-Fascination Street, Tom Petty-Damn the Torpedos, Deep Purple-Perfect Strangers.

1. 1999 - Prince 2. Heartbeat City - The Cars 3. Moving Pictures - Rush 4. So - Peter Gabriel 5. The Joshua Tree - U2 6. Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails 7. Nothing's Shocking - Jane's Addiction 8. Beauty and the Beat - The Go-Go's 9. Rio - Duran Duran 10. Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

The Associates's classic Sulk album, The Blue Niles beautiful Hats record, Talk Talk's Colour Of Spring and The The's Infected are a few of my personal faves but a fantastic list nonetheless! There is some real gold to be mined from this often musically much maligned decade.

Kate Bush- Hounds of Love The Cars- Panorama Elvis Costello- Imperial Bedroom Joe Jackson- Blaze of Glory Squeeze- East Side Story

Good list, Barry! Have to admit I’m not familiar with all of these albums, but the ones I am I quite like. Sticking to your rule of only counting artists who started in the 1980s (which I presume means releasing their first studio album in 1980 or later), my own favorite albums of the decade (in no particular order) are thus: The Cure - Disintegration (so you prefer the first of “The Trilogy” and I prefer the second; fair enough) X - Wild Gift (could’ve picked any of the first three X albums, honestly; I love them all) The Fixx - Reach the Beach (easily my favorite of the so-called “second British Invasion” bands) Metallica - Master of Puppets Asia (self-titled) Men At Work - Business As Usual Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair INXS - Kick Europe - Wings of Tomorrow (an album no one expected to see on anyone’s list I’m sure, but I’ve owned it for 35 years and I still love it; holds up for me way better than The Final Countdown) Joe Satriani - Flying in a Blue Dream Not claiming by any stretch that those are the “best” albums of the 80s, but they’re all albums that I’ve listened to on the regular for decades and still enjoy as much as ever, which is all that really matters to me. If 80s albums by 70s artists were allowed on the list, then I’d also have to consider Moving Pictures, Fair Warning, So, Escape (Journey), Time (ELO), Synchronicity, and Heartbeat City, so that restriction actually made picking out a list a lot easier for me!

The Pretenders/Pixies/R.E.M and or course The Smiths! NOW your talking my language! It used to be “The Queen Is Dead” for me but now in hindsight I prefer the compilations “Hatful Of Hollow” and “Louder Than Bombs” as they are much more enjoyable to listen to than and more expansive than tqid, But I still remember how I felt when I first heard “I Know It’s Over” for the first time when I was 17 (how low can you go before you feel like this?!) Thank you for this surprising video! I honestly thought it would just be 80’s releases from AC/DC and Jethro Tull and Kiss, but you amazed me with your nod to the alternative side of rock!!!!

Solid list! The majority are my personal most influential albums of the decade. 💜Cheers!

Lovely to see Script for a Jesters Tear in there , and The Queen is Dead at No 1; definitely two of my favourite albums from that period..... X

David Sylvian alone produced 4 of the great 80's albums in Brilliant Trees, Gone to Earth, Secrets of the Beehive and Rain Tree Crow's eponymous album. Spirit of Eden by Talk Talk was perhaps the best album of the whole 80's. its a work of genius. Another genius working in that era was Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout. Their album From Langley Park to Memphis is also a great album. I guess Kate Bush is not an 80's artist but the hounds of Love was released mid 80's

The Blue Nile - A Walk Across The Rooftops Thomas Dolby - The Flat Earth Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche 85 David Sylvian - Secrets Of The Beehive Talking Heads - Remain In Light Jon Hassell / Brian Eno - Possible Musics Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions The Sugarcubes - Life's Too God The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic Anthrax - Among The Living Coil - Horse Rotorvator Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine...

Thx for mentioning Adam Ant❤

Cocteau Twins - Treasure My Bloody Valentine -Isn't Anything Just a couple that spring to mind. Cheers for the recommendations - I'll be giving it a listen

Thank you for mentioning Lifes Rich Pageant...imo the best REM album...superman...love that cover

Kate Bush's "The Dreaming" is a essential 80ies album for me. It was also the great era of Andy Partridge with XTC albums like 'The Black Sea', 'English Settlement', 'Skylarking' and 'Oranges and Lemons'. The pop king and queen of the eighties must undoubtebly be Annie and Dave from Eurythmics.

Interesting choices. I would include the powerfull 1980s Killing Jokes self titled. .Glad you mentioned KOTWF.....Ant Invasion and Killer In The Home go together so perfectly.

From a Scottish perspective, a few candidates for inclusion; 1. A Walk Across The Rooftops - The Blue Nile. In the 80s, you weren't allowed to live in Glasgow if you didn't own a copy. There were police raids to enforce this....... 2. Hipsway - Hipsway. As above 3. Raintown - Deacon Blue. As above. 4. Rattlesnakes - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. As above 5, New Gold Dream - Simple Minds. As above Other candidates 6. Steve McQueen - Prefab Sprout 7. Welcome to the Pleasure Dome - Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Forget all the "they didn't play on the record" sh!t. They were a great band!! And this was a great album! 8. Songs from the Big Chair - Tears For Fears 9. Upstairs At Eric's - Yazoo 10. Remain In Light - Talking Heads There you go, there's an alternative list for you!

I think my favourite 1980's album is Talking Heads' Remain In Light.

Fascinating video. A lot of people slag off the 80s and to be fair there was a lot of vapid dross, but there was rubbish in every decade. If we ignore those artists who have had very long careers Springsteen’s Tunnel of Love, Gabriel’s So and Simon’s Graceland would all be there, here’s my suggestions: 1. Joy Division:Closer 2. The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead 3. Talk Talk: Spirit Of Eden 4. REM: Murmur 5. Prince: Sign O The Times 6. New Order: Low Life 7. Marc Almond: The Stars We Are 8. Joe Jackson: Night & Day 9. Cocteau Twins: Blue Bell Knoll 10. David Sylvian: Secrets Of The Beehive

I didn't realize how hard it was to do a top 10 until I started my list. I have a ton of honorable mentions and I'm probably forgetting a bunch of great stuff, but here goes (only doing on per artist because most of these bands have a few albums that could make the list)... 10. Hunters & Collectors - Human Frailty 9. The Smithereens - Especially For You 8. Rain Parade - Emergency Third Rail Power Trip 7. Hoodoo Gurus - Mars Needs Guitars 6. 5440 - Self Titled 5. Let’s Active - Cypress 4. The Fall - Bend Sinister 3. New Order - Brotherhood 2. Husker Du - Warehouse Songs and Stories 1. The Replacements - Tim Honorable Mentions: The Church - Heyday, The Cult - Love, Stone Roses - S/T, Iron Maiden - Killers, Depeche Mode - Black Celebration, Camper Van Beethoven - S/T, The Beat - Special Beat Service, The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead, Love and Rockets - Express, Pixies - Doolittle, Echo and the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain, U2 - The Joshua Tree, The Woodentops - Giant, XTC - Skylarking, Guadalcanal Diary - Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man, Love Tractor - Themes From Venus

Slayer - Reign In Blood (1986) Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984) Marillion - Script For A Jester's Tear (1983) New Order - Substance (1986) Killing Joke - Killing Joke (1980) Ultravox - Quartet (1982) Metallica - Master Of Puppets (1986) David Bowie - Scary Monsters and Super Creeps (1980) Nirvana - Bleach (1989)

REM. Yes my god. The chord sequence in Fall on Me is sublime.

Late to the party here, but while chasing girls, I got many of them to dig these with me. They all were well-produced, too - and some of the remixes are even better: 1. Joe Jackson - Night and Day 2. Don Henley - I Can't Stand Still 3. George Harrison - Cloud 9 4. Supertramp - Brother Where You Bound 5. Boston - Third Stage 6. Bruce Hornsby - Scenes from the Southside 7. /Rush - Moving Pictures 8. Yes - Big Generator 9. Genesis - Duke 10. Elton John - Live in Australia

Just when I thought I'd kinda know what you'd pick, you done surprised me again! For me, my list would start with Texas Flood, Spirit of Eden, Speaking in Tongues, Moving Pictures, So, and Brothers in Arms. Then add Head on the Door, Substance, Lifes Rich Pagent and Avalon (mentions Tracy Chapman, Lyle Lovett, Let's Dance) Thanks for your list, I'll queue yours up for my afternoon in the shop.

Hi, new sub here. have watched a few vids and i am impressed. love the delivery and the diversity of choices you make. i think we are going to get on very well :)

Nice to hear Kings of the Wild Frontier getting an honourable mention - that was the first album I ever owned. I think I was only 9 when I was given it as a present - along with my first record player - and I would play it obsessively. I knew every second of that album. I loved it. In fact, it was the only album I owned until I was given Queen Greatest Hits a year or two later, and then I would listen to both of them obsessively. Regarding your top 10: Kate Bush is my favourite artist, and I'd have to have Hounds of Love on my list. Also Bowie's Scary Monsters. And Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden is one of my favourite albums, so would have to be on my list.

You got the Smiths right, but some of those choices... phew. REM yes, but Murmur. U2 yes, but War. And the one glaring omission for me here... Replacements, Tim or Let It Be.

When I listen to a Cure album, it's always 1989's Disintegration! That album hooked me in but I understand your point regarding your choice. The Joshua Tree is a solid album, but like yourself, I usually queue up 1991's Achtung Baby, which is their best by far! Cheers

Surprised but pleased to see both the Roses and TQID there, probably my top 2 from the decade, though I’d probably have Hounds of Love in there too - the proggiest non-prog album that ever progged.

I think 'Kick' by INXS deserves to be on this list...great songs and fantastic production that makes it lesp out of the speskers without that typical 80's bombast. Oh, and surely 'Lets Dance' by Bowie?

I'd have chosen Disintegration for the Cure, Document for REM, Joshua Tree is spot on, Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, Back in Black by AC/DC, Suicidal Tendencies first album, Motorhead's Ace of Spades, 90215 by Yes, Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath, Speaking in Tongues by Talking Heads & Tattoo You by the Rolling Stones.

My Top ten includes many Canadian Bands: 1. Queen City Kids - Black Box 2. Orphan - Lonely At Night 3. Kick Axe - Vices 4. Killer Dwarfs - Big Deal 5. Bryan Adams - Reckless 6. Madam X - We Reserve The Right 7. Quiet Riot - Metal Health 8. Pink Floyd - The Final Cut 9. Iron Maiden - Powerslave 10. Metallica - ...And Justice For All Thank you for your list, I really enjoy The Cure, Adam and the Ants and U2 as well. I could have made a bigger list as well. So many great bands in the 80's.

1. Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk 2. Isn't Anything - My Bloody Valentine 3. The Head on the Door - The Cure 4. Doolittle - Pixies 5. You're Living All Over Me - Dinosaur Jr 6. Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth 7. Victorialand - The Cocteau Twins 8. Psychocandy - The Jesus and Mary Chain 9. The Queen is Dead - The Smiths 10. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Can't fault ya number one, got it when it came out and never left the turntable at the time. My mum loved "frankly Mr Shankley" 👍😁

A Secret Wish, Propaganda Brilliant Trees, David Sylvian Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads I Approached Masked, Fripp Sumners Fried, Julian Cope Kilimanjaro, The Teardrop Explodes Travelogue, The Human League New Gold Dream, Simple Minds A Walk Across The Rooftops, The Blue Nile Nothing Like The Sun, Sting English Settlement, XTC Compilations: All Of This & Nothing, Psychedelic Furs (?) Songs To Learn & Sing, Echo & The Bunnymen For me the 80's is more a singles decade especially the 12" remixes which became a scene of its own. Pretenders first album is a classic and like a lot of my own selections most of the credible 80s acts started in the late 70s. Like Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush who both started in the 70s but with their 80s work progressed on to new areas in music influencing a lot. Peter Gabriel 3 onwards and Kate Bush The Dreaming and Hounds of Love all iconic 80s albums by those two, fairlight experiments etc.

I’ll give you a few Barry. Blue sky Mining by Midnight Oil, Gypsy Blood by Mason Ruffner, Texas Flood SRV, You can’t do that on Stage all volumes by FZ. I agree with you on the Pretenders. Loved that guitar sound. Chrissy loved the Kinks so much she married Ray Davies. Ouch! I think Clutching for Straws wraps up the 80’s angst wise. When the fun is over so to say. I never got the Cure. Great review thank you.

Good choices but... I think you missed out, Kate Bush - 'The Dreaming' & 'Hounds of Love', The THE - 'Infected' and 'Mind Bomb', two of the greatest albums of the 1980's. King Crimson - 'Discipline' (all three primary colour albums are great). Thomas Dolby - 'The Flat Earth' and 'Aliens Ate My Buick', The Cure - 'Head On The Door' and 'The Top' were also great albums, imho. I'd also have to give a honourable mention to, Frank Zappa - 'You Are What You Is' & 'Joe's Garage I, II & III', and Captain Beefheart - 'Doc At The Radar Station' & 'Ice Cream For Crow' (an album that is still very influential)

From a marillion fan since 1983: Clutching at straws is much better than script for a jester's tear. Misplaced childhood also. Fugazi and script are similar.

Crowded House. One of the best debut albums of all time. I’m biased tho as they’re my favourite band.

Lou reeds new york...and rem fables...were completely overlooked...not by you but in general...otherwise solid list.

The The's INFECTED is the very best album of the 80s, imho.

Here's 12 quickly and indiscriminately selected: 12. Raising Hell - Run DMC 11. Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys 10. The First Born is Dead - Nick Cave 9. Gravity - James Brown 8. New Day Rising - Husker Du (Take your pick with Husker Du. They had a new album out every month back then and they were all great) 7. It Takes A Nation of Millions - Public Enemy 6. Spring Hill Fair - Go-Betweens (at least 4 Gobies albums belong on this list - This one, 16 Lovers Lane, Liberty Belle and Tallulah) 5. Aura - Miles Davis 4. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - The Dead Kennedys 3. Like A Virgin - Madonna 2. Born Sandy Devotional - Triffids 1. Sign O'The Times - Prince Honorable mentions: Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth because I didn't like it than but am finally getting it no, 35 years on Rio: Duran Duran. Because it feels liberating to actually be able to finally say how brilliant this is, especially side A. Rooms of The Magnificent by Ed Kuepper. Local boy makes good. I had to edit to remove one because it was in the 70's

Some great stuff here. My album of the 80s is R.E.M Murmur.

80s my favourite era due to being aged 10-19 during this decade, my own top 10 albums of this period would be (and I'll limit it to one per artist otherwise it would all be Big Country and Smiths albums haha) 1. The Crossing - Big Country 2. The Queen is Dead - Smiths 3. Ocean Rain - Echo & The Bunnymen 4. Darklands - Jesus & Mary Chain 5. London 0 Hull 4 - Housemartins 6. Sparkle in the Rain - Simple Minds 7. A Blues for Buddha - Silencers 8. Hipsway - Hipsway 9. Stone Roses - Stone Roses 10. Talking with the Taxman about Poetry - Billy Bragg Bubbling under - The River (Bruce Springsteen), Strange Kind of Love (Love & Money), Sunshine on Leith (Proclaimers), Heartland (Runrig), Strength (The Alarm), Guitar Town (Steve Earle) and many, MANY more. What a decade.

Interesting list. I'm not a big fan of The Pretenders, but Learning to Crawl is for me a formidable comeback with a Chrissy Hynde at the peak of her writing abilities, inspired by the loss of her band, and Learning to Crawl has the line up I liked the most. My list: 1. Peter Gabriel - So 2. Paul McCartney - Tug of War 3. Roxy Music - Avalon 4. Prince - Sign O The Times 5. Pixies - Doolittle 6. Tin Machine - Tin Machine (David Bowie's return to life). 7. U2 - Unforgettable Fire 8. The Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops 9. Dire Straits - Love Over Gold 10. The Police - Synchronicity

Kate Bush: The Dreaming and Hounds of Love. Two of my favorite albums ever.

Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms

Talking heads. Depeche Mode. Rem. Cocteau Twins. XTC. Police. Simple Minds. The Nits. Peter Gabriel. Stone Roses. Dire Straits. Definitely a good decade. The last one?

If you list tells us anything, it reminds us that the eighties was the beginning of the end of rock and roll.

Others that some of the viewers might like: The The | Soul Mining The Church | Star Fish Ed Keupper | Today Wonder , is also a great Australian album, but is hard to find physically or online. A real gem. And a largely unknown Australian\New Zealand band and album, but has some great sounds and moments… Schnell Fenster | The Sound of Trees , originally released in the late 1980’s. This one is on most streaming services.

Great list, my favorite is Disintegration by The Cure

Probably my favourite album from the 80's is Tim by The Replacements. This band is not mentioned enough, in my opinion.

Prince made a load of great albums in the 80s. Parade is my favourite. I would have gone for meat is murder over queen is dead but its all splitting hairs! I would put Los Angeles by X in there too. Great list.

......Oh a cheers for the inclusion of “The Stone Roses” self titled debut! You’ve got to love that where I come from (as it’s virtually a criminal offence not to in Manchester!) Not much keen on the follow up “The Second Coming” though, It’s just John Squire having a Led Zep moment and being a bit self indulgent, proving that for some bands they REALLY could never better their debut!!!!

Hounds of Love, Skylarking, Spirit of Eden, Victorialand, Greener Postures, The Serpent's Egg, Fried, Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac, Closer, The Girl Who Was... Death

Excellent list and analysis. Thank you.

Good picks Barry, a few that come to mind to me Kate Bush “The Dreaming” The Damned “Strawberries” Siouxsie and The Banshees “Ju Ju” Echo and The Bunnymen “Ocean Rain” Icicle Works “Icicle Works” The Jam “Sound Effects” Bauhaus “In The Flat Field” Sisters Of Mercy “Floodland” Marillion “Clutching At Straws” PiL “Album”

The Cure - disintegration Marillion - clutching at straws Absolute masterpieces, prob my favourites

Great list... my honorable mentions would be XTC's Black Sea and The Police's Zenyatta Mondatta...despite Stings involvement.

Synchronicity? I know The Police began in the late 70s but they’re really an 80s band aren’t they?

This list endorses why I think the 80’s is possibly the worst decade in music. Coming out of the 70’s which was a tapestry of genres, prog, disco, glam, punk, krautrock, avante garde etc, into the bland and uninteresting dross that was music in the ‘80’s was a shock to the system, your ten releases just confirmed what a dire decade for music it was.

I found a solid silver bangle in a charity shop. Engraved on it was the following: "Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life". Of course i bought it but didn't realise it may be an actual quote.

Such an excellent list! Marillion's Script For a Jester's Tear is such an fantastic album, and so is R.E.M.'s Life's Rich Pageant. I can't believe I never got the "Buffalo Bill" pun after all those years. While The Joshua Tree album is certainly a masterpiece, the 80's album by U2 that I listen to the most often is War, which features two of the most overlooked masterpieces that U2 ever wrote, Like a Song and Drowning Man, which are both fantastic songs. Pornography by The Cure is certainly also a fantastic album, but I personally find myself listening to Disintegration and Faith, far more often. I love the atmosphere of Faith, which is such a contrast to the chaotic intensity of Pornography. I would probably have included Midnight Oil's excellent Diesel and Dust, as well as Ein kleines bisschen Horrorschau by Die Toten Hosen, which is a fantastic album.

I'm late to the party with this, but ho hum: - Rattlesnakes- Lloyd Cole and the Commotions Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth Doolittle- The Pixies Daddy's Highway- the Bats Joshua Tree- U2 16 Lovers Lane- The Go-Betweens You Can't Hide Your Love Forever- Orange Juice A Walk Across The Rooftops- The Blue Nile Stop Making Sense- Talking Heads Fisherman's Blues- The Waterboys

My list. 01 Talking Heads - Remain In Light 02 Simple Minds - New Gold Dream 03 U2 - The Joshua Tree 04 The Cure - The Head On The Door 05 Siouxsie & The Banshees - Juju 06 Scorpions - Blackout 07 Duran Duran - Rio 08 The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead 09 Metallica - Ride The Lightning 10 Tina Turner - Private Dancer

I’d probably add Madness One Step Beyond along with a little DEVO and Thomas Dolby

Lexicon of Love ABC. Perfection !

For bands steeped in the 80s I would add Simple Minds - New Gold Dream, ABC - Lexicon of Love and OMD - Architecture and Morality, although I do agree with all your selections

Lots of good choices in the comments, so rather than a top 10, just a few that haven't been mentioned. They Might Be Giants - Lincoln Ministry - The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste Midnight Oil - Diesel And Dust (if The Pretenders count as an 80's band, so do they) Men At Work - Cargo (Just the presence of Overkill justifies it, but I really like this album) Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime Oingo Boingo - Good For Your Soul Living Color - Vivid Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother's Milk Pet Shop Boys - Actually Thomas Dolby - The Golden Age of Wireless

Joy Division / Closer New Order / Movement Tuxedomoon / Desire Pere Ubu / Cloudland Shriekback / Oil & Gold Cramps / Songs The Lord Taught Us John Cale / Artificial Intelligence Pixies / Doolittle The Flying Lizards / Fourth Wall David Bowie / Scary Monsters

A list of 80s albums for me would include Guns N’ Roses- appetite for destruction, Metallica-master of puppets, slayer-reign in blood, iron maiden-number of the beast, The Smiths-. The Queen is dead, Public Enemy-It takes a nation of millions. The first they might be Giants album. Morbid Angel- altars of madness. Genesis -land of confusion.

Some time ago I read somewhere that Australian rocker Kim Salmon was the forerunner of grunge and is credited with coming up with he term. Also, apparently the Australian band Buffalo with their 1973 album Volcanic Rock was influential on USA grunge bands particularly the track Freedom which sounds like Soundgarden.

The 1980s are one of my forgotten decades ( the other being the 1990's) I recently did a year's released order and the 1980;s and 90's show a marked decline in my LP and CD buying but here goes the best of from my collection 10 Diamond Life- Sade 9 Love Over Gold --Dire Straits 8 Paradise Theatre - Styx 7 Black Sea - XTC 6 Purple Rain - Prince & the Revolution 5 Misplaced Childhood - Marillion 4 Raindancing - Alison Moyet 3 Back in Black - AC/DC 2 Copperhead Road - Steve Earle 1 Cupid & Psyche 85 - Scritti Politti There are a few bubbling unders Rum Sodomy & the Lash - The Pogues, The Hurting - Tears For Fears, Sheffield Steel - Joe Cocker