Top 80 Albums of the ’80s

1. Doolittle, Pixies (1989)
Essential Track: “Here Comes Your Man”

2. The Queen Is Dead, The Smiths (1986)
Essential Track: “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”

3. The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses (1989)
Essential Track: “I Am the Resurrection”

4. The Joshua Tree, U2 (1987)
Essential Track: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”

5. Remain in Light, Talking Heads (1980)
Essential Track: “Once in a Lifetime”


6. Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth (1988)
Essential Track: “Teen Age Riot”

7. Disintegration, The Cure (1989)
Essential Track: “Pictures of You”

8. Appetite for Destruction, Guns N’ Roses (1987)
Essential Track: “Sweet Child O’ Mine”

9. Closer, Joy Division (1980)
Essential Track: “Decades”

10. Thriller, Michael Jackson (1982)
Essential Track: “Billie Jean”

11. Surfer Rosa, Pixies (1988)
Essential Track: “Where Is My Mind?”

12. Back in Black, AC/DC (1980)
Essential Track: “Back in Black”

13. Master of Puppets, Metallica (1986)
Essential Track: “Master of Puppets”

14. Rain Dogs, Tom Waits (1985)
Essential Track: “Time”

15. Purple Rain, Prince & The Revolution (1984)
Essential Track: “When Doves Cry”

16. Graceland, Paul Simon (1986)
Essential Track: “Graceland”

17. Hounds of Love, Kate Bush (1985)
Essential Track: “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)”

18. Murmur, R.E.M. (1983)
Essential Track: “Radio Free Europe”

19. Moving Pictures, Rush (1981)
Essential Track: “Tom Sawyer”

20. Paul’s Boutique, Beastie Boys (1989)
Essential Track: “Shake Your Rump”