Top 80 Albums of the ’80s

21. The Smiths, The Smiths (1984)
Essential Track: “Reel Around the Fountain”

22. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Public Enemy (1988)
Essential Track: “Bring the Noise”

23. Ride the Lightning, Metallica (1984)
Essential Track: “Fade to Black”

24. Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Essential Track: “Dancing in the Dark”

25. Spirit of Eden, Talk Talk (1988)
Essential Track: “The Rainbow”

26. Brothers in Arms, Dire Straits (1985)
Essential Track: “Money for Nothing”

27. Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes (1983)
Essential Track: “Blister in the Sun”

28. Let It Be, The Replacements (1984)
Essential Track: “Androgynous”

29. Legend, Bob Marley And The Wailers (1984)
Essential Track: “Is This Love”

30. Meat is Murder, The Smiths (1985)
Essential Track: “The Headmaster Ritual”

31. Psychocandy, The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985)
Essential Track: “Just Like Honey”

32. Strangeways, Here We Come, The Smiths (1987)
Essential Track: “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”

33. Synchronicity, The Police (1983)
Essential Track: “Every Breath You Take”

35. The Number of the Beast, Iron Maiden (1982)
Essential Track: “Hallowed Be Thy Name”

35. Sign ‘O’ the Times, Prince (1987)
Essential Track: “Sign ‘O’ the Times”

36. So, Peter Gabriel (1986)
Essential Track: “In Your Eyes”

37. Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen (1982)
Essential Track: “Atlantic City”

38. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, Dead Kennedys (1980)
Essential Track: “Holiday in Cambodia”

39. …And Justice for All, Metallica (1988)
Essential Track: “One”

40. War, U2 (1983)
Essential Track: “Sunday Bloody Sunday”