Best albums of 1980
Post-punk's strongest year and the year it lost Ian Curtis, two months before the record everyone points to came out. Hard rock answered its own grief with the biggest-selling album of its kind, made by a band that had just buried its singer too.
According to Riffiter listeners, the best album of 1980 is Trombipulation by Parliament, rated 4.7/5 by 6 listeners.
- 2
Remain in LightTalking Heads · 19804.3 score · 4.5 avg · 12 ratings4.34.5 avg · 12 ratings
- 3
Ace of SpadesMotörhead · 19804.2 score · 4.4 avg · 11 ratings4.24.4 avg · 11 ratings
- 4
Back in BlackAC/DC · 19804.2 score · 4.2 avg · 821 ratings4.24.2 avg · 821 ratings
- 5
Live at LastBlack Sabbath · 19804.2 score · 4.5 avg · 4 ratings4.24.5 avg · 4 ratings
- 6
Blizzard of OzzOzzy Osbourne · 19804.2 score · 4.2 avg · 18 ratings4.24.2 avg · 18 ratings
- 7
The Lord Will Make a WayAl Green · 19804.2 score · 4.5 avg · 3 ratings4.24.5 avg · 3 ratings
- 8
Strong Arm of the LawSaxon · 19804.2 score · 4.5 avg · 3 ratings4.24.5 avg · 3 ratings
- 9
The RiverBruce Springsteen · 19804.1 score · 4.3 avg · 8 ratings4.14.3 avg · 8 ratings
- 10
Wheels of SteelSaxon · 19804.1 score · 4.3 avg · 6 ratings4.14.3 avg · 6 ratings
- 11
BoyU2 · 19804.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings4.14.3 avg · 3 ratings
- 12
Terminal JiveSparks · 19804.1 score · 4.3 avg · 3 ratings4.14.3 avg · 3 ratings
- 13
BarryBarry Manilow · 19804.1 score · 4.3 avg · 4 ratings4.14.3 avg · 4 ratings
- 14
Zenyattà MondattaThe Police · 19804.0 score · 4.2 avg · 3 ratings4.04.2 avg · 3 ratings
- 15
After MidnightThe Manhattans · 19804.0 score · 4.1 avg · 5 ratings4.04.1 avg · 5 ratings
- 16
Heaven and HellBlack Sabbath · 19804.0 score · 4.1 avg · 9 ratings4.04.1 avg · 9 ratings
- 17
British SteelJudas Priest · 19804.0 score · 4.0 avg · 35 ratings4.04.0 avg · 35 ratings
- 18
Love StinksThe J. Geils Band · 19804.0 score · 4.0 avg · 3 ratings4.04.0 avg · 3 ratings
- 19
Two Places at the Same TimeRay Parker Jr. · 19803.9 score · 3.9 avg · 6 ratings3.93.9 avg · 6 ratings
- 20
Hotter Than JulyStevie Wonder · 19803.9 score · 3.9 avg · 4 ratings3.93.9 avg · 4 ratings
- 21
Double FantasyJohn Lennon · 19803.9 score · 3.8 avg · 3 ratings3.93.8 avg · 3 ratings
- 22
Love Somebody TodaySister Sledge · 19803.9 score · 3.8 avg · 3 ratings3.93.8 avg · 3 ratings
- 23
Give Me the NightGeorge Benson · 19803.9 score · 3.8 avg · 5 ratings3.93.8 avg · 5 ratings
- 24
DianaDiana Ross · 19803.8 score · 3.7 avg · 3 ratings3.83.7 avg · 3 ratings
- 25
Iron MaidenIron Maiden · 19803.8 score · 3.8 avg · 15 ratings3.83.8 avg · 15 ratings
- 26
GauchoSteely Dan · 19803.8 score · 3.7 avg · 7 ratings3.83.7 avg · 7 ratings
- 27
I'm a RebelAccept · 19803.8 score · 3.6 avg · 4 ratings3.83.6 avg · 4 ratings
- 28
Rocks, Pebbles and SandStanley Clarke · 19803.8 score · 3.5 avg · 3 ratings3.83.5 avg · 3 ratings
- 29
CloserJoy Division · 19803.8 score · 3.5 avg · 3 ratings3.83.5 avg · 3 ratings
- 30
Super TrouperABBA · 19803.8 score · 3.6 avg · 5 ratings3.83.6 avg · 5 ratings
- 31
Sandinista!The Clash · 19803.7 score · 3.5 avg · 4 ratings3.73.5 avg · 4 ratings
- 32
CameosisCameo · 19803.7 score · 3.5 avg · 4 ratings3.73.5 avg · 4 ratings
- 33
Hurry Up This Way AgainThe Stylistics · 19803.7 score · 3.5 avg · 4 ratings3.73.5 avg · 4 ratings
- 34
Making MoviesDire Straits · 19803.7 score · 3.4 avg · 5 ratings3.73.4 avg · 5 ratings
- 35
Boys Don't CryThe Cure · 19803.7 score · 3.2 avg · 3 ratings3.73.2 avg · 3 ratings
- 36
ParisSupertramp · 19803.5 score · 2.9 avg · 4 ratings3.52.9 avg · 4 ratings
- 37
UprisingBob Marley & The Wailers · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 38
The GameQueen · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 39
Dirty MindPrince · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 40
Seventeen SecondsThe Cure · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 41
TelekonGary Numan · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 42
Beatin' the OddsMolly Hatchet · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 43
Snakes and LaddersGerry Rafferty · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 44
One Step CloserThe Doobie Brothers · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 45
Fireside FavouritesFad Gadget · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 46
Reach for the SkyThe Allman Brothers Band · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 47
Fantastic VoyageLakeside · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 48
Three for LoveShalamar · 19802 ratings2 ratings
- 49
Never for EverKate Bush · 19801 rating1 rating
- 50
Hail H.I.M.Burning Spear · 19801 rating1 rating
Disagree with the ranking?
Rate these albums and the chart reshuffles around the community. Or collect your own pick of them into a list or tier.
Build a list or tier of your ownBest albums of 1980 by genre
The genres that carried the period here, each with what listeners rate highest inside it.
Best Rock albums of 1980
318 albums from 1980
Best Pop albums of 1980
153 albums from 1980
Best Jazz albums of 1980
133 albums from 1980
Best Electronic albums of 1980
98 albums from 1980
Best Disco albums of 1980
91 albums from 1980
The artists of 1980
Everyone who put a record out then, ordered by how listeners rate their catalog rather than by that one release.
1980, month by month
Not everything that came out, just where the weight fell. Some months carried a year; some were quiet and worth knowing about.
September
FAQ
- What are the best albums of 1980?
- On Riffiter, the highest-rated album of 1980 is Trombipulation by Parliament (4.7/5). The ranking below orders the year's releases by community rating.
- How is the 1980 ranking decided?
- By Riffiter listeners. Each album's community rating sets its place. Until a release has enough ratings, its popularity stands in, and the order shifts as more people rate.
- Does the best-of-1980 list change?
- Yes. It's built from live community ratings, so the order updates as people rate 1980 releases. The page refreshes a few times a day.


























