Top Albums of 1981
Rank▼ All Time Rank▼ Artist▼ Album▼ Genres▼
Foreigner 4 AOR, Hard Rock, Pop Rock
Derek Bailey Aida Free Improvisation
22
1602
 Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft Alles ist gut EBM, Neue Deutsche Welle, Synth Punk
Television Personalities ...And Don't the Kids Just Love It Indie Pop, Post-Punk
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Architecture & Morality New Wave, Synthpop
Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls Jazz
18
1367
 Go-Go's Beauty and the Beat New Wave, Power Pop
Smokey Robinson Being with You Soul
43
2868
 Stevie Nicks Bella Donna Soft Rock
De Press Block to Block New Wave, Post-Punk
Al Jarreau Breakin' Away Jazz Pop, Smooth Jazz
Vangelis Chariots of Fire Film Score, Progressive Electronic
Fela Coffin for Head of State Afrobeat
4
433
 Kraftwerk Computerwelt / Computer World Synthpop
Prince Controversy Pop Rock, Synth Funk
Johnny Copeland Copeland Special Blues, Blues Rock
Mink DeVille Coup de Grace Pop Rock
3
378
 Black Flag Damaged Hardcore Punk
1
270
 The Human League Dare! New Romantic, Synthpop
Wall of Voodoo Dark Continent Minimal Wave, New Wave
33
2080
 This Heat Deceit Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
Tuxedomoon Desire Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
Ozzy Osbourne Diary of a Madman Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
21
1461
 King Crimson Discipline Art Rock, Progressive Rock
45
2905
 Tom Verlaine Dreamtime Art Punk, Post-Punk
Duran Duran Duran Duran New Romantic, Synthpop
11
953
 Squeeze East Side Story New Wave, Pop Rock
David Lindley El Rayo-X Pop Reggae, Rock & Roll
34
2245
 Journey Escape AOR, Pop Rock
Rush Exit...Stage Left Hard Rock, Progressive Rock
26
1797
 Phil Collins Face Value Pop Rock
47
2931
 The Cure Faith Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
9
862
 The Gun Club Fire of Love Psychobilly, Punk Blues
44
2894
 The Neville Brothers Fiyo on the Bayou New Orleans R&B, Pop Soul
The Associates Fourth Drawer Down New Wave, Post-Punk
The J. Geils Band Freeze Frame New Wave, Pop Rock
Kid Creole and The Coconuts Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places Pop
The Sound From the Lion's Mouth Post-Punk
12
1124
 The Police Ghost in the Machine New Wave, Pop Rock
Dick Gaughan Handful of Earth Scottish Folk Music
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Hard Promises Heartland Rock, Pop Rock
13
1158
 Echo and the Bunnymen Heaven Up Here Post-Punk
Def Leppard High 'n' Dry Hard Rock, NWOBHM
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts I Love Rock'n'roll Hard Rock
Teena Marie It Must Be Magic Funk, Soul
25
1768
 Siouxsie and The Banshees Juju Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
Ebba Grön Kärlek & Uppror Punk Rock
Iron Maiden Killers NWOBHM
19
1410
 Einstürzende Neubauten Kollaps Industrial
Franco Battiato La voce del padrone New Wave, Singer/Songwriter
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes Live - Reach Up and Touch the Sky Rock
Bauhaus Mask Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
31
1990
 Minor Threat Minor Threat [EP 1981 / LP 1984] Hardcore Punk
39
2620
 New Order Movement Post-Punk
5
740
 Rush Moving Pictures Hard Rock, Progressive Rock
2
346
 Brian Eno - David Byrne My Life in the Bush of Ghosts Art Rock, Experimental Rock
7
789
 Grace Jones Nightclubbing Art Pop, Dance-Pop, Sophisti-Pop
6
747
 Motörhead No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
10
919
 Soft Cell Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret New Wave, Synthpop
U2 October Alternative Rock, Post-Punk
35
2379
 The Raincoats Odyshape Post-Punk
Pat Metheny Offramp Jazz Fusion
Fela Original Sufferhead Afrobeat
Penguin Café Orchestra Penguin Café Orchestra Chamber Jazz
27
1803
 Heaven 17 Penthouse and Pavement New Wave, Synthpop
14
1260
 Rickie Lee Jones Pirates Jazz Pop, Singer/Songwriter
37
2570
 Au Pairs Playing with a Different Sex Post-Punk
The Undertones Positive Touch Pop Punk, Power Pop
23
1625
 The Birthday Party Prayers on Fire Noise Rock, Post-Punk
Pretenders Pretenders II New Wave
Daryl Hall & John Oates Private Eyes Blue Eyed Soul
36
2431
 The Cramps Psychedelic Jungle Garage Punk, Psychobilly
28
1805
 Black Uhuru Red Roots Reggae
41
2672
 Cabaret Voltaire Red Mecca Industrial, Post-Punk
46
2917
 Fleshtones Roman Gods Garage Rock Revival
42
2729
 Marquis de Sade Rue De Siam Post-Punk
Mission of Burma Signals, Calls and Marches EP Post-Punk
The Fall Slates Post-Punk
24
1752
 Gang of Four Solid Gold Post-Punk
Simple Minds Sons and Fascination Art Rock, New Wave, Synthpop
Depeche Mode Speak & Spell New Romantic, Synthpop
40
2655
 The dB's Stands for Decibels Jangle Pop, Power Pop
32
2050
 Stray Cats Stray Cats/Built for Speed Rockabilly
15
1342
 Rick James Street Songs Contemporary R&B, Synth Funk
Sun Ra Arkestra Sunrise in Different Dimensions Free Jazz, Post-Bop
29
1827
 The Psychedelic Furs Talk Talk Talk New Wave, Post-Punk
16
1353
 The Rolling Stones Tattoo You Rock
38
2574
 Glenn Branca The Ascension No Wave, Noise Rock
The Blasters The Blasters Rockabilly, Roots Rock
Roky Erickson & The Aliens The Evil One Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Public Image Ltd. The Flowers of Romance Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
The Lounge Lizards The Lounge Lizards Avant-Garde Jazz
Bobby Womack The Poet Soul
B.B. King There Must Be a Better World Somewhere Blues, Blues Rock
17
1366
 Japan Tin Drum Art Pop, New Romantic, Synthpop
30
1945
 Trio Trio Neue Deutsche Welle
20
1451
 Elvis Costello and The Attractions Trust Pop Rock
The Beat Wha'ppen? 2 Tone
8
800
 X Wild Gift Punk Rock
The Teardrop Explodes Wilder Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Punk
Jaco Pastorius Word of Mouth Jazz Fusion
Wipers Youth of America Post-Punk, Punk Rock