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