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And I’ll throw this into the mix too (too much hilarity I’ll assume!). Works brilliantly as an album*, and is so much more than ‘that song’.
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*both this and hounds of love were thought of as a whole to, not just a collection of songs which we get now. You pick and choose now. I can’t recall the last album I bought which was an integrated body of work.
Mrovershoot
There were many brilliant albums in the 80’s but I was 18 when it came out and that’s what I would call my defining 80’s album, plus the Chameleons were bloody great.
Yeah, I guess it and the Chameleons live defined the decade for me to.
I’m torn between:
Sulk by The Associates
St Julian by Julian Cope
Back in the DHSS
There's another three great ones, and Ocean Rain, AND Hounds of Love!
I love the eighties!
The Stone Roses
Correct...saved me reading the rest of the thread
Remain in Light
The rest of the decade was a let down.
Missing so far (for me):
Double Nickels on the Dime - Minutemen
From Her to Eternity/Tender Prey - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Confusion is Sex/Kill Yr Idols, EVOL & Sister - Sonic Youth
Tabula Rasa - Arvo Pärt
Keep on Movin’ - Soul II Soul
Today - Galaxie 500
Let’s not forget 13 Songs - Fugazi now either… 🙄
There is bound to be more but a lot of what I was thinking of turns out to be later… I got a lot more ‘diverse’ in the 90’s/00’s…
Oh, London Calling was released in Jan 80 (in America) so technically just squeaks in 😜
Stop Making Sense. That was on repeat for days on end in my student house when someone got a Walkman with auto reverse plugged it in to the speakers. Probably the only album we could all agree on because not everyone liked Heartland…
As everyone has said above many to chose from but this morning I’m choosing fresh fruit for rotting vegetables by the Dead Kennedys. Because every tune is a banger
If you were born in the USA it has to be London Calling.
Pleasantly surprised how many of these albums I own(ed) across the genres.
A lot of teenage memories being stirred.
Opened this thread to post the stone roses and see that is in the op.
I’m 100% with @Merak on this. That album changed my musical life.
Too many to choose from but I would add:
Gaucho. Steely Dan.
Darn. Three of my favourite albums (Violator, Listen without prejudice, and Elizium) all released in 1990. So I'll have to go for Duran Duran - Rio
If I had to pick only one album from the 80's and could never listen to anything else from the decade then it would be Fables of the Reconstruction
So funny how many of these are actually 90s releases. Needs another thread.
I say Run-DMC. 1984.
Strange Times by The Chameleons.
Xmas pressie from auntie Irene and uncle George!
Some really amazing albums in my formative decade but I'm sticking to the rule of one.
At the time, as a youngster, I listened to Velveteen by Transition Vamp more than anything else. Wendy James had a lot to answer for!
Now, as an older chap, the 80s album I listen to more than anything else is New Day Rising by Hüsker Dü.
Tough choices,so many to choose from and maybe the last decade before the end of concept albums crept in. A lot of my favs already posted,but the first one that sprang to mind was Ocean Rain, the 80s was such a Echo and the Bunneymen era.
Obviously Back in Black by AC/DC, first album released after the death of Bon Scott, a afterpiece of Rock delivered by Brian "Beano" Johnson.
I might be wrong but I think one of the best selling albums of all time, not just the 80's
Phil Collin's But Seriously, Roxette's Look Sharp is a close second in terms of how often I played them.
Got a handful of others mentioned already, but they didn't get as much attention.
Side 1 is great, side 2 is epic…
Sides....how quaint ;o)
Forgot to add....One Eyed Jacks, Spear of Destiny
Loads of good stuff already listed. But just had a quick look at my records and one jumped out.
Tracy Chapman.
Tomorrow it would be something else 🤷♂️
Blue lines was 91.
Dare or the orchestral version ftw.
Sure early James sneaks in.
Rocktastic!!!
And this still sound great now, despite being extremely odd in places
There are a pile of vinyls next to the record player, flicking through the first five from the 80s are:
Rita Mitsouko - No Comprendo
Madonna - Like a Virgin
Lio - Pop Model
Jean-Jacques Goldman - En Publique
Tanita Tikarum - Ancient Heart
The nice thing about the 80s was the diversity of sounds.
Some great memories in here.
Glad to see The The getting so many mentions. I used to drink in Matt Johnson’s dad’s pub.
Personal fave : Kilimanjaro- the Teardrop Explodes
Others that still get lots of airtime in our house :-
Rattlesnakes - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
Soul Mining - The The
Non Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell
The House of Love - The House of Love
Penthouse and Pavement- Heaven 17
London 0 Hull 4 - the Housemartins
Tracy Chapman.
Definitely.
Can't really choose.
Slayer Reign in Blood
ACDC Back in black
Iron maiden Number of the Beast
Metallica Ride the
The tapes of those four wore out during the eighties.
Gipsy Kings.
Got about 10 above named albums on CD and a few more digital, you've all obvs got good taste. It'd probably be one of Colour of Spring / Pagan Place / Soul Mining for me. Though The Storm by Moving Hearts has always been one of my faves
Metallica Ride the
I dropped the Lightening on the floor.
I want my go again...maybe a bit obscure and just scrapes in coming out in '89 (I think), but still love Shakespeare Alabama by Diesel Park West.
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Shoot out the lights - Richard and Linda Thompson.
The Storm by Moving Hearts has always been one of my faves
And mine.
Double Nickels on the Dime
At the time and still one of my all time favourites was the joshua tree by U2.
Now one of my go-to albums from the 80s is Hunting High and Low by a-ha.
Wouldn't have gone near it at the time but, listening now the recording and music is very good.
This was listened to a lot at the time
I have many favourites, yet even if I stopped listening to them after the ZooTV Tour, I would be hard-pressed to think of a more monumental album than U2's The Joshua Tree.
Regardless of what you think of U2, it has to be up there as one of the most - if not the most - pivotal of the decade.
i have just spentfive hours out on the bike, listened to nothing but 80's the whole way round the ride.
white lines. grandmaster flash was played numerous times.
Its like shooting fish in a barrel
Simple Minds- New Gold Dream
Human League- Dare
Heaven Seventeen- The Luxury Gap
Tears for Fears- The Hurting
Grace Jones- Any of her 80s albums but I'll go for Living My Life
Dire Straits- Making Movies
David Bowie- Lets Dance
New Order- either Republic or Technique
Eurythmics- Touch
The OP's question was "The Greatest", i.e. one album, not a list.
Also, I take "album" to mean a collection that is put together meaningfully, so the whole is greater than the parts. "The Best of The Beatles" is not The Beatles best album because it's not an album, it's just a collection of good songs. Same with "Stop Making Sense" by Talking Heads, which was probably the most influential musical experience of my teen years, I went to the movie and it was like nothing I had ever experienced before or since, like seeing a different world. But it wasn't an album, just a greatest hits collection.
So, when people ask me about albums that are bigger than the sum of their parts, I think of Springsteen's "Born to Run" (1970s) and Nick Caves "The Boatman's Call" (1990s), but I can't think of anything quite the same from the 80s. Lots of great music, but can't think of albums that were really more than just a collection of great songs. The two that stand out for me now, decades later, are ones that I didn't really think much of at the time, "Thriller" and "Back in Black".
So, my final choice is "Back In Black". Except it was released in 1980, which was technically part of the 1970s. So, if you're a math pedant, "Thriller."
Discipline- King Crimson
What I love about these threads is how they lead me to discover new stuff. Even though my musically formative years were in the 80s, there are so many bands I hadn't heard of before today.
What I love about these threads is how they lead me to discover new stuff.
Yep. Also, I overlooked at the time how impressive Madonna was, plus haven't listened to "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash" in years.
The OP’s question was “The Greatest”, i.e. one album, not a list.
Well the OP can pick one from my list
Can't argue with statistics. (no idea who It was by though 😉 )
Except it was released in 1980, which was technically part of the 1970s. So, if you’re a math pedant, “Thriller.”
1980 was the final year of the 8th decade, but the OP referred to "1980s" which we might reasonably assumes to the ten years starting with 198x, irrespective of which decade they're technically in.
Same with “Stop Making Sense” by Talking Heads, which was probably the most influential musical experience of my teen years, I went to the movie and it was like nothing I had ever experienced before or since, like seeing a different world. But it wasn’t an album, just a greatest hits collection.
Hmmmmm it’s more than a collection of songs tho isn’t it? As a film and an album the songs are chosen and arranged (my daughter would say curated) to build up and impact on you as a whole. Or something like that.
Appetite for destruction - Guns'n'Roses
Joshua Tree - U2
Born in the USA - Springsteen
Sign o'the times - Prince
Hmmmmm it’s more than a collection of songs tho isn’t it?
So is "Best of the Beatles".
It's too difficult. I've been half thinking about this all afternoon and, amongst the bullshit pop garbage, there are gems, like "It takes a nation of millions to hold us back" by Public Enemy and "Tour de France" by Kraftwerk.
But, how do you define "greatest"? Most sales? Most awards? on sales alone (UK only) the following are the top 10:
Madonna: True Blue
U2: The Joshua Tree
Phil Collins: No Jacket Required
Fleetwood Mac: Tango in the Night
Whitney Houston: Whitney
Kylie Minogue: Kylie
Queen: Greatest Hits
Michael Jackson: Thriller
Michael Jackson: Bad
Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms
Are any of those great? I mean, really? Popular sure, but not greatest.
Queen: Greatest Hits
FFS. A greatest hits compilation is not an album.
Also, a list is not a vote on the best album.
Also, the 1980s began on 1st January, 1981. 1980 belongs to the 1970s.
I'm going to throw the cat right in with the pigeons...
Now That's What I Call Music 2
The original may have been a new thing, but 2 has the best tracks. i still love just about every one of them.
You need some serious sources to back up that Hols2 because every source I've checked says the 1980s started on 1/1/1980 and greatest hits albums are albums.
On a thread limited to one album I wouldn't post because I don't think there is one greaters album but many great albums to suit varying tastes, moods, settings, audiences etc..
FFS. A greatest hits compilation is not an album.
If it's a collection of songs committed to a record/cd/cassette/8 track/ sequenced collection...then it's an album. And Queen Greatest Hits is a fantastic album.
And Queen Greatest Hits is a fantastic album.
That's a matter of opinion, as is my opinion that compilations don't count.
What's a fact is that most of the songs on that "album" were released in the 1970s.
That’s a matter of opinion, as is my opinion that compilations don’t count
Thankfully, your opinion means as little as mine.
Thankfully, your opinion means as little as mine.
Sure. You're absolutely entitled to believe that a compilation of 1970s tracks is a 1980s album.
not the greatest but deserve a mention
Sade - Diamond Life
and
Three Man Army - A Third of a Lifetime, because rules are there to be broken...
thanks for all the contributions will be checking them out 🙂
Best Punk - Subhumans "From the Cradle To The Grave"
Best Non Punk - New Model Army "Thunder and Consolation"
No Wham? Am disappointed.
Marillion-Fugazi
Goodbye Mr MacKenzie -Good Deeds and Dirty Rags
Cure - Disintegration
Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
ABC-Lexicon of Love
ZZtop-Eliminator
Sure. You’re absolutely entitled to believe that a compilation of 1970s tracks is a 1980s album
Me and the rest of the internet.
Best Punk – Subhumans “From the Cradle To The Grave”
Best Non Punk – New Model Army “Thunder and Consolation
Now we're talking. I was going to pick Impurity by NMA (or No Rest). If we were going for Dick Lucas I would have gone for Go Wild! But not sure if a mini album would count with some of the mad rules that people are making up 😂
Me and the rest of the internet.
At least two people on the internet disagree, so I'm afraid you're wrong on that one.
Though if you're going to use the logical fallacy of popularity, I'd suggest a 1970s compilation:
No worries, Have a great evening 🍻
Jeez, some people could have an unnecessary row in solitary confinement 🤣
I'm with bunnyhop on this,songs from the big chair
By tears for fears is the perfect 80s album.
The Stone Roses.
As produced by my mates father in law, I'm sure he'll be so chuffed for being bigged up on STW 🤣
Surprised by the number saying Doolittle over Surfer Rosa?
Can’t argue with statistics. (no idea who It was by though 😉 )
Well you can. That's a list of most popular, not the greatest. I got into the 700s before I found a "great" one. Of course that's just my opinion, but that's the point.
Not the greatest I know but at the time it was great because it was fun. Men at work… Business as Usual. Cargo was good too.
Of course 1980 is in the 80's. Say it out loud, does it say 'eighty' somewhere in there? Does nineteen ninety contain the sound 'eighty'
No way is Songs from the big chair a better album than the Hurting.
Seven and the Ragged Tiger - Duran Duran
Could name 50 great albums but no 1 would be First and last and always - sisters of mercy
I was born in 80, from the back seat of our Gold Austin Meastro, it was either Please, or Actually by The Pet Shop Boys, or Tears For Fears as the greatest album of the 80s.
Actually I go with Tears for Fears the big chair
These threads are great, I've just listened to a few Grace Jones records having only known the obvious tracks previously
Oh my, I love Grace Jones's work. Possibly my favourite track of hers:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk5vK34rQk8
Dare is ace.
We can all pick four/maybe five that’s the easy choice. It’s just one folks. Just one.
Just not possible. I wouldn’t even attempt it, there are so many great albums from so many great bands across so many different genres it’s daft to even consider it.
U2 The Joshua Tree, Peter Gabriel had three terrific albums out through the 80’s, one of them was the first CD I bought, because the vinyl version was so badly made, I returned three copies because they were unlistenable, and that was PG4: Security, from 1984 but there was PG3: Melt from 1980 and So from1986.
Then there’s Talk Talk - It’s My Life: 1984, The Colour Of Spring: 1986, Spirit Of Eden: 1988 - three extraordinary albums across a decade that are still cited as a huge influence on many artists, not least because Mark Hollis refused to bow to record company demands for hits and wouldn’t compromise his vision for what the band should create.
That now requires that I pour a large shot of Woodford Reserve bourbon, stick my headphones on, and put on some Talk Talk.
’Night all.
Greatest effect on me - Reflections, Gil Scott-Heron
My brother bought this record, but i played it to death - it was literally unlike anything i'd ever heard before. It was an opening up of what music was
Greatest effect on and beyond the 80's - Graceland, Paul Simon
Graceland was problematic, but ultimately it was a beginning of love over hate, and i genuinely think a contributory factor in the beginning of the end of Apartheid.
Also it tapped in to a growing feel for a musical world outside of the US and Europe, making 'World Music' a new genre.
It's also a fantastic piece of work, which helps.