« 19801982 »

The Best Music of 1981

Here is a selection of the best albums and songs from 1981. Hall of Famers are highlighted in orange.

For a list of the top artists who made their debut recording in 1981, check out this list.

Albums (?)Wikipedia
ABBAThe Visitors
AC/DCFor Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Agent OrangeLiving in Darkness
Air SupplyThe One That You Love
Akira TeraoReflections
April WineThe Nature of the Beast
BauhausMask
Billy JoelSongs In The Attic
Billy SquierDon't Say No
Black FlagDamaged
Black SabbathMob Rules
Blue Oyster CultFire of Unknown Origin
Brian Eno & David ByrneMy Life in the Bush of Ghosts
ClusterCuriosum
Dan FogelbergThe Innocent Age
Def LeppardHigh 'N' Dry
Depeche ModeSpeak & Spell
Duran DuranDuran Duran
Earth, Wind & FireRaise!
Echo and the BunnymenHeaven Up Here
Einstürzende NeubautenKollaps
Electric Light OrchestraTime
Foreigner4
Gang of FourSolid Gold
GenesisAbacab
George StraitStrait Country
Grace JonesNightclubbing
Hall & OatesPrivate Eyes
Heaven 17 Penthouse and Pavement
Iron MaidenKillers
James TaylorDad Loves His Work
Joan Jett & The BlackheartsI Love Rock 'n Roll
John WilliamsRaiders of the Lost Ark: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
JourneyEscape
Judas PriestPoint of Entry
King CrimsonDiscipline
KraftwerkComputer World
Luther VandrossNever Too Much
Makoto MatsushitaFirst Light
Men at WorkBusiness as Usual
Minor ThreatMinor Threat
MotörheadNo Sleep 'til Hammersmith
Olivia Newton-JohnPhysical
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the DarkArchitecture & Morality
Ozzy OsbourneDiary of a Madman
Pat BenatarPrecious Time
Phil CollinsFace Value
PrinceControversy
Quincy JonesThe Dude
Rick JamesStreet Songs
Rick SpringfieldWorking Class Dog
Rickie Lee JonesPirates
Rod StewartTonight I'm Yours
RushMoving Pictures
RushExit...Stage Left
Siouxsie and the Banshees Juju
Soft CellNon Stop Erotic Cabaret
SqueezeEast Side Story
Stevie NicksBella Donna
StyxParadise Theater
The CarsShake It Up
The Human LeagueDare
The J. Geils BandFreeze Frame
The KinksGive the People What They Want
The Moody BluesLong Distance Voyager
The Pointer SistersBlack & White
The PoliceGhost in the Machine
The ReplacementsSorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash
The Rolling StonesTattoo You
Tom Petty & The HeartbreakersHard Promises
U2October
Van HalenFair Warning
VenomWelcome to Hell
XWild Gift
ZZ TopEl Loco

Songs (?)Wikipedia
38 SpecialHold On Loosely
AC/DCFor Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Adam & The AntsStand and Deliver
Air SupplySweet Dreams
BauhausKick in the Eye
BerlinThe Metro
Billy IdolDancing With Myself
Billy IdolMony Mony
Billy SquierThe Stroke
Billy SquierMy Kinda Lover
Billy SquierLonely Is the Night
Billy SquierChristmas is the Time to Say "I Love You"
Black FlagRise Above
Black FlagTV Party
Blue Öyster CultBurnin' For You
Bobby WomackIf You Think You're Lonely Now
Bruce CockburnYou Pay Your Money and You Take Your Chance
Buckner & GarciaPac-Man Fever
Christopher CrossArthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do
Dan FogelbergLeader of the Band
Dead KennedysToo Drunk to F*ck
Def LeppardBringin' on the Heartbreak
Depeche ModeJust Can't Get Enough
DevoThrough Being Cool
Duran DuranGirls on Film
Duran DuranPlanet Earth
Earth, Wind And FireLet's Groove
Einst?rzende NeubautenKollaps
Electric Light OrchestraHold on Tight
ForeignerUrgent
ForeignerJuke Box Hero
ForeignerWaiting for a Girl Like You
GenesisAbacab
GenesisNo Reply at All
George BensonTurn Your Love Around
George HarrisonAll Those Years Ago
Grandmaster FlashThe Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel
Grover Washington, Jr., feat. Bill WithersJust The Two Of Us
Hall & OatesI Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
Hall & OatesPrivate Eyes
Heaven 17Penthouse and Pavement
Joan ArmatradingThe Weakness In Me
Joan JettBad Reputation
Joan Jett & The BlackheartsI Love Rock And Roll
Joan Jett & The BlackheartsCrimson and Clover
Joan Jett & The BlackheartsDo You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah)
Joey ScarburyTheme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)
John WilliamsRaiders of The Lost Ark (Main Theme)
JourneyDon't Stop Believin'
JourneyOpen Arms
JourneyStone In Love
JourneyWho's Crying Now
Judas PriestHeading Out to the Highway
Judas PriestHot Rockin'
Juice NewtonQueen of Hearts
Juice NewtonAngel of the Morning
Kate BushSat In Your Lap
Kenny RogersThrough The Years
Kim CarnesBette Davis Eyes
Kim WildeKids in America
Kool and the GangGet Down On It
KraftwerkComputer Love
KraftwerkNumbers
Lionel Richie & Diana RossEndless Love
LoverboyWorking for the Weekend
Luther VandrossNever Too Much
Luther VandrossA House Is Not a Home
MadnessIt Must Be Love
Men At WorkDown Under
Men At WorkWho Can It Be Now?
Mike Post featuring Larry CarltonThe Theme from Hill Street Blues
Minor ThreatMinor Threat
Minor ThreatStraight Edge
New OrderCeremony
Olivia Newton-JohnPhysical
Olivia Newton-JohnMake A Move On Me
Ozzy OsbourneFlying High Again
Pat BenatarFire and Ice
Pete ShelleyHomosapien
Phil CollinsIn The Air Tonight
QuarterflashHarden My Heart
Queen & David BowieUnder Pressure
R.E.M.Radio Free Europe
RamonesThe KKK Took My Baby Away
Red RiderLunatic Fringe
Rick JamesSuper Freak
Rick JamesGive it to Me Baby
Rick SpringfieldJessie's Girl
Rick SpringfieldI've Done Everything for You
Rod StewartYoung Turks
Romeo VoidNever Say Never
Rosanne CashSeven Year Ache
Roxy MusicJealous Guy
RushTom Sawyer
RushLimelight
RushYYZ
Sheena EastonFor Your Eyes Only
Siouxsie and the BansheesSpellbound
Siouxsie and The BansheesArabian Knights
Smokey RobinsonBeing With You
Soft CellTainted Love
SqueezeTempted
Steve CarlisleWKRP in Cincinnati
Stevie NicksEdge Of Seventeen
Stevie Nicks with Don HenleyLeather and Lace
Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & The HeartbreakersStop Draggin' My Heart Around
Stray CatsRock This Town
Stray CatsStray Cat Strut
StyxToo Much Time On My Hands
The Birthday PartyRelease The Bats
The CarsShake It Up
The CarsSince You're Gone
The ClashThis Is Radio Clash
The CommodoresLady (You Bring Me Up)
The Go-Go'sOur Lips Are Sealed
The Greg Kihn BandThe Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)
The Human LeagueDon't You Want Me
The Human LeagueLove Action (I Believe in Love)
The J. Geils BandCenterfold
The J. Geils BandFreeze-Frame
The KinksDestroyer
The Moody BluesThe Voice
The Moody BluesGemini Dream
The Oak Ridge BoysElvira
The OceansSuper Snooper
The Pointer SistersSlow Hand
The PoliceEvery Little Thing She Does is Magic
The PoliceSpirits in the Material World
The PoliceInvisible Sun
The Psychedelic FursPretty In Pink
The Rolling StonesStart Me Up
The SpecialsGhost Town
The StranglersGolden Brown
The Sugarhill GangApache
The WaitressesChristmas Wrapping
The WhoYou Better You Bet
Tom Petty & The HeartbreakersThe Waiting
Tom Tom ClubGenius of Love
U2Gloria
Van HalenUnchained
VangelisTitles (Chariots of Fire)
XWe're Desperate

« 19801982 »