1980's .... Top Metal/Rock albums ... give me some suggestions!

vamp2syd

Well-known member
OK, I stated that the 70's were and likely the best decade for music ever but the best decade to grow up in was the 80's. I mean you had the music of the 70's to fall back on but the 80's really launched some great Metal bands and what a great scene that was. Bunch of great albums out during this era but there are likely some I have not heard that could make my top 50 list. My top 50 consist of studio albums only with Live and EP albums with unique tracks that do not appear on any other studio album are considered. Now I've listened to a bunch of albums in the 80's so what are your favorites of this era and if I have not listened to them I will check them out....

Share your stories of concerts you went to in the 80's and your record store experiences.... remember record stores?? !!!! ??

My Top 50 Studio albums in reverse order.....

rank/album/band/m=metal,r=rock/Genre/My Rating/Year

50 Piece of Mind - Iron Maiden m Heavy 80.868 1983
49 Power Slave - Iron Maiden m Heavy 81.105 1984
48 Against The Wind - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band r Heartland 81.120 1980
47 Game Over - Nuclear Assault m Thrash 81.147 1986
46 Oh No! It's Devo - Devo r New Wave 81.165 1982
45 Don't Say No - Billy Squier r Hard 81.360 1981
44 Born Again - Black Sabbath m Heavy 81.380 1983
43 Stay Hungry - Twisted Sister m Heavy 81.700 1984
42 Scream Bloody Gore - Death m Death 81.804 1987
41 Killing is My Business…. - Megadeth m Thrash 81.955 1985

40 1984 - Van Halen r Hard 81.955 1983
39 Orgasmatron - Motorhead m Heavy 82.024 1986
38 Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath m Heavy 82.255 1980
37 How Will I Laugh Tomorrow….. - Suicidal Tendencies m Thrash 82.300 1988
36 Love at First Sting - Scorpions r Hard 82.357 1984
35 Survive - Nuclear Assault m Thrash 82.400 1988
34 Seven Churches - Possessed m Death 82.700 1985
33 The Plague - Nuclear Assault m Thrash 82.927 1987
32 Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails r Industrial 83.080 1989
31 Defenders of the Faith - Judas Priest m Heavy 83.280 1984

30 Widespread Bloodshed Love Runs Red - No Mercy m Thrash 83.357 1987
29 Show No Mercy - Slayer m Thrash 83.480 1983
28 Refuge Denied - Sanctuary m Thrash 83.513 1988
27 Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue m Heavy 83.540 1983
26 Flick of the Switch - AC/DC r Hard 83.740 1983
25 Moving Pictures - Rush r Progressive 83.899 1981
24 Garage Days Re-Revisited ($5.98) - Metallica m Thrash 84.194 1987
23 Full Moon Fever - Tom Petty r Heartland 84.204 1989
22 Momentary Lapse of Reason - Pink Floyd r Progressive 84.490 1987
21 Metal Church - Metal Church m Thrash 85.068 1985

20 Hell Awaits - Slayer m Thrash 85.299 1985
19 Join the Army - Suicidal Tendencies m Thrash Crossover 85.361 1987
18 The New Order - Testament m Thrash 85.640 1988
17 Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies r Punk Hardcore 86.304 1983
16 The Eyes of Horror - Possessed m Death 86.970 1987
15 South of Heaven - Slayer m Thrash 87.680 1988
14 Taking Over - Overkill m Thrash 87.801 1987
13 The Legacy - Testament m Thrash 87.846 1987
12 Reign In Blood - Slayer m Thrash 88.020 1986
11 The Dungeons are Calling - Savatage m Heavy 88.927 1984

10 Killem All - Metallica m Thrash 89.060 1983
09 Beyond the Gates - Possessed m Death 89.383 1986
08 Bonded By Blood - Exodus m Thrash 89.535 1985
07 Bleach - Nirvana r Grunge 90.007 1989
06 Ride the Lightning - Metallica m Thrash 90.605 1984
05 Back in Black - AC/DC r Hard 91.200 1980
04 Peace Sells….But Who's Buying - Megadeth m Thrash 91.355 1986
03 Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne m Heavy 93.579 1981
02 Master of Puppets - Metallica m Thrash 95.305 1986
01 Diary of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne m Heavy 99.680 1981
 
 
In my 70's thread somebody requested that I go to 100 so here you go....... counting down from 100 to 51

100 Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory m Heavy 76.330
99 Power and Pain - Whiplash m Thrash 76.335
98 Feel the Fire - Overkill m Thrash 76.700
97 4 - Foreigner r Hard 76.700
96 Ethel the Frog - Ethel the Frog m NWOBHM 76.700
95 Genesis - Genesis r Pop 76.757
94 Appetite For Destruction - Guns N Roses r Hard 76.820
93 Speak English or Die - S.O.D. m Thrash 76.876
92 Brother in Arms - Dire Straits r Roots 76.979
91 Leprosy - Death m Death 77.005

90 Diver Down - Van Halen r Hard 77.019
89 Sirens - Savatage m Heavy 77.046
88 Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen r Rock-n-Roll 77.120
87 So Far, So Good, So What! - Megadeth m Thrash 77.155
86 The Ultimate Sin - Ozzy Osbourne m Heavy 77.201
85 Danzig - Danzig m Heavy 77.220
84 Mayhemic Destruction - Mortal Sin m Thrash 77.280
83 Epicus Doomicus Metallicus - Candlemass m Doom Epic 77.394
82 Whitesnake - Whitesnake r Hard 77.513
81 Scarecrow - John Cougar Mellencamp r Heartland 77.560

80 Headless Cross - Black Sabbath m Heavy 77.580
79 Screaming for Vengeance - Judas Priest m Heavy 77.868
78 The Sane Asylum - Blind Illusion m Thrash 78.080
77 No Jackets Required - Phil Collins r Pop 78.100
76 Operation: Mindcrime - Queensryche m Heavy 78.140
75 Pleasures of the Flesh - Exodus m Thrash 78.179
74 Learning to Crawl - Pretenders, The r New Wave 78.180
73 British Steel (US) - Judas Priest m Heavy 78.313
72 The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden m Heavy 78.330
71 For Those About to Rock - AC/DC r Hard 78.340

70 Escape - Journey r Rock 78.360
69 Don't Break the Oath - Mercyful Fate m Heavy 78.379
68 Ram it Down - Judas Priest m Heavy 78.500
67 No Rest for the Wicked - Ozzy Osbourne m Heavy 78.535
66 Lightning to the Nations - Diamond Head m Heavy 78.642
65 Heartbeat City - Cars, The r New Wave 78.700
64 Holy Diver - Dio m Heavy 78.757
63 Nightfall - Candlemass m Doom Epic 78.846
62 Among the Living - Anthrax m Thrash 3 78.957
61 Centerfield - John Fogerty r Heartland 79.001

60 Vol. 1 Traveling Wilburys r Folk 79.080
59 5150 - Van Halen r Hard 79.157
58 Tales of Creation - Candlemass m Doom Epic 79.290
57 And Justice For All - Metallica m Thrash 79.579
56 Nightmare Theater - Exorcist m Speed 80.200
55 Blackout - Scorpions r Hard 80.290
54 Eliminator - ZZ Top r Hard 80.492
53 Mob Rules - Black Sabbath m Heavy 80.557
52 Bark at the Moon - Ozzy Osbourne m Heavy 80.655
51 Daylight Again - Crosby Stills & Nash r Rock 80.729
 
Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses.

Can remember watching MTV sitting in my college appartment with my roommates. The VJ said that the video debuting next is from a band that will be the next Led Zeppalin. We all look at each other and said "sure" with smirks on our faces. Then they aired Welcome to the Jungle.....our jaws dropped to the ground. We were all blown away.
 
I get that you like the genre but did you only listen to Metal in this decade?!? So much great stuff is left off... Here is a short list of notable albums that you left off that are top 20 in most books>

Joshua Tree - U2
Graceland - Paul Simon
Remain in Light - Talking Heads
Speaking in Tongues - Talking Heads
The River - Bruce Springsteen
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Let's Dance - David Bowie
Thriller - Michael Jackson
Combat Rock - The Clash
Synchronicity - The Police
So - Peter Gabriel
Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones
Purple Rain - Prince
1999 - Prince
Disintegration - The Cure
Murmur - REM
 
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OK, I stated that the 70's were and likely the best decade for music ever but the best decade to grow up in was the 80's. I mean you had the music of the 70's to fall back on but the 80's really launched some great Metal bands and what a great scene that was. Bunch of great albums out during this era but there are likely some I have not heard that could make my top 50 list. My top 50 consist of studio albums only with Live and EP albums with unique tracks that do not appear on any other studio album are considered. Now I've listened to a bunch of albums in the 80's so what are your favorites of this era and if I have not listened to them I will check them out....

Share your stories of concerts you went to in the 80's and your record store experiences.... remember record stores?? !!!! ??

My Top 50 Studio albums in reverse order.....

rank/album/band/m=metal,r=rock/Genre/My Rating/Year

50 Piece of Mind - Iron Maiden m Heavy 80.868 1983
49 Power Slave - Iron Maiden m Heavy 81.105 1984
48 Against The Wind - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band r Heartland 81.120 1980
47 Game Over - Nuclear Assault m Thrash 81.147 1986
46 Oh No! It's Devo - Devo r New Wave 81.165 1982
45 Don't Say No - Billy Squier r Hard 81.360 1981
44 Born Again - Black Sabbath m Heavy 81.380 1983
43 Stay Hungry - Twisted Sister m Heavy 81.700 1984
42 Scream Bloody Gore - Death m Death 81.804 1987
41 Killing is My Business…. - Megadeth m Thrash 81.955 1985

40 1984 - Van Halen r Hard 81.955 1983
39 Orgasmatron - Motorhead m Heavy 82.024 1986
38 Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath m Heavy 82.255 1980
37 How Will I Laugh Tomorrow….. - Suicidal Tendencies m Thrash 82.300 1988
36 Love at First Sting - Scorpions r Hard 82.357 1984
35 Survive - Nuclear Assault m Thrash 82.400 1988
34 Seven Churches - Possessed m Death 82.700 1985
33 The Plague - Nuclear Assault m Thrash 82.927 1987
32 Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails r Industrial 83.080 1989
31 Defenders of the Faith - Judas Priest m Heavy 83.280 1984

30 Widespread Bloodshed Love Runs Red - No Mercy m Thrash 83.357 1987
29 Show No Mercy - Slayer m Thrash 83.480 1983
28 Refuge Denied - Sanctuary m Thrash 83.513 1988
27 Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue m Heavy 83.540 1983
26 Flick of the Switch - AC/DC r Hard 83.740 1983
25 Moving Pictures - Rush r Progressive 83.899 1981
24 Garage Days Re-Revisited ($5.98) - Metallica m Thrash 84.194 1987
23 Full Moon Fever - Tom Petty r Heartland 84.204 1989
22 Momentary Lapse of Reason - Pink Floyd r Progressive 84.490 1987
21 Metal Church - Metal Church m Thrash 85.068 1985

20 Hell Awaits - Slayer m Thrash 85.299 1985
19 Join the Army - Suicidal Tendencies m Thrash Crossover 85.361 1987
18 The New Order - Testament m Thrash 85.640 1988
17 Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies r Punk Hardcore 86.304 1983
16 The Eyes of Horror - Possessed m Death 86.970 1987
15 South of Heaven - Slayer m Thrash 87.680 1988
14 Taking Over - Overkill m Thrash 87.801 1987
13 The Legacy - Testament m Thrash 87.846 1987
12 Reign In Blood - Slayer m Thrash 88.020 1986
11 The Dungeons are Calling - Savatage m Heavy 88.927 1984

10 Killem All - Metallica m Thrash 89.060 1983
09 Beyond the Gates - Possessed m Death 89.383 1986
08 Bonded By Blood - Exodus m Thrash 89.535 1985
07 Bleach - Nirvana r Grunge 90.007 1989
06 Ride the Lightning - Metallica m Thrash 90.605 1984
05 Back in Black - AC/DC r Hard 91.200 1980
04 Peace Sells….But Who's Buying - Megadeth m Thrash 91.355 1986
03 Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne m Heavy 93.579 1981
02 Master of Puppets - Metallica m Thrash 95.305 1986
01 Diary of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne m Heavy 99.680 1981
No Ronnie James DIO? This list is crap.
 
To be honest I don't get George Thorogood, I saw him once live and I don't get the same energy that others see. On the other hand the best guitar based performer in the '80s was easily Stevie Ray Vaugh. He never really had what you would call a standout album with much of his material blues standards but live his guitar virtuosity really shown through.

 
Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses.

Can remember watching MTV sitting in my college appartment with my roommates. The VJ said that the video debuting next is from a band that will be the next Led Zeppalin. We all look at each other and said "sure" with smirks on our faces. Then they aired Welcome to the Jungle.....our jaws dropped to the ground. We were all blown away.

I bought that album when it came out and wore it out. I definitely liked them much better back then than I do now. I just don't like Rose anymore and I find his singing now annoying.....
 
I get that you like the genre but did you only listen to Metal in this decade?!? So much great stuff is left off... Here is a short list of notable albums that you left off that are top 20 in most books>

Joshua Tree - U2
Graceland - Paul Simon
Remain in Light - Talking Heads
Speaking in Tongues - Talking Heads
The River - Bruce Springsteen
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Let's Dance - David Bowie
Thriller - Michael Jackson
Combat Rock - The Clash
Synchronicity - The Police
So - Peter Gabriel
Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones
Purple Rain - Prince
1999 - Prince
Disintegration - The Cure
Murmur - REM

Well as you know my list is off of my tastes and my rating system and back in the 80's I was about 90% full metal head. As for the albums you listed when I get time I will look to see which ones I have listened to and I know I have heard a few of them especially Jackson's Thriller album which came in at #101 on my ratings at 76.313. Some that I have not heard I will check out.....
 
I get that you like the genre but did you only listen to Metal in this decade?!? So much great stuff is left off... Here is a short list of notable albums that you left off that are top 20 in most books>

Joshua Tree - U2
Graceland - Paul Simon
Remain in Light - Talking Heads
Speaking in Tongues - Talking Heads
The River - Bruce Springsteen
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Let's Dance - David Bowie

Listened to The Joshua Tree today... what a great side 1 with my 2 favorite U2 Tracks on it (With or Without You and Bullet to Blue Sky). Side 2 though was a huge drop off for me.... I would say side 2 was just OK. Overall the album did not make the top 50 but would of gotten into the top 100 at #63

I've listened to Graceland before but only liked half the tracks on it... I did not care for Remain in the Light and have not heard Speaking in Tongues.... maybe will give it a try.

Born in the USA so far is my Favorite Bruce album and it falls just outside the top 100, have not heard The River yet.... Did not like Bowie's Lets Dance album.......

I'll take a look at the other suggestions when I get a chance....
 
Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues ... 71.601

Started with Burning Down the House probably my second favorite song from them but then some weird song came on and I was thinking what the heck is this but about after a minute it caught on and I ended up liking it. Typically with the Talking Heads for me I only like about 4 tracks on their albums and this one was no exception though it did rank higher than any other TH albums I have heard.
 
Quintessential 80's.

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I really do not see how Sammy Haggar's "Standing Hampton" is missing from your list...top 10 for sure, solid all the way through...the album cover art alone would get it in the top 100 if it had no songs...

 
Well as you know my list is off of my tastes and my rating system and back in the 80's I was about 90% full metal head. As for the albums you listed when I get time I will look to see which ones I have listened to and I know I have heard a few of them especially Jackson's Thriller album which came in at #101 on my ratings at 76.313. Some that I have not heard I will check out.....

I understand that your lean to more aggressive music but then again I do see some wild hair type likes that pop up out of nowhere. I am not all in with many of the types of music on the list I submitted but do get why some may consider them as best of the decade. By the way I am not a big fan of '80s music in general and found it difficult to come up with a list, looking forward to the'90s.
 
I really do not see how Sammy Haggar's "Standing Hampton" is missing from your list...top 10 for sure, solid all the way through...the album cover art alone would get it in the top 100 if it had no songs...


Well, it is not on my list as I have never listened to Sammy Hagar with the exception of when he was with Van Halen. I will check out this album you suggested and who knows...
 
Well, it is not on my list as I have never listened to Sammy Hagar with the exception of when he was with Van Halen. I will check out this album you suggested and who knows...

IMO nothing Van Halen did with Sammy is as good as with David Lee Roth and nothing Sammy did with Van Halen is as good as his solo stuff or Montrose.

For me, Standing Hampton is a all time top 5 album, I think you are in for a treat! Let us know what you think...
 
IMO nothing Van Halen did with Sammy is as good as with David Lee Roth and nothing Sammy did with Van Halen is as good as his solo stuff or Montrose.

For me, Standing Hampton is a all time top 5 album, I think you are in for a treat! Let us know what you think...
The first Montrose album was an underappreciated monster heavy-metal album. Song after song of great hard rock...not a bad cut on the entire album. We played the crap out of that Montrose 8-track, cruising around in high school.

Side note: It seemed like either Montrose or Ted Nugent opened about every rock concert that I attended in the seventies. Montrose was a good live act, too, but they usually had a short set, since they were the second or third billed band on the program. One memorable concert was Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana and Nugent in Cincinnati. The fans tolerated Nugent, the first band, but literally booed Santana off the stage. They threw stuff at him and he walked off after only a couple songs and the fans cheered when he left. I was quite surprised, but the Cinci-tuckians were there for Skynyrd only. Free Bird!
 
IMO nothing Van Halen did with Sammy is as good as with David Lee Roth and nothing Sammy did with Van Halen is as good as his solo stuff or Montrose.

For me, Standing Hampton is a all time top 5 album, I think you are in for a treat! Let us know what you think...

alright then, lets do this.....
 
Sammy Hagar - Standing Hampton (1982)

>70 Liked it, >80 = great, >90 = Elite

1. "I'll Fall in Love Again" 75.6
2. "There's Only One Way to Rock" 87.0
3. "Baby's on Fire" 75.0
4. "Can't Get Loose" 73.8
5. "Heavy Metal" 83.0
6. "Baby, It's You" 83.6
7. "Surrender" 70.0
8. "Inside Lookin' In" 73.2
9. "Sweet Hitchhiker" 76.0
10. "Piece of My Heart" 75.0

Total = 77.320

Well, I liked just about all of it... Surrender was the only track that was iffy for me now it did take me a bit to get used to the cover song and had to somehow block out Joplin's version to enjoy it better. The surprise song for me was track #6. Track 2 and 5 I have heard several times before but everything else was new to me. The rating based on my system was not high enough to have made my top 50 but it would of placed it in the top 100 at #84/85. This album though currently ranks at #422 of all the albums i have heard in any given year. Thanks for the suggestion and I will definitely listen to more Hagar as well as Montrose.
 
Sammy Hagar - Standing Hampton (1982)

>70 Liked it, >80 = great, >90 = Elite

1. "I'll Fall in Love Again" 75.6
2. "There's Only One Way to Rock" 87.0
3. "Baby's on Fire" 75.0
4. "Can't Get Loose" 73.8
5. "Heavy Metal" 83.0
6. "Baby, It's You" 83.6
7. "Surrender" 70.0
8. "Inside Lookin' In" 73.2
9. "Sweet Hitchhiker" 76.0
10. "Piece of My Heart" 75.0

Total = 77.320

Well, I liked just about all of it... Surrender was the only track that was iffy for me now it did take me a bit to get used to the cover song and had to somehow block out Joplin's version to enjoy it better. The surprise song for me was track #6. Track 2 and 5 I have heard several times before but everything else was new to me. The rating based on my system was not high enough to have made my top 50 but it would of placed it in the top 100 at #84/85. This album though currently ranks at #422 of all the albums i have heard in any given year. Thanks for the suggestion and I will definitely listen to more Hagar as well as Montrose.

Take three shots of Cobo Wobo, listen again and call me in the morning.

Just kidding, I appreciate your honest reviews... the thing about really good music is it is often amplified by really good memories.
 
Take three shots of Cobo Wobo, listen again and call me in the morning.

Just kidding, I appreciate your honest reviews... the thing about really good music is it is often amplified by really good memories.

Oh yeah.... the memories.... I have them I just don't remember them. Too much Jack over the years to the point of unconsciousness. Those days are long gone and it is now sober listening for me. I'll be checking out more Hagar over the years as well as diving into some Montrose.
 
Come to think about it I did see Hagar in concert once when he was with Van Halen at the Rubber Bowl in Akron. We showed up a few days too soon by accident and hung out in the park for days being run out of every convenient store we went into. I recall Sammy did something stupid by climbing up near the top of the stage and hanging there while singing.... I on the other hand ended up waking up in some McDonald's parking lot with no idea what town I was in or even if I was still in Ohio..... My friends were no hope as well.....
 
A list of top rock/metal albums of the 80s without Def Leppard Pyromania and Hysteria, Skid Row Skid Row, and Tesla Mechanical Resonance seems incomplete.
 
A list of top rock/metal albums of the 80s without Def Leppard Pyromania and Hysteria, Skid Row Skid Row, and Tesla Mechanical Resonance seems incomplete.

It is just a matter of taste. I own Pyromania and played the heck out of during the day.... now, not that much of a big fan of it.....

Pyromania Def Leppard m Glam 75.900 1983
Hysteria Def Leppard m Glam 71.954 1987

The only Skid Row album I've heard was Slave to the Grind and did not like it. Never listened to Tesla...... so maybe I'll give it a shot.
 
Checked out Mechanincal Resonance and really did not care for it. Only liked a few tracks... just not my taste.
 
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