100 Greatest Albums of 1982

Criteria: These 1982 albums were chosen for their initial and lasting popularity and their influence and impact on rock music in general. Also considered is critical acclaim. The list includes rock and roll and related genres that were influential on rock music.

Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'. Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. Thriller
Michael Jackson
2. 1999
Prince
3. The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
4. Rio
Duran Duran
5. The Message
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
6. Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
7. Avalon
Roxy Music
8. The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
9. Business As Usual
Men At Work
10. Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello and The Attractions
11. Shoot Out the Lights
Richard & Linda Thompson
12. The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
13. Combat Rock
The Clash
14. Toto IV
Toto
15. Midnight Love
Marvin Gaye
16. Screaming For Vengeance
Judas Priest
17. Pornography
The Cure
18. American Fool
John Cougar
19. Bad Brains
Bad Brains
20. Upstairs At Eric's
Yaz(oo)
21. Asia
Asia
22. Tug Of War
Paul McCartney
23. The Nylon Curtain
Billy Joel
24. Black Metal
Venom
25. Night And Day
Joe Jackson
26. Signals
Rush
27. Hello, I Must Be Going
Phil Collins
28. Big Science
Laurie Anderson
29. Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
30. The Gap Band IV
The Gap Band
31. Mirage
Fleetwood Mac
32. H2O
Daryl Hall & John Oates
33. Special Beat Service
The (English) Beat
34. Peter Gabriel (IV)/Security
Peter Gabriel
35. Picture This
Huey Lewis & The News
36. Chronic Town
R.E.M.
37. Forever, For Always, For Love
Luther Vandross
38. English Settlement
XTC
39. Pictures At Eleven
Robert Plant
40. Killer On The Rampage
Eddy Grant
41. Milo Goes To College
The Descendents
42. Bad To The Bone
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
43. A Flock Of Seagulls
A Flock Of Seagulls
44. Eye In The Sky
Alan Parsons Project
45. Aldo Nova
Aldo Nova
46. Blackout
Scorpions
47. Marshall Crenshaw
Marshall Crenshaw
48. Vs.
Mission Of Burma
49. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
Simple Minds
50. The Dreaming
Kate Bush
51. Special Forces
.38 Special
52. A Kiss In The Dreamhouse
Siouxsie & The Banshees
53. Restless And Wild
Accept
54. Chicago 16
Chicago
55. Friend Or Foe
Adam Ant
56. Long After Dark
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
57. Music For A New Society
John Cale
58. Computer Games
George Clinton
59. Kissing To Be Clever
Culture Club
60. Night Nurse
Gregory Isaacs
61. Daylight Again
Crosby, Stills, & Nash
62. Too-Rye-Ay
Dexy's Midnight Runners
63. Jump To It
Aretha Franklin
64. Pleasure Victim
Berlin
65. Sweets From A Stranger
Squeeze
66. Abracadabra
Steve Miller Band
67. Forever Now
The Psychedelic Furs
68. Emotions In Motion
Billy Squier
69. Album: Generic Flipper
Flipper
70. Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet
Rick Springfield
71. The Concert In Central Park
Simon & Garfunkel
72. Diver Down
Van Halen
73. Walk Among Us
The Misfits
74. Billy Idol
Billy Idol
75. Songs Of The Free
Gang Of Four
76. You Can't Hide Your Love Forever
Orange Juice
77. No Control
Eddie Money
78. Love Over Gold
Dire Straits
79. Vacation
The Go-Go's
80. Sulk
The Associates
81. Under The Big Black Sun
X
82. Get Nervous
Pat Benatar
83. The Blue Mask
Lou Reed
84. All This Love
DeBarge
85. Hex Enduction Hour
The Fall
86. The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads
Talking Heads
87. All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
Pete Townshend
88. The Rise And Fall
Madness
89. Straight Between The Eyes
Rainbow
90. Good Trouble
REO Speedwagon
91. Something's Going On
Frida
92. What Time Is It?
The Time
93. Branigan
Laura Branigan
94. Miami
The Gun Club
95. Junkyard
The Birthday Party
96. Jump Up
Elton John
97. I Can't Stand Still
Don Henley
98. After The Snow- Modern English
99. The Other Woman
Ray Parker Jr.
100. The Days Of Wine And Roses
Dream Syndicate
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1982
An unheralded great album from 1982
Brett's choice:
* Christmas Soul Special
Various Artists
Bruce's choice:
* Lime II
Lime
Ryan's choice:
* Garlands
The Cocteau Twins
Lew's choice:
* The Getaway
Chris de Burgh
⇐ 1981   |   1983 ⇒