UK No. 1 albums of the 80's

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

1980

January 5 Rod Stewart : Greatest Hits 1 week
January 12 ABBA : Greatest Hits, Volume 2 1 week
January 19 Pretenders : The Pretenders 4 weeks
February 16 various artists : The Last Dance 2 weeks
March 1 Shadows : String of Hits 3 weeks
March 22 Johnny Mathis : Tears and Laughter 2 weeks
April 5 Genesis : Duke 2 weeks
April 19 Rose Royce : Greatest Hits 2 weeks
May 3 Sky : Sky 2 2 weeks
May 17 Boney M : The Magic of Boney M 2 weeks
May 31 Paul McCartney : McCartney 2 2 weeks
June 14 Peter Gabriel : Peter Gabriel 2 weeks
June 28 Roxy Music : Flesh and Blood 1 week
July 5 Rolling Stones : Emotional Rescue 2 weeks
July 19 Queen : The Game 2 weeks
August 2 Deep Purple : Deepest Purple 1 week
August 9 AC/DC : Back in Black 2 weeks
August 23 Roxy Music : Flesh and Blood 3 weeks
September 13 Gary Numan : Telecon 1 week
September 20 Kate Bush : Never for Ever 1 week
September 27 David Bowie : Scary Monsters and Supercreeps 2 weeks
October 11 Police : Zenyatta Mondatta 4 weeks
November 8 Barbra Streisand : Guilty 2 weeks
November 22 ABBA : Super Trouper 9 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1

To The Top

1981

January 24 Adam and the Ants : Kings of the Wild Frontier 2 weeks
February 7 John Lennon / Yoko Ono : Double Fantasy 2 weeks
February 21 Phil Collins : Face Value 3 weeks
March 14 Adam and the Ants : Kings of the Wild Frontier 10 weeks
May 23 Starsound : Stars on 45 5 weeks
June 27 Motorhead : No Sleep Till Hammersmith 1 week
July 4 various artists : Disco Daze and Disco Nites 1 week
July 11 Cliff Richard : Love Songs 5 weeks
August 15 various artists : The Official BBC Album of the Royal Wedding 2 weeks
August 29 Electric Light Orchestra : Time 2 weeks
September 12 Meat Loaf : Dead Ringer 2 weeks
September 26 Genesis : Abacab 2 weeks
October 10 Police : Ghost in the Machine 3 weeks
October 31 Human League : Dare! 1 week
November 7 Shakin' Stevens : Shaky 1 week
November 14 Queen : Greatest Hits 4 weeks
December 12 various artists : Chart Hits '81 1 week
December 19 ABBA : The Visitors 3 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1982

January 9 Human League : Dare! 3 weeks
January 30 Barbra Streisand : Love Songs 7 weeks
March 20 Jam : The Gift 1 week
March 27 Barbra Streisand : Love Songs 2 weeks
April 10 Iron Maiden : The Number of the Beast 2 weeks
April 24 Status Quo : 1982 1 week
May 1 Barry Manilow : Barry Live in Britain 1 week
May 8 Paul McCartney : Tug of War 2 weeks
May 22 Madness : Complete Madness 2 weeks
June 5 Roxy Music : Avalon 1 week
June 12 Madness : Complete Madness 1 week
June 19 Roxy Music : Avalon 2 weeks
July 3 ABC : The Lexicon of Love 4 weeks
July 31 soundtrack : Fame 1 week
August 7 Kids from Fame : Kids from Fame 8 weeks
October 2 Dire Straits : Love Over Gold 4 weeks
October 30 Kids from Fame : Kids from Fame 4 weeks
November 27 ABBA : The Singles - The First Ten Years 1 week
December 4 John Lennon : The John Lennon Collection 6 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1983

January 15 various artists : Raiders of the Pop Charts 2 weeks
January 29 Men at Work : Business as Usual 5 weeks
March 5 Michael Jackson : Thriller 1 week
March 12 U2 : War 1 week
March 19 Michael Jackson : Thriller 1 week
March 26 Tears for Fears : The Hurting 1 week
April 2 Pink Floyd : The Final Cut 2 weeks
April 16 Bonnie Tyler : Faster Than the Speed of Night * 1 week
April 23 David Bowie : Let's Dance 3 weeks
May 14 Spandau Ballet : True 1 week
May 21 Michael Jackson : Thriller 5 weeks
June 25 Police : Synchronicity * 2 weeks
July 9 Wham! : Fantastic! 2 weeks
July 23 Yazoo : You and Me Both 2 weeks
August 6 Beach Boys : The Very Best of Beach Boys 2 weeks
August 20 Michael Jackson plus the Jackson 5 : 18 Greatest Hits 3 weeks
September 10 Beach Boys : The Very Best of Beach Boys 1 weeks
September 17 Paul Young : No Parlez 1 week
September 24 UB40 : Labour of Love 1 week
October 1 Paul Young : No Parlez 2 weeks
October 15 Genesis : Genesis 1 week
October 22 Culture Club : Colour by Numbers * 3 weeks
November 12 Lionel Richie : Can't Slow Down 1 week
November 19 Culture Club : Colour by Numbers 2 week
December 3 Duran Duran : Seven and the Ragged Tiger * 1 week
December 10 Paul Young : No Parlez 1 week
December 19 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 4 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1984

January 14 Paul Young : No Parlez 1 week
January 21 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 1 week
January 28 Michael Jackson : Thriller 1 week
February 4 Eurythmics : Touch 2 weeks
February 18 Simple Minds : Sparkle in the Rain * 1 week
February 25 Thompson Twins : Into the Gap 3 weeks
March 17 Howard Jones : Human's Lib * 2 weeks
March 31 Lionel Richie : Can't Slow Down 2 weeks
April 14 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 2 5 weeks
May 19 Bob Marley and the Wailers : Legend 12 weeks
August 11 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 3 8 weeks
October 6 David Bowie : Tonight 1 week
October 13 U2 : The Unforgettable Fire 2 weeks
October 27 Big Country : Steeltown 1 week
November 3 Paul McCartney : Give My Regards to Broad Street 1 week
November 10 Frankie Goes to Hollywood : Welcome to the Pleasuredome * 1 week
November 17 Wham! : Make It Big 2 weeks
December 1 various artists : The Hits Album/The Hits Tape 7 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1985

January 19 Alison Moyet : Alf 1 week
January 26 Foreigner : Agent Provocateur 3 weeks
February 16 Bruce Springsteen : Born in the USA 1 week
February 23 Smiths : Meat is Murder 1 week
March 2 Phil Collins : No Jacket Required 5 weeks
April 6 Paul Young : The Secret of Association 1 week
April 13 various artists : The Hits Album 2/The Hits Tape 2 6 weeks
May 25 Dire Straits : Brothers in Arms 2 weeks
June 8 Style Counsil : Our Favourite Shop 1 week
June 15 Brian Ferry : Boys and Girls 2 weeks
June 29 Marillion : Misplaced Childhood 1 week
July 6 Bruce Springsteen : Born in the USA 4 weeks
August 3 Dire Straits : Brothers in Arms 2 weeks
August 17 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 5 5 weeks
September 21 Madonna : Like a Virgin 1 week
September 28 Kate Bush : Hounds of Love 2 weeks
October 12 Madonna : Like a Virgin 1 week
October 19 Kate Bush : Hounds of Love 1 week
October 26 George Benson : The Love Songs 1 week
November 2 Simple Minds : Once Upon a Time * 1 week
November 9 George Benson : The Love Songs 1 week
November 16 Sade : Promise 2 weeks
November 30 various artists : The Greatest Hits of the 1985 1 week
December 7 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 6 2 weeks
December 21 various artists : Now! - The Christmas Album 2 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1986

January 4 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 6 2 weeks
January 18 Dire Straits : Brothers in Arms 10 weeks
March 29 various artists : Hits 4 4 weeks
April 26 Bryan Ferry / Roxy Music : Street Life - 20 Great Hits 5 weeks
May 31 Peter Gabriel : So 2 weeks
June 14 Queen : A Kind of Magic 1 week
June 21 Genesis : Invisible Touch 3 weeks
July 12 Madonna : True Blue 6 weeks
August 23 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 7 5 weeks
September 27 Five Star : Silk and Steel 1 week
October 4 Paul Simon : Graceland 5 weeks
November 8 Police : Every Breath You Take - The Singles 2 weeks
November 22 various artists : Hits 5 2 weeks
December 6 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 8 6 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1987

January 17 Kate Bush : The Whole Story 2 weeks
January 31 Paul Simon : Graceland 3 weeks
February 21 various artists [Original London Cast] : The Phantom of the Opera 3 weeks
March 14 Hot Chocolate : The Very Best of Hot Chocolate 1 week
March 21 U2 : Joshua Tree 2 weeks
April 4 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 9 5 weeks
May 9 Curiosity Killed the Cat : Keep Your Distance 2 weeks
May 23 Swing out Sister : It's Better to Travel 2 weeks
June 6 Simple Minds : Live in the City of Light * 1 week
June 13 Whitney Houston : Whitney 6 weeks
July 25 Terence Trent D'Arby : Introducing the Hardline According to the Terence Trent D'Arby 1 week
August 1 various artists : Hits 6 4 weeks
August 29 Def Leppard : Hysteria 1 week
September 5 various artists : Hits 6 1 week
September 12 Michael Jackson : Bad 5 weeks
October 17 Bruce Springsteen : Tunnel of Love 1 week
October 24 Sting : Nothing Like the Sun 1 week
October 31 Fleetwood Mac : Tango in the Night 2 weeks
November 14 George Michael : Faith 1 week
November 21 T'Pau : Bridge of Spies 1 week
November 28 Rick Astley : Whenever You Need Somebody 1 week
December 5 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 10 6 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1988

January 16 Wet Wet Wet : Popped in Souled out 1 week
January 23 Johnny Hates Jazz : Turn Back the Clock 1 week
January 30 Terence Trent D'Arby : Introducing the Hardline According to the Terence Trent D'Arby 8 weeks
March 26 Morrisey : Viva Hate! 1 week
April 2 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 11 3 weeks
April 23 Iron Maiden : Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 1 week
April 30 Erasure : The Innocents 1 week
May 7 Fleetwood Mac : Tango in the Night 2 weeks
May 21 Prince : Lovesexy 1 week
May 28 Fleetwood Mac : Tango in the Night 1 week
June 4 various artists : Nite Flite 4 weeks
July 2 Tracy Chapman : Tracy Chapman 3 weeks
July 23 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 12 5 weeks
August 27 Kylie Minogue : Kylie 4 weeks
September 24 various artists : Hot City Night 1 week
October 1 Bon Jovi : New Jersey 2 weeks
October 15 Chris De Bourgh : Flying Colours 1 week
October 22 U2 : Rattle and Hum 1 week
October 29 Dire Straits : Money for Nothing 3 weeks
November 19 Kylie Minogue : Kylie 2 weeks
December 3 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 13 3 weeks
December 24 Cliff Richard : Private Collection 2 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
To The Top

1989

January 7 various artists : Now! That's What I Call Music 13 1 week
January 14 Erasure : The Innocents 1 week
January 21 Roy Orbison : The Legendary Roy Orbison 3 weeks
February 11 New Order : Technique 1 week
February 18 Fine Young Cannibals : The Raw and the Cooked 1 week
February 25 Simply Red : A New Flame 4 weeks
March 25 Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine : Anything for You 1 week
April 1 Madonna : Like a Prayer 2 weeks
April 15 Deacon Blue : When the World Knows Your Name 2 weeks
April 29 Simply Red : A New Flame 1 week
May 6 Holly Johnson : Blast 1 week
May 13 Simple Minds : Street Fighting Years * 1 week
May 20 Jason Donovan : Ten Good Reasons 2 weeks
June 3 Queen : The Miracle * 1 week
June 10 Jason Donovan : Ten Good Reasons 1 week
June 24 Paul McCartney : Flowers in the Dirt 1 week
July 1 Prince : Batman - soundtrack 1 week
July 8 Transvision Vamp : Velveteen 1 week
July 15 Soul II Soul : Club Classics, Volume 1 1 week
July 22 Simply Red : A New Flame 2 weeks
August 5 Gloria Estefan : Cuts Both Ways 6 weeks
September 16 various artists [Original London Cast]: Aspects of Love 1 week
September 23 Eurythmics : We Too Are One 1 week
September 30 Tina Turner : Foreign Affair 1 week
October 7 Tears for Fears : The Seeds of Love * 1 week
October 14 Tracy Chapman : Crossroads 1 week
October 21 Kylie Minogue : Enjoy Yourself 1 week
October 28 Erasure : Wild! 2 weeks
November 11 Chris Rea : The Road to Hell 3 weeks
December 2 Phil Collins : ...But Seriously 6 weeks
* Entered chart at No. 1
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