The Best Albums of 1982

We are back with another Best Albums feature from a year gone by - if you missed 2002, check that out after you're done here. Let's go back 35 revolutions around the sun to the year 1982. Ronald Reagan was in his first term as President of the United States, while the compact disc was commercially debuting in Japan with 50 titles. The Commodore 64 personal computer hit the store shelves and Pitfall! for the Atari 2600 immediately became a favorite after school adventure. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Rocky III, Tootsie, Blade Runner, Poltergeist and Annie were tearing it up at the box office. 1982 was a year of some notable births, including rappers Lil Wayne & Nicki Minaj, future American Idol successes Adam Lambert & Kelly Clarkson, actresses Lacey Chabert (whose father invented Toaster Strudels), Anne Hathaway, Full House's Jodie Sweetin and Kirsten Dunst. The world sadly lost the talents of actors John Belushi & Grace Kelly, jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, guitarist Randy Rhoads and science fiction writer Philip K. Dick.

As always, Sarah and I enlisted the help of our regular contributors & friends to select Top 15 albums. In addition, everyone handpicked a track from each album for you to enjoy in our Best Albums of 1982 Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page (unfortunately there are a few albums not available on Spotify - we encourage you to locate those elsewhere). If you'd like to share your own 1982 favorites, please comment below. We will be back later in the week with a list of our Honorable Mentions. Stay tuned to see which year is coming next!

Bret Helm

Life on this Planet | Audra

15. Misfits - Walk Among Us

14. The Wake - Harmony

13. Talk Talk - The Party's Over

12. Grease 2 Soundtrack

11. The Associates - Sulk

10. Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame

09. Modern English - After the Snow

08. R.E.M. - Chronic Town EP

07. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now

06. The Sound - All Fall Down

05. The Church - The Blurred Crusade

04. Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain

03. Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone Out

02. The Cure - Pornography

01. Virgin Prunes - ...If I Die, I Die

Sarah Quarrie
Life on this Planet

15. Stray Cats - Built for Speed
14. The Jam - The Gift
13. INXS - Shabooh Shoobah
12. Ultravox - Quartet
11. Visage - The Anvil
10. Berlin - Pleasure Victim

09. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now

08. Modern English - After the Snow

07. The Clash - Combat Rock

06. Siouxsie and the Banshees - A Kiss in the Dreamhouse

05. Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone Out

04. Duran Duran - Rio

03. Yazoo - Upstairs at Eric's

02. The Cure - Pornography

01. Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame

Rob Clark
Rockford, Illinois

15. Madness - The Rise & Fall

14. Duran Duran - Rio

13. Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone Out

12. Ultravox - Quartet

11. Modern English - After the Snow

10. Midnight Oil - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

09. Laurie Anderson - Big Science

08. Talk Talk - The Party's Over

07. The Clash - Combat Rock

06. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now

05. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

04. Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Imperial Bedroom

03. Peter Gabriel - (Security)

02. XTC - English Settlement

01. Kate Bush - The Dreaming

Ron Marrs
New Orleans, Louisiana

15. Judy Nylon & Crucial - Pal Judy

14. Missing Persons - Spring Session M

13. The Comsat Angels - Fiction

12. The Dream Syndicate - The Days of Wine and Roses

11. The Unknowns - s/t

10. Lydia Lunch - 13.13

09. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now

08. Cocteau Twins - Garlands

07. Crispy Ambulance - The Plateau Phase

06. The Wake - Harmony

05. Virgin Prunes - ...If I Die, I Die

04. Duran Duran - Rio

03. The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour

02. The Cure - Pornography

01. Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain

Sierra Anna Jones
Okinawa, Japan

15. Culture Club - Kissing to Be Clever
14. Orange Juice - You Can't Hide Your Love Forever
13. Yazoo - Upstairs at Eric's
12. Duran Duran - Rio
11. Fleetwood Mac - Mirage
10. Virgin Prunes - ...If I Die, I Die
09. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now
08. Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame
07. Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain
06. Cocteau Twins - Garlands
05. Siouxsie and the Banshees - A Kiss in the Dreamhouse
04. Roxy Music - Avalon
03. Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone Out
02. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
01. The Cure - Pornography

Jason Jones
Okinawa, Japan

15. Billy Idol - s/t
14. Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse
13. Burning Spear - Farover
12. Yazoo - Upstairs at Eric's
11. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now
10. Duran Duran - Rio
09. Roxy Music - Avalon
08. Fleetwood Mac - Mirage
07. Siouxsie and the Banshees - A Kiss in the Dreamhouse
06. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
05. Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame
04. Prince - 1999
03. Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone Out
02. The Cure - Pornography
01. Kate Bush - The Dreaming

John Magness
Uttoxeter, England

15. Phil Collins - Hello, I Must Be Going
14. Fleetwood Mac - Mirage
13. Talk Talk - The Party's Over
12. Dexys Midnight Runners - Too-Rye-Ay
11. Roxy Music - Avalon
10. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
09. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now
08. Joe Jackson - Night and Day
07. Siouxsie and the Banshees - A Kiss in the Dreamhouse
06. Cocteau Twins - Garlands
05. Donald Fagen - The Nightfly
04. The Cure - Pornography
03. Jethro Tull - Broadsword and the Beast
02. Peter Gabriel - (Security)
01. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

Jaymz Todd
Saturday Night Music Club

15. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Long After Dark
14. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
13. Yazoo - Upstairs at Eric's
12. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
11. Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Get Loose
10. Michael Jackson - Thriller
09. Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone Out
08. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
07. INXS - Shabooh Shoobah
06. Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame
05. XTC - English Settlement
04. The Cure - Pornography
03. Prince - 1999
02. Fad Gadget - Under the Flag
01. Grease 2 Soundtrack

Tim Brown
London, England

15. John 'Cougar' Mellencamp - American Fool
14. Culture Club - Kissing to Be Clever
13. Yazoo - Upstairs at Eric's
12. The Cure - Pornography
11. The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now
10. Bauhaus - The Sky's Gone Out
09. Orange Juice - Rip it Up
08. China Crisis - Difficult Shapes and Passive Rhythms...
07. ABC - The Lexicon of Love
06. Tracey Thorn - A Distant Shore
05. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
04. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
03. The Jam - The Gift
02. The Clash - Combat Rock
01. Fleetwood Mac - Mirage

STATS

66 different albums appeared in this feature

Which ones made it onto the most lists?

The Cure (8), The Psychedelic Furs (8), Bauhaus (7), Depeche Mode (5), Duran Duran (5), Kate Bush (5) and Yazoo (5)

If you're a vinyl enthusiast, check out our feature on the Spin Clean Vinyl Record Cleaning Machine (click image below)

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