NME's Best Albums of 1981

[Santa C]

I would want to add:

Ultravox - Rage in Eden
ZZ Top - El Loco
Jon & Vangelis - The Friends of Mr Cairo
Magazine - Magic, Murder and the Weather
Frank Zappa - Tinsel Town Rebellion
Harold Budd - The Serpent (In Quicksilver)



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[robertff]

Melody Maker 1981 Readers’ Poll…

Yes, I saw that perviously….

The third worst album: No Sleep Til Hammersmith - Motörhead

Nonsense. I'm sure the writers' choices would be more sensible



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Sadly it doesn't appear to be available, pretty sure that Heaven 17 was at number one for the writers’ choice, I remember thinking ‘you must be joking’.

Something has gone wrong when Toyah is voted as the best female vocalist with Chrissie Hynde down in 6th place.

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[Tom Waits For No One]

Something has got to wrong when Toyah is voted as the best female vocalist with Chrissie Hynde down in 6th place.

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It's a mystery

[robertff]

Something has got to wrong when Toyah is voted as the best female vocalist with Chrissie Hynde down in 6th place.

.

It's a mystery

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[Santa C]

Melody Maker 1981 Readers’ Poll…

Yes, I saw that perviously….

The third worst album: No Sleep Til Hammersmith - Motörhead

Nonsense. I'm sure the writers' choices would be more sensible



.

Sadly it doesn't appear to be available, pretty sure that Heaven 17 was at number one for the writers’ choice, I remember thinking ‘you must be joking’.

Something has gone wrong when Toyah is voted as the best female vocalist with Chrissie Hynde down in 6th place.

.

My vote goes for 9th place Best Personality - Kevin Turvey







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[copehead]

For Those About to Rock - AC/DC
No Sleep to Hammersmith - Motorhead
Still - Joy Division
The Police - Ghost in the Machine
Denim and Leather - Saxon
Exit Stage Left - Rush

Not much crossover with the NME, I suppose they had Ceremony in their top 50 songs, far too low.

Loads of Heavy rock and metal in the charts that year probably 20% of the top 10 albums, but not in NME world

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U ... ms_in_1981

[NMB]

In 1981 I was young (turned 16) and dumb and the NME guided my music purchases to a ridiculous extent. Of that list I now own Tin Drum and Tattoo You.

My personal favourites of the year:
Moving Pictures - Rush
As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls - Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays
Tattoo You - Rolling Stones
Mob Rules - Black Sabbath
Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks - Hanoi Rocks
Discipline - King Crimson
Come n Get It - Whitesnake
For Those About to Rock, We Salute You - AC/DC

With hindsight I really should have been buying Sounds not NME.

[robertff]

For those interested here's a list of 100 greatest Albums of 1981 and the criteria behind their choice.

Criteria: These 1981 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.

1. Beauty And The Beat - The Go-Go's
2. Dare! - The Human League
3. Ghost In The Machine - The Police
4. Moving Pictures - Rush
5. Tattoo You - Rolling Stones
6. Damaged - Black Flag
7. My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts - Brian Eno & David Byrne
8. Escape - Journey
9. 4 - Foreigner
10. Private Eyes - Hall & Oates
11. Wild Gift - X
12. Face Value - Phil Collins
13. Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
14. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell
15. No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith - Motorhead
16. Street Songs - Rick James
17. Computer World - Kraftwerk
18. Don't Say No - Billy Squier
19. Freeze-Frame - J. Geils Band
20. I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
21. Abacab - Genesis
22. Face Dances - The Who
23. Discipline - King Crimson
24. Paradise Theater - Styx
25. For Those About To Rock We Salute You - AC/DC
26. Get Lucky - Loverboy
27. Long Distance Voyager - Moody Blues
28. The Stray Cats - The Stray Cats
29. Working Class Dog - Rick Springfield
30. Precious Time - Pat Benatar
31. Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
32. Penthouse And Pavement - Heaven 17
33. Wild-Eyed Southern Boys - .38 Special
34. Tonight I'm Yours - Rod Stewart
35. Nightclubbing - Grace Jones
36. Breakin' Away - Al Jarreau
37. The Dude - Quincy Jones
38. Duran Duran - Duran Duran
39. Welcome To Hell - Venom
40. Mistaken Identity - Kim Carnes
41. Raise! - Earth Wind & Fire
42. Tin Drum - Japan
43. Diary Of A Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
44. Hard Promises - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
45. The Many Facets Of Roger - Roger
46. The Innocent Age - Dan Fogelberg
47. East Side Story - Squeeze
48. Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
49. New Traditionalists - Devo
50. Fire Of Love - The Gun Club
51. Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Diana Ross
52. Trust - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
53. Killers - Iron Maiden
54. Talk Talk Talk - The Psychedelic Furs
55. Fiyo On The Bayou - The Neville Brothers
56. Exit...Stage Left - Rush
57. Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
58. High 'n' Dry - Def Leppard
59. Being With You - Smokey Robinson
60. Give The People What They Want - The Kinks
61. Fair Warning - Van Halen
62. Solid Gold - Gang Of Four
63. In The Pocket - The Commodores
64. Shake It Up - The Cars
65. Pirates - Rickie Lee Jones
66. Something Special - Kool & The Gang
67. The Blasters - The Blasters
68. Stands For Decibels - The dBs
69. Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive - Joe Jackson
70. October - U2
71. Shot Of Love - Bob Dylan
72. Songs In The Attic - Billy Joel
73. Quarterflash - Quarterflash
74. Worlds Apart - Saga
75. The Time - The Time
76. Time - Electric Light Orchestra
77. Youth Of America - The Wipers
78. Standing Hampton - Sammy Hagar
79. Dad Loves His Work - James Taylor
80. Live In New Orleans - Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
81. Prayers On Fire - The Birthday Party
82. Allied Forces - Triumph
83. Skyy Line - Skyy
84. Zebop! - Santana
85. Live - The Jacksons
86. The Visitors - ABBA
87. Fire Of Unknown Origin - Blue Öyster Cult
88. Law And Order - Lindsey Buckingham
89. Love Is Where You Find It - The Whispers
90. Take My Time/Sheena Easton - Sheena Easton
91. Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde
92. Too Fast For Love - Mötley Crüe
93. Nine Tonight - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
94. Black & White - The Pointer Sisters
95. The Nature Of The Beast - April Wine
96. El Loco - ZZ Top
97. What Cha' Gonna Do For Me - Chaka Khan
98. Modern Times - Jefferson Starship
99. The Completion Backward Principle - The Tubes
100. Mob Rules - Black Sabbath


As has already been mentioned earlier, not a great year. Surprisingly, I think I've got 37.


How many have you got?


.

[Darkness_Fish]

Criteria: These 1981 albums were chosen for their initial and lasting popularity and their influence and impact on rock music in general. Also considered is critical acclaim.
1. Beauty And The Beat - The Go-Go's
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<sarcastic/amusing gif here>

[Santa C]

Mob Rules - Black Sabbath

I forgot that one

A very good album



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[Santa C]

For those interested here's a list of 100 greatest Albums of 1981 and the criteria behind their choice.

Criteria: These 1981 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.

1. Beauty And The Beat - The Go-Go's
2. Dare! - The Human League
3. Ghost In The Machine - The Police
4. Moving Pictures - Rush
5. Tattoo You - Rolling Stones
6. Damaged - Black Flag
7. My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts - Brian Eno & David Byrne
8. Escape - Journey
9. 4 - Foreigner
10. Private Eyes - Hall & Oates
11. Wild Gift - X
12. Face Value - Phil Collins
13. Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
14. Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell
15. No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith - Motorhead
16. Street Songs - Rick James
17. Computer World - Kraftwerk
18. Don't Say No - Billy Squier
19. Freeze-Frame - J. Geils Band
20. I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
21. Abacab - Genesis
22. Face Dances - The Who
23. Discipline - King Crimson
24. Paradise Theater - Styx
25. For Those About To Rock We Salute You - AC/DC
26. Get Lucky - Loverboy
27. Long Distance Voyager - Moody Blues
28. The Stray Cats - The Stray Cats
29. Working Class Dog - Rick Springfield
30. Precious Time - Pat Benatar
31. Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
32. Penthouse And Pavement - Heaven 17
33. Wild-Eyed Southern Boys - .38 Special
34. Tonight I'm Yours - Rod Stewart
35. Nightclubbing - Grace Jones
36. Breakin' Away - Al Jarreau
37. The Dude - Quincy Jones
38. Duran Duran - Duran Duran
39. Welcome To Hell - Venom
40. Mistaken Identity - Kim Carnes
41. Raise! - Earth Wind & Fire
42. Tin Drum - Japan
43. Diary Of A Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
44. Hard Promises - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
45. The Many Facets Of Roger - Roger
46. The Innocent Age - Dan Fogelberg
47. East Side Story - Squeeze
48. Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
49. New Traditionalists - Devo
50. Fire Of Love - The Gun Club
51. Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Diana Ross
52. Trust - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
53. Killers - Iron Maiden
54. Talk Talk Talk - The Psychedelic Furs
55. Fiyo On The Bayou - The Neville Brothers
56. Exit...Stage Left - Rush
57. Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
58. High 'n' Dry - Def Leppard
59. Being With You - Smokey Robinson
60. Give The People What They Want - The Kinks
61. Fair Warning - Van Halen
62. Solid Gold - Gang Of Four
63. In The Pocket - The Commodores
64. Shake It Up - The Cars
65. Pirates - Rickie Lee Jones
66. Something Special - Kool & The Gang
67. The Blasters - The Blasters
68. Stands For Decibels - The dBs
69. Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive - Joe Jackson
70. October - U2
71. Shot Of Love - Bob Dylan
72. Songs In The Attic - Billy Joel
73. Quarterflash - Quarterflash
74. Worlds Apart - Saga
75. The Time - The Time
76. Time - Electric Light Orchestra
77. Youth Of America - The Wipers
78. Standing Hampton - Sammy Hagar
79. Dad Loves His Work - James Taylor
80. Live In New Orleans - Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
81. Prayers On Fire - The Birthday Party
82. Allied Forces - Triumph
83. Skyy Line - Skyy
84. Zebop! - Santana
85. Live - The Jacksons
86. The Visitors - ABBA
87. Fire Of Unknown Origin - Blue Öyster Cult
88. Law And Order - Lindsey Buckingham
89. Love Is Where You Find It - The Whispers
90. Take My Time/Sheena Easton - Sheena Easton
91. Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde
92. Too Fast For Love - Mötley Crüe
93. Nine Tonight - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
94. Black & White - The Pointer Sisters
95. The Nature Of The Beast - April Wine
96. El Loco - ZZ Top
97. What Cha' Gonna Do For Me - Chaka Khan
98. Modern Times - Jefferson Starship
99. The Completion Backward Principle - The Tubes
100. Mob Rules - Black Sabbath


As has already been mentioned earlier, not a great year. Surprisingly, I think I've got 37.


How many have you got?


.

Only 9 for me.

I’m sure you can guess which ones!




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[NMB]

Think I’ve got 35 of that longer list.

[Mike Boom]

18 of those

I had forgotten about this , wonderful wonderful record

[ChrisB]

Surprisingly, I've only got 10. Think there's a whiff of musical snobbery here

[Santa C]

Surprisingly, I've only got 10. Think there's a whiff of musical snobbery here

I beat you - I only had nine...!

[NMB]

Surprisingly, I've only got 10. Think there's a whiff of musical snobbery here

If you knew the 35 I’ve got you wouldn’t think it was snobbery!

[copehead]

11 for me

The ones I still listen too a lot are:

Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive - Joe Jackson

and this one very regularly

Fire Of Unknown Origin - Blue Öyster Cult

[Tom Waits For No One]

54

[robertff]

So, after checking, these are the ones from 1981 I've got:



2. Dare! - The Human League
3. Ghost In The Machine - The Police
4. Moving Pictures - Rush
5. Tattoo You - Rolling Stones
7. My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts - Brian Eno & David Byrne
8. Escape - Journey
9. 4 - Foreigner
10. Private Eyes - Hall & Oates
12. Face Value - Phil Collins
13. Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
15. No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith - Motorhead
17. Computer World - Kraftwerk
19. Freeze-Frame - J. Geils Band
21. Abacab - Genesis
22. Face Dances - The Who
23. Discipline - King Crimson
24. Paradise Theater - Styx
25. For Those About To Rock We Salute You - AC/DC
27. Long Distance Voyager - Moody Blues
32. Penthouse And Pavement - Heaven 17
34. Tonight I'm Yours - Rod Stewart
38. Duran Duran - Duran Duran
42. Tin Drum - Japan
43. Diary Of A Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
44. Hard Promises - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
47. East Side Story - Squeeze
48. Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
52. Trust - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
54. Talk Talk Talk - The Psychedelic Furs
56. Exit...Stage Left - Rush
57. Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
58. High 'n' Dry - Def Leppard
60. Give The People What They Want - The Kinks
61. Fair Warning - Van Halen
64. Shake It Up - The Cars
69. Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive - Joe Jackson
70. October - U2
71. Shot Of Love - Bob Dylan
76. Time - Electric Light Orchestra
84. Zebop! - Santana
86. The Visitors - ABBA
87. Fire Of Unknown Origin - Blue Öyster Cult
88. Law And Order - Lindsey Buckingham
91. Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde
93. Nine Tonight - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
96. El Loco - ZZ Top
100. Mob Rules - Black Sabbath


...... more than I thought I had!


Having said that many of these cost me a few pence at boot fairs and the like when people were virtually giving their L.Ps. away.



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[Santa C]

54

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