[ This top 3 albums list for each year doesn't reflect lists of best-selling albums of a particular year nor my acknowledgement of music critics' reviews, but are solely reflecting what albums I have heard the most. I intend to expand the list to a top 10 list, and to include other favourites of the year in sorted order, but that's a costly affair... time-wise.
So far on this page, I have managed to finish 1984-1979...]
1984
1. U2 The Unforgettable Fire
2. The Smiths The Smiths [debut]
3. The Blue Nile A Walk Across the Rooftops [debut]
4. Pretenders Learning to Crawl
5. The Sound Shock of Daylight (ep)
6. Siouxsie and the Banshees Hyaena
7. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions Rattlesnakes [debut]
8. TV-2 Nutidens Unge
9. The Durutti Column Without Mercy
10. Echo & The Bunnymen Ocean Rain
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1983
1. New Order Power, Corruption & Lies
2. Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones
3. Big Country The Crossing [debut]
4. The Church Seance
5. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Dazzle Ships
6. Bauhaus Burning From the Inside
7. The The Soul Mining
8. The Stranglers Feline
9. Tv-2 Beat
10. Mitch Ryder Never Kick a Sleeping Dog
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1982
1. Laurie Anderson Big Science [debut]
2. Dead Kennedys Plastic Surgery Disasters
3. Elvis Costello & The Attractions Imperial Bedroom
4. Roxy Music Avalon
5. New Order 1981-1982 (aka 'Factus 8') (ep)
6. Siouxsie and the Banshees A Kiss in the Dreamhouse
7. The Clash Combat Rock
8. The Jam The Gift
9. XTC English Settlement
10. The Sound All Fall Down
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1981
1. The Cure Faith
2. Elvis Costello Trust
3. The Durutti Column LC
4. Bauhaus Mask
5. Siouxsie and the Banshees Juju
6. The Sound From the Lions Mouth
7. Stiff Little Fingers Go for It
8. Dead Kennedys In God We Trust, Inc. (ep)
9. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Architecture & Morality
10. New Order Movement
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Bottom (not recommended):
10cc Ten Out of Ten
Skids Joy
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Re-ac-tor
1980
1. Joy Division Closer
2. Kliché Supertanker [debut]
3. The Jam Sound Affects
4. Elvis Costello Get Happy!!
5. Bruce Springsteen The River
6. Tom Waits Heartattack and Vine
7. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Organisation
8. Pretenders Pretenders [debut]
9. U2 Boy [debut]
10. The Specials More Specials
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1979
1. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures [debut]
2. The Jam Setting Sons
3. The Clash London Calling
4. Elvis Costello Armed Forces
5. Skids Scared to Dance [debut]
6. The Undertones The Undertones [debut]
7. Van Morrison Into the Music
8. Pink Floyd The Wall
9. XTC Drums and Wires
10. The Police Reggatta de Blanc
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1978
1. The Clash Give 'Em Enough Rope
2. The Jam All Mod Cons
3. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town
4. Elvis Costello This Year's Model
5. Kate Bush The Kick Inside [debut]
6. Dire Straits Dire Straits [debut]
7. The Band The Last Waltz (live)
8. XTC White Music [debut]
9. The Police Outlandos d'Amour [debut]
10. Blondie Parallel Lines
____
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Patti Smith Group Easter
Buzzcocks Love Bites
Tom Waits Blue Valentine
Jean-Michel Jarre Equinoxe
Jethro Tull Heavy Horses
Neil Young Comes a Time
The Stranglers Black and White
Bryan Ferry The Bride Stripped Bare
The Ramones Road to Ruin
XTC Go 2
Kraftwerk Die Mensch-Maschine
Kate Bush Lionheart
Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous
Van Morrison Wavelength
Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel 2
Magazine Real Life
The Walker Brothers Nite Flights
Talking Heads More Songs About Buildings and Food
Sally Oldfield Water Bearer
Japan Obscure Alternatives
Public Image Ltd. Public Image - First Issue [debut]
The Savage Rose Solen var også din
Rolling Stones Some Girls
Nina Hagen Band Nina Hagen Band [debut]
Yellow Magic Orchestra Yellow Magic Orchestra
Styx Pieces of Eight
Santana Inner Secrets
Japan Adolescent Sex
Boney M Nightflight to Venus
1977
1. Ramones Rocket to Russia
2. The Clash The Clash [debut]
3. The Jam In the City [debut]
4. Kraftwerk Trans Europa Express
5. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True [debut]
6. The Stranglers Rattus Norvegicus AND No More Heroes
7. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks [Here's the Sex Pistols] [debut]
8. Weather Report Heavy Weather
9. C.V. Jørgensen Storbyens små oaser
10. Ramones Leave Home
____
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):Fleetwood Mac Rumours
Beto Guedes A página do relâmpago elétrico
Van Morrison A Period of Transition
David Bowie 'Heroes'
The Damned Damned Damned Damned
Jethro Tull Songs From the Wood
Talking Heads Talking Heads: 77
Tom Waits Foreign Affairs
Bob Marley & The Wailers Exodus
John Cale Guts
Leonard Cohen Death of a Ladies' Man
Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel [debut]
Entrance Entrance
Blondie Plastic Letters
The Jam This Is the Modern World
David Bowie Low
Supertramp Even in the Quietest Moments...
Television Marquee Moon
Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell
Brian Eno Before and after Science
Lucio Dalla Come è profondo il mare
Iggy Pop The IdiotAND Lust for Life
T. Rex Dandy in the Underworld
Thin Lizzy Bad Reputation
Ian Dury New Boots and Panties!!
Emmylou Harris Luxury Liner
Bryan Ferry In Your Mind
Richard Hell & the Voidoids Blank Generation
Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers L.A.M.F.
Grace Jones Portfolio
Queen News of the World
Electric Light Orchestra Out of the Blue
Smokie Bright Lights and Back Alleys
1976
1. Jean-Michel Jarre Oxygène
2. Ramones Ramones [debut]
3. Patti Smith Group Radio Ethiopia
4. Thin Lizzy Jailbreak
5. Bryan Ferry Let's Stick Together
6. Tom Waits Small Change
7. Patti Smith Group Radio Ethiopia
8. Toots & The Maytals Funky Kingston
9. Joni Mitchell Hejira
10. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life
____
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Francesco De Gregori Bufalo Bill
Roxy Music Viva!
Ennio Morricone Novecento (OST)
Lou Reed Rock and Roll Heart
Boston Boston
Milton Nascimento Geraes
AC/DC Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Blondie Blondie [debut]
Jorge Ben África Brasil
ABBA Arrival
David Bowie Station to Station
Bob Marley & The Wailers Rastaman Vibration
Earth, Wind & Fire Spirit
Rainbow Rising
AC/DC TNT
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Thin Lizzy Johnny the Fox
T. Rex Futuristic Dragon
Bob Dylan Desire
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Timeless Flight
The Stills-Young Band Long May You Run
Status Quo Blue for You
Smokie Midnight Café
Hot Chocolate Man to Man
Bifrost Bifrost
Lucio Dalla Automobili
KISS Destroyer
1975
1. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run
2. Patti Smith Horses
3. Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here
4. Kraftwerk Radio-Aktivität
5. Neil Young Zuma
6. Abba Abba
7. Mike Oldfield Ommadawn
8. Tom Waits Nighthawks at the Diner
9. Supertramp Crisis? What Crisis?
10. Neil Young Tonight's the Night
____
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Elton John Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Emmylou Harris Pieces of the Sky
Francesco De Gregori Rimmel
Carpenters Horizon
Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow [debut]
C.V. Jørgensen T-Shirts, gummisko & terylenebukser
Joni Mitchell The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Søren Kragh-Jacobsen Hinkeruder på motorvejen
The Band Northern Lights - Southern Cross
Marc Bolan Bolan's Zip Gun
Roxy Music Siren
Deep Purple Come Taste the Band
Frankie Valli Our Day Will Come
Robert Palmer Pressure Drop
John Cale Helen of Troy & Slow Dazzle
Kool & the Gang Spirit of the Boogie
Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing
Thin Lizzy Fighting
Lou Reed Coney Island Baby
David Bowie Young Americans
1974
1. Tom Waits The Heart of Saturday Night
2. Neil Young On the Beach
3. Mike Oldfield Hergest Ridge
4. Van Morrison Veedon Fleece AND It's Too Late to Stop Now (live)
5. Kraftwerk Autobahn
6. John Cale Fear
7. Genesis The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
8. Frank Zappa Apostrophe (')
9. Roxy Music Country Life
10. Bryan Ferry Another Time, Another Place
____
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Deep Purple Stormbringer
Joni Mitchell Court and Spark
Leonard Cohen New Skin for the Old Ceremony
Bob Marley & The Wailers Natty Dread
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Not Fragile
Supertramp Crime of the Century
Sparks Kimono My House
Lou Reed Rock n Roll Animal (live)
David Bowie Diamond Dogs
Gasolin' Stakkels Jim
Earth, Wind & Fire Open Our Eyes
Brian Eno Here Come the Warm Jets
Deep Purple Burn
Marc Bolan & T. Rex Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow
10cc Sheet Music
Slade Old New Borrowed and Blue
Lou Reed Sally Can't Dance
Robert Palmer Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley
Randy Newman Good Old Boys
Sweet Sweet Fanny Adams
Jan Garbarek / Bobo Stenson Quartet Witchi-Tai-To
Status Quo Quo
C.V. Jørgensen En stynet strejfer [debut]
1973
1. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon
2. Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
3. John Cale Paris 1919
4. Tom Waits Closing Time
5. Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
6. Deep Purple Who Do We Think We Are
7. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
8. Roxy Music For Your Pleasure
9. Nazareth Razamanaz
10. Bruce Springsteen The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle
____
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Secret Oyster Secret Oyster [debut]
Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy
Stevie Wonder Innervisions
Bryan Ferry These Foolish Things [debut]
The Who Quadrophenia
Fabrizio De André Storia di un impiegato
Wings Band on the Run
Elton John Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
Bob Marley & The Wailers Catch a Fire
Genesis Selling England by the Pound
Billy Joel Piano Man
New York Dolls New York Dolls
Nino Rota Amarcord (OST)
Roxy Music Stranded
David Bowie Aladdin Sane
Thin Lizzy Vagabonds of the Western World
Iggy & The Stooges Raw Power
Bruce Springsteen Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. [debut]
T. Rex Tanx
1972
1. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust...
2. Lou Reed Transformer
3. Jethro Tull Thick as a Brick
4. Nick Drake Pink Moon
5. Neil Young Harvest
6. Van Morrison Saint Dominic's Preview
7. T. Rex The Slider
8. Deep Purple Machine Head
9. The Band Rock of Ages - The Band in Concert (live)
10. Carly Simon No Secrets
____
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Toots & The Maytals Slatyam Stoot
Stevie Wonder Talking Book
Carpenters A Song for You
Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges Clube da Esquina
Gilbert O'Sullivan Back to Front
Roxy Music Roxy Music
Sebastian Den store flugt
Ry Cooder Into the Purple Valley
The Moody Blues Seventh Sojourn
Curtis Mayfield Superfly (OST)
Randy Newman Sail Away
Lou Reed Lou Reed [debut]
Sandy Denny Sandy
Milva & Ennio Morricone Dedicato a Milva da Ennio Morricone
Big Star #1 Record
Joni Mitchell For the Roses
Tim Buckley Greetings From L.A.
Loudon Wainwright III Album III
Ry Cooder Boomer's Story
Funkadelic America Eats Its Young
Rolling Stones Exile on Main St.
Brinsley Schwarz Silver Pistol
Theorius Campus Theorius Campus
Slade Slayed
Yes Close to the Edge
Genesis Foxtrot
Chick Corea Return to Forever
Pink Floyd Obscured by Clouds
Status Quo Piledriver
1971
1. Deep Purple Fireball
2. Joni Mitchell Blue
3. T. Rex Electric Warrior
4. David Bowie Hunky Dory
5. The Who Who's Next
6. Jethro Tull Aqualung
7. Janis Joplin Pearl
8. Serge Gainsbourg Histoire de Melody Nelson
9. Leonard Cohen Songs of Love and Hate
10. John Lennon Imagine
_______
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Etta James Losers Weepers
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV
Carole King Tapestry
Joan Manuel Serrat Mediterráneo
The Doors L.A. Woman
Ennio Morricone Sacco e Vanzetti (OST)
Skousen & Ingeman Herfra hvor vi står
Gasolin' Gasolin'
Carpenters Carpenters
The Moody Blues Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
Rodriguez Coming From Reality
Fabrizio De André Non al denaro non all'amore né al cielo
MC5 High Time
Stevie Wonder Where I'm Coming From
The Band Cahoots
Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story
Diana Ross Surrender
Nazareth Nazareth [debut]
John Mogensen John Mogensen
Pink Floyd Meddle
Nara Leão Dez anos depois
Genesis Nursery Cryme
Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
Culpeper's Orchard Culpeper's Orchard
Bee Gees Trafalgar
Donovan HMS Donovan
1970
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo's Factory
2. Van Morrison Moondance
3. Neil Young After the Gold Rush
4. Nick Drake Bryter Later
5. Deep Purple Deep Purple in Rock (1st 'Mark II')
6. The Band Stage Fright
7. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water
8. The Beatles Let It Be
9. George Harrison All Things Must Pass
10. Joni Mitchell Ladies of the Canyon
_______
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Derek and The Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman
Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys
Rodriguez Cold Fact
The Velvet Underground Loaded
John Cale Vintage Violence
Miles Davis Bitches Brew
Ry Cooder Ry Cooder [debut]
Loudon Wainwright III Loudon Wainwright III [debut]
John Lennon John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
The Doors Morrison Hotel
Nina Simone Black Gold
Carpenters Close to You
Dexter Gordon with Junior Mance At Montreux
The Stooges Fun House
The Kinks Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround (Part One)
Tyrannosaurus Rex A Beard of Stars
Diana Ross Diana Ross [debut]
1969
1. Neil Young with Crazy Horse Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
2. The Band The Band
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poorboys
4. Toots & The Maytals Sweet and Dandy
5. The Beatles Abbey Road
6. Leonard Cohen Songs From a Room
7. The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground
8. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin
9. David Bowie David Bowie [Space Oddity]
10. Scott Walker Scott 3
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others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Nick Drake Five Leaves Left
MC5 Kick Out the Jams
The Stooges The Stooges [debut]
Toots & The Maytals Sweet and Dandy
Pink Floyd Ummagumma
Nina Simone Nina Simone and Piano!
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg
Joni Mitchell Clouds
Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country
Tyrannosaurus Rex Unicorn
The Doors The Soft Parade
Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River
Deep Purple Deep Purple
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
Miles Davis In a Silent Way
Scott Walker Scott 4
Bread Bread
Frank Zappa Hot Rats
Fairport Convention Liege & Lief
Townes Van Zandt Townes Van Zandt
Fairport Convention Unhalfbricking
Jethro Tull Stand Up
Mott the Hoople Mott the Hoople
Jefferson Airplane Volunteers
King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King
1968
1. Van Morrison Astral Weeks
2. Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland
3. The Beatles The Beatles [White Album]
4. The Band Music From Big Pink [debut]
5. Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival [debut]
6. Etta James Tell Mama
7. Big Brother & The Holding Company Cheap Thrills
8. The Velvet Underground White Light / White Heat
9. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (live)
10. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul
_______
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Ennio Morricone C'era una volta il West (OST)
The Kinks The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Nina Simone 'Nuff Said!
Françoise Hardy Comment te dire adieu
Deep Purple Shades of Deep Purple [debut]
Neil Young Neil Young [debut]
Steppenwolf Steppenwolf
Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell (Song to a Seagull) [debut]
The Doors Waiting for the Sun
Mothers of Invention We're Only in It for the Money
Simon and Garfunkel Bookends
Jethro Tull This Was [debut]
The Zombies Odessey & Oracle
Buffalo Springfield Last Time Around
Miles Davis Nefertiti
The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet
Jacques Brel J'arrive
Pink Floyd A Saucerful of Secrets
Jefferson Airplane Crown of Creation
1967
1. The Velvet Underground and Nico The Velvet Underground & Nico [debut]
2. Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced? [debut]
3. The Doors The Doors [debut]
4. The Doors Strange Days
5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as Love
6. Leonard Cohen Songs of Leonard Cohen
7. Steppeulvene Hip [debut]
8. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
9. The Kinks Something Else by The Kinks
10. Buffalo Springfield Buffalo Springfield Again
_______
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
Van Morrison Blowin' Your Mind! [debut]
Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Nina Simone Nina Simone Sings the Blues
Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band Safe as Milk
The Byrds Younger Than Yesterday
Astrud Gilberto Beach Samba
Jefferson Airplane Surrealistic Pillow
The Byrds Younger Than Yesterday
Jacques Brel Jacques Brel 67
Frankie Valli Solo, aka "The 4 Seasons Present'" / aka "Frankie Valli Solo"
Nina Simone Silk & Soul
Scott Walker Scott [debut]
Cream Disraeli Gears
Love Forever Changes
The Who The Who Sell Out
1966
1. Otis Redding Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
2. Dexter Gordon Gettin' Around'
3. Astrud Gilberto Look to the Rainbow
4. Chet Baker Groovin'
5. The Supremes The Supremes A' Go-Go
6. Ennio Morricone Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (OST)
7. Simon & Garfunkel Sounds of Silence
8. Otis Redding The Soul Album
9. Nina Simone Wild Is the Wind
10. The Kinks Face to Face
_______
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
The Beatles Revolver
Simon & Garfunkel Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Ennio Morricone Per un pugno di dollari (OST)
The Walker Brothers Portrait
Cream Fresh Cream [debut]
Aretha Franklin Soul Sister
The Mothers of Invention Freak Out! [debut]
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds
John Coltrane Ascension
Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde
Sonny Rollins Alfie (OST)
Wilson Pickett The Exciting Wilson Pickett
The Sonics Boom
Small Faces Small Faces [debut]
1965
1. Otis Redding Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
2. The Beatles Help!
3. Frank Sinatra September of My Years
4. The Who My Generation [debut]
5. The Beatles Rubber Soul!
6. Them Here Comes the Night AND The Angry Young Them
7. Cornelis Vreeswijk Ballader och grimascher
8. Stan Getz Getz au Go Go [Featuring Astrud Gilberto]
9. Stan Getz & João Gilberto Getz / Gilberto #2
10. The Maytals The Sensational Maytals
_______
others, sorted after my rating (top-bottom):
John Coltrane A Love Supreme
The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man
Nina Simone Pastel Blue
The Sonics Here Are The Sonics!!! [debut]
The Beach Boys The Beach Boys Today!
Paul Simon The Paul Simon Songbook [debut]
Ennio Morricone Per qualche dollaro in più
Petula Clark Downtown
Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited
Astrud Gilberto The Astrud Gilberto Album
