Top 100 Best Selling Albums Of The 80s

[Eric Generic]

I think somehow the difference between his first hit of the 80s (In The Air Tonight) and his last (Another Day In Paradise) encapsulates everything about how (pop) music declined during the decade. The latter even tries to repeat the moody intro of the former, quite pointlessly.

Of course, his 90s stuff (bar the Both Sides album, which essentially was his transparent version of the Blue Nile) was even worse.

As for Alf, I guess (as we discussed before in the 80s Singles thread) some of the sales momentum came from the subsequent non-album hit in spring 1985, That Ole Devil Called Love. And the Live Aid no doubt helped too.

[hudweiser]

My friend's dad once fixed Phil Collins' washing machine in the early 90s. Said he was the grumpiest bloke.

[gezza76]

28. DIAMOND LIFE- Sade (1,227,000)



RELEASED: 16th July 1984

PEAK POSITION: 2

WKS ON CHART: 99

YOUR LOVE IS KING (6)
SMOOTH OPERATOR (19)
WHEN AM I GOING TO MAKE A LIVING (36)

Sade’s debut album spent its first 26 weeks in the top 10 back in 84/85 including five weeks at No 2 behind firstly Bob Marley, then Now 3 and finally U2, on their way to winning the BRIT award for best album in 85. It was a phenomenal start to their career and one which obviously they didn’t sustain, certainly nothing they subsequently made had this albums longevity nor its sales with the follow up album “Promise” coming closest with about half of the sales of “Diamond Life”.

It sold enough to become the 5th biggest album of 1984 and sold over a third of million the following year to almost outsell “Promise”......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-KqMHxpirI&ob=av2e

[gezza76]

27. POPPED IN SOULED OUT- Wet, Wet, Wet (1,229,000)



RELEASED: 21st September 1987

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 71

SINGLES RELEASED:

SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY (5)
ANGEL EYES (HOME AND AWAY) (5)
WISHING I WAS LUCKY (6)
TEMPTATION (12)

The album that Launched the Wets as a teen act (yes remember those days) and Marti Pellow’s face adorned many a teenager’s walls. It was all a lie of course, the band spent the entire rest of their career distancing themselves from the “teen scream” tag and producing radio friendly MOR, but the sheer joy of “Popped in Souled Out” is hard to argue against. The catchiness of singles “Sweet Little Mystery” (for which we will glaze over the plagiarism issue) and “Angel Eyes” are fine examples of blue eyed soul pop, and even the band’s criticism of Thatcherism and the perils of unemployment (“Wishing I Was lucky”) is similarly wrapped up in smiles and finger snapping joy.

The album debuted at No 2 behind Jackson’s “Bad” and sold a fair 300k in 1987 but just like Moyet it found January a kind month and the album nabbed a week at No 1 before proceeding to spent a very impressive 28 weeks consecutively in the top 10 through 1988 ending the year as its 5th biggest seller with some 875k of sales to push through the million mark. The band of course went on to great things in the 90s but they had to wait until 1993’s “End Of Part One- Their Greatest Hits” before they managed to sell a million of another album but this remains the second biggest seller of their career....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyUtpqG8i_k

[gezza76]

26. LOVE OVER GOLD- Dire Straits (1,237,000)



RELEASED: 20th September 1982

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 198

SINGLES RELEASED:

PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS (2)

The third appearance for Dire Straits is hard one to explain. It spent almost 4 years on the chart during the decade despite only having one single released from it, but such was the power of the band during the decade that it spent large swathes of 85 & 86 in the chart for no determinate reason other than the success of “Brothers In Arms” and the new CD era.

The album only spent 7 weeks in the top 10 (including 4 at no 1) in late 1982 but through sheer persistence is one of the 30 biggest albums of the decade...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sul_A22gB8c&feature=fvst

[Eric Generic]

Two more iconic 80s albums...although neither are my favourites by each act. Sade's career started strongly and gradually declined (commercially speaking...creatively she kept getting better until 1992's gorgeous Love Deluxe), while the Wets had a very up-and-down time of it. Debut does okay, then gets a leg up via charity #1 (With A Little Help..), 2nd album struggles, 3rd album almost doesn't get released at all (two flop 1991 singles put them in danger of the dumper, but Goodnight Girl turned it around quite spectacularly and made the belated 3rd album another #1), then they have a Greatest Hits which doesn't quite set the world alight until another non-LP chart-topper (Love Is All Around) sends the album back up the charts and all the way to #1 (beating its original #4 debut). It was almost a shame that the next studio album was a comfortable success and didn't send their stock either up or down.

[Eric Generic]

Oh, I loved how anything by Dire Straits in the 80s stayed on the chart forever. Dire Straits, U2, Phil Collins...the holy trinity of the decade, album-wise.

Private Investigations is a brilliant track...and the album overall is probably their best. I'm more familair with Brothers... (who isn't) but despite only having 6 songs, Love Over Gold feels more complete because the material is so strong.

[gezza76]

25. DARE- Human League (1,248,000)



RELEASED: 12th October 1981

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 72

SINGLES RELEASED:

DON’T YOU WANT ME? (1)
LOVE ACTION (I BELIEVE IN LOVE) (3)
OPEN YOUR HEART (6)
THE SOUND OF THE CROWD (12)

Virtually an instant chart topper upon release, “Dare” returned to No 1 for 3 weeks in Jan 1982 upon the success of “Don’t You Want Me” which was the xmas No 1 for 81 (as well as a US Chart topper). Its success made the Human League a major chart force until 1983 when a time out was called for the group who did not resume until 1984's “Hysteria”. It was to prove to be an error as the fan base was nothing like it was back in 1981 for a band always seen as New romantics. A comeback of sorts was achieved in 1995 when they returned to the UK top 10 with “Tell Me When” and the group continues to this day but this will always be their moment in the sun.

Interestingly this album may very well have placed much higher had it been released under different chart regs. In 1982 essentially an album of remixes of tracks from “Dare” was released under the name League Unlimited Orchestra and called “Love and Dancing” which sold over a further 300k, and which nowadays would probably be added as a deluxe version with combined sales but hey ho.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B60ZfTWk51I

[gezza76]

24. INVISIBLE TOUCH- Genesis (1,253,000)




RELEASED: 9th June 1986

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 95

SINGLES RELEASED:

LAND OF CONFUSION (14)
INVISIBLE TOUCH (15)
TONIGHT TONIGHT TONIGHT (18)
IN TOO DEEP (19)
THROWING IT ALL AWAY (22)

Convincingly their biggest seller to this point in their career “Invisible Touch” was an instant chart topper in Jun 86 and remained on the chart solidly until Dec 87, and was 10th Y/E 86 and 14th Y/E 87 selling over half a million in both years.

The video for “Land Of Confusion” won awards for its innovative video at the time made in conjunction with spitting image, and the success of the album really elevated the band in the US where all five singles made the top 10 including a No 1 for its title track...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvsaWu_dBqE

[gezza76]

23. BRIDGE OF SPIES- T'Pau (1,268,000)



RELEASED: 14th September 1987

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 59

SINGLES RELEASED:

CHINA IN YOUR HAND (1)
HEART AND SOUL (4)
VALENTINE (9)
I WILL BE WITH YOU (14)
SEX TALK (LIVE) (23)

“Heart and Soul” was a US hit before it crossed the pond and was a hit in their homeland, but its top 10 success was no guarantee that that would rub off on the album, and the truth is that “Bridge Of Spies” struggled here failing to hit the top 20, until that is “China In Your Hand” was released.

The album rocketed to No 1 towards the end of the year shifting over 700k in 87 to end the year as the 6th biggest selling album, but also made the top 20 of 1988. Their appeal proved to be nothing more than fleeting and though they continued into the 90s the search for another “China In Your Hand” eluded them....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c9UwwhIkTM

[Eric Generic]

I was playing Only The Lonley on my Ipod earlier, and wondered when this album would appear on the rundown, as I remember it selling tons over Xmas 1987. Never really understood what happened there, I loved Heart & Soul and they did look destined to be one of those "bigger in the US" type British acts (hello A Flock Of Seagulls, Wang Chung etc), and then....China just went ballistic from an unpromising debut just outside the Top 40. It got overplayed to hell, of course. They probably wish it hadn't been quite so successful/ubiquitous as well. It pretty much killed their prospects of a longterm career, although the 2nd album didn't really do them any favours (too rushed, baffling choice of singles) even though I actually preferred Rage to Bridge Of Spies.

That Genesis album is one of the best examples of how to do Stadium Rock in your 40s and get it spot on in every sense. You've got catchy singles, darker Gabriel-esque tracks that last 8 minutes, and then some neat instrumental bits to keep the prog fans happy.

[gezza76]

I have to confess that China In Your Hand was my favourite song as a kid, it was the first song that I loved and followed avidly on the charts. I'm such a saddo!

[gezza76]

22. LOVE SONGS- Barbra Streisand (1, 276,000)



RELEASED: 4th January 1982

PEAK POSITION; 1

WKS ON CHART: 128

SINGLES RELEASED:

MEMORY (34)
COMING IN AND OUT OF YOUR LIFE (66)

Released in Jan 1982 this collection of greatest hits from Barbra Streisand topped the charts for 9 (non consecutive) weeks, at the time a record for a female vocalist which stood for 14 years, and overtook her own “Guilty” as the best selling album by a female solo artist by the end of 82 when it finished as the best selling album of the year.

In doing so it also became the first album by a female to top the million mark in the UK and though she never re-captured the kind of fame she had in the early 80s a further compilation “Essential” did top the charts for her 20 years after “love Songs” in 2002...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Ruh0ewBVo

[gezza76]

21. BORN IN THE USA- Bruce Springsteen (1,277,000)



RELEASED: 4th June 1984

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 126

SINGLES RELEASED:

DANCING IN THE DARK (4)
BORN IN THE USA/ I’M ON FIRE (5)
MY HOMETOWN (9)
COVER ME (16)
GLORY DAYS (17)

A prime slice of Americana up next, Springsteen’s take on mid 80s USA industrialism and Reaganomics didn’t sound all that commercial but there was already a market for Springsteen in the UK. Previous albums had done moderately well though admittedly singles success had eluded him prior to “Dancing In The Dark”. The re-release of that single (it peaked at No 28 first time around in Jun 84) provided the first boost to sales of an album that had debuted at No 2 upon release but could not overcome Bob Marley (much like everything else in 1984) but had virtual disappeared by the end of the year and had sold just over 200k.

Upon re-issue “Dancing In the Dark” went top 5 and the album responded by grabbing a week at No 1, but when the “Born In The USA Tour” rolled into the town the album leapt back to the top for a further 4 weeks proving his appeal as a live artist. The album ended 85 as the 4th biggest album after selling over 900k in that year alone. Though the chart toppers continued for Springsteen well into the noughties (a total of 8 post this album) nothing has come close to this sales wise.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77gKSp8WoRg&ob=av2e

[gezza76]

Recap time No's 21-40

21. BORN IN THE USA- Bruce Springsteen
22. LOVE SONGS- Barbra Streisand
23. BRIDGE OF SPIES- T'Pau
24. INVISIBLE TOUCH- Genesis
25. DARE- Human League
26. LOVE OVER GOLD- Dire Straits
27. POPPED IN SOULED OUT- Wet, wet, wet
28. DIAMOND LIFE- Sade
29. ALF- Alison Moyet
30. WHENEVER YOU NEED SOMEBODY- Rick Astley

31. ....BUT SERIOUSLY- Phil Collins
32. LIVE,,,UNDER A BLOOD RED SUN- U2
33. AN INNOCENT MAN- Billy Joel
34. PRIVATE COLLECTION 1979-1988- Cliff Richard
35. COMPLETE MADNESS- Madness
36. RIO- Duran Duran
37. ANYTHING FOR YOU- Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
38. SUPER TROUPER- Abba
39. KICK- Inxs
40,. TRACY CHAPMAN- Tracy Chapman

[gezza76]

So there should be some obvious albums to come in the top 20 of the decade, but I'll be posting two a day over the next 10 days until we get to No 1. Only one act has 2 albums still to come and just who will have the biggest album of the decade by a female solo artist???

[Eric Generic]

I have to confess that China In Your Hand was my favourite song as a kid, it was the first song that I loved and followed avidly on the charts. I'm such a saddo!

Ha, well I really liked it on release..it climbed to #4 on my own charts within a couple of weeks, and I was thinking that I was going to like it more than the public when it only debuted at about #43. How wrong I was....the public went mad for it, and I never wanted to hear it again by Xmas!

[gezza76]

20. BAT OUT OF HELL- Meat Loaf (1,317,000)



RELEASED: 27th February 1978

PEAK POSITION: 9

WKS ON CHART: 301

SINGLES RELEASED:

NONE

Although released in Feb '78 “Bat Out Of Hell” never made the top 10 in that decade, not breaking into it until August 1981 and believe it or not has only spent 2 weeks in the top 10 ever! Regardless of that it spent over five and a half years on the chart in the 80s, a feat which no other other album can match! It sold over 200k in every year between 1980-83 and was still kicking around the top 100 come Y/E 84.

Residual sales were so strong that it still ticked along nicely for the remainder of the decade to handsomely outsell most of the albums by the big acts of the decade. In Conclusion whilst it may be a 70s album the majority of its sales were in the 80s and is the highest placed non 80s album on this survey....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml5xb4DrhZo

[gezza76]

19. NO PARLEZ- Paul Young (1,331,000)



RELEASED: 18th July 1983

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 119

SINGLES RELEASED:

WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT (THAT’S MY HOME) (1)
LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE (2)
COME BACK AND STAY (4)

From that man sung on 70s novelty hit “Toast” nobody really expected a solo star to be born but Paul Young was already 27 by the time he became a star. A cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Wherever I Lay My Hat” made the No 1 spot in the summer of 83 and guaranteed a pretty big debut for the album. “No Parlez” spent 35 weeks from debut inside the top 20 including 5 weeks at the top in four separate stints. Huge sales over the Christmas period 83 contributed to overall sales in 1983 standing at 860k enough to make it the 2nd biggest selling album of that year, and did enough to finish 84 in the top 20 too.

He wasn’t an act who slung out albums quickly and by the end of the decade only 3 albums were issued including another chart topper “The Secret of Association”. A compilation of his hits “From Time To Time” also made the top in 1991 evidencing an appreciation for him but this remains, by quite some distance his biggest seller...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVRLsu5kzVc

[Baby Clyde]

26. LOVE OVER GOLD- Dire Straits (1,237,000)

Not only do I not own this record, I've nver even heard of it.

Most strange???

[Baby Clyde]

28. DIAMOND LIFE- Sade (1,227,000)

Despite being one of my favourite acts of all time ('Promise' is my #1 album EVER!!!) I've never been a huge fan of 'Diamond Life'. It falls just on the wrong side of jazzy muzak for me. It's still great but nothing like their best work.

It's shocking that 'Your Love Is King' is their only Top 10 hit when they'v had so many classic records. This being my favourite.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...z8xs163YU#t=3s

[hudweiser]

I was playing Only The Lonley on my Ipod earlier, and wondered when this album would appear on the rundown, as I remember it selling tons over Xmas 1987. Never really understood what happened there, I loved Heart & Soul and they did look destined to be one of those "bigger in the US" type British acts (hello A Flock Of Seagulls, Wang Chung etc), and then....China just went ballistic from an unpromising debut just outside the Top 40. It got overplayed to hell, of course. They probably wish it hadn't been quite so successful/ubiquitous as well. It pretty much killed their prospects of a longterm career, although the 2nd album didn't really do them any favours (too rushed, baffling choice of singles) even though I actually preferred Rage to Bridge Of Spies.

Only the Lonely should've been the next China in Your Hand. It was easily the best thing they ever did.

[Baby Clyde]

22. LOVE SONGS- Barbra Streisand (1, 276,000)

This is a very strange hodge podge of an album. An odd mix of relatively recent hits with some new tracks tagged on. It's hard to imagine why it sold so well.

[In doing so it also became the first album by a female to top the million mark in the UK and though she never re-captured the kind of fame she had in the early 80s a further compilation “Essential” did top the charts for her 20 years after “love Songs” in 2002...

As did 'Love Is The Answer' on both sides of the Atlantic in 2009.

She's now had #1 albums in 5 decades and fully expect her to make that 6 by the end of this one.

God I love Babs although that version of 'Memory' is horrific.

[Baby Clyde]

He wasn’t an act who slung out albums quickly and by the end of the decade only 3 albums were issued including another chart topper “The Secret of Association”.

'Secret of Association' is a fantastic album. I was completely obsessed with my tape of it as an 11 year old. I particularly a loved 'The Man In The Iron Mask' by the great Billy Bragg and his backing singers The Fabulously Wealthy Tarts where fab.

Hadn't actually played it for 20 odd years before I bought it again on CD last year and it was every bit as good as I remembered.

[Eric Generic]

Hurrah for the Paul Young love. Secret.. is by far my favourite of his albums, it made me aware of both Billy Bragg and Tom Waits so that's a major puls aside from the other terrific tracks like Playhouse and Tomb Of Memories (which didn't deserve to end his run of Top 10 hits).

I am shocked that Baby Clyde isn't a closet Dire Straits fan, haha.

What else have I missed? Oh yes, Born in the USA. Again, not my pick of his albums (Tunnel Of Love takes that award), but it's got some great stuff on there nonetheless...I'm On Fire is mean and moody, My Hometown is quite touching. Dancing In The Dark rips off Rod Stewart's Young Turks quite shamelessly, but it's still brilliant.

Glad that someone else really rates Only The Lonley! I'd have also put Island out as a single from Rage. Another huge missed opportunity.