The 25 best Classic Rock albums of 1981

5 May 2024, 18:00

Take a musical trip back in time to the year of Ghosts In The Machine, Tattoo You, Killers, 4, Dead Ringer and For Those About To Rock.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Styx - Paradise Theatre: release date 16th January 1981

   The Chicago band's tenth studio album included The Best of Times, Too Much Time On My Hands and Nothing Ever Goes As Planned.

   

2. Rush - Moving Pictures: release date 12th February 1981

   The eighth album from the Canadian prog rockers included their hit Tom Sawyer, plus Vital Signs and Limelight.

   

3. Phil Collins - Face Value: released 13th February 1981

   Taking time out from Genesis, Phil's debut solo album included the epic single In The Air Tonight and If Leaving Me Is Easy.

   

4. Iron Maiden - Killers: released 16th February 1981

   The second album from the British metallers was the last to feature original singer Paul Di'Anno. Singles includes Purgatory and Twilight Zone.

   

5. The Who - Face Dances: release date 16th March 1981

   The ninth album from the British rock legends was their first without drummer Keith Moon, who had died in 1978. His place was taken by Kenney Jones. Tracks included You Better You Bet and Don't Let Go The Coat.

   

6. Van Halen - Fair Warning : release date 29th April 1981

   The US rock band's fourth album included So This Is Love?, Unchained, Mean Street and Hear About It Later.

   

7. George Harrison - Somewhere In England: release date 1st June 1981

   Initially rejected by his record company, Harrison's ninth album was issued in the summer of 1981 after he added a tribute to his late colleague John Lennon called All Those Years Ago.

   

8. ZZ Top - El Loco: release date 26th June 1981

   The trio's final album before they became MTV stars included the tracks Leila, Tube Snake Boogie and the live favourite Pearl Necklace.

   

9. Foreigner – 4: released 3rd July 1981

   The British-American rock band's fourth album (obvs) included the hit single Waiting For A Girl Like You.

   

10. Journey - Escape: release date 17th July 1981

    The seventh studio album from the Californian rock band included their all time great Don't Stop Believin', Who's Crying Now, Open Arms and Still They Ride.

    

11. Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna: release date 27th July 1981

    The Fleetwood Mac star's debut solo album included the singles Edge Of Seventeen and Leather And Lace.

    

12. ELO - Time: released 31st July 1981

    The Royal Wedding week saw Jeff Lynne's symphonic rockers issue their ninth album, which included Here Is The News, Hold On Tight and Ticket To The Moon.

    

13. Pretenders - Pretenders II: release date 7th August 1981

    The second and final album to be issued by the original Pretenders line-up of Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon and Martin Chambers included the hits I Go To Sleep, Message Of Love and Talk Of The Town.

    

14. The Rolling Stones - Tattoo You: released 24th August 1981

    A ragbag of studio outtakes and unfinished tracks was concocted so the Stones had a new album to tour, but still spawned some genuine hits, including Start Me Up, Waiting On A Friend and Hang Fire.

    

15. Daryl Hall & John Oates – Private Eyes: released 1st September 1981

    The duo's tenth studio album includes the singles Private Eyes and I Can't Go For That (No Can Do).

    

16. Meat Loaf - Dead Ringer: released 4th September 1981

    It was only Meat's second solo album after the mammoth Bat Out Of Hell and included Read 'Em And Weep and the Cher collaboration Dead Ringer For Love.

    

17. Genesis - Abacab: release date 18th September 1981

    The British prog band's eleventh album saw them head further into pop territory with the hit titles track and No Reply At All.

    

18. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary Of A Madman: released October 1981

    The second studio album from the former Black Sabbath singer was the last to feature guitarist Randy Rhoads, who died in a plane crash while touring in March 1982. The album included Over The Mountain, Tonight and Flying High Again.

    

19. The Police - Ghost In The Machine: released 2nd October 1981

    The new wave trio's fourth album includes the singles Invisible Sun, Spirits In The Material World and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.

    

20. U2 - October: released 12th October 1981

    The second album from the Dublin post-punk quartet included the chart hits Fire and Gloria.

    

21. The J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame: release date 26th October 1981

    Despite being their tenth album, this was the Massachusetts rockers' first album to chart in the UK, and a Billboard No 1 thanks to the hit title track and the classic Centrefold. The band also opened for the Rolling Stones on their European tour the following year.

    

22. Rod Stewart - Tonight I'm Yours: release date 6th November 1981

    Rod's eleventh album included the hits Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me), Young Turks and a cover of Ace's How Long.

    

23. Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love: release date 10th November 1981

    The debut album from the Hollywood glam rockers included Stick To Your Guns and Live Wire.

    

24. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'N' Roll: release date 18th November 1981

    The former Runaways guitarist had her biggest hit with the title track - a cover of British band the Arrows' 1976 single. The album also included Love Is Pain and Crimson And Clover.

    

25. AC/DC - For Those About To Rock (We Salute You): released 20th November 1981

    Acca Dacca's first and only US No 1 album included the epic title track, plus the single Let's Get It Up.