List of 1980s UK Albums Chart number ones

UK number-one albums
UK Albums Chart
Official Charts Company
Christmas number one

Contents

1980

  1. ABBA - Greatest Hits Volume 2
    12 January for 1 week
  2. The Pretenders - Pretenders
    19 January for 4 weeks
  3. Various Artists - The Last Dance
    16 February for 2 weeks
  4. The Shadows - String of Hits
    1 March for 3 weeks
  5. Johnny Mathis - Tears and Laughter
    22 March for 2 weeks
  6. Genesis - Duke
    5 April for 2 weeks
  7. Rose Royce - Greatest Hits
    19 April for 2 weeks
  8. Sky - Sky 2
    3 May for 2 weeks
  9. Boney M. - The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits
    17 May for 2 weeks
  10. Paul McCartney - McCartney II
    31 May for 2 weeks
  11. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel
    14 June for 2 weeks
  12. Roxy Music - Flesh and Blood
    28 June for 1 week
  13. The Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue
    5 July for 2 weeks
  14. Queen - The Game
    19 July for 2 weeks
  15. Deep Purple - Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple
    2 August for 1 week
  16. AC/DC - Back in Black
    9 August for 2 weeks
  17. Roxy Music - Flesh and Blood
    23 August for 3 weeks
  18. Gary Numan - Telekon
    13 September for 1 week
  19. Kate Bush - Never for Ever
    20 September for 1 week
  20. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
    27 September for 2 weeks
  21. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
    11 October for 4 weeks
  22. Barbra Streisand - Guilty
    8 November for 2 weeks
  23. ABBA - Super Trouper
    22 November for 9 weeks

1981

  1. Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
    24 January for 2 weeks
  2. John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy
    7 February for 2 weeks
  3. Phil Collins - Face Value
    21 February for 3 weeks
  4. Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
    14 March for 10 weeks
  5. Starsound - Stars on 45
    23 May for 5 weeks
  6. Motörhead - No Sleep 'til Hammersmith
    27 June for 1 week
  7. Various Artists - Disco Daze and Disco Nites
    4 July for 1 week
  8. Cliff Richard - Love Songs
    11 July for 5 weeks
  9. Various Artists - The Official BBC Album of the Royal Wedding
    15 August for 2 weeks
  10. Electric Light Orchestra - Time
    29 August for 2 weeks
  11. Meat Loaf - Dead Ringer
    12 September for 2 weeks
  12. Genesis - Abacab
    26 September for 2 weeks
  13. The Police - Ghost in the Machine
    10 October for 3 weeks
  14. The Human League - Dare
    31 October for 1 week
  15. Shakin' Stevens - Shaky
    7 November for 1 week
  16. Queen - Greatest Hits
    14 November for 4 weeks
  17. Various Artists - Chart Hits '81
    12 December for 1 week
  18. ABBA - The Visitors
    19 December for 3 weeks

1982

  1. The Human League - Dare
    9 January for 3 weeks
  2. Barbra Streisand - Love Songs
    30 January for 7 weeks
  3. The Jam - The Gift
    20 March for 1 week
  4. Barbra Streisand - Love Songs
    27 March for 2 weeks
  5. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
    10 April for 2 weeks
  6. Status Quo - 1+9+8+2
    24 April for 1 weeks
  7. Barry Manilow - Barry Live in Britain
    1 May for 1 week
  8. Paul McCartney - Tug of War
    8 May for 2 weeks
  9. Madness - Complete Madness
    22 May for 2 weeks
  10. Roxy Music - Avalon
    5 June for 1 week
  11. Madness - Complete Madness
    12 June for 1 week
  12. Roxy Music - Avalon
    19 June for 2 weeks
  13. ABC - The Lexicon of Love
    3 July for 4 weeks
  14. Michael Gore - Fame (OST)
    24 July for 2 weeks
  15. Kids from Fame - The Kids from "Fame"
    7 August for 8 weeks
  16. Dire Straits - Love over Gold
    2 October for 4 weeks
  17. Kids From Fame - The Kids from "Fame"
    30 October for 4 weeks
  18. ABBA - The Singles: The First Ten Years
    27 November for 1 week
  19. John Lennon - The John Lennon Collection
    4 December for 6 weeks

1983

  1. Various Artists - Raiders of the Pop Charts
    15 January for 2 weeks
  2. Men at Work - Business as Usual
    29 January for 5 weeks
  3. Michael Jackson - Thriller
    5 March for 1 week
  4. U2 - War
    12 March for 1 week
  5. Michael Jackson - Thriller
    19 March for 1 week
  6. Tears for Fears - The Hurting
    26 March for 1 week
  7. Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
    2 April for 2 weeks
  8. Bonnie Tyler - Faster Than the Speed of Night
    16 April for 1 week
  9. David Bowie - Let's Dance
    23 April for 3 weeks
  10. Spandau Ballet - True
    14 May for 1 week
  11. Michael Jackson - Thriller
    21 May for 5 weeks
  12. The Police - Synchronicity
    25 June for 2 weeks
  13. Wham! - Fantastic
    9 July for 2 weeks
  14. Yazoo - You and Me Both
    23 July for 2 weeks
  15. The Beach Boys - The Very Best Of
    6 August for 2 weeks
  16. Michael Jackson Plus The Jackson 5 - 18 Greatest Hits
    20 August for 3 weeks
  17. The Beach Boys - The Very Best Of
    10 September for 1 week
  18. Paul Young - No Parlez
    17 September for 1 week
  19. UB40 - Labour of Love
    24 September for 1 week
  20. Paul Young - No Parlez
    1 October for 2 weeks
  21. Genesis - Genesis
    15 October for 1 week
  22. Culture Club - Colour by Numbers
    22 October for 3 weeks
  23. Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
    12 November for 1 week
  24. Culture Club - Colour by Numbers
    19 November for 2 weeks
  25. Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger
    3 December for 1 week
  26. Paul Young - No Parlez
    10 December for 1 week
  27. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music
    17 December for 4 weeks

1984

  1. Paul Young - No Parlez
    14 January for 1 week
  2. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music
    21 January for 1 week
  3. Michael Jackson - Thriller
    28 January for 1 week
  4. Eurythmics - Touch
    4 February for 2 weeks
  5. Simple Minds - Sparkle in the Rain
    18 February for 1 week
  6. Thompson Twins - Into the Gap
    25 February for 3 weeks
  7. Howard Jones - Human's Lib
    17 March for 2 weeks
  8. Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
    31 March for 2 weeks
  9. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music II
    14 April for 5 weeks
  10. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Legend
    19 May for 12 weeks
  11. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 3
    11 August for 8 weeks
  12. David Bowie - Tonight
    6 October for 1 week
  13. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
    13 October for 2 weeks
  14. Big Country - Steeltown
    27 October for 1 week
  15. Paul McCartney - Give My Regards to Broad Street (OST)
    3 November for 1 week
  16. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome
    10 November for 1 week
  17. Wham! - Make It Big
    17 November for 2 weeks
  18. Various Artists - Hits 1
    1 December for 7 weeks

1985

  1. Alison Moyet - Alf
    19 January for 1 week
  2. Foreigner - Agent Provocateur
    26 January for 3 weeks
  3. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
    16 February for 1 week
  4. The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
    23 February for 1 week
  5. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
    2 March for 5 weeks
  6. Paul Young - The Secret of Association
    6 April for 1 week
  7. Various Artists - Hits 2
    13 April for 6 weeks
  8. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
    25 May for 2 weeks
  9. The Style Council - Our Favourite Shop
    8 June for 1 week
  10. Bryan Ferry - Boys and Girls
    15 June for 2 weeks
  11. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
    29 June for 1 week
  12. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
    6 July for 4 weeks
  13. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
    3 August for 2 weeks
  14. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 5
    17 August for 5 weeks
  15. Madonna - Like a Virgin
    21 September for 1 week
  16. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
    28 September for 2 weeks
  17. Madonna - Like a Virgin
    12 October for 1 week
  18. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
    19 October for 1 week
  19. George Benson - The Love Songs
    26 October for 1 week
  20. Simple Minds - Once Upon a Time
    2 November for 1 week
  21. George Benson - The Love Songs
    9 November for 1 week
  22. Sade - Promise
    16 November for 2 weeks
  23. Various Artists - The Greatest Hits of 1985
    30 November for 1 week
  24. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 6
    7 December for 2 weeks
  25. Various Artists - Now - The Christmas Album
    21 December for 2 weeks

1986

  1. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 6
    4 January for 2 weeks
  2. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
    18 January for 10 weeks
  3. Various Artists - Hits 4
    29 March for 4 weeks
  4. Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music - Street Life: 20 Great Hits
    26 April for 5 weeks
  5. Peter Gabriel - So
    31 May for 2 weeks
  6. Queen - A Kind of Magic
    14 June for 1 week
  7. Genesis - Invisible Touch
    21 June for 3 weeks
  8. Madonna - True Blue
    12 July for 6 weeks
  9. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 7
    23 August for 5 weeks
  10. Five Star - Silk and Steel
    27 September for 1 week
  11. Paul Simon - Graceland
    4 October for 5 weeks
  12. The Police - Every Breath You Take: The Singles
    8 November for 2 weeks
  13. Various Artists - Hits 5
    22 November for 2 weeks
  14. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 8
    6 December for 6 weeks

1987

  1. Kate Bush - The Whole Story
    17 January for 2 weeks
  2. Paul Simon - Graceland
    31 January for 3 weeks
  3. London Stage Cast - The Phantom of the Opera
    21 February for 3 weeks
  4. Hot Chocolate - The Very Best of Hot Chocolate
    14 March for 1 week
  5. U2 - The Joshua Tree
    21 March for 2 weeks
  6. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 9
    4 April for 5 weeks
  7. Curiosity Killed the Cat - Keep Your Distance
    9 May for 2 weeks
  8. Swing Out Sister - It's Better to Travel
    23 May for 2 weeks
  9. Simple Minds - Live in the City of Light
    6 June for 1 week
  10. Whitney Houston - Whitney
    13 June for 6 weeks
  11. Terence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby
    25 July for 1 week
  12. Various Artists - Hits 6
    1 August for 4 weeks
  13. Def Leppard - Hysteria
    29 August for 1 week
  14. Various Artists - Hits 6
    5 September for 1 week
  15. Michael Jackson - Bad
    12 September for 5 weeks
  16. Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
    17 October for 1 week
  17. Sting - ...Nothing Like the Sun
    24 October for 1 week
  18. Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night
    31 October for 2 weeks
  19. George Michael - Faith
    14 November for 1 week
  20. T'Pau - Bridge of Spies
    21 November for 1 week
  21. Rick Astley - Whenever You Need Somebody
    28 November for 1 week
  22. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 10
    5 December for 6 weeks

1988

  1. Wet Wet Wet - Popped In Souled Out
    16 January for 1 week
  2. Johnny Hates Jazz - Turn Back the Clock
    23 January for 1 week
  3. Terence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby
    30 January for 8 weeks
  4. Morrissey - Viva Hate
    26 March for 1 week
  5. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 11
    2 April for 3 weeks
  6. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
    23 April for 1 week
  7. Erasure - The Innocents
    30 April for 1 week
  8. Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night
    7 May for 2 weeks
  9. Prince - Lovesexy
    21 May for 1 week
  10. Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night
    28 May for 1 week
  11. Various Artists - Nite Flite
    4 June for 4 weeks
  12. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
    2 July for 3 weeks
  13. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music 12
    23 July for 5 weeks
  14. Kylie Minogue - Kylie
    27 August for 4 weeks
  15. Various Artists - Hot City Nights
    24 September for 1 week
  16. Bon Jovi - New Jersey
    1 October for 2 weeks
  17. Chris de Burgh - Flying Colours
    15 October for 1 week
  18. U2 - Rattle and Hum
    22 October for 1 week
  19. Dire Straits - Money for Nothing
    29 October for 3 weeks
  20. Kylie Minogue - Kylie
    19 November for 2 weeks
  21. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music XIII
    3 December for 3 weeks
  22. Cliff Richard - Private Collection 1979-1988
    24 December for 2 weeks

1989

  1. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music XIII
    7 January for 1 week
  2. Erasure - The Innocents
    14 January for 1 week
  3. Roy Orbison - The Legendary Roy Orbison
    21 January for 3 weeks
  4. New Order - Technique
    11 February for 1 week
  5. Fine Young Cannibals - The Raw and the Cooked
    18 February for 1 week
  6. Simply Red - A New Flame
    25 February for 4 weeks
  7. Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine - Anything for You
    25 March for 1 week
  8. Madonna - Like a Prayer
    1 April for 2 weeks
  9. Deacon Blue - When the World Knows Your Name
    15 April for 2 weeks
  10. Simply Red - A New Flame
    29 April for 1 week
  11. Holly Johnson - Blast!
    6 May for 1 week
  12. Simple Minds - Street Fighting Years
    13 May for 1 week
  13. Jason Donovan - Ten Good Reasons
    20 May for 2 weeks
  14. Queen - The Miracle
    3 June for 1 week
  15. Jason Donovan - Ten Good Reasons
    10 June for 2 weeks
  16. Paul McCartney - Flowers in the Dirt
    24 June for 1 week
  17. Prince - Batman soundtrack
    1 July for 1 week
  18. Transvision Vamp - Velveteen
    8 July for 1 week
  19. Soul II Soul - Club Classics Vol. I
    15 July for 1 week
  20. Simply Red - A New Flame
    22 July for 2 weeks
  21. Gloria Estefan - Cuts Both Ways
    5 August for 6 weeks
  22. London Stage Cast - Aspects of Love
    16 September for 1 week
  23. Eurythmics - We Too Are One
    23 September for 1 week
  24. Tina Turner - Foreign Affair
    30 September for 1 week
  25. Tears for Fears - The Seeds of Love
    7 October for 1 week
  26. Tracy Chapman - Crossroads
    14 October for 1 week
  27. Kylie Minogue - Enjoy Yourself
    21 October for 1 week
  28. Erasure - Wild!
    28 October for 2 weeks
  29. Chris Rea - The Road to Hell
    11 November for 3 weeks
  30. Phil Collins - …But Seriously
    2 December for 8 weeks

See also

UK Singles Chart
UK Albums Chart
UK Official
Download Chart
Other charts
Related