100 Greatest Albums of 1986

Criteria: These 1986 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.

Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'. Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
2. Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
3. Graceland
Paul Simon
4. Control
Janet Jackson
5. The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
6. Master of Puppets
Metallica
7. So
Peter Gabriel
8. Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
9. Reign In Blood
Slayer
10. True Blue
Madonna
11. Rapture
Anita Baker
12. Lifes Rich Pageant
R.E.M.
13. Skylarking
XTC
14. Parade
Prince
15. Different Light
The Bangles
16. Strong Persuader
Robert Cray Band
17. Back In The High Life
Steve Winwood
18. Invisible Touch
Genesis
19. Dancing On The Ceiling
Lionel Richie
20. Live/1975–85
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
21. 5150
Van Halen
22. The Way It Is
Bruce Hornsby & The Range
23. Look What The Cat Dragged In
Poison
24. Please
Pet Shop Boys
25. Fore!
Huey Lewis & The News
26. Top Gun
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
27. Crowded House
Crowded House
28. Black Celebration
Depeche Mode
29. Third Stage
Boston
30. True Colors
Cyndi Lauper
31. Word Up!
Cameo
32. Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?
Megadeth
33. Just Like The First Time
Freddie Jackson
34. The Final Countdown
Europe
35. August
Eric Clapton
36. Winner In You
Patti LaBelle
37. The Bridge
Billy Joel
38. Give Me The Reason
Luther Vandross
39. Tuff Enuff
Fabulous Thunderbirds
40. Night Songs
Cinderella
41. Blood & Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
42. Somewhere In Time
Iron Maiden
43. Back In Black
Whodini
44. Atomizer
Big Black
45. Hot, Cool, & Vicious
Salt-n-Pepa
46. I Against I
Bad Brains
47. Eat 'Em And Smile
David Lee Roth
48. Georgia Satellites
Georgia Satellites
49. The Ultimate Sin
Ozzy Osbourne
50. Tinderbox
Siouxsie & The Banshees
51. To Hell With The Devil
Stryper
52. King Of America
The Costello Show
53. The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
54. Mechanical Resonance
Tesla
55. Solitude/Solitaire
Peter Cetera
56. Notorious
Duran Duran
57. Like A Rock
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
58. Break Every Rule
Tina Turner
59. Can't Hold Back
Eddie Money
60. Love Zone
Billy Ocean
61. True Stories
Talking Heads
62. Aretha
Aretha Franklin
63. Candy Apple Grey
Hüsker Dü
64. Lives In The Balance
Jackson Browne
65. Talking With The Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
66. Oh, My God!
Doug E. Fresh
67. Whiplash Smile
Billy Idol
68. EVOL
Sonic Youth
69. Infected
The The
70. The Other Side Of Life
Moody Blues
71. The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are
2 Live Crew
72. Brotherhood
New Order
73. Raised On Radio
Journey
74. C86
Various Artists
75. On Fire
Stetsasonic
76. They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
77. Guitar Town
Steve Earle
78. Kool Moe Dee
Kool Moe Dee
79. Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Candlemass
80. Forever
Kool & The Gang
81. Touch Me
Samantha Fox
82. Schoolly D
Schoolly D
83. Revenge
Eurythmics
84. Especially For You
The Smithereens
85. Live
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
86. A Kind Of Magic
Queen
87. Pleasure To Kill
Kreator
88. Mosaic
Wang Chung
89. Dancing Undercover
Ratt
90. New Kids On The Block
New Kids On The Block
91. London 0 Hull 4
The Housemartins
92. Famous Blue Raincoat: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Jennifer Warnes
93. Belinda
Belinda Carlisle
94. Show Me
The Cover Girls
95. Boomtown
David & David
96. Express
Love And Rockets
97. Your Funeral...My Trial
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
98. Liberty Belle And The Black Diamond Express
The Go-Betweens
99. No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
Van Morrison
100. Album
Public Image Ltd.
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1986
Brett's choice - An unheralded great album from 1986
* The House Of Secrets
Direct Hits
Bruce's choice:
* Messin' With My Mind
Clarence Carter
Ryan's choice:
* Daring Adventures
Richard Thompson
Lew's choice:
* Radio Musicola
Nik Kershaw
⇐ 1985   |   1987 ⇒