100 Greatest Albums of 1985

1985 record album covers for Radio, Brothers In Arms, Rain Dogs, and King Of Rock
Criteria: These 1985 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. Radio - LL Cool J
  2. Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits
  3. Rain Dogs - Tom Waits
  4. King Of Rock - Run-D.M.C.
  5. No Jacket Required - Phil Collins
  6. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
  7. Psychocandy - The Jesus and Mary Chain
  8. Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush
  9. Rum, Sodomy & the Lash - The Pogues
10. Heart - Heart
11. Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good - Prefab Sprout
12. Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963 - Sam Cooke
13. Tim - The Replacements
14. New Day Rising - Hüsker Dü
15. Low-Life - New Order
16. The Head On The Door - The Cure
17. Meat Is Murder - The Smiths
18. Scarecrow - John Cougar Mellencamp
19. Songs From The Big Chair - Tears For Fears
20. This Nation's Saving Grace - The Fall
21. The Dream Of The Blue Turtles - Sting
22. Little Creatures - Talking Heads
23. Hunting High And Low - a-ha
24. Riptide - Robert Palmer
25. Centerfield - John Fogerty
26. Primitive Love - Miami Sound Machine
27. Who's Zoomin' Who - Aretha Franklin
28. Welcome To The Real World - Mr. Mister
29. Mantronix: The Album - Mantronix
30. Around The World In A Day - Prince and the Revolution
31. Theatre Of Pain - Mötley Crüe
32. Nervous Night - The Hooters
33. Listen Like Thieves - INXS
34. Misplaced Childhood - Marillion
35. The Power Station - The Power Station
36. Afterburner - ZZ Top
37. Miami Vice - Jan Hammer and various artists
38. Promise - Sade
39. Picture Book - Simply Red
40. Rock Me Tonight - Freddie Jackson
41. Dream Into Action - Howard Jones
42. Youthquake - Dead Or Alive
43. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force
44. This Is The Sea - The Waterboys
45. Empire Burlesque - Bob Dylan
46. The Night I Fell In Love - Luther Vandross
47. First And Last And Always - Sisters Of Mercy
48. Southern Accents - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
49. Be Yourself Tonight - Eurythmics
50. Play Deep - The Outfield
51. Invasion Of Your Privacy - Ratt
52. In Square Circle - Stevie Wonder
53. Fables Of The Reconstruction - R.E.M.
54. Lovin' Every Minute Of It - Loverboy
55. Flip Your Wig - Hüsker Dü
56. The Secret Of Association - Paul Young
57. Hell Awaits - Slayer
58. Behind The Sun - Eric Clapton
59. Once Upon A Time - Simple Minds
60. As The Band Turns - Atlantic Starr
61. Slave To The Rhythm - Grace Jones
62. Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good - Megadeth
63. The Wake - IQ
64. Power Windows - Rush
65. Ready For The World - Ready For The World
66. Bad Moon Rising - Sonic Youth
67. Love - The Cult
68. To Mega Therion - Celtic Frost
69. Shaken 'n' Stirred - Robert Plant
70. Rock A Little - Stevie Nicks
71. Knee Deep In The Hoopla - Jefferson Starship
72. Boys And Girls - Bryan Ferry
73. Romance 1600 - Sheila E.
74. Live After Death - Iron Maiden
75. Night Time - Killing Joke
76. Halber Mensch - Einstürzende Neubauten
77. So Red The Rose - Arcadia
78. Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega
79. Cupid & Psyche 85 - Scritti Politti
80. Bonded By Blood - Exodus
81. Wonderland - Erasure
82. Rhythm Of The Night - DeBarge
83. Soldiers Under Command - Stryper
84. The Jets - The Jets
85. Soul To Soul - Stevie Ray Vaughan
86. Seven Churches - Possessed
87. She's The Boss - Mick Jagger
88. Nightshift - The Commodores
89. Under Lock And Key - Dokken
90. That's Why I'm Here - James Taylor
91. Can't Stop The Love - Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
92. Boy In The Box - Corey Hart
93. Mike + The Mechanics - Mike + The Mechanics
94. Seven Wishes - Night Ranger
95. Lone Justice - Lone Justice
96. World Machine - Level 42
97. The Family - The Family
98. Fly On The Wall - AC/DC
99. Maverick - George Thorogood & The Destroyers
100. Ain't Love Grand - X
Radio LL Cool J album cover
Brothers In Arms Dire Straits album cover
Rain Dogs Tom Waits album cover
King Of Rock Run-D.M.C. album cover
No Jacket Required Phil Collins album cover
Whitney Houston album cover
 DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1985
  Brett's choice - An unheralded great album from 1985
 •  The Jasmine Minks - The Jasmine Minks
  Bruce's choice:
 •  Members Only - Bobby Bland
  Ryan's choice:
 •  Don't Stand Me Down - Dexy's Midnight Runners
  Lew's choice:
 •  Cock Robin - Cock Robin


Top 100 Albums by Year: (in progress)