Here are 11 underrated rock albums from the 1980s that you absolutely need to own on vinyl.
Being underrated rock albums is about the only thing these titles have in common. Many of the selections on this list represent rock acts that took a risk that may not have landed with their entire fan base.
Iggy Pop‘s Zombie Birdhouse, for example, was considered to be meandering and a little too experimental for some who were introduced to the rocker through the music of The Stooges when it came out in 1982. Maybe they should get over it and consider giving it a second chance more than 40 years later.
READ MORE 11 Underrated ’90s Albums Every Rock Fan Should Own on Vinyl
Then there are those acts whose early work deserves to be remembered. Los Angeles punk band X is often remembered for their cover of “WIld Thing,” Their 1980 debut demands just as much, if not more attention.
Here is a look at those underrated albums, along with releases from top rock acts from the ’80s, including Depeche Mode, The Cure and the Replacements.
The Cure, Seventeen Seconds (1980)
cure seventeen seconds album cover
Key tracks: “A Forest,” “Play for Today,” “M”
Descendents, Milo Goes to College (1982)
descendents milo goes to college
Key tracks: “Hope,” “Suburban Home,” “Myage”
Depeche Mode, Black Celebration (1986)
depeche mode black celebration album cover
Key tracks: “Stripped,” “A Question of Time,” “A Question of Lust”
KIX, Cool Kids (1983)
kix cool kids album cover
Key tracks: “Body Talk,” “Cool Kids, “For Shame”
Loverboy, Loverboy (1980)
loverboy loverboy album cover
Key tracks: “Turn Me Loose,” “The Kid is Hot Tonite,” “Always On My Mind”
Iggy Pop, Zombie Birdhouse (1982)
iggy pop zombie birdhouse cover
Key tracks: “Run Like a Villain,” “The Villagers,” “Watching The News”
Pretenders, Pretenders II (1981)
pretenders pretenders II album cover
Key tracks: “I Go To Sleep,” “Message of Love,” “Talk of the Town”
Replacements, Let It Be (1984)
replacements let it be album cover
Key tracks: “Androgynous,” “I Will Dare,” “Unsatisfied”
Johnny Thunders, Que Sera Sera (1985)
johnny thunders que sera sera album cover
Key tracks: “Short Lives,” “Alone In a Crowd,” “M.I.A.”
Winger, Winger (1988)
winger winger album cover
Key tracks: “Seventeen,” “Headed for a Heartbreak,” “Madalaine”
X, Los Angeles (1980)
x los angeles album cover
Key tracks: “Los Angeles,” “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene,” “Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not”
More for Record Collectors
There’s more to collecting records than just the records themselves!
Here’s some turntable and speaker options. And some plastic sleeves to protect your LPs!
And speaking of music from the ’80s that deserved more appreciation, here is a look at 25 bands from that decade that should have been bigger.
25 1980s Rock Bands That Should Have Been Bigger
Their ’80s moments in the spotlight were fleeting, but should these acts have deserved better?
Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire
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