List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 1980s

The UK Albums Chart is a weekly record chart based on album sales from Sunday to Saturday in the United Kingdom; during the 1980s, a total of 184 albums reached number one.

Number ones +Keynth album to top the UK Albums ChartreReturn of an album to number oneSilverSilver certificationGoldGold certificationPlatinumPlatinum certificationBest-selling album of the yearBest-selling album of the decade ← 1970s19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990s → ArtistAlbumRecord labelReached number one(for the week ending)Weeks atnumber oneCertification(as of 31December 1989)220Greatest Hits, Vol. 1Riva5ABBAGreatest Hits Volume 2Epic1221PretendersReal4222Various artistsThe Last DanceMotown2223String of HitsEMI3224Tears and LaughterCBS2225GenesisDukeCharisma2226Rose RoyceGreatest HitsWhitfield2227SkySky 2Ariola2228Boney M.Hansa/Atlantic2229McCartney II Parlophone2230Peter Gabriel Charisma2231Roxy MusicFlesh and Blood Polydor1232Emotional RescueRolling Stones2233QueenEMI2234Deep PurpleDeepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep PurpleHarvest1235AC/DCBack in BlackAtlantic2Roxy MusicFlesh and Blood Polydor3236TelekonBeggars Banquet1237Never for EverEMI1238Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)RCA2239Zenyatta MondattaA&M4240GuiltyCBS2241ABBASuper Trouper Epic9242Adam and the AntsKings of the Wild Frontier CBS2243 and Yoko OnoDouble FantasyGeffen2244Face ValueVirgin3Adam and the AntsKings of the Wild Frontier CBS10245StarsoundStars on 45CBS5246MotörheadNo Sleep 'til HammersmithBronze1247Various artistsDisco Daze and Disco NitesRonco1248Love SongsEMI5249Various artistsThe Official BBC Album of the Royal WeddingBBC2250Electric Light OrchestraTimeJet2251Meat LoafDead RingerCleveland International/Epic2252GenesisAbacabCharisma2253Ghost in the MachineA&M3254DareVirgin1255Shakin' StevensShakyEpic1256QueenGreatest HitsEMI4257Various artistsChart Hits '81K-tel1258ABBAEpic3DareVirgin3259Love Songs CBS7260Polydor1Love Songs CBS2261Iron MaidenEMI2262Status Quo1+9+8+2Vertigo1263Barry Live in BritainArista1264Tug of WarParlophone2265MadnessComplete MadnessStiff2266Roxy MusicAvalonE.G.1MadnessComplete MadnessStiff1Roxy MusicAvalonE.G.2267ABCNeutron4268Original soundtrackFameRSO1269BBC8270Dire StraitsLove over GoldVertigo4BBC4271ABBAEpic1272Parlophone6273Various artistsRaiders of the Pop ChartsRonco2274Men at WorkBusiness as UsualEpic5275Thriller Epic1276U2WarIsland1Thriller Epic1277Tears for FearsMercury1278Pink FloydHarvest2279Faster Than the Speed of Night CBS1280Let's DanceEMI America3281Spandau BalletTrueReformation1Thriller Epic5282SynchronicityA&M2283Wham!FantasticInnervision2284YazooYou and Me BothMute2285Capitol2286 and The Jackson 518 Greatest HitsMotownTelstar3Capitol1287No ParlezCBS1288UB40Labour of LoveDEP International1No ParlezCBS2289GenesisGenesisCharisma1290Culture ClubColour by NumbersVirgin3291Can't Slow DownMotown1Culture ClubColour by NumbersVirgin2292Duran DuranSeven and the Ragged TigerEMI1No ParlezCBS1293Various artistsNow That's What I Call MusicVirgin/EMI4No ParlezCBS1Various artistsNow That's What I Call MusicVirgin/EMI1ThrillerEpic1294EurythmicsTouch RCA2295Simple MindsSparkle in the RainVirgin1296Thompson TwinsInto the GapArista3297Human's LibWEA2Can't Slow Down Motown2298Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music IIVirgin/EMI5299LegendIsland12300Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 3Virgin/EMI8301TonightEMI America1302U2Island2303Big CountrySteeltownMercury1304Give My Regards to Broad StreetParlophone1305Frankie Goes to HollywoodWelcome to the PleasuredomeZTT1306Wham!Make It BigEpic2307Various artistsCBS/WEA7308AlfCBS1309ForeignerAgent ProvocateurAtlantic3310Born in the U.S.A.CBS1311Meat Is MurderRough Trade1312No Jacket RequiredVirgin5313CBS1314Various artistsCBS/WEA6315Dire StraitsBrothers in Arms Vertigo2316Our Favourite ShopPolydor1317Boys and GirlsE.G.2318MarillionMisplaced ChildhoodEMI1Born in the U.S.A.CBS4Dire StraitsBrothers in Arms Vertigo2319Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 5Virgin/EMI5320MadonnaLike a VirginSire1321Hounds of LoveEMI2MadonnaLike a VirginSire1Hounds of LoveEMI1322K-tel1323Simple MindsOnce Upon a TimeVirgin1K-tel1324SadePromiseEpic2325Various artistsTelstar1326Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 6 Virgin/EMI2327Various artistsNow – The Christmas Album Virgin/EMI2Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 6 Virgin/EMI2Dire StraitsBrothers in Arms Vertigo10328Various artistsHits 4 CBS/WEA/RCA/Ariola4329 and Roxy MusicStreet Life: 20 Great Hits E.G.5330SoVirgin2331QueenEMI1332GenesisInvisible TouchVirgin3333MadonnaTrue Blue Sire6334Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 7Virgin/EMI5335Five StarSilk and SteelTent1336GracelandWarner Bros.5337Every Breath You Take: The SinglesA&M2338Various artistsHits 5 CBS/RCA/Ariola/WEA2339Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 8Virgin/EMI/PolyGram6340EMI2GracelandWarner Bros.3341Original London castReally Useful3342Hot ChocolateRak1343U2Island2344Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 9Virgin/EMI/PolyGram5345Curiosity Killed the CatKeep Your DistanceMercury2346Swing Out SisterIt's Better to TravelMercury2347Simple MindsLive in the City of LightVirgin1348WhitneyArista6349Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'ArbyCBS1350Various artistsHits 6CBS/BMG/WEA4351Def LeppardHysteriaBludgeon Riffola1Various artistsHits 6CBS/BMG/WEA1352Bad Epic5353Tunnel of LoveCBS1354StingA&M1355Fleetwood MacTango in the NightWarner Bros.2356FaithEpic1357T'PauBridge of SpiesSiren1358Whenever You Need SomebodyRCA1359Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 10Virgin/EMI/PolyGram6360Wet Wet WetPopped In Souled Out1361Johnny Hates JazzTurn Back the ClockVirgin1Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'ArbyCBS8362MorrisseyViva HateHis Master's Voice1363Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 11Virgin/EMI/PolyGram3364Iron MaidenSeventh Son of a Seventh SonEMI1365ErasureMute1Fleetwood MacTango in the NightWarner Bros.2366PrinceLovesexyPaisley Park1Fleetwood MacTango in the NightWarner Bros.1367Various artistsNite FliteCBS4368Tracy ChapmanElektra3369Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 12Virgin/EMI/PolyGram5370Kylie PWL4371Various artistsHot City NightsVertigo1372Bon JoviNew JerseyVertigo2373Flying ColoursA&M1374U2Rattle and HumIsland1375Dire StraitsMoney for NothingVertigo3Kylie PWL2376Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music XIIIVirgin/EMI/PolyGram3377Private Collection: 1979–1988EMI2Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music XIIIVirgin/EMI/PolyGram1ErasureMuteFrom 14 January 1989, various artist compilations were excluded from the UK Albums Chart and instead included in the UK Compilation Chart.1378Telstar3379New OrderTechniqueFactory1380Fine Young CannibalsLondon1381Simply RedWEA4382Anything for YouEpic1383MadonnaLike a PrayerSire2384Deacon BlueWhen the World Knows Your NameCBS2Simply RedWEA1385BlastMCA1386Simple MindsStreet Fighting YearsVirgin1387Ten Good Reasons PWL2388QueenParlophone1Ten Good Reasons PWL2389Flowers in the DirtParlophone1390PrinceBatmanWarner Bros.1391Transvision VampVelveteenMCA1392Soul II SoulClub Classics Vol. I101Simply RedWEA2393Cuts Both WaysEpic6394Original stage castAspects of LoveReally Useful/Polydor1395EurythmicsWe Too Are OneRCA1396Foreign AffairCapitol1397Tears for FearsFontana1398CrossroadsElektra1399Enjoy YourselfPWL1400ErasureWild!Mute2401WEA3402Virgin8 ← 1970s19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990s →

By artist

Ten artists spent 10 weeks or more at number one on the album chart during the 1980s. ArtistNumber onesWeeks at number oneDire Straits321316ABBA414313Adam and the Ants112112112411211Madonna310

By record label Six record labels spent 20 weeks or more at number one on the album chart during the 1980s. Record labelNumber onesWeeks at number oneVirgin Records2495EMI Records2691CBS1983WEA836PolyGram629Vertigo Records625

Christmas number ones

In the UK, Christmas number one albums are those that are at the top of the UK Albums Chart on Christmas Day. Typically, this will refer to the album that was announced as number one on the Sunday before 25 December—when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday itself, the official number one is considered by the OCC to be the one announced on that day's chart. During the 1980s, the following albums were Christmas number ones. YearArtistAlbumRecord labelWeeks atnumber oneRef.1980ABBASuper TrouperEpic91981ABBAEpic31982Parlophone61983Various artistsNow That's What I Call MusicVirgin/EMI51984Various artistsHits 1CBS/WEA71985Various artistsNow – The Christmas AlbumVirgin/EMI21986Various artistsVirgin/EMI/PolyGram61987Various artistsNow That's What I Call Music 10Virgin/EMI/PolyGram61988Private Collection: 1979–1988EMI21989Virgin15

Notes

References

External links Archive of all UK Number One Albums of the 1980s with images of original packaging Official UK Albums Top 100 at the Official Charts Company