The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical albums. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 1980, as well as albums which peaked in 1979 and 1981 but were in the top 10 in 1980. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top ten for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
The first new number-one album of the year was by Pretenders by The Pretenders. Overall, twenty-one different albums peaked at number one in 1980, with twenty unique artists and one compilation hitting that position.
Top-ten albums Key SymbolMeaning‡Album peaked in 1979 but still in chart in 1980.♦Album released in 1980 but peaked in 1981.EnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the album reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered (week ending)Weeksintop10 Single ArtistPeak Peakreached (week ending)WeeksatpeakAlbums in 1979 32Manilow Magic: The Best of Barry Manilow ‡Barry Manilow 3 3 12Outlandos d'Amour ‡The Police 6 1 13String of HitsThe Shadows 1 3 6Eat to the Beat ‡Blondie 1 1 26Reggatta de Blanc ‡The Police 1 4 20Off the Wall ‡Michael Jackson 5 1 12Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 ‡Rod Stewart 1 5 13Greatest Hits Vol. 2 ‡ABBA 1 4 820 Golden Greats ‡Diana Ross 2 1 6Love SongsElvis Presley 4 1 9The Wall ‡Pink Floyd 3 4 6ELO's Greatest Hits ‡Electric Light Orchestra 7 1 4Peace in the Valley ‡Various artists 6 3 620 Hottest HitsHot Chocolate 3 1 3London Calling ‡The Clash 9 3Albums in 1980 6Bee Gees GreatestBee Gees 6 3 9One Step Beyond...Madness 2 1 9PretendersThe Pretenders 1 4 3Video StarsVarious artists 5 1 1Semi Detached Suburban: 20 Great Hits of the SixtiesManfred Mann 9 1 3Permanent WavesRush 3 1 4Short StoriesJon and Vangelis 4 1 3Golden CollectionCharley Pride 6 2 7The Last DanceVarious artists 1 2 4KennyKenny Rogers 7 1 5Get Happy!!Elvis Costello and The Attractions 2 3 2Too Much PressureThe Selecter 5 1 8Tell Me on a SundayMarti Webb 2 1 13Greatest HitsRose Royce 1 2 1Greatest HitsKC and the Sunshine Band 10 1 6Tears and LaughterJohnny Mathis 1 2 3Nobody's HeroesStiff Little Fingers 8 1 4Heart Breakers: 20 Golden Greats from Matt MonroMatt Monro 5 3 912 Gold BarsStatus Quo 3 4 3The Crystal Gayle Singles AlbumCrystal Gayle 7 1 1Glass HousesBilly Joel 9 1 8DukeGenesis 1 2 2Star TracksVarious artists 6 1 2Wheels of SteelSaxon 5 1 2British SteelJudas Priest 4 1 9The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden HitsBoney M. 1 2 1The Barbara Dickson AlbumBarbara Dickson 7 1 1FacadesSad Café 8 1 2Iron MaidenIron Maiden 4 1 3The Bobby Vee Singles AlbumBobby Vee 5 1 4HypnotisedThe Undertones 6 1 16Sky 2Sky 1 2 4Suzi Quatro's Greatest HitsSuzi Quatro 4 1 4Heaven and HellBlack Sabbath 9 2 1By RequestLena Martell 9 1 3Just One NightEric Clapton 3 2 2Sports CarJudie Tzuke 7 1 8McCartney IIPaul McCartney 1 2 7I Just Can't Stop ItThe Beat 3 1 10Me Myself IJoan Armatrading 5 4 17Flesh and BloodRoxy Music 1 4 4Champagne and RosesVarious artists 7 1 6Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt)Peter Gabriel 1 2 3Ready an' WillingWhitesnake 6 1 3Hot WaxVarious artists 3 2 1Magic Reggae 9 1 2The PhotosThe Photos 4 1 3SavedBob Dylan 3 1 1DefectorSteve Hackett 9 1 6Emotional RescueThe Rolling Stones 1 2 5UprisingBob Marley and the Wailers 6 2 4The GameQueen 1 2 2Live at LastBlack Sabbath 5 1 7Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep PurpleDeep Purple 1 1 1King of the RoadBoxcar Willie 5 1 8Xanadu: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackOlivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra 2 1 5Searching for the Young Soul RebelsDexys Midnight Runners 6 2 9Give Me the NightGeorge Benson 3 1 2CloserJoy Division 6 1 6Back in BlackAC/DC 1 2 4Glory RoadGillan 3 2 3KaleidoscopeSiouxsie and the Banshees 5 1 3DramaYes 2 2 3Breaking GlassHazel O'Connor 5 1 1Can't Stop the Music: Original SoundtrackVillage People 9 1 3TelekonGary Numan 1 1 5Signing OffUB40 2 2 3I'm No HeroCliff Richard 4 1 1The Michael Schenker GroupMichael Schenker Group 8 1 8Never for EverKate Bush 1 1 1Blizzard of OzzOzzy Osbourne 7 1 1Hanx!Stiff Little Fingers 9 1 1Now We May BeginRandy Crawford 10 1 5Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)David Bowie 1 2 4Mounting ExcitementVarious artists 2 1 4The Very Best of Don McLeanDon McLean 4 1 1Crash CourseU.K. Subs 8 1 1The Absolute GameThe Skids 9 1 3More SpecialsThe Specials 5 1 5AbsolutelyMadness 2 1 2ParisSupertramp 7 1 15Zenyatta MondattaThe Police 1 4 17GuiltyBarbra Streisand 1 2 2ChinatownThin Lizzy 7 1 3The RiverBruce Springsteen 2 1 3Just Supposin'Status Quo 4 2 2The Love AlbumVarious artists 6 1 3OrganisationOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 6 2 1FacesEarth, Wind & Fire 10 1 16Hotter than JulyStevie Wonder 2 1 3Ace of SpadesMotörhead 4 1 2Live... in the Heart of the CityWhitesnake 5 1 2GoldThe Three Degrees 9 2 33Kings of the Wild Frontier ♦Adam and the Ants 1 12 10Not the Nine O'Clock NewsNot the Nine O'Clock News Cast 5 2 11Super TrouperABBA 1 9 3Foolish BehaviourRod Stewart 4 1 2Country LegendsVarious artists 9 1 3AutoamericanBlondie 3 1 4Chart ExplosionVarious artists 6 1 2Sound AffectsThe Jam 2 1 10Greatest HitsDr. Hook 2 1 4InspirationsElvis Presley 6 1 16Double Fantasy ♦John Lennon and Yoko Ono 1 2 6Barry ♦Barry Manilow 5 1 420 Golden Greats of Ken DoddKen Dodd 8 3
See also 1980 in British music List of number-one albums from the 1980s (UK)
References General
Specific
External links 1980 album chart archive at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)