25 of my favourite releases from 1981

While I have plenty that I love from 82, I am skipping that year for now and going to a year that has many favourite albums. I am missing some big ones that I have cared about such as Rush's Moving Pictures, but that was a much more important to me album while in high school that it is now. I can only fit 25 in without doing "this or that" options, and I know some do not like that. I do plan to add more of these into a subsequent poll, so one will get Rush there and even Discipline despite not being one of my favoured KC albums (I much prefer the 1964 to 1974 period).

Here is my longer list, I really wanted to have that John Carpenter in, but again maybe in a later poll.

Please try to vote for five of these options if you can (more if you want to). Happy to hear about others not in the poll provided that you comment on the choices. This could be by voting and mentioning that or those in a post, saying that what you know does not appeal, or saying that you know know of the albums. And do bear in mind that I expect Moving Pictures and Discipline to appear in later polls so please have that context in mind if mentioning those here.

Here is my current top 32 at Awesome Prog. As ever, the ordering is often based on whims of the moment, what I last listened to, and not to be taken too seriously (it's feature of the AP "polls" I am using). When I adore this much music, ordering it does feel quite ludicrous. I know some the 80s are weak, but this is a stellar year for me (and an Eider Stellaire year too). Actually, this is not a long list compared to various 70s years and more contemporary years coming from me.

1. Siouxsie and The Banshees - Juju (not in PA)
2. Glenn Branca - The Ascension (not yet in PA)
3. Eskaton - 4 Visions
4. Dün - Eros
5. Penguin Cafe Orchestra - Penguin Cafe Orchestra
6. Magma - Retrospektïw I-II
7. Fabio Frizzi - L'aldilà
8. Univers Zéro - Ceux du Dehors
9. This Heat - Deceit
10. Wha-Ha-Ha - Shinutokiwa Betsu
11. Art Zoyd - Symphonie pour le jour où brûleront les cités
12. Tuxedomoon - Desire (not in PA)
13. Eider Stellaire - Eider Stellaire I
14. Present - Triskaidekaphobie
15. Kraftwerk - Computer World (Computerwelt)
16. Kultivator - Barndomens Stigar
17. The Residents - Mark of the Mole
18. Bauhaus - Mask (not in PA)
19. Phew - Phew (not in PA)
20. Art Bears - The World as It Is Today
21. Myrbein - Myrornas Krig
22. Klaus Doldinger - Das Boot (soundtrack, not in PA)
23. Patrick Gauthier - Bébé Godzilla
24. Codona - Codona 2
25. Magma - Retrospektïw III

26. John Carpenter - Escape From New York (soundtrack, not in PA)
27. Rush - Moving Pictures
28. Chakra - Satekoso (さてこそ) (not in PA)
29. The Lounge Lizards - The Lounge Lizards (not in PA)
30. Wipers - Youth of America (not in PA)
31. Rush - Exit Stage Left
32. King Crimson - Discipline

To give me something really exciting to do on my birthday, maybe I will prepare the others 80s polls tomorrow.    At least two more personal 80s polls from me and maybe I will do one more covering the really popular stuff at PA instead of my rather more niche for PA tastes.

Art Zoyd – Symphonie Pour le Jour où Brûleront les Cités
Glenn Branca – The Ascension
Fabio Frizzi – L'aldilà
Patrick Gauthier – Bébé Godzilla
Kraftwerk – Computer World
Univers Zéro – Ceux du Dehors

Das Boot is on zee other foot as Klaus Doldinger's soundtrack is the only album I know in the poll. 

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Das Boot is on zee other foot

Damn that's a phenomenal year, need a think

Tuxedo moon;Eskaton ; Present; YMO; kING cRIMSON

What a list! I felt like a kid in a candy store who just pigged out. Sorry, I picked seven, could have gone ten. No order but...
Tuxedomoon- Desire
Magma- Retrospetiw I&II
Eider Stellaire-I
Kultivator- Barndomes Stigar
Dun- Eros
This Heat- Deceit
Eskaton- 4 Visions

The only two not on your list I'll mention is Serge Bringolf's Vision and a related album by the Alain Eckert Quartet that is self titled. Both albums have at least three of the same members, maybe four.
If I was allowed just one vote, I think it would be Kultivator.

Logan wrote: I love Eurythmics but have not listened to full albums

I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy In the Garden. It's closer to Art Pop/New Wave and Dream Pop than the Synthpop that gave them huge hits a couple of years later. Annie Lennox ice cold yet strangely warm vocals has never sounded more haunting. It's actually produced by Conny Plank and recorded at his studio in Cologne. Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit + DAF-drummer Robert Görl guests on several songs (Blondies Clem Burke is the main drummer though. I've always liked his style anyway).

Here's their first ever single, video and minor hit. Featuring Jaki's motoric beat, Holger on french horn and a lovely flute solo by Annie. In the 1970's she studied at the Royal College of Music, and flute was her instrument, so she knew her stuff:

^ Thanks, and thanks to all who responded.

Saperlipopette! wrote: Logan wrote: I love Eurythmics but have not listened to full albums I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy In the Garden. It's closer to Art Pop/New Wave and Dream Pop than the Synthpop that gave them huge hits a couple of years later. Annie Lennox ice cold yet strangely warm vocals has never sounded more haunting. It's actually produced by Conny Plank and recorded at his studio in Cologne. Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit + DAF-drummer Robert Görl guests on several songs (Blondies Clem Burke is the main drummer though. I've always liked his style anyway). Here's their first ever single, video and minor hit. Featuring Jaki's motoric beat, Holger on french horn and a lovely flute solo by Annie. In the 1970's she studied at the Royal College of Music, and flute was her instrument, so she knew her stuff:

Thanks, I had not heard that. I love it! She is wonderful, and Jaki Liebezeit and Holger Czukay are of course great. For those that don't know, bot Jaki and Holger were involved with Phew in this poll.

I've just been scanning through the album, will give it proper listen later, but I really am enjoying what I am hearing.

Edited by Logan - March 08 2025 at 08:12