Ten Albums That Had A Major Impact On Music In The 80s

1. "Master of Puppets" - 'Master of Puppets' (1986)

How does one succinctly describe a song that’s not only *so* important to an iconic band but so important to the culture of a genre? Imagining metal without “Master of Puppets” is like imagining the pop world without “Billie Jean” or “Purple Rain.” Finding an entry point to describe a song as impactful as “Master of Puppets” is difficult, but perhaps the best test is really trying to think of how different the landscape would be without it and its influence. It’s hard to imagine a world without “Master of Puppets.” Thankfully, we never will. (EB)

Elektra

Far Out magazine recently posted 10 albums that changed the 80s. You can see their story here. Here they are in no particular order.

What would you add to the list?

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The u.s.a.

Bruce's 7th album dropped in June of 1984.

Rush - Moving pictures

I'm still searching for an original on vinyl. The 8th album from the Canadian legends, it came out on February 12th, 1981.

The Stone Roses - The stone roses

I'll admit, I don't know much about this album. It came out in May of 1989.

The Cure - disintegration

This is one of those bands I never got into. This album came out May 2, 1989.

Kate Bush - hounds of love

Ok, I know nothing about this album. Of course it featured "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)".

Metallica - Master of puppets

I mean, a true metal classic! It dropped on March 3, 1986 and has stood the test of time.

R.E.M. - Murmer

Again, not in my wheelhouse, but I can see how this band had a huge impact on music in the 80s. This album came out on April 2, 1983.

Guns N' Roses - Appetite for destruction

From the opening chord, you knew this album was going to be a monster. A rock anthem from start to finish, it came out on July 21, 1987.

Prince - Purple Rain

What An Album! This record is a masterpiece. It came out on June 25, 1984.

U2 - The Joshua Tree

One of U2's biggest album, it came out on March 9, 1987.

MeltdownEditor

Meltdown started on the mighty WRIF on the evening of Halloween, 1995. Technically, his first on-air shift was the morning of November 1st. Moving to the Motor City from Buffalo, N.Y., he has built a career and family. Over his almost three-decade stint at RIFF, he's had the privilege to work with some of the biggest personalities in Detroit radio history. He boasts of being just the second-afternoon drive jock in the station's illustrious 53-year history. Along with his love for rock music and attending concerts, he's also an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast and hockey player. He plays year-round and manages to squeeze in a few charity games throughout the year. Meltdown writes about the Detroit Red Wings, rock music, and Detroit concert venues.