One day at Amoeba Hollywood I proclaimed that Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain was one of the best records of the '80s. This single statement eventually led to over 200 Amoebites ranking their top 10 favorite albums from the ‘80s.

From the beginning we realized that it was impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all genres into a tiny top ten list. So, we limited our lists to Rock/Pop and its sub-genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time.

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums we LOVE.

- Henry Polk

P.S. We'll be posting new additions to the '80s list project from Amoeba staff members on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. See all entries in our '80s list series.

P.P.S. The '80s List Book is available for sale at Amoeba Hollywood.


Kristen Frederick
The Dream Syndicate – The Days Of Wine & Roses (1982)
The Clash – London Calling (1980)
The Smiths – The Smiths (1983)
Roxy Music – Avalon (1980)
Ultravox – Vienna (1980)
The Waterboys – A Pagan Place (1984)
Echo & Bunnymen – Porcupine (1983)
The Psychedelic Furs – Talk Talk Talk (1981)
New Order – Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
OMD – Architecture & Morality (1981)

One day at Amoeba Hollywood I proclaimed that Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain was one of the best records of the '80s. This single statement eventually led to over 200 Amoebites ranking their top 10 favorite albums from the ‘80s.

From the beginning we realized that it was impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all genres into a tiny top ten list. So, we limited our lists to Rock/Pop and its sub-genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time.

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums we LOVE.

- Henry Polk

P.S. We'll be posting new additions to the '80s list project from Amoeba staff members on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. See all entries in our '80s list series.

P.P.S. The '80s List Book is available for sale at Amoeba Hollywood.


Melody Hirose
Klaus Nomi – Klaus Nomi (1981)
Adam Ant – Friend Or Foe (1982)
Grauzone – Grauzone (1981)
Depeche Mode – Black Celebration (1986)
The Clash – Combat Rock (1982)
Judy Nylon – Pal Judy (1982)
Psychic TV – Pagan Day (1984)
Tones On Tail – Pop (1984)
Fad Gadget – Fireside Favourites (1980)
ESG – Come Away With ESG (1983)

My first introduction to Roxy Music was Avalon, their last album as group from 1982. The title track, "Avalon," was actually played on adult contemporary stations, so I probably first heard it in my mom's car while she was dropping me off somewhere. Some of my favorites bands were near the end or their musical careers when I first heard them. It all just depends what age you are when you first hear a band. You can't help what year you are born and many of us end up liking music from past musical decades. Much of my favorite music comes from the 80's and early 90's but there is a good amount of music that I like that was being made when I was 3 years old back in the 70s too. I imagine it must be a little weird for somebody who is now 20 to only like 70s or 80s music -- music that was made well before they were born. A 20 year old could have been born in 1990! But I guess this is not any different than someone in the 80s being only into early soul music, or the millions of people who only listen to jazz or classical music made decades before they were born. By the time Roxy Music put out Avalon, I am sure they had lost many of their fans, or at least the fans of their earlier albums were not exactly jumping up for joy for the band's new softer, more adult contemporary sound. But I was not among them -- I loved Avalon. I loved the album cover. I loved the songs. When I was younger I was really drawn to album covers. They were much more important back then. It was often what first made me pick up certain albums. A really good album cover was really all that I needed to convince me to pick up an album. I probably didn't first pick up this album until the late 80's. The cover reminded me of some of my favorite movies at the time like Clash of the Titans or Ladyhawke. I was intrigued. Years later I would go back and discover the genius of early Roxy Music. The self titled album from 1972 and For Your Pleasure from 1973 are two of my favorites, and "Love is the Drug" from the 1975 album Siren remains one of my favorite songs of all time.

Bryan Ferry would go on to a very long solo career after Avalon and I have been obsessed with him ever since. Boys and Girls and Bete Noire are two of my favorite albums of the 80's. Brian Eno, on the other hand, worked on the first couple of Roxy Music albums but he has had an amazingly long career as a solo artist as well. Bryan Ferry has just released a new solo album called Olympia. This was initially going to be a new Roxy Music album and it really still sort of is one, even if it is credited just to Bryan Ferry. Former Roxy Music members Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, and Andy Mackay are all featured on the new album. It features "You Can Dance," which I think is one of the best Bryan Ferry songs in a while. I actually heard it on the radio for the first time. I thought it was kind of appropriate since this is how I first discovered Roxy Music so many years ago. I am always excited to have Bryan Ferry back in my life. The man has an awesome voice and I can never get enough of him. He is one of those singers that I think can appeal to a teen into new wave music and a suburban housewife into Michael Bolton. There is really nobody like him and there is never any mistaking a Bryan Ferry song!