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Jeff Brown

The Top Singles and Top Albums of "1980's" and "1990's so far" is something I made myself. What I did was I took the votes for each album and single and divided them by the number of voters in each year so each album and single had a proportionate number of votes. Then I just ranked all the albums of the 1980s & 90's against each other and that gave me the best of the 1980s & 90's. I think it gives a good comparison of albums and singles from different years since an album that was #3 in 1980 (for example) might have less votes by proportion than an album that was #7 in 1985. Unfortunately, I only wrote down the votes for the first 10 albums and first 10 singles in each year so that's why the album list and singles list don't go to 100. Jeff Brown

Best of the 90's | Best of the '80's

If anybody requires more info about these lists please email Jeff Brown who kindly compiled them for me.

The End Of Year Critic Lists

1975 to 1989 | 1990 to 1998 | Robert Christgau’s Album Lists 1970-1998

1. Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A.
2. Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
3. The Clash - London Calling
4. Prince - Sign O' The Times
5. Michael Jackson - Thriller
6. Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
7. Bruce Springsteen - The River
8. Paul Simon - Graceland
9. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
10. R.E.M. - Murmur
11. Los Lobos - How Will The Wolf Survive?
12. Talking Heads - Little Creatures
13. Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out The Lights
14. The Clash - Sandanista!
15. Talking Heads - Remain In Light
16. De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising
17. Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love
18. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska
19. X - Wild Gift
20. Elvis Costello - Trust
21. The Replacements - Let It Be
22. The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me
23. The Replacements - Tim
24. Talking Heads - Speaking In Tongues
25. Pretenders - Pretenders
26. X - More Fun In The New World
27. King Sunny Adé & His African Beats - Juju Music
28. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
29. Tina Turner - Private Dancer
30. R.E.M. - Reckoning
31. Rolling Stones - Tattoo You
32. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
33. Elvis Costello - King Of America
34. Lou Reed - The Blue Mask
35. Public Image Ltd. - Second Edition
36. Neil Young - Freedom
37. U2 - The Joshua Tree
38. John Hiatt - Bring The Family
39. Prince - 1999
40. Lou Reed - New York
41. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Doc At The Radar Station
42. Pretenders - Learning To Crawl
43. Elvis Costello - Get Happy!!
44. Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade
45. John Cougar Mellencamp - Scarecrow
46. The English Beat - Special Beat Service
47. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
48. The Robert Cray Band - Strong Persuader
49. Marvin Gaye - Midnight Love
50. Lou Reed - New Sensations
51. Neville Brothers - Yellow Moon
52. Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City
53. Neneh Cherry - Raw Like Sushi
54. N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
55. Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates
56. Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - Live 1975/85
57. Run-D.M.C. - Raising Hell
58. The Police - Synchronicity
59. Hüsker Dü - Flip Your Wig
60. R.E.M. - Fables Of The Reconstruction
61. Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill
62. Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C.
63. Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual
64. Los Lobos - By The Light Of The Moon
65. Squeeze - East Side Story
66. Tom Verlaine - Dreamtime
67. John Cougar Mellencamp - The Lonesome Jubilee
68. Elvis Costello - Spike
69. Marshall Crenshaw - Marshall Crenshaw
70. X - Under The Big Black Sun
71. Stevie Wonder - Hotter Than July
72. The Mekons - The Mekons Rock 'N Roll
73. Peter Gabriel - So
74. Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising
75. Bangles - All Over The Place
76. Prince - Dirty Mind
77. R.E.M. - Document
78. R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant
79. Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'
80. U2 - War
81. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Blood And Chocolate
82. Various Artists - The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto
83. Lou Reed - Legendary Hearts
84. XTC - Skylarking
85. Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who?
86. Ramones - Too Tough To Die
87. Roxy Music - Avalon
88. John Fogerty - Centerfield
89. Prince - Controversy
90. Sam Cooke - Live At The Harlem Square Club
91. Pixies - Doolittle
92. Janet Jackson - Control
93. Hüsker Dü - Candy Apple Grey
94. Johnathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Johnathan Sings!
95. Gang Of Four - Entertainment!
96. The Velvet Underground - VU
97. Hüsker Dü - Warehouse: Songs And Stories
98. Rick James - Street Songs
99. Ornette Coleman - In All Languages
100. Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime

TOP SINGLES OF THE 1980'S

1.Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message

2.Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

3.Prince - When Doves Cry/17 Days

4.Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City

5.Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

6.Run-D.M.C. - Walk This Way

7.The Police - Every Breath You Take

8.The Pretenders - Back On The Chain Gang

9.Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark/Pink Cadillac

10.Public Enemy - Fight The Power

11.Cameo - Word Up

12.Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance

13. Laurie Anderson - O Superman/Walk The Dog

13. Rolling Stones - Start Me Up

15.Prince & The Revolution - Kiss/Love Or Money

16.Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

17.Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It

18.Aretha Franklin - Freeway Of Love

19.The Clash - Rock The Casbah

20.Prince - Sign O' The Times

21.Suzanne Vega - Luka

22.Hüsker Dü - Eight Miles High

23.Prince - 1999/How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?

24.Grandmaster Flash - The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel

25.Soft Cell - Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?

26. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Looking For The Perfect Beat

26. Prince - Little Red Corvette

28.Van Halen - Jump

29.John Fogerty - The Old Man Down The Road/Big Train (From Memphis)

30.Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

31.Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie

32.Los Lobos - La Bamba

33.Michael Jackson - Beat It

34.Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'

35.Kurtis Blow - The Breaks

36. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

36. Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

38.Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock

39.Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

40.Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy

41.Hüsker Dü - Makes No Sense At All/Love Is All Around

42.Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love

43.Ramones - Bonzo Goes To Bitburg

44. Prince - Let's Go Crazy/Erotic City

44. Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock - It Takes Two

46.Blondie - Call Me

47.Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel - White Lines (Don't Do It)

48.Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

49. Afrika Bambaataa & The Godfather Of Soul James Brown - Unity

49. Run-D.M.C. - Rock Box

51.Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer/A Month Of Sundays

52.Tone-Loc - Wild Thing

53. The Clash - Train In Vain/London Calling

53. Pretenders - Brass In Pocket

55.Pete Shelley - Homosapien

56.Chaka Khan - I Feel For You

57.Run-D.M.C. - It's Like That/Sucker MCs

58.Young M.C. - Bust A Move

59. ABC - The Look Of Love

59. Aretha Franklin - Jump To It

59. The Human League - Don't You Want Me

62. Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You?

62. Lisa Lisa And Cult Jam With Full Force - I Wonder If I Take You Home

64.Madonna - Like A Prayer

65.Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (Jammin')

66.Doug E. Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew - The Show / La-Di-Da-Di

67. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun

67. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

69.Prince - I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man / Hot Thing

70.Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child Of Mine

71.The B-52s - Love Shack

72.Funky Four Plus One - That's The Joint

73.Talking Heads - Burning Down The House

74.New Order - Temptation

75.U2 - Pride (In The Name Of Love)

76.Prince - Alphabet St.

77.Prince - Controversy

78.Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill

79.John Lennon - Just Like Starting Over / Yoko Ono - Kiss Kiss Kiss

80.M/A/A/R/S - Pump Up The Volume

81.Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper

82.Elvis Costello - Everyday I Write The Book

83.Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning / The Dead Heart

84.Big Country - In A Big Country

85. Grateful Dead - Touch Of Grey

85. Bruce Springsteen - Brilliant Disguise / Lucky Man

85. R.E.M. - The One I Love

88.Madonna - Into The Groove

89.George Clinton - Atomic Dog

90. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat

90. Billy Idol With Gen X - Dancing With Myself

90. Teena Marie - Square Biz

90. Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus

94.Prince - U Got The Look / Housequake

95. Public Enemy - Don't Believe The Hype / Prophets Of Rage

95. Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care

97. Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

97. Tom Petty - Free Fallin'

99.The Pretenders - Middle Of The Road / 2000 Miles

100.Gang Of Four - I Love A Man In A Uniform / Producer

Top of page

1.  Nirvana - Nevermind

2.  PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love

3.  Hole - Live Through This

4.  Beck - Odelay

5.  Liz Phair - Exile In Guyville

6.  Neil Young - Ragged Glory

7.  Lucinda Williams – Car Wheel on A Gravel Road

8.  Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months, And 2 Days In The Life Of...

9.  Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

10.  Bob Dylan - Time Out Of Mind

11.  Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

12.  Nirvana - In Utero

13.  Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet

14.  Radiohead - OK Computer

15.  Moby - Play

16.  Tricky - Maxinquaye

17.  Public Enemy - Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black

18.  R.E.M. - Out Of Time

19.  Pavement - Slanted And Enchanted

20.  Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

21.  Cornershop - When I Was Born For The 7th Time

22.  Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out

23.  R.E.M. - Automatic For The People

24.  Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs

25.  Bob Dylan – Live 1966

26.  PJ Harvey - Dry

27.  Fugees - The Score

28.  Beck – Midnite Vultures

29.  Billy Bragg and Wilco – Mermaid Avenue

30.  The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin

31.  Beastie Boys - Check Your Head

32.  Los Lobos - Kiko

33.  PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me

34.  Sonic Youth - Goo

35.  Yo La Tengo - I Can Feel The Heart Beating As One

36.  U2 - Achtung Baby

37.  R.E.M. – Monster

38.  Tom Waits – Mule Variations

39.  P.M. Dawn - Of The Heart, Of The Soul And Of The Cross: The Utopian Experience

40.  Living Colour - Time's Up

41.  The Breeders - Last Splash

42.  Sleater-Kinney - Call The Doctor

43.  Elliott Smith - XO

44.  Sugar - Copper Blue

45.  Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York

46.  Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

47.  Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - Supa Dupa Fly

48.  OutKast - Aquemini

49.  Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Sleeps With Angels

50.  Pet Shop Boys - Very

51.  Sonic Youth - Dirty

52.  Moby - Everything Is Wrong

53.  Rage Against The Machine – The Battle Of Los Angeles

54.  Erykah Badu - Baduizm

55.  DJ Shadow - Endtroducing...

56.  Los Lobos - Colossal Head

57.  Fiona Apple – When The Pawn…

58.  Dr. Dre - The Chronic

59.  Paul Simon - The Rhythm Of The Saints

60.  Liz Phair - Whip-Smart

61.  Wilco – Summer Teeth

62.  Steve Earle - I Feel Alright

63.  Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

64.  Elastica - Elastica

65.  Johnny Cash - American Recordings

66.  Beth Orton – Central Reservation

67.  Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup

68.  Rosanne Cash - Interiors

69.  Björk - Homogenic

70.  PJ Harvey – Is This Desire?

71.  Neil Young - Mirror Ball

72.  LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out

73.  Amy Rigby - Diary Of A Mod Housewife

74.  Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand

75.  Richard Thompson - Rumor and Sigh

76.  Pavement – Brighten The Corners

77.  Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

78.  Beck - Mellow Gold

79.  Tricky - Pre-Millennium Tension

80.  Pulp - Different Class

81.  R.E.M. - New Adventures In Hi-Fi

82.  Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters

83.  Tom Waits - Bone Machine

84.  Prince - Graffiti Bridge

85.  Everything But The Girl - Walking Wounded

86.  Mos Def – Black On Both Sides

87.  Steve Earle - El Corazon

88.  Basehead - Play With Toys

89.  Patti Smith - Gone Again

90.  Randy Newman – Bad Love

91.  Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Spinning Around The Sun

92.  Soundgarden - Superunknown

93.  Lucinda Williams - Sweet Old World

94.  k.d. lang - Ingénue

95.  Björk - Post

96.  Air – Moon Safari

97.  Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty

98.  Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost Of Tom Joad

99.  De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate

100.  Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend

BEST SINGLES OF THE 90'S

1.  Arrested Development - Tennessee

2.  Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

3.  Beck - Loser

4.  Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise

5.  R.E.M. - Losing My Religion

6.  Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart

7.  The Breeders - Cannonball

8.  Naughty By Nature - O.P.P.

9.  Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

10.  TLC – No Scrubs

11.  Fatboy Slim – The Rockafeller Skank

12.  Hanson - MMMBop

13.  Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

14.  Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

15.  Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks On Me

16.  The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

17.  Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You

18.  Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know

19.  Beastie Boys - Intergalactic

20.  Digable Planets - Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)

21.  Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box

22.  Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)

23.  House Of Pain - Jump Around

24.  Veruca Salt – Seether

25.  Madonna – Ray of Light

26.  Kris Kross - Jump

27.  Quad City DJ's - C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)

28.  Dr. Dre - Nuthin But A 'G' Thang

29.  Aaliyah – Are You That Somebody?

30.  Coolio - Fantastic Voyage

31.  Elastica - Connection

32.  Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance

33.  TLC - Waterfalls

34.  Blur - Song 2

35.  Eminem – My Name Is

36.  Madonna - Vogue

37.  En Vogue - My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)

38.  Warren G - Regulate

39.  Metallica - Enter Sandman

40.  Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

41.  Beck - Where It's At

42.  P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss

43.  Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)

44.  Oasis - Wonderwall

45.  Pulp - Common People

46.  Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha

47.  Joan Osborne - One Of Us

48.  Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats

49.  Public Enemy - Can't Truss It

50.  Seal - Crazy

51.  Beastie Boys - Sabotage

52.  Faith No More - Epic

53.  Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World

54.  PJ Harvey - Down By The Water

55.  Black Box - Everybody Everybody

56.  Len – Steal My Sunshine

57.  EMF - Unbelievable

58.  TLC - Creep

59.  Smash Mouth - Walking On The Sun

60.  Erykah Badu - On And On

61.  Madonna – Beautiful Stranger

62.  Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop

63.  LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out

64.  Arrested Development - People Everyday

65.  Cypress Hill - How I Could Just Kill A Man / The Phuncky Feel One

66.  Busta Rhymes - Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check

67.  R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

68.  Madonna - Justify My Love

69.  Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way

70.  C+C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

71.  OutKast – Rosa Parks

72.  Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back

73.  The Notorious B.I.G. - Mo' Money Mo' Problems

74.  Pavement - Cut Your Hair

75.  Hole – Celebrity Skin

76.  U2 - One

77.  Hole - Doll Parts

78.  Liz Phair - Supernova

79.  Radiohead - Creep

80.  Soul Asylum - Runaway Train

81.  Soho - Hippychick

82.  The KLF - Justified And Ancient

83.  Fiona Apple - Criminal

84.  Public Enemy - Welcome To The Terrordome

85.  The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun

86.  Offspring - Come Out And Play

87.  The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize

88.  Juliana Hatfield Three - My Sister

89.  Sophie B. Hawkins - Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover

90.  DNA Featuring Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner

91.  Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand

92.  Blackstreet - No Diggity

93.  Beck - Devil's Haircut

94.  Urge Overkill – Sister Havana

95.  Sheryl Crow – All I Want To Do

96.  Cher – Believe

97.  Fastball – The Way

98.  Ini Kamoze – Here Comes The Hotstepper

99.  Salt-N-Pepa – Whatta Man

100.  Prince – Gett Off