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Albums First Released in 1980

The new decade opened with post-punk, new wave and heavy rock all moving into the mainstream. Among the defining albums released in 1980 were Back in Black by AC/DC, Remain in Light by Talking Heads, Closer by Joy Division and Making Movies by Dire Straits.

The guitar music of the 1970s continued to evolve while new wave and post-punk brought fresh sounds to mainstream audiences. Many of the decade's biggest artists emerged during this period.

Browse new vinyl editions alongside second-hand copies.

Our Pick of the Year: Back in Black by AC/DC

Back in Black introduced Brian Johnson as AC/DC's singer after the death of Bon Scott. Producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange gave Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long and the title track a clean, forceful sound without losing the band's directness. It remains one of the clearest examples of hard rock built from simple parts played with precision.

Explore the year before or after

1979 Vinyl Records  |  1981 Vinyl Records  |  All years