This 100 Greatest Albums decade list like the ones before it has a twofold purpose: 1. To attempt as a fan of all things Christian music to be as well-rounded in my listening of the entire history of CCM music as possible. 2. To do my best to compile and leave behind a resource for anyone else who has a similar goal. I’ll freely admit the vast majority of the 80s has been a major blind spot to that goal of being well-versed but after many months this is where I landed…for now. I’ve truly only scratched the surface.
After the crowdsourced feedback I got from the first list I’m confident that this one represents my best attempt to capture the Top 100 without anything egregiously missing. Then again, I’m sure I’ll hear of a travesty I’ve committed by leaving an album off or missing where it should be ranked. It’s to be expected, but as long as it’s all kept in good fun I can take it.
A few notes:
- Yes, this list has been crowdsourced, but I still ranked the albums in terms of my personal enjoyment. Especially when it comes to the Top 25. It was more important to me that the right albums made the Top 100 than where they ended up # wise. The more I listen to the decade I’m sure albums will slide around order wise, especially outside the Top 50. After that I’m placing albums in chunks of twenty-five where I think they’d land on a Top 100 without the minutia of a specific number ranking. A cop out? Maybe, but I just don’t think I can adequately rank a decade I have spent so little time with.
- I’d wanted to have ten albums from each year of the 80s, but 87-89 were particularly strong so I had to abandon that idea. I think I managed to accomplish this but I’m not going back to check for sure. It’s close if not.
- I kept the artist inclusions to 2-3 albums max to spread the love as much as possible. Additionally it would have only been an iconic artist of the genre/decade that would get a look at 3 potential album inclusions. (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Petra, etc)
My other three decade lists if you’re interested:
100 Greatest Christian Albums of the 90s
100 Greatest Christian Albums of the 00s
Let’s start with my honorable mentions in alphabetical order…
2nd Chapter of Acts – Nightlight (1985)
Amy Grant – Straight Ahead (1984)
Barren Cross – Atomic Arena (1988)
Daniel Amos – Darn Floor, Big Bite (1987)
Dallas Holm – Beyond the Curtain (1988)
Idle Cure – Tough Love (1988)
Imperials – One More Song for You (1980)
Jon Gibson – Change of Heart (1988)
Keith Green – Songs for the Shepherd (1982)
Kim Hill – Self Titled (1988)
Mad at the World – Self Titled (1986)
Margaret Becker – The Reckoning (1988)
Phil Keaggy – Phil’ip Side (1980)
Randy Stonehill – Between the Glory and the Flame (1981)
Rich Mullins – Never Picture Perfect (1989)
Steve Camp – Justice (1989)
Steve Taylor – I Want to be a Clone (1983)
The Front – Self Titled (1985)
Whitecross – Self-Titled (1987)
Whiteheart – Vital Signs (1984)
The Imperials – Priority (1980)
Wayne Watson – Giants in the Land (1987)
Chuck Girard – The Stand (1980)
Tim Miner – I Know You Think You Know (1988)
Arkangel – Warrior (1980)
Sheila Walsh – War of Love (1983)
Andrus, Blackwood and Co. – Live (1980)
Michael Card – Known by the Scars (1983)
Sandy Patti – Morning Like This (1986)
Billy Crocket – The Basic Stuff (1989)
Resurrection Band – Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore (1981)
Benny Hester – Nobody Knows Me like You (1981)
Sweet Comfort Band – Hearts of Fire (1981)
Mark Heard – Stop the Dominos (1981)
Jacobs Trouble – Door into Summer (1989)
Petra – Not of this World (1983)
Larnelle Harris – From a Servants Heart (1987)
Jerusalem – Warrior (1982)
Degarmo & Key – No Turning Back (1982)
Andre Crouch – Don’t Give Up (1981)
Prodigal – Self-Titled (1982)
Twila Paris – The Warrior is a Child (1984)
Steven Curtis Chapman – Real Life Conversations (1988)
Steve Taylor – Meltdown (1984)
Bloodgood – Detonation (1987)
Carman – The Champion (1985)
Barnabas – Approaching Light Speed (1983)
Katy Troccoli – Stubborn Love (1982)
Daniel Band – Straight Ahead (1983)
Michael W Smith – The Michael W Smith Project (1983)
Edin Adahl – Alibi (1983)
Paul Clark – Aim for the Heart (1980)
Jeff Johnson – Shadowplay (1983)
2nd Chapter of Acts – Roar of Love (1980)
Steve Taylor – On the Fritz (1985)
Alarm – Strength (1985)
Steven Curtis Chapman – More to This Life (1989)
Prodigal – Just Like Real (1985)
Bride – Show No Mercy (1987)
Dave Perkins – The Innocence (1987)
Vector – Please Stand By (1985)
Chris Eaton – Vision (1985)
Phil Keaggy – Town to Town (1981)
Servant – Swimming in a Human Ocean (1985)
Degarmo & Key – Street Light (1986)
One Bad Pig – Smash (1989)
Crumbacher – Escape from the Fallen Planet (1986)
Deliverance – Self-Titled (1989)
Allies – Long Way From Paradise (1989)
Amy Grant – Age to Age (1982)
50. Randy Stonehill – Return to Paradise (1989)
49. Mark Heard – Victims of the Age (1982)
48. Shout – It Won’t Be Long (1988)
47. Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart Sheep in Wolves Clothing (1985)
46. Daniel Amos – Horrendous Disc (1981)
45. The Swirling Eddies – Outdoor Elvis (1989)
44. Amy Grant – Unguarded (1985)
43. Margaret Becker – Immigrants Daughter (1989)
42. Mastedon – It’s A Jungle Out There (1989)
41. Whiteheart – Don’t Wait for the Movie (1986)
40. Vector – Mannequin Virtue (1983)
39. Russ Taff – Medals (1985)
38. Steve Camp – Fire & Ice (1983)
37. Tonio K – Romeo Unchained (1986)
36. Bryan Duncan – Strong Medicine (1989)
36. Vengeance Rising – Human Sacrifice (1988)
34. Whitecross – Hammer & Nail (1988)
33. Kim Hill – Talk About Life (1988)
32. Sweet Comfort Band – Cutting Edge (1982)
31. Stryper – To Hell With the Devil (1986)
30. Petra – Beat the System (1985)
29. Adam Again – 10 Songs by Adam Again (1988)
28. Daniel Amos – Alarma! (1981)
27. Russ Taff – The Way Home (1989)
26. Resurrection Band – Colours (1980)
25. Prodigal – Electric Eye (1984)
24. Leslie Phillips – The Turning (1987)
23. The Call – Reconciled (1986)
22. Servant – Light Maneuvers (1984)
21. Charlie Peacock – Lie Down in the Grass (1984)
20. Steve Taylor – I Predict 1990 (1987)
19. Petra – This Means War (1987)
18. Larry Norman – Something New Under the Sun (1981)
17. Lifesavers Underground – Shaded Pain (1987)
16. Undercover – Branded (1986)
15. Michael W. Smith – The Big Picture (1986)
14. The Choir – Chase the Kangaroo (1988)
13. The Imperials – This Years Model (1987)
12. BeBe & CECe Winans – Heaven (1988)
11. Altar Boys – Gut Level Music (1986)
10. Jon Gibson – Body & Soul (1989)
9. Rich Mullins – Winds of Heaven Stuff of Earth (1988)
8. Daniel Amos – Fearful Symmetry (1986)
7. Phil Keaggy – Sunday’s Child (1988)
6. Russ Taff – Russ Taff (1987)
5. Keith Green – So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt (1980)
4. Michael W Smith – I 2 Eye (1988)
3. Whiteheart – Freedom (1989)
2. The 77s – Self Titled (1987)
1. Amy Grant – Lead Me On (1988)
That’s all folks! Please Like, share with a friend, and most importantly…let the discussion begin! What would your list look like?
Other posts of potential interest: