10 Overlooked ’80s Rock Albums That Should’ve Been Bigger

Not every album finds its audience out of the gate and in this feature we’re shining a spotlight on 10 1980s rock albums that should have been bigger than their initial returns that seem to have achieved more respect as the years have passed.

We’re breaking it down year by year for the full decade of the 1980s and while we are spotlighting just one album from each year, we’re also adding some other suggestions in case you feel like giving some classic records another spin and giving you some fresh perspective.

This list spans a broad swath of the rock world, from the new wave that dominated the era to the first and second waves of punk and even some of the efforts to bring blues rock back to the forefront. There are some familiar names such as INXS, who would go on to great commercial success, but it took a while to find their footing with the masses.

READ MORE: 25 Underrated 1980s Rock Bands That Should Have Been Bigger

The same could be said for Bad Religion, who didn’t find more commercial appeal until the next decade. And what about perhaps the most slept on band of the decade by mainstream radio? Yes, The Replacements have an entry too.

So dig in and hopefully this list will inspire you to revisit some truly underappreciated records and give you a sense of satisfaction if you were on board with them when they first came out.

And check out our list of overlooked ’90s rock albums in the gallery posted below that.