Man on Wire 2008

Compilation CD's. Those Classic Golden Years - An Essential collection the second half of the sixties and the early seventies…

The Top 100 '80s Rock Albums span a series of genres as startling and varied as the era's neon-flecked fashions.No one was immune to the early-decade emergence of new wave, from up-and-coming acts to legacy groups – many of whom began incorporating the then-new sound into their bedrock approach.Meanwhile, classic rock and subsequently metal began a transformation into mass acceptance when the edges were smoothed out to form arena rock and hair metal, respectively. The arrival of roots, thrash, and world music influences kept things interesting, along the way. All of it made selecting the period's best releases both intriguing and deeply challenging.Check out the list below, as Ultimate Classic Rock takes a chronological look at the Top 100 '80s Rock Albums.

The band credited with spawning the "sleaze rock" lip-gloss and hairspray style that emerged from the Hollywood Strip (Los Angeles, California) at the dawn of the 80s and came to dominate rock in that decade. The most famous of those that followed included Poison and Guns n' Roses…

Hard rock quartet Gov't Mule emerged at the height of the jam band scene's emergence into the mainstream during the mid-'90s. They have played thousands of shows and been through many changes during that time – some of them excruciatingly painful. The death of founding bassist Allen Woody in 2000 was so profound a loss that they didn't replace him with any one bassist for three years. Keyboardist Danny Louis came aboard in 2002; a year later, bassist Andy Hess was hired on and remained for five more years. Since 2008, Jorgen Carlsson has held down the chair. Bring on the Music: Live at the Capitol Theatre not only acknowledges the band's anniversary but pays homage to their greatest asset: fans.

One of the most dynamic and accomplished artists to debut during the early '70s, singer and songwriter Chaka Khan secured her high standing as the frontperson of Rufus. A multiracial band that skillfully moved across soul, funk, rock, and jazz, they reached the mainstream with the slinking "Tell Me Something Good" (1974), a Top Five pop hit that won a Grammy, and throughout the decade continuously placed albums within the upper reaches of the pop and R&B charts. As Rufus remained active, Khan launched her solo career with "I'm Every Woman" (1978), an anthemic crossover disco smash that led to eight additional Top Ten R&B hits.