The top 40 on Sunday mornings, and cassette tapes. I bought my 1st tape as a little kid in 1983 and 1984. Weird Al's album In 3-D namely. And often at the Great American Music store in the Highland Village store.
But as time as gone by and looking at Albums, 1984 has some very good albums, like what I consider my favorite Pat Metheny record in First Circle and my favorite U2 album in The Unforgettable Fire.
Rush's Grace Under Pressure is an album I do enjoy a lot, but I guess I don't see it greater than most of their classic catalog (Caress of Steel-Presto). But it's a great record, thus par for their course. And given the quality of the albums from 1984, it places quite high.
And Prince, I bought Purple Rain on tape and it was such a big deal and rival to Michael Jackson and Thriller then, even though the release dates were like 18 months apart.
But I was a sports kid, so 1984 was most remembered by me for that, but as a year, compared to other years from the 80's, I'm thinking it may not compare. But then again, I suspect a lot of the mid to late 80's albums were not too different.
That also being said, I do have a soft spot for 80's pop, and I included some albums with some of those songs. Also early Metal albums, Thrash, NWOBHM, Prog and Soundtracks.
1. Pat Metheny Group - First Circle
2, Rush - Grace Under Pressure
3. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
4. Marillion - Fugazi
5. Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain OST
6. "Weird Al" Yankovic - In 3-D
7. Fates Warning - Night on Bröcken
8. Van Halen - 1984
9. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
10. Queensryche - The Warning
11. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
12. NRG - No Reasons Given
13. Marillion - Real to Reel
14. King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
15.Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
16. Duran Duran - Arena
17. Wham! - Make it Big
18. XTC - The Big Express
19. David Gilmour - About Face
![Van Halen - 1984.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5f/Van_Halen_-_1984.jpg/220px-Van_Halen_-_1984.jpg)
Van Halen - 1984
rel January 9, 1984
![Footloose soundtrack 1984.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/44/Footloose_soundtrack_1984.jpg/220px-Footloose_soundtrack_1984.jpg)
Various Artists - Footloose (Original Soundtrack)
rel January 31, 1984
![Simple minds-sparkle.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fa/Simple_minds-sparkle.jpg/220px-Simple_minds-sparkle.jpg)
Simple Minds - Sparkle in the Rain
rel February 6, 1984
![The Sentinel](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/6a59779a245b4dc587949e2f4eae8943.jpg)
Pallas - The Sentinel
rel February 13, 1984
![Queen The Works.png](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/39/Queen_The_Works.png/220px-Queen_The_Works.png)
Queen - The Works
rel February 27, 1984
![The cover for "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D features "Weird Al" Yankovic's upper torso protruding out of an askew box with a wooden frame. The title is written in mock three-deminsional font. The sky and a yellow floor are featured in the background. This is a direct connection to evilness, seeing as there is a message in one of the songs on the album called"nature trail to hell" which has a backwards message saying that satan eats cheese whiz, also connecting cheese to evilness too.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Weird_Al_Yankovic_-_In_3-D.jpg/220px-Weird_Al_Yankovic_-_In_3-D.jpg)
"Weird Al" Yankovic - In 3-D
rel February 28, 1984
![David Gilmour About Face.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/David_Gilmour_About_Face.jpg/220px-David_Gilmour_About_Face.jpg)
David Gilmour - About Face
rel March 5, 1984
![Marillion - Fugazi.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/Marillion_-_Fugazi.jpg/220px-Marillion_-_Fugazi.jpg)
Marillion - Fugazi
rel March 12, 1984
![Dire Straits - Alchemy Dire Straits Live.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6d/Dire_Straits_-_Alchemy_Dire_Straits_Live.jpg/220px-Dire_Straits_-_Alchemy_Dire_Straits_Live.jpg)
Dire Straits - Alchemy: Dire Straits Live
rel March 16, 1984
![Three of a Perfect Pair.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1a/Three_of_a_Perfect_Pair.jpg/220px-Three_of_a_Perfect_Pair.jpg)
King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair
rel March 27, 1984
![Laura Branigan - Self Control.png](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b2/Laura_Branigan_-_Self_Control.png/220px-Laura_Branigan_-_Self_Control.png)
Laura Branigan - Self Control
rel April 2, 1984
![A watercolor painting of a snake with two heads that has the names of the songs from Reckoning written on it, with a large white square in the upper-left corner that has "R.E.M." written in it](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/R.E.M._-_Reckoning.jpg/220px-R.E.M._-_Reckoning.jpg)
R.E.M. - Reckoning
rel April 9, 1984
![Rush Grace Under Pressure.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/66/Rush_Grace_Under_Pressure.jpg/220px-Rush_Grace_Under_Pressure.jpg)
Rush - Grace Under Pressure
rel April 12, 1984
![Roger Waters Pros Cons HH.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/50/Roger_Waters_Pros_Cons_HH.jpg/220px-Roger_Waters_Pros_Cons_HH.jpg)
Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking
rel April 30, 1984
![Theswing.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/34/Theswing.jpg/220px-Theswing.jpg)
INXS - The Swing
rel April 1984
![The Bangles - All Over the Place.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4b/The_Bangles_-_All_Over_the_Place.jpg/220px-The_Bangles_-_All_Over_the_Place.jpg)
The Bangles - All Over the Place
rel May 23, 1984
![Clannad Legend album cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9b/Clannad_Legend_album_cover.jpg)
Clannad - Legend [TV Soundtrack]
rel May 1984
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
rel June 4, 1984
![Princepurplerain.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9c/Princepurplerain.jpg/220px-Princepurplerain.jpg)
Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain
rel June 25, 1984
![DioTheLastInLine.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/50/DioTheLastInLine.jpg/220px-DioTheLastInLine.jpg)
Dio - The Last in Line
rel July 2, 1984
![IceCreamCastle.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ef/IceCreamCastle.jpg/220px-IceCreamCastle.jpg)
The Time - Ice Cream Castle
rel July 2, 1984
![Sade - Diamond Life.png](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/Sade_-_Diamond_Life.png/220px-Sade_-_Diamond_Life.png)
Sade - Diamond Life
rel July 16, 1984
![The artwork depicts an electric chair on a dark and ominous background being struck by lightning flowing from Metallica's pointed logo on top. The title is written in smaller white capital letters at the bottom.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/82/Metallica_-_Ride_the_Lightning_cover.jpg/220px-Metallica_-_Ride_the_Lightning_cover.jpg)
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
rel July 27, 1984
Metal Church - Metal Church
rel July 1984
![Ne1984.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/Ne1984.jpg/220px-Ne1984.jpg)
New Edition - New Edition
rel September 28, 1984
![Survivorvital.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/80/Survivorvital.jpg/220px-Survivorvital.jpg)
Survivor - Vital Signs
rel August 1984
![Iron Maiden - Powerslave.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1c/Iron_Maiden_-_Powerslave.jpg/220px-Iron_Maiden_-_Powerslave.jpg)
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
rel September 3, 1984
![MercyfulFateDBTO.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/MercyfulFateDBTO.jpg/220px-MercyfulFateDBTO.jpg)
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath
rel September 7, 1984
![Queensryche - The Warning cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/89/Queensryche_-_The_Warning_cover.jpg/220px-Queensryche_-_The_Warning_cover.jpg)
Queensryche - The Warning
rel September 7, 1984
![Night on brocken.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2e/Night_on_brocken.jpg/220px-Night_on_brocken.jpg)
Fates Warning - Night on Bröcken
rel September 1984
![IOftenDreamofTrainsalbumcover.png](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/00/IOftenDreamofTrainsalbumcover.png/220px-IOftenDreamofTrainsalbumcover.png)
Robyn Hitchcock - I Often Dream of Trains
rel September 1984
![A black-and-white photo of a castle with the album and artist name written in dark crimson banners above and below it](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a0/The_Unforgettable_Fire.png/220px-The_Unforgettable_Fire.png)
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
rel October 1, 1984
![A Private Heaven.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5c/A_Private_Heaven.jpg/220px-A_Private_Heaven.jpg)
Sheena Easton - A Private Heaven
rel October 2, 1984
![Hall Oates BigBamBoom.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Hall_Oates_BigBamBoom.jpg/220px-Hall_Oates_BigBamBoom.jpg)
Hall and Oates - Big Bam Boom
rel October 12, 1984
![XTC bigexpress84.jpeg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/04/XTC_bigexpress84.jpeg/220px-XTC_bigexpress84.jpeg)
XTC - The Big Express
rel October 15, 1984
![Wham! Make It Big European cover.jpeg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/Wham%21_Make_It_Big_European_cover.jpeg/220px-Wham%21_Make_It_Big_European_cover.jpeg)
Wham! - Make it Big
rel October 23, 1984
![Perfect Strangers (Deep Purple album - cover art).jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/54/Perfect_Strangers_%28Deep_Purple_album_-_cover_art%29.jpg/220px-Perfect_Strangers_%28Deep_Purple_album_-_cover_art%29.jpg)
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
rel October 29, 1984
![DuranDuranArena.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d0/DuranDuranArena.jpg/220px-DuranDuranArena.jpg)
Duran Duran - Arena
rel November 12, 1984
![LikeAVirgin1984.png](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/17/LikeAVirgin1984.png/220px-LikeAVirgin1984.png)
Madonna - Like a Virgin
rel November 12, 1984
![Emergency1984.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/71/Emergency1984.jpg/220px-Emergency1984.jpg)
Kool and the Gang - Emergency
rel November
![Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/28/Don_Henley_-_Building_the_Perfect_Beast.jpg/220px-Don_Henley_-_Building_the_Perfect_Beast.jpg)
Don Henley - Building the Perfect Beast
rel November 19, 1984
![Real to Reel by Marillion cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/30/Real_to_Reel_by_Marillion_cover.jpg/220px-Real_to_Reel_by_Marillion_cover.jpg)
Marillion - Real to Reel
rel November 1984
![Dune album cover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/Dune_album_cover.jpg)
Toto - Dune
rel December 1984
![Seasidebandw.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/Seasidebandw.jpg/220px-Seasidebandw.jpg)
Cardiacs - The Seaside
rel 1984
![Aerial Boundaries.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Aerial_Boundaries.jpg)
Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries
rel 1984
![Steve Morse - 1984 - The Introduction.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f0/Steve_Morse_-_1984_-_The_Introduction.jpg/220px-Steve_Morse_-_1984_-_The_Introduction.jpg)
Steve Morse - The Introduction
rel 1984
![NRGalbumfront.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f2/NRGalbumfront.jpg/220px-NRGalbumfront.jpg)
NRG - No Reasons Given
rel 1984
![Pmg - first circle.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Pmg_-_first_circle.jpg/220px-Pmg_-_first_circle.jpg)
Pat Metheny Group - First Circle
rel 1984
![Untitled](https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/23243c55eaa94514885bdc2c617d6c59.jpg)
Thinking Plague - ...A Thinking Plague
rel 1984