Village Voice Pazz & Jop (USA)

1. Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A. (Columbia)
2. Prince and the Revolution: Purple Rain (Warner Bros.)
3. Los Lobos: How Will the Wolf Survive? (Slash)
4. The Replacements: Let It Be (Twin/Tone)
5. Tina Turner: Private Dancer (Capitol)
6. R.E.M.: Reckoning (I.R.S.)
7. The Pretenders: Learning to Crawl (Sire)
8. Hüsker Dü: Zen Arcade (SST)
9. Lou Reed: New Sensations (RCA Victor)
10. Run-D.M.C.: Run-D.M.C. (Profile)
11. Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual (Portrait '83)
12. Bangles: All Over the Place (Columbia)
13. Ramones: Too Tough to Die (Sire)
14. Minutemen: Double Nickels on the Dime (SST)
15. The dB's: Like This (Bearsville)
16. Womack & Womack: Love Wars (Elektra '83)
17. Laurie Anderson: Mister Heartbreak (Warner Bros.)
18. Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar: Buscando America (Elektra)
19. Laurie Anderson: United States Live (Warner Bros.)
20. Meat Puppets: Meat Puppets II (SST)
21. Neville Brothers: Neville-ization (Black Top)
22. The Smiths: The Smiths (Sire)
23. Let's Active: Cypress (I.R.S.)
24. Tom Verlaine: Cover (Warner Bros.)
25. Van Halen: 1984 (Warner Bros.)
26. Del-Lords: Frontier Days (EMI America)
27. Linton Kwesi Johnson: Making History (Island)
28. George Clinton: You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish (Capitol '83)
29. U2: The Unforgettable Fire (Island)
30. King Sunny Ade and His African Beats: Aura (Island)
31. Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense (Sire)
32. ZZ Top: Eliminator (Warner Bros.)
33. Peter Wolf: Lights Out (EMI America)
34. The Gospel at Colonus (Warner Bros.)
35. Lyres: On Fyre (Ace of Hearts)
36. The Everly Brothers: EB 84 (Mercury)
37. P. Funk All-Stars: Urban Dancefloor Guerillas (CBS Associated/Uncle Jam '83)
38. Del Fuegos: The Longest Day (Slash)
39. The Special AKA: In the Studio (Chrysalis)
40. Rickie Lee Jones: The Magazine (Warner Bros.)



OOR (The Netherlands)

1. Nick Cave - From her to eternity
2. Prince - Purple rain
3. The gun club - The Las Vegas story
4. U2 - The unforgettable fire
5. Scraping foetus off the wheel - Hole
6. David Sylvian - Brilliant trees
7. Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean rain
8. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
9. Scott Walker - Climate of hunter
10. Holger Hiller - Ein Bündel Fäulnis in der Grübe
11. Los Lobos - How will the wolf survive?
12. Claw boys claw - Shocking shades of
13. Me & the heat - Game of position
14. Youssou N'Dour - Immigrés/Bitim rew
15. John Cale - Caribbean sunset
16. Lloyd Cole and the Rattlesnakes - Rattlesnakes
17. Miles Davis - Decoy
18. Ini Kamoze - Ini Kamoze
19. Thomas Dolby - The flat earth
20. Rochereau - Tabu Ley
21. Franco & le T.P.O.K. jazz - A l'Ancienne Belgique
Ted Hawkins - Watch your step
23. Bopol - Samedi soir
Peter Hammill - The love songs
25. Long ryders - Native sons
26. Elvis Costello - Goodbye cruel world
John Martyn - Sapphire
Replacements - Let it be
29. Frankie Paul - Strange feelings
30. Div - Open zee
31. Aztec camera - Knife
32. Blue murder - Blue murder
33. Russ Ballard - Russ Ballard
Peter Blegvad - The naked Shakespeare
Chic - Believe
Z.Z. Hill - I'm a blues man
Legendary Stardust cowboy - Rock it to stardom
New model army - Vengeance
Van Dyke Parks - Jump!
Frederica von Stade - Chants d'Auvergne
41. Everly brothers - EB '84
Fall - The wonderful and frightening world of ...
Neville brothers - Neville-ization
Queensryche - The warning
Ramones - Too young to die



NME (UK)

1. Poet 2 - Bobby Womack
2. Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen
3. In The Studio - The Special AKA
4. Love Wars - Womack And Womack
5. Climate Of The Hunter - Scott Walker
6. Brewing Up With.. - Billy Bragg
7. The Reckoning - Rem
8. Purple Rain - Prince
9. The Smiths - The Smiths
10. The Magazine - Rickie Lee Jones
11. Spring Hill Fair - The Go Betweens
12. Goodbye Cruel World - Elvis Costello
13. Keep Moving - Madness
14. Wonderful & Frightening World Of.. - The Fall
15. Cafe Bleu - The Style Council
16. Making History - Linton Kwesi Johnson
17. Immigres - Youssou Ndour
18. Cover - Tom Verlane
19. Jonathan Sings - Jonathan Richman
20. Eden - Everything But The Girl
21. Rattlesnakes - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
22. A Bunch Of Foulness In The Pit - Holger Hiller
23. Hatful Of Hollow - The Smiths
24. Texas Fever - Orange Juice
25. Swoon - Prefab Sprout
26. Change Of Heart - Change
27. Red Roses For Me - The Pogues
28. A Walk Across The Rooftops - The Blue Nile
29. From Her To Eternity - Nick Cave
30. Hole - Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel
31. Neville-Ization - Neville Brothers
32. Ocean Rain - Echo And The Bunnymen
33. Mister Heartbreak - Laurie Anderson
34. Atom Drum Bop - The Three Johns
35. The Unforgettable Fire - U2
36. Der Orten Is Rot - Holger Czukay
37. Treasure - Cocteau Twins
38. Age Of Consent - Bronski Beat
39. Knife - Aztec Camera
40. Diamond Life - Sade
41. Brilliant Trees - David Sylvian
42. She's So Unusual - Cyndi Lauper
43. A Pagan Place - The Waterboys
44. No Frills - The Persuasions
45. Essar - Smoky Robinson
46. Showdown Vol 2 - Frankie Paul & Sugar Minot
47. Historic Concerts - Cecil Taylor/Max Roach
48. Let The Music Play - Shannon
49. Mirror Moves - Psychedelic Furs
50. Sisters - The Bluebells



Rolling Stone (USA)

Best Album: Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen

Purple Rain - Prince
Private Dancer - Tina Turner
How Will The Wolf Survive? - Los Lobos
Learning To Crawl - The Pretenders



Hot Press (Ireland)

1. Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA
2. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
3. Elvis Costello - Goodbye Cruel World
4. R.E.M. - Reckoning
5. Prefab Sprout - Swoon



Rockerilla (Italy)

1. Julian Cope-Fried -World shut your mouth
2. David Sylvian-Brilliant trees
3. Laurie Anderson-Mister Heartbreak
4. Cocteau Twins-Treasure
5. This Mortal Coil-It'll end in tears
6. Cult-Dreamtime
7. Prefab Sprout-Swoon
8. Linton Kwesi Johnson-Making history
9. Long Ryders-Native sons
10. Cure-The top
11. Three Johns-Atom drum bop
12. Smiths-The Smiths
13. Gun Club-Las Vegas story
14. Raincoats-Moving
15. Nick Cave-From her to eternity
16. Billy Bragg-Brewing up
17. Husker Du-Zen arcade
18. Penguin Cafe Orchestra-Broadcasting from home
19. Tom Verlaine -Cover
20. Violent Femmes-Hallowed ground
21. U2-The unforgettable fire
22. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions-Rattlesnakes
23. Bangles-All over the place
24. Danielle Dax-Jesus egg that wept
25. Only Ones-Remains



Kerrang (UK)

1. Van Halen - 1984
2. Prince - Purple Rain
3. Chequered Past - Chequered Past
4. Legs Diamond - Out On Bail
5. Wendy O. Williams - W.OW.
6. John Cougar Mellencamp - Uh-huh
7. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
8. The Rejects - Quiet Storm
9. Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps From The Move
10. The Cars - Heartbeat City
11. Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi
12. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
12. Q5 - Steel The Light
14. White Sister - White Sister
15. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand The Weather
15. John Waite - No Brakes
17. Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
17. Lords Of The New Church - The Method To Our Madness
19. Molly Hatchet - The Deed Is Done
19. Jim Dandy - Ready As Hell



Melody Maker (UK)

1. Ocean rain - Echo & the bunneymen
2. The smiths - The Smiths
3. In the studio - The special AKA
4. Cypress - Lets active
5. Hallowed ground - Violent femmes
6. Steeltown - Big country
7. The age of consent - Bronski beat
8. The unforgettable fire - U2
9. Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
10. Diamond life - Sade

* Purple rain - Prince
* Cafe bleu - The style council
* Reckoning - REM
* Welcome to the pleasuredome - Frankie goes to Hollywood
* Like a virgin - Madonna
* From her to eternity - Nick Cave



The Face (UK)

1. Purple Rain – Prince
2. Diamond Life – Sade
3. Love Wars – Womack & Womack
4. In The Studio – Specail AKA
5. Hallowed Ground – The Violent Femmes
6. Eden – Everything But The Girl
7. Swordfishtrombones – Tom Waits
8. The Smiths – The Smiths
9. Café Bleu – Style Council
10. Last Poets – Last Poets
11. Soca Train – Various Artists
12. Hole – Scraping Foetus Off The Wall
13. Age Of Consent – Bronski Beat
14. Decoy – Miles Davis
15. Shango Funk Theology – Shango
16. Raindance – David Lasley
17. Monkey Time – Major Lance
18. The Wild Bunch – The Wild Bunch
19. Like A Virgin – Madonna
20. Sleep It Off – Cristina



Spex (Germany)

1. Gun Club - The Las Vegas Story
2. Bobby Womack - The Poet II
3. Womack & Womack - Love Wars
4. Prince - Purple Rain
5. Linton Kwesi Johnson - Making History
6. Special A.K.A. - In The Studio
7. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasure Dome
8. Booker Newberry III - Love Town
9. Nick Cave - From Here To Eternity
10. Scott Walker - Climate Of Hunter
11. Rank & File - Long Gone Dead
12. Marc Almond - Vermin In Ermine
13. Stranglers - Aural Sculptures
14. Go-Betweens - Spring Hill Affair
15. J. Blackfoot - City Slickers
16. Lords Of The New Church - The Method Of Our Madness
17. Violent Femmes - Hallowed Ground
18. Pale Fountains - Pacific Street
19. Style Council - Cafe Bleu
20. Holger Hiller - Ein Bündel Fäulnis in der Grube
21. Julian Cope - World Shut Up Your Mouth
22. Wynton Marsalis - Think Of One
23. Green On Red - Gravity Talks
24. Lou Reed - New Sensations
25. V.A. - That's The Way I Feel Now (A Tribute To Thelonius Monk)
26. Nikki Sudden - Jacobites
27. Spandau Ballet - Parade
28. Three Johns - Atom Drum Bop
29. Billy Bragg - Brewing Up With
30. L.J.Reynolds - Lovin' Man
31. David Sylvian - Brilliant Trees
32. Tina Turner - Private Dancer
33. Beat Rodeo - Stayin' Out Late
34. Cabaret Voltaire - Micro Phonies
35. Moodists - Thursday's Calling
36. T.V. Personalities - Painted Word
37. David Murray - Morning Song
38. Smokey Robinson - Essar
39. Jason & The Scorchers - Fervor
40. Bronski Beat - Age Of Consent
41. Miles Davis - Heard Around The World
42. Soft Cell - This Last Night In Sodom
43. Cassiber - The Beauty And The Beast
44. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Rattlesnakes
45. Elvis Costello - Goodbye Cruel World
46. Scrapping Foetus Off The Wheel - Hole
47. Kashif - Send Me Your Love
48. Barracudas - Endeavour To Persevere
49. Cultur Club - Waking Up With The House On Fire
50. Marc Riley & The Creepers - Cull



Tip (Germany)

1. Prince - Purple Rain
2. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Rattlesnakes
3. The Bangles - All Over The Place
4. The Beat Rodeo - Staying Out Late
5. The Gun Club - The Las Vegas Story
6. Laurie Anderson - Mister Heartbreak
7. Mark Almond - Vermin In Ermin
8. Scott Walker - Climate Of Hunter
9. The Stranglers - Aural Sculptures
10. The Special AKA - In The Studio
11. Tina Turner - Private Dancer
12. Carmel - The Drum Is Everything



HUMO (Belgium)

1) Goodbye cruel world ELVIS COSTELLO
2) Born in the U.S.A. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
3) Love Wars WOMACK & WOMACK
4) Caribbean Sunset JOHN CALE
5) Rattlesnakes LLOYD COLE & THE COMMOTIONS
6) Purple Rain PRINCE
=) The big express XTC
8) Diamond Life SADE
9) Brilliant Trees DAVID SYLVIAN
10) Big Chill (Soundtrack)
Cover TOM VERLAINE
From her to eternity NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS



Schlager (Sweden)

(Unfortunately I have lost Schlager's full top 30 list from 1984.)

1. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
2. Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain
3. Pretenders - Learning to Crawl
4. Echo and the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain
5. Lou Reed - New Sensations
7. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome
8. David Sylvian - Brilliant Trees
10. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - From Her to Eternity
11. U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
12. Laurie Anderson - Mister Heartbreak
17. The Smiths - The Smiths
19. Tina Turner - Private Dancer
21. Joe Jackson - Body and Soul
22. The Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops
28. Violent Femmes - Hallowed Ground
30. Lloyd Cole and The Commotions - Rattlesnakes