Best of: Scottish albums of the 1980's.

For my first post I will be ranking what I see as the best Scottish albums in popular music throughout the 1980's, as the era created and defined careers with these albums in particular. I've taken inspiration from David Scott's "Classic Scottish Albums" podcast on BBC Radio Scotland with many of the 80's albums mentioned are also on this list. I will also link a Spotify playlist made specifically for this at the bottom - here's my top 15.

15. Altered Images - Pinky Blue (1982)

Honourable Tracks:

"Pinky Blue"

"See Those Eyes"

"I Could Be Happy"

Rating - 5/10

14. Big Country - The Crossing (1982)

Honourable Tracks:

"In a Big Country"

"Chance"

"Fields of Fire"

Rating - 6/10

13. Aztec Camera - High Land, Hard Rain (1983)

Honourable Tracks:

"Oblivious"

"Walk Out to Winter"

"We Could Send Letters"

Rating - 6/10

12. Love and Money - Strange Kind of Love (1988)

Honourable Tracks:

"Halleluiah Man"

"Strange Kind of Love"

"Jocelyn Square"

Rating - 7/10

11. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Pyschocandy (1985)

Honourable Tracks:

"Just Like Honey"

"Cut Dead"

"Some Candy Talking"

Rating - 7/10

10. Orange Juice - Rip It Up (1982)

Honourable Tracks:

"Rip It Up"

"Mud In Your Eye"

"I Can't Help Myself"

Rating - 7/10

9. Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll (1988)

Honourable Tracks:

"Blue Bell Knoll"

"Carolyn's Fingers"

"For Phoebe Still a Baby"

"A Kissed Out Red Floatboat"

Rating - 8/10

8. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Darklands (1987)

Honourable Tracks:

"Darklands"

"Happy When It Rains"

"April Skies"

"About You"

Rating - 8/10

7. The Associates - Fourth Drawer Down (1981)

Honourable Tracks:

"White Car in Germany"

"A Girl Named Property"

"Tell Me Easter's on Friday"

"Message Oblique Speech"

Rating - 8/10

6. Cocteau Twins - Treasure (1984)

Honourable Tracks:

"Ivo"

"Lorelei"

"Pandora (For Cindy)"

"Aloysius"

Rating - 9/10

5. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982)

Honourable Tracks:

"Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)"

"Promised You a Miracle"

"New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)"

"Glittering Prize"

Rating - 9/10

4. The Blue Nile - Hats (1989)

Honourable Tracks:

"Over the Hillside"

"The Downtown Lights"

"Headlights on the Parade"

"Saturday Night"

Rating - 10/10

3. Deacon Blue - Raintown (1987)

Honourable Tracks:

"Raintown"

"Loaded"

"Chocolate Girl

"Dignity"

Rating - 10/10

2. The Associates - Sulk (1982)

Honourable Tracks:

"Skipping"

"Party Fears Two"

"Club Country"

"18 Carat Love Affair"

Rating - 10/10

1. The Blue Nile - A Walk Across the Rooftops (1984)

Honourable Tracks:

"A Walk Across the Rooftops"

"Tinseltown in the Rain"

"From Rags to Riches"

"Stay"

"Easter Parade"

Rating - 10/10

Spotify link - https://open.spotify.com/user/niamhmjj/playlist/7DAplRt6TAqXAqc6Racb2R?si=HrCk5BF6ReyFkRZbc6JMEw