When you think of albums from 1982, it's difficult not to think of that certain "biggest-selling album of all time."
But, of course, that was a pop record, and although it contains one of guest guitarist Eddie Van Halen's most celebrated solos, Michael Jackson's Thriller isn't exactly what guitar fans gush over when they look back to 29 years ago.
That isn't to say 1982 was a bad year for guitar-driven classic albums. Judas Priest, Scorpions, Iron Maiden and Rush all released significant works that have since entered the annals of rock magnificence. Even top players like Mark Knopfler, Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker and Al DiMeola were making great but perhaps less-well-known albums in '82.
Regardless of popularity -- where Mr. Jackson clearly takes the prize -- everyone has their favorite album, and we asked you, the readers, to vote for yours. Now, without further ado, your top 10 guitar albums of 1982.
“He would beat the crap out of the guitar. The result can best be described as Jackson Pollock trying to play like John Lee Hooker”: Aggressively bizarre, Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica remains one of the craziest guitar-driven albums ever made
“There is no-one who can do this process with me as well as he can”: Alex Van Halen says a new Van Halen album is in the works – and he’s recruited Steve Lukather to help him complete it
