https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres84.php
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.)*Includes 1983 votes: Lauper 83 (7); Womack & Womack 36 (4); Clinton 83 (8); ZZ Top 90 (9); P. Funk All-Stars 57 (6).
This poll compiles ballots from 240 critics, each of whom divided 100 points among 10 1984 LP’s. Maximum points per album: 30. Minimum: 5. Points determined placement, with total mentions (indicated in parentheses) used to break ties.