I was reading a post on David Hepworth's excellent blog where he declares 1971 as the annus mirabilis of the rock album, and he's made a spotify playlist to prove it.
http://whatsheonaboutnow.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/1971-was-annus-mirabilis-of-rock-album.html
http://open.spotify.com/user/dhepworth/playlist/0LkvByNeuf9V3w6djGf1jd

I haven't listened to it all yet. There's a bit too much 70s guitar wank and fey hippy drivel for my taste, but undoubtedly some great stuff as well.

My first though was, 1971, surely 1983 is the year? But in trying to do a spotify list to prove it I came up well short.
http://open.spotify.com/user/pablopatito/playlist/36Q5md2Fcd5qoUyUlUjrx8
I'm not even sure Culture Club counts as a "rock album".

If anyone can suggest 1983 albums I've missed, or suggest a better year, or link to a Spotify playlist for other years, I'd be most grateful.

One thing about earlier years, such as 1971, is that there is far more homogeneity. As rock music has matured, it's splintered into different sub-genres and you get a much greater variety - which I love. OMD, Sonic Youth, New Order, Violent Femmes and Prince all sound very different to each other - and yet are all essential rock or pop albums.

I now think 1983 wasn't such a great year after all.