Originally Posted by SilentKnight

I have to go with '77 to '87. A lot of my favorite bands (arguably) released much of their best stuff (at least IMO) during that era.

I'd narrow it down even further to '81-'85...Van Halen, Scorpions, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, AC/DC all released their most commercially successful albums (dependin' on your tastes in music of course).