My Top Ten Albums Of 1960

In the spirit of last year's top ten albums of 1959, here are my personal top ten albums of fifty years ago.

1960 was not the best year in music history. Part of the problem today is we know what would follow during the rest of the decade, and it would make many of the early sixties album releases pale in comparison. Some of the number one albums of the year were by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Billy Vaughan, Bob Newhart, Enoch Light, Bert Kaempfert, and The Sound Of Music Broadway Cast; none of whom made my list. On the positive side The Kingston Trio and Elvis Presley also topped the charts, although the first are a little dated today and Elvis’ G.I. Blues, while not a bad soundtrack, was not the equal of his studio work.

Still, there were some gems to be found fifty years ago and they are still enjoyable today.

10) Rockin’ At The Hops by Chuck Berry

This studio album by Chuck Berry does not contain any of his bigger or well known hits, which forms part of its charm. Chuck Berry released a lot of material during this part of his career that has slipped under the radar. Here we find “Bye Bye Johnny,” “Too Pooped To Pop,” “Let It Rock,” and “Childhood Sweetheart” which is not bad. It remains a good album to explore the Chuck Berry legacy a little deeper.

9) More Gunfighter Ballads by Marty Robbins.

Robbins’ first album in his Gunfighter series topped my 1959 list last year. This second in the series may be a little weaker overall, due to the fact it does not contain any big hits such as “El Paso” or “Big Iron.” What is there is a very consistent country/pop release that would help cement his popularity. Story songs such as “Five Brothers,” “Ride Cowboy Ride,” “Prairie Fire,” and “The Streets Of Laredo” are a nice ride through the old American west.

8) The Joan Baez Album by Joan Baez

Joan Baez was an important part of the American folk revival of the early 1960s. Her debut album was comprised of traditional folk songs which may sound a little dated today, but it made an impact in its time. What makes the album memorable is the tone and clarity of her voice, which was and is still mesmerizing. The album remains an American folk history lesson.

Article Author: David Bowling

I have been collecting vinyl records for over forty years and my collection is approaching 50.000 records. My wife Susan and children, Stacey and Amy, have learned to humor my passion. I am now settled in beautiful Whispering Pines, North Carolina …

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