Album Chart of 1959
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1960 → |
| Album Chart of 1959 |
28 tracks, runtime 1h 17m. The playlist features the highest-rated track from each album (subject to what's available on YouTube) in chart order, with a minimum individual track-rating of 6.5 required for inclusion. To view the full tracklist, access shuffle-play or avoid in-play interruption due to territorially blocked videos, it might be best playing directly via YouTube 
IVOR CUTLER - THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD
Art Rupe squeezes out another Little Richard album set from the Specialty vaults – it’s effortlessly album of the year. I can’t help but wonder though – what would the King of Rock n Roll have delivered had he not prematurely abdicated his throne in 1957? The Howlin’ Wolf, a visceral force of nature, finally gets his name on an album as Chess slowly and surely continue to expand their long-play catalogue.
Sandwiched between these Top 2 heavyweights and Chuck Berry (no.4) is Ivor Cutler. The 36-year-old made his recording debut with a 7 song extended play which laid down as unique a marker as any mini or full length set has ever done, before or since. Goodness and oddness shines from the creative maverick from the word go – to get to know Ivor is to love him. He’s given me years of pleasure with his intellectual immaturity – and he stands as a great reminder that being grown up is over rated. The least I can do is give him a headline even if he’s only nearly number one. He would have preferred it that way I’m sure. In fact, he’d probably have preferred it if he was number 27, a much more interesting number as I’m sure we’d all agree.
Ivor Cutler, Y’Huponian, Harmonium Mock-Rock God, I salute you Sir.
The Jukebox Rebel
30-Oct-2015
revised 16-Feb-2016
Little Richard
Specialty LP-2104
“Excellent” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Shake A Hand” (10) • “She Knows How To Rock” (9.2) • “Early One Morning” (9.2)
“The Fabulous Little Richard” arrived in March – a full year and a half after the unpredictable star had retired from Ro...more →
Howlin’ Wolf
Chess LP-1434
“Excellent” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “How Many More Years” (10) • “Smoke Stack Lightning” (9.7) • “Evil Is Goin’ On” (9.5)
Twelve single sides (issued 1951-1959) are gathered to make up the powerful Howlin’ Wolf long-play debut. “Moanin’ At...more →
Ivor Cutler
Fontana TFE-17144
“Brilliant” Avant-GardeJukebox picks: “Size 9½” (10) • “Here’s A Health To Simon” (8.8) • “Pickle Your Knees” (8.6)
Cracking debut EP from the 36 year old Glaswegian humourist, immediately revelling in his own brand of absurd surrealism...more →
Chuck Berry
Chess LP-1435
“Brilliant” Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Maybellene” (9.6) • “Johnny B. Goode” (9.4) • “Roll Over Beethoven” (9.1)
Surely a vital album for any self-respecting music fan in the 1950s, this was the quintessential Chuck Berry, all fired ...more →
Jacques Brel
Philips B 76.483 R
“Really good” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “La Valse À Mille Temps” (9.7) • “Ne Me Quitte Pas” (8.1) • “La Dame Patronnesse” (7.8)
In early 1959 Brel renewed his contract with Philips, and the fourth album was soon to follow. “N°4” was all recorded in...more →
The Big Bopper
Mercury MG-20402
“Really good” Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “White Lightning” (9.6) • “Chantilly Lace” (9.2) • “Big Bopper’s Wedding” (8.4)
At the time of his death Big Bopper had quite a lot “in the can”, as demonstrated here on his one and only LP, issued by...more →
John Lee Hooker
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1007
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Boogie Chillun” (8.5) • “Crawlin’ King Snake [1959 version]” (7.3) • “I Love You Honey [1958 version]” (7.2)
The prolific John Lee Hooker entered the frame as an album artist in 1959 with two releases. First in his “A-list” was a...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CS-8148
“Good” CountryJukebox picks: “The Caretaker” (8.5) • “It Could Be You” (8.0) • “The Man On The Hill” (7.8)
A more than decent set of American folk ballads notable for “The Caretaker”, “I Want To Go Home” (aka Sloop John...more →
James Brown and his Famous Flames
King Records 610
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll BalladJukebox picks: “Please, Please, Please [1956 version]” (9.9) • “Try Me [1958 version]” (8.1) • “I Don’t Know” (7.4)
Brown had secured an early prison release on June 14, 1952 after serving three years of his sentence for armed robbery. ...more →
The Wailers
Golden Crest CR-3075
“Decent enough” Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Dirty Robber” (8.5) • “High Wall” (7.9) • “Beat Guitar” (7.4)
Arriving at the very tail end of ’59 was “The Fabulous Wailers”, quite possibly the first artists’ album to grunge thing...more →
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9065
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; PopJukebox picks: “I Want To Walk You Home” (9.1) • “Hands Across The Table” (6.8) • “Ain’t It Good” (6.7)
Released September 1959 (Imperial LP-9065). All new material on this one, with 9 originals and 3 covers. The album gets ...more →
John Lee Hooker
Riverside Records RLP-12-838
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Tupelo Blues” (8.9) • “Water Boy” (7.1) • “I’m Prison Bound” (6.7)
Ever the journeyman, John Lee stepped aside from his commitment to VeeJay with this set for Riverside Records, recorded ...more →
The Champs
Challenge CHL-605
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Subway” (8.0) • “Mau Mau Stomp” (7.5) • “Everybody’s Rockin’” (6.3)
The irreverent Californians return for a second album for Challenge (CHL-605) and continue much where they left off on l...more →
Sam Cooke
Keen 8-6101
“Decent enough” Pop; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Win Your Love (For Me)” (7.8) • “You Send Me” (6.9) • “Little Things You Do” (6.6)
The second Sam Cooke album of 1959 rounds up 11 single sides from 1957-1959, with a reworked version of “Lonely Island...more →
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Columbia CL-1397
“Average” JazzJukebox picks: “Take Five” (7.8) • “Blue Rondo A La Turk” (7.1) • “Pick Up Sticks” (5.7)
Interesting set from the innovative cool-jazz pianist and his band, beloved of the ad agencies for their brand of sophis...more →
Ewan MacColl
Folkways Records FW-8758
“Average” FolkJukebox picks: “Tibbie Dunbar” (6.9) • “A Braw Wooer” (6.5) • “Wha'll Mow Me Now?” (6.1)
In true Scots tongue, Ewan turns his hand to the works associated with Scotland's national bard, and does a fine job, eq...more →
Johnny Cash
Sun Record Company LP-1240
“Average” Country; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Get Rhythm [1956]” (7.5) • “Thanks A Lot” (6.7) • “Goodbye Little Darlin’ Goodbye [1956]” (6.0)
Released in January, and the first of 3 new Johnny Cash albums in 1959. All tracks were recorded for Sun Records between...more →
Ray Charles
Atlantic 1312
“Below average” Crooner / Cabaret; Big Band / Jive / SwingJukebox picks: “Let The Good Times Roll” (9.3) • “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (6.5) • “It Had To Be You” (6.0)
Atlantic 1312. Released October, 1959. All new, although 1 track is reworked from the back-album catalogue – “Deed I D...more →
The Flamingos
End LP-304
“Below average” Pop BalladJukebox picks: “I Only Have Eyes For You” (8.1) • “Music, Maestro, Please!” (6.4) • “I’m In The Mood For Love” (5.9)
The swellegant doo woppers from Chicago had a noticeable change of direction when they started recording for George Gold...more →
Nina Simone
Colpix Records CP-409
“Below average” Jazz; SongwriterJukebox picks: “Exactly Like You” (5.7) • “Cotton Eyed Joe” (5.7) • “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair [live ny ’59]” (5.4)
Recorded live at The Town Hall New York City on September 15, 1959 with the exception of “Cotton Eye Joe”, which had to ...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-1284
“Poor” CountryJukebox picks: “Lead Me Gently Home” (8.2) • “Are All The Children In” (6.0) • “Snow In His Hair” (5.9)
Cash’s second LP for Columbia, released in March 1959. He had left Sun Records because Sam Phillips wouldn’t let him rec...more →
Hank Snow
RCA Victor LPM-1861
“Poor” CountryJukebox picks: “The Letter Edged In Black” (7.0) • “The Prisoners Prayer” (5.7) • “Old Shep” (5.6)
The Canadian’s brand of country pop is not too shabby – and occasionally strikes a really positive chord with Rebel sens...more →
The Louvin Brothers
Capitol Records T-1277
“Poor” CountryJukebox picks: “He Can Be Found” (6.7) • “The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea” (6.0) • “The Drunkard's Doom” (5.9)
Highly-acclaimed album from Ira and Charlie, who decided upon a country-gospel theme for this one. Check that cover! Des...more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Victor LPM-2001
“Poor” Pop Ballad; CountryJukebox picks: “How’s The World Treating You” (8.3) • “Am I Losing You?” (6.6) • “Satan Can’t Hold Me” (5.2)
Jeezo, even Jim Reeves was banging on about Satan in 1959. What the hell was happening back then? Right c’mon everybody,...more →
Nina Simone
Colpix Records CP-407
“Lame” Big Band / Jive / Swing; Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Jazz; SongwriterJukebox picks: “Chilly Winds Don’t Blow [1959 album version]” (9.4) • “Children Go Where I Send You [1959 album version]” (7.2) • “Blue Prelude” (4.2)
A move up the coast, from Atlantic City to New York, and a change of label culminated in “The Amazing Nina Simone”, the ...more →
Sam Cooke
Keen A-2004
“Lame” Jazz; Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Comes Love” (6.6) • “T Aint Nobody’s Bizness (If I Do)” (5.5) • “I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues” (4.7)
Sam’s third album for Keen Records, issued in April 1959. The concept looks good on paper; one soulful African American ...more →
Marty Robbins
Columbia CL-1349
“Terrible” CountryJukebox picks: “Big Iron” (6.0) • “Utah Carol” (5.9) • “Billy The Kid” (5.2)
Recorded in a single day, “Gunfighter Ballads” was a homage to the Wild West, smoothly sung with a pop-leaning croon. A ...more →
Ella Fitzgerald
Verve Records MGV-4024-8
“Terrible” Crooner / Cabaret; Big Band / Jive / SwingJukebox picks: “The Half Of It, Dearie, Blues” (7.4) • “Boy! What Love Has Done To Me!” (6.2) • “Slap That Bass” (6.1)
A hugely ambitious 5 disc project from the 41 year old jazz singer, arranged and directed by Nelson Riddle. Even by the ...more →
Jane Morgan with orchestra conducted by Frank Hunter
Kapp Records KL-1129
“Terrible” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Perfidia” (6.7) • “Be Mine Tonight (Noche De Ronda)” (5.7) • “I Get Ideas (Adios Muchachos)” (5.5)
The impressive multi-linguist tackles original Spanish lyrics as well as English translations in this Latin flavoured se...more →
Miles Davis
Columbia CS-8163
“Terrible” JazzJukebox picks: “So What” (5.1) • “All Blues” (4.0) • “Freddie Freeloader” (3.6)
An enormously influential set from the trumpeter, bandleader and composer. Miles Davis is widely considered one of the m...more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Victor LPM-1950
“Terrible” Pop Ballad; CountryJukebox picks: “The Flowers, The Sunset, The Trees” (4.4) • “How Long Has It Been” (3.9) • “Padre Of Old San Antone” (3.9)
A bit of a nightmare for atheist punkers it has to be said. ...more →
Henry Mancini
RCA Victor LPM-2040
“Terrible” JazzJukebox picks: “Spook!” (7.3) • “Walkin’ Bass” (4.3) • “Timothy” (3.6)
As with the preceding “Peter Gunn” album, this jazzy oasis of nothingness cannot be saved by one especially good piece a...more →
Frank Sinatra
Capitol Records W-1221
“Dire” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “I Can’t Get Started” (4.6) • “Stormy Weather” (4.0) • “A Cottage For Sale” (3.1)
Sinatra described this as his "suicide album" adding that it should be sold with a hand gun. Altogether now… “The f...more →
| see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1959 |
Album Charts by year
“A-list”
1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
“B-list”
1943 1945 1946 1950 1951 1952 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Album Charts by decade
“A-list”
1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s