Album Chart of 1962
| ← 1961 |  |
1963 → |
| Album Chart of 1962 |
27 tracks, runtime 1h 26m. 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 
RESPECT
Hey hey Woody Guthrie I wrote you a song, ‘bout a funny old world that's a-coming along, seems sick and it's hungry, it's tired and it's torn, and it looks like it's a-dying and it's hardly been born
Hey Woody Guthrie but I know that you know, all the things that I'm a-saying and a many a-times more, I'm a-singing you this song but I can't sing enough, 'cause there's not many men have done the things that you've done
Here's to Cisco and Sonny and Lead Belly too, and to all the good people that travelled with you, here's to the hearts and the hands of the men, that come with the dust and are gone with the wind
Bob Dylan launched his recording career in 1962 by telling you where he was coming from, not where he was going to. He was a young man wise beyond his years. He took the punk baton from here - the left-of-centre world of music was in good hands.
Bob's set was almost my album of the year but, unfortunately for him, the Howlin’ Wolf was on his A-Game and who can compete with that?
The Jukebox Rebel
12-Dec-2015
revised 16-Feb-2016
Howlin’ Wolf
Chess LP-1469
“Excellent” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Goin’ Down Slow” (10) • “Down In The Bottom” (9.9) • “The Red Rooster” (9.4)
Howlin’ Wolf is now in his early 50s, but he’s in his prime with this characterful offering. Rough, tough and sexy – thi...more →
Bob Dylan
Columbia CL-1779
“Excellent” FolkJukebox picks: “Song To Woody” (10) • “In My Time Of Dyin’” (9.6) • “Highway 51 Blues” (9.2)
Woody Guthrie’s 20 year old disciple steps into the spotlight with a whole load of folk traditionals – and a new way of ...more →
Jimmy Reed
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1050
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Too Much” (8.9) • “Oh John” (7.8) • “I’ll Change My Style” (7.7)
Jimmy’s pal, ace guitarist Eddie Taylor, is absent on this set and, if truth be told, he’s not missed much – there’s ple...more →
Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
Deltone LPM-1001
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Misirlou Twist [live ’61]” (9.8) • “Surf Beat [live ’61]” (8.6) • “Shake ’n’ Stomp [live ’61]” (7.4)
Dick Dale’s debut was a bit of an unbefitting mutation, recorded live in 1961 at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa Beach...more →
Roy Orbison
Monument M-4007
“Good” Pop; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Running Scared” (9.9) • “Wedding Day” (8.0) • “Crying” (7.8)
The big problem with producing magnificent works such as the preceding “Lonely and Blue” is that they need to be followe...more →
Booker T. and The M.G.’s
Stax S-701
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Green Onions” (9.7) • “Mo’ Onions” (8.4) • “Behave Yourself” (7.2)
The Stax house band, led by the seventeen-year-old keyboardist Booker T. Jones, set their stall out nice and early with ...more →
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9208
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; PopJukebox picks: “Nothing New (Same Old Thing)” (9.0) • “Goin’ Home [album version ’62]” (8.6) • “Stop The Clock” (7.5)
Released in September, this was his second album of new material in 1962, although 2 oldies from 1956 LPs are getting a ...more →
Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd
Prestige International INT-13043
“Good” FolkJukebox picks: “The Leaving Of Liverpool” (9.4) • “Haul Away For Rosie” (7.8) • “Little Sally Racket” (7.5)
As they did back in 1957, Ewan MacColl and A.L. Lloyd deliver another solid set of sea songs and shanties, Ewan taking l...more →
Patsy Cline
Decca DL-4282
“Good” Country; PopJukebox picks: “She’s Got You” (9.7) • “Your Cheatin’ Heart” (7.7) • “Lonely Street” (7.0)
Patsy’s third album was recorded in Nashville by producer Owen Bradley (for the third time in a row) between August 1961...more →
The Shirelles
Scepter Records LP-504
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; PopJukebox picks: “Voice Of Experience” (8.4) • “Putty In Your Hands” (8.2) • “Soldier Boy” (7.3)
Leads off with the smash-hit title-track which is perhaps a tad cheesy on the rhythm, but has terrific vocal harmonies a...more →
Ewan MacColl with accompaniments by Peggy Seeger, Alf Edwards and Alfie Kahn
Folkways Records FW-3043
“Decent enough” FolkJukebox picks: “King Lear And His Three Daughters” (7.3) • “Room For Company” (7.0) • “Pity's Lamentation” (6.6)
The restless Ewan MacColl continues to explore folk music traditions, this time looking back to the broadside ballads of...more →
Ruth Brown
Philips 200-055
“Decent enough” Soul; Soul BalladJukebox picks: “Satisfied” (8.7) • “Morning Train” (8.3) • “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” (7.1)
Recorded in Nashville in June 1962, and first issued in September of that year. “Gospel Time” is really quite a remarkab...more →
John Lee Hooker
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1043
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Boom Boom [1961 version]” (7.8) • “Drug Store Woman” (7.7) • “Process” (6.6)
Another solid set from the cool bluesman, this time backed all the way with a full complement of players: John Lee Hooke...more →
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9170
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Wait And See” (8.1) • “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?” (7.2) • “Twistin’ The Stomp” (7.1)
Released in February, this was the first of two new Fats albums in 1962, and he’s not shy in becoming yet another to app...more →
Dr. Feelgood and The Interns
Okeh OKM-12101
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Mister Moonlight” (7.9) • “I’ll Be Home One Day” (7.3) • “I’ll Give Anything” (6.5)
After playing for 25 years as Piano Red, the 50-year-old William Lee Perryman decided to try and give his career some fr...more →
Ewan MacColl with accompaniments by Peggy Seeger, Alf Edwards and Alfie Kahn
Folkways Records FW-3044
“Decent enough” FolkJukebox picks: “A King And No King” (6.8) • “The Female Frolic” (6.5) • “Give Me My Yellow Hose” (5.9)
A companion set to Volume 1, Ewan continues to explore the broadsi...more →
Ewan MacColl
Folkways Records FS-3850
“Decent enough” FolkJukebox picks: “Mary Ann” (7.3) • “The Bark Gay Head” (6.8) • “Desolation” (6.5)
Another interesting project for the in-demand Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, the fifth “A-list” album of 1962 for Ewan....more →
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-1808
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; PopJukebox picks: “Moon Dawg” (7.4) • “Surfin’ Safari” (7.2) • “409” (7.0)
Murry Wilson was father to Dennis (17, drums, backing vocals), Carl (15, lead guitar, vocals), Brian (20, bass, organ, v...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-1802
“Average” CountryJukebox picks: “Lost On The Desert” (7.9) • “Let Me Down Easy” (6.4) • “I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now [1962]” (6.3)
Things look promising from the off; Johnny’s looking kinda mean, all in black, on the front cover. Opening salvo “A bu...more →
Solomon Burke
Atlantic 8067
“Average” PopJukebox picks: “Cry To Me” (7.5) • “I’m Hanging Up My Heart For You” (7.0) • “Looking For My Baby” (6.2)
Atlantic quickly “counter-attacked” the preceding, opportunistic Apollo compilation LP release, by labelling Solomon’s d...more →
The Shirelles and King Curtis
Scepter Records LP-505
“Average” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Welcome Home Baby” (6.8) • “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” (6.1) • “New Orleans” (5.6)
Shirelles in R n B roots territory with the ace saxophonist of “Yakety Yak” fame and occasional singer; it’s a brassy an...more →
Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-1776
“Below average” Country; PopJukebox picks: “You Don’t Know Baby” (8.6) • “Is It Wrong” (7.3) • “I Don’t Wanta Go” (7.1)
Following on from the success of her “Right or Wrong” single from last year, Wanda’s inclination was back towards the co...more →
The Everly Brothers
Warner Bros. Records W-1430
“Below average” Country; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Trouble In Mind” (7.8) • “Jezebel” (5.9) • “True Love” (5.5)
Undaunted by the commercial failure of the preceding LP, the Everly Brothers pressed ahead with a repeat dose of pop sta...more →
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount ABC-410
“Poor” Crooner / Cabaret; Big Band / Jive / SwingJukebox picks: “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (8.9) • “Worried Mind” (6.0) • “Half As Much” (5.6)
Released in April, 1962 and widely regarded as a landmark release in Ray’s story. Here are the highlights from Wikipedia...more →
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor LPM-2523
“Poor” Pop; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Suspicion” (6.8) • “Steppin’ Out Of Line” (6.7) • “Gonna Get Back Home Somehow” (6.4)
If any rockers were still hanging in with Elvis in 1962 they would undoubtedly be approaching each new LP with a sense o...more →
The Wailers
Etiquette Records ETALB-1
“Poor” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Dirty Robber [live ’61]” (6.0) • “All I Could Do Was Cry [live ’61]” (5.6) • “Shivers [live ’61]” (5.2)
Recorded in the fall of 1961 at Spanish Castle Ballroom, located midway between Seattle and Tacoma on old Highway 99. It...more →
Nina Simone
Colpix Records CP-425
“Lame” JazzJukebox picks: “I Like The Sunrise” (7.2) • “The Gal From Joe’s [1962 album version]” (6.4) • “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” (5.4)
Eleven songs, all originally composed and recorded by Duke Ellington, undoubtedly a pleasing prospect for all of Nina’s ...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-1722
“Lame” CountryJukebox picks: “When I’ve Learned Enough To Die” (5.2) • “Taller Than Trees” (5.1) • “I Got Shoes” (5.0)
A second album of “pop gospel” from Johnny Cash, which is all very tame and comes complete with those ridiculous “Ovalti...more →
Nina Simone
Colpix Records CP-421
“Lame” Jazz; Moodcore; SongwriterJukebox picks: “Zungo [live ny ’61]” (6.7) • “House of the Rising Sun [live ny ’61]” (5.4) • “Just in Time [live ny ’61]” (5.0)
Recorded live in April 1961 at the Village Gate, New York. As Nina warms up in the opening bars of “Just in Time”, i...more →
Little Stevie Wonder
Tamla TM-232
“Terrible” Soul Ballad; Blues / Rhythm n Blues; PopJukebox picks: “Don’t You Know” (5.4) • “Come Back Baby” (5.2) • “Sunset” (4.5)
Although issued as the second Stevie Wonder album in October 1962, this was the first to be recorded – when the kid was ...more →
Gene Pitney
Musicor MM-2003
“Terrible” Pop; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (5.5) • “If I Didn’t Have A Dime (To Play The Jukebox)” (5.5) • “I Should Try To Forget (But I Keep Forgetting To Try)” (5.2)
A shed-load of Bacharach & David schmaltz, with only occasional smatterings of cool to relieve the boredom. Best track f...more →
Little Stevie Wonder
Tamla TM-233
“Terrible” JazzJukebox picks: “Wondering” (5.9) • “Manhattan At Six” (4.3) • “Fingertips” (4.0)
Despite the almost unimaginable awfulness of being blind from birth, the young Stevland began to learn the piano at the ...more →
Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd
Verve Records V6-8432
“Terrible” JazzJukebox picks: “Baia” (4.3) • “Samba De Uma Nota Só” (3.9) • “Samba Dees Days” (3.9)
Easy listening Jazz with a light mambo sway. What’s to like?...more →
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor LPM-2621
“Terrible” Pop; Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Return To Sender” (6.3) • “I Don’t Wanna Be Tied” (4.4) • “Thanks To The Rolling Sea” (4.0)
The second of three films Presley shot on location in Hawaii, “Girls! Girls! Girls!” was a bit of a light-hearted musica...more →
Lou Rawls with Les McCann Ltd.
Capitol Records T-1714
“Dire” JazzJukebox picks: “See See Rider” (3.4) • “(They Call It) Stormy Monday” (3.2) • “I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water” (3.2)
The coming together of these articulate Hollywood hipsters was much anticipated by fellow scenesters. Lou’s soulful croo...more →
| see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1962 |
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