Album Chart of 1963
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1964 → |
| Album Chart of 1963 |
29 tracks, runtime 1h 38m. 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 
AN EARTHQUAKE IS ERUPTING
Just last year, American artists accounted for the entirety of my Top 30 “A-list” albums chart.
In 1963, from Kingston Jamaica to Liverpool England there were clear signs that, at last, there could well be a challenge to America’s musical dominance, in terms of all that was good and exciting in the world of music albums.
That said, it's Bob Dylan who reigns supreme, fulfilling all that potential from '62, this time with an album penned, typed and scored entirely by his own hands.
Prince Buster and The Maytals fly the flag of Jamaican independence, as the world starts to become aware of the super-exciting new sound of Ska.
Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash are on their A-game, and the unbelievably consistent Fats Domino registers an EIGHTH consecutive Top 10 entry in my year-end album chart.
The Beach Boys seem to be getting stronger, and The Beatles give hope that there might just be an English group capable of delivering decent albums, with two chart-topping sets released by the fourpiece in this year.
The Jukebox Rebel
15-Dec-2015
revised 17-Feb-2016
Bob Dylan
Columbia CL-1986
“A masterpiece” FolkJukebox picks: “Masters Of War” (10) • “Bob Dylan’s Blues” (9.9) • “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (9.8)
He may have kept his cards close to his chest on last year’s debut album, but here he laid down his winning hand (12 of ...more →
Prince Buster
Blue Beat BBLP-802
“Really good” Ska / RocksteadyJukebox picks: “Madness” (10) • “Black Head Chinaman” (9.2) • “Jealous” (8.3)
Fuelled with the independence spirit, and brimming with national pride, Jamaica’s music scene exploded in the early 60s ...more →
Sam Cooke
RCA Victor LPM-2709
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Soul BalladJukebox picks: “Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen” (9.1) • “Mean Old World” (8.9) • “Little Red Rooster” (8.4)
Sam Cooke’s second LP of 1963, released in August. Boy oh boy, he’s cooking the gas right about now. Opens with the clas...more →
Roy Orbison
Monument MLP-8003
“Really good” Pop; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “No One Will Ever Know” (10) • “In Dreams” (9.5) • “Shahdaroba” (7.8)
The world’s finest exponent of the soulful tremor returns with a stronger, more consistent set than last years “Crying”,...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-1930
“Really good” CountryJukebox picks: “The Legend Of John Henry’s Hammer [1963]” (9.5) • “Busted [1963]” (8.8) • “Another Man Done Gone” (7.4)
This is another in Johnny Cash’s string of terrific concept albums, digging deep into Appalachian and Negro folklore for...more →
Ray Martin
Decca PFS-4043
“Really good” Film Score / IncidentalJukebox picks: “Westorama” (8.8) • “Destination Space” (8.7) • “Introduction Leading Into Overture To End All Overtures” (8.0)
The U.S. got the scoop on this one, with London Records able to get their issue into the shops in time for the Christmas...more →
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9227
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Walking To New Orleans” (9.8) • “Oh Wee” (9.0) • “I Guess I’ll Be On My Way” (8.0)
This January 1963 release was an all–new album, although it was mostly culled from unreleased 50s recordings. Those who’...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-2053
“Good” CountryJukebox picks: “Ring Of Fire [1963]” (9.2) • “Remember The Alamo” (7.7) • “The Big Battle” (7.5)
Fed up with Sun Records endless string of “greatest hits”, Columbia decided they’d release one of their own. And it was ...more →
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger
Folkways Records FW-8734
“Good” FolkJukebox picks: “The Ballad Of Jimmy Wilson” (8.6) • “The Big Hewer” (8.1) • “The Banks They Are Rosey” (7.8)
Another album of mainly topical lyrics, written in the last 2 or 3 years by both of the artists, often set to traditiona...more →
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-1890
“Good” Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Surfin’ USA” (9.5) • “Misirlou” (8.3) • “Surf Jam” (7.4)
Five Surf instrumentals (including the WELL neat “Surfer Jam” and “Misirlou”), four Surf / Sea lyrics songs, one...more →
John Lee Hooker
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1058
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Take A Look At Yourself” (8.8) • “Big Soul” (8.0) • “Send Me Your Pillow [1962 version]” (7.4)
John Lee continues to experiment with his blues music, this time opting for a real soulful brand of the genre. The set i...more →
The Maytals
Studio One JBL-1113
“Decent enough” Ska / RocksteadyJukebox picks: “I’ll Never Grow Old” (9.0) • “My Destination” (7.3) • “Tell Me You Love Me” (7.2)
The first Maytals LP was released without their say so. Like so many Jamaican singers, the trio were seeing very little ...more →
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-1981
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; PopJukebox picks: “Little Deuce Coupe” (9.7) • “South Bay Surfer (The Old Folks At Home)” (8.7) • “Our Car Club” (6.7)
The Beach Boys message continues loud and clear on their second LP of 1963… //“Catch a wave you’ll be sittin’ on top of ...more →
John Lee Hooker
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1066
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Birmingham Blues” (7.6) • “I Want To Ramble” (7.0) • “One Way Ticket” (6.9)
Arriving in September, this set was following on from “The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker”, and continued in a not too dis-...more →
Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
Capitol Records T-1930
“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Hava Nagila” (8.4) • “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky” (7.5) • “King Of The Surf Guitar” (7.3)
As far as I’m concerned yer man was underachieving on his first two LP’s. Too much goofing around on the vocals here and...more →
Sam Cooke
RCA Victor LPM-2673
“Decent enough” Soul BalladJukebox picks: “Nothing Can Change This Love I Have For You” (8.8) • “Chains Of Love” (7.4) • “These Foolish Things” (6.8)
Sam’s 6th album for RCA and it seems, at last, like he has found a style which can appease his own desire to croon with ...more →
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-1202
“Decent enough” PopJukebox picks: “Twist And Shout” (9.3) • “Anna (Go To Him)” (7.0) • “Please Please Me” (6.9)
8 originals and 6 covers were presented on The Beatles debut record, showcasing the group’s ability to put a pop spin on...more →
Fats Domino
ABC-Paramount ABC-455
“Decent enough” Pop; Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Can’t Go On Without You” (7.8) • “Red Sails In The Sunset” (7.5) • “Just A Lonely Man” (7.3)
His first non–Imperial album and doesn’t it show – with none of the notorious Imperial vault–digging, it’s an all-new, s...more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Camden CAS-784
“Average” CountryJukebox picks: “Bottle, Take Effect” (8.9) • “Lonely Music” (7.8) • “Little Ole Dime” (7.0)
Another semi-decent set from the unlikeliest character ever to find his way into Rebel affections. When he steps away fr...more →
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-1206
“Average” Pop; Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “You Really Got A Hold On Me” (8.1) • “All My Loving” (7.9) • “Money (That’s What I Want)” (6.6)
Calculatingly released in late November to coincide with the declining sales of “Please Please Me”, which was duly and p...more →
Gene Vincent
Capitol Records T-20453
“Average” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Crazy Beat” (7.4) • “Rip It Up” (6.7) • “I’m Gonna Catch Me A Rat” (6.6)
Since the Blue Caps disbanded in a blaze of acrimony, Gene had spent much of his time in Europe, especially the UK where...more →
Ray Price
Columbia CS-8771
“Average” CountryJukebox picks: “A Girl In The Night” (7.2) • “If She Could See Me Now” (7.1) • “Lonely Street” (6.7)
Ray and his Cherokee Cowboys are knockin' on your record player once more as the man himself tells in his spoken word in...more →
Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-1911
“Average” Country; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “What Am I Living For” (8.5) • “Since I Met You Baby” (8.4) • “Little Things Mean A Lot” (7.0)
For this LP, Wanda turned her hand to a full set devoted to cover versions of love ballads. Not the most appealing prosp...more →
Mingus
Impulse! A-35
“Average” JazzJukebox picks: “Track A – Solo Dancer” (6.3) • “Track B – Duet Solo Dancers” (6.0) • “Track D – Trio And Group Dancers” (5.8)
“One of the greatest achievements in orchestration by any composer in jazz history” said Steve Huey at All Music. Th...more →
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9239
“Average” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; PopJukebox picks: “Ain’t That A Shame [album version ’63]” (8.6) • “Don’t You Know I Love You” (7.7) • “Oh Ba-a-by ["let’s dance" album version ’63]” (6.9)
Released in May 1963. Qualifies as a new album, although it is a bit of a hodge-podge release from Imperial Records. Cha...more →
Henry Mancini
RCA Victor LPM-2795
“Poor” Orchestra Dance; JazzJukebox picks: “The Pink Panther Theme” (9.8) • “It Had Better Be Tonight [instrumental version]” (8.6) • “It Had Better Be Tonight [vocal version]” (7.0)
Every so often when I feel the need to check the well-being of my neurotransmitters I stick “The Pink Panther Theme”...more →
Édith Piaf / Théo Sarapo
Columbia FSX-144
“Poor” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “C’Était Pas Moi [live ’63]” (5.9) • “Tiens V’La Un Matin [live ’63]” (5.8) • “Monsieur Incognito [live ’63] ” (5.6)
Recorded in Paris, at the 163 year old Bobino Music Hall on 21st February 1963, with a small orchestra under the directi...more →
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount ABC-465
“Poor” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Busted” (6.6) • “Over The Rainbow” (6.6) • “That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Aound Heaven)” (5.4)
Released in August, 1963. The artist formerly known as a soulful blues dude continues along his croon-some way with 10 s...more →
Nina Simone
Colpix Records CP-455
“Poor” SongwriterJukebox picks: “Theme from "Sayonara", instrumental [live ny ’63]” (6.6) • “Black Swan” (5.1) • “Theme from "Samson and Delilah" [live ny ’63]” (5.0)
I class this as a new album since only 1 track – the medley “The Other Woman / Cotton Eyed Joe” – had appeared befor...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-2117
“Poor” Pop Ballad; FolkJukebox picks: “Ballad Of The Harp Weaver [1963]” (7.0) • “The Christmas Spirit” (5.4) • “Here Was A Man” (5.3)
There’s absolutely no doubting Johnny Cash’s spiritual sincerity. Not for him, a tinsel-laden, jingle-jangle cliché. He ...more →
Cliff Richard and The Shadows
Columbia 33SX-1472
“Terrible” Crooner / Cabaret; Pop; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Bachelor Boy” (5.8) • “Seven Days To A Holiday” (5.5) • “Jugoslav Wedding” (5.5)
Wey-hey! Britain’s chief Elvis wannabe follows the man all the way into the cheese-fest world of the teen idol movie sou...more →
The Incredible Jimmy Smith
Blue Note BLP-4117
“Terrible” JazzJukebox picks: “Back At The Chicken Shack” (6.5) • “When I Grow Too Old To Dream” (3.5) • “Minor Chant” (3.3)
Recorded April 25, 1960 and issued in February, 1963. Features Jimmy Smith (organ), Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone)...more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Victor LPM-2758
“Terrible” Pop Ballad; PopJukebox picks: “Blue Christmas” (5.1) • “Señor Santa Claus” (4.8) • “An Old Christmas Card” (4.3)
A warm and genuine Christmas album… if you like that kind of thing....more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Victor LPM-2605
“Terrible” CountryJukebox picks: “I Love You Because” (5.0) • “Waltzing On Top Of The World ’63” (4.5) • “I Never Pass There Anymore” (3.8)
1963 was a busy year for “gentleman Jim”, this being the first of 4 new LPs that he'd release this year. The best track ...more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Victor LPM-2704
“Terrible” Country; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Guilty” (5.5) • “Blue Canadian Rockies” (4.1) • “I’m Crying Again” (4.0)
The second of four new music LPs released by Reeves in 1963. He re-recorded portions of four songs that he had earlier c...more →
Stevie Wonder
Tamla TM-250
“Dire” Jazz; Pop BalladJukebox picks: “With A Song In My Heart” (3.9) • “Smile” (3.4) • “Make Someone Happy” (3.0)
“Little Stevie Wonder” is now plain “Stevie Wonder”; now that he's all grown up he delves head-first into the great Amer...more →
| see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1963 |
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