Album Chart of 1964
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1965 → |
| Album Chart of 1964 |
41 tracks, runtime 2h 2m. 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 
DYLAN & THOMAS RESIST THE ENGLISH INVASION
At long last there was a credible alternative force in the album’s world, as the young English beat groups, teenage fans themselves several years earlier, paid homage to the American Rock n Roll scene.
From a previously negligible presence, all of a sudden England had one third representation in my album chart of the year. Groups such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the Dave Clark Five were having their new albums released first in the States; such was the hunger and the demand of American audiences to get hip to this new kind of jive.
Despite all of this, it’s Bob Dylan and Irma Thomas who reign supreme as King and Queen of this new world order, and American acts still account for 5 of my Top 6.
There are notable debuts from Simon and Garfunkel, The Kinks, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Otis Redding and The Dubliners.
There was a final posthumously released LP from Patsy Cline whose 30 year old life had tragically been lost in an airplane crash in March 1963, and there was also one final album from Sam Cooke, cut down in his prime in December 1964 at the age of just 33.
Fats Domino, an ever-present in the Top 10 of my album charts from 1956 to 1963, would never again be seen in my Top 20.
The competition was getting hotter by the year…
The Jukebox Rebel
21-Dec-2015
revised 27-Nov-2018
Bob Dylan
Columbia CL-2193
“A masterpiece” FolkJukebox picks: “I Shall Be Free No. 10” (10) • “Chimes Of Freedom” (10) • “To Ramona” (10)
In the good old fashioned tradition of the rough and ready folk singer, the second Dylan LP of 1964 was recorded in a si...more →
Irma Thomas
Imperial LP-9266
“Excellent” SoulJukebox picks: “Without Love (There Is Nothing)” (9.5) • “Straight From The Heart” (9.2) • “I’ve Been There” (9.2)
After a string of great singles in the last few years, Irma’s talent was recognised in 1964 when she gained a promotion ...more →
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-1240
“Brilliant” Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; Folk Rock / Americana; PopJukebox picks: “Mr. Moonlight” (10) • “No Reply” (10) • “Baby’s In Black” (9.5)
“This happened once before when I came to your door, no reply. They said it wasn't you, but I saw you peep through you...more →
Chuck Berry
Chess LPS-1488
“Brilliant” Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Promised Land” (9.2) • “You Never Can Tell” (9.1) • “No Particular Place To Go” (8.8)
Having been released from prison in October ’63, Chuck got straight back to work as he sought to retain his place as one...more →
Simon and Garfunkel
Columbia CL-2249
“Brilliant” FolkJukebox picks: “The Sounds Of Silence” (10) • “Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream” (8.9) • “He Was My Brother” (8.6)
Tom Wilson, producer at Columbia, had a busy old time of it in 1964, producing two Bob Dylan albums as well as the debut...more →
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-2248
“Brilliant” CountryJukebox picks: “Apache Tears” (8.6) • “The Ballad Of Ira Hayes” (8.4) • “The Talking Leaves” (8.1)
The egalitarian Johnny Cash exerts his democratic right to protest, as he stands here with his good friend Peter La Farg...more →
Buffy Saint-Marie
Vanguard VSD-79142
“Brilliant” FolkJukebox picks: “Babe In Arms” (8.8) • “The Old Man's Lament” (8.4) • “Ananias” (8.3)
Buffy Saint-Marie was still in her early 20s when her debut LP was released in February, 1964. From the off, she's world...more →
The Kinks
Pye Records NPL-18096
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; PopJukebox picks: “You Really Got Me” (9.8) • “So Mystifying” (9.4) • “I Took My Baby Home” (7.8)
“Kinks” is the sound of young London getting in on the R n B beat action. At the time of its release they were: Ray Davi...more →
The Ronettes
Philles Records PHLP-4006
“Really good” PopJukebox picks: “Be My Baby” (10) • “(The Best Part Of) Breakin’ Up” (9.9) • “Baby, I Love You” (9.7)
A hugely enjoyable album – irresistible even – and packed full of timeless classics that will still sound huge in 2064. ...more →
The Rolling Stones
Decca LK-4605
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “I’m A King Bee” (9.1) • “Honest I Do” (8.6) • “You Can Make It If You Try” (8.6)
In keeping with the frantic, fast-paced nature of the era, the London five-piece laid down their opening album set over ...more →
Bob Dylan
Columbia CL-2105
“Really good” FolkJukebox picks: “The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll” (9.0) • “With God On Our Side” (8.9) • “Only A Pawn In Their Game” (8.1)
The first of two Dylan albums in 1964 and, in many ways, it’s quite a brave release. There are no frills on-board whatso...more →
The Rolling Stones
London Records LL-3402
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Time Is On My Side” (8.9) • “It’s All Over Now” (7.9) • “If You Need Me” (7.8)
12 new recordings by 5 group members, see? Where would we be without those clever American marketeers? It was quite ...more →
Sam Cooke
RCA Victor LPM-2899
“Really good” Soul; Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Another Saturday Night” (9.9) • “A Change Is Gonna Come” (9.5) • “Good Times” (9.2)
There’s an underlying world weary tone to Sam Cooke’s final LP, released for RCA in March 1964. It was the first LP that...more →
Otis Redding
ATCO Records 33-161
“Really good” SoulJukebox picks: “These Arms Of Mine” (10) • “Pain In My Heart” (8.7) • “That’s What My Heart Needs” (7.4)
Soul of the deeply southern variety; shouts from the heart with a great set of musicians who feel it with the singer. Ke...more →
The Ventures
Dolton BST-8027
“Good” Film Score / Incidental; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “The Bat” (9.4) • “Penetration” (8.0) • “Fear (Main Title From One Step Beyond)” (7.7)
Incredibly, this is the 14th album already from the stylish and hard-working Tacoma, Washington quintet. As ever, it’s a...more →
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2110
“Good” Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; PopJukebox picks: “Little Honda” (10) • “Don’t Back Down” (8.8) • “I Get Around” (8.0)
The quintessential early Beach Boys album, all surf, girls and cars, topped off with their own unique and complex brand ...more →
The Animals
MGM Records E-4264
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “The House Of The Rising Sun [edited single version]” (9.0) • “I’m Mad Again” (8.8) • “The Right Time” (7.3)
The American version of The Animals debut was first to market and led-off with “The House Of The Rising Sun”, albeit...more →
Dark City Sisters
His Master's Voice JCLP-46
“Good” AfricanaJukebox picks: “Inice Time Change Jive” (8.7) • “Uma Bhalane” (8.5) • “Langa More” (8.2)
Debut album from the popular Johannesburg ensemble who formed in 1958 at the behest of talent scout and producer Rupert ...more →
The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24093
“Good” Pop; Proto-PunkJukebox picks: “Glad All Over” (10) • “Bits And Pieces” (9.9) • “I Know You” (8.0)
In Britain, in November 1963, The Dave Clark Five released “Glad All Over”, their 6th single, and finally they had t...more →
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger
Folkways Records FW-8760
“Good” FolkJukebox picks: “As I Came In By Fisherrow” (8.3) • “The Spinning Wheel” (8.0) • “Fare Ye Weel My Auld Wife” (7.0)
This bonnie couple were always good together and “Traditional Songs And Ballads” was another fine set concentrating, not...more →
Gene Vincent and The Shouts
Columbia 33SX 1646
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Baby Blue [album version]” (8.4) • “Shimmy Shammy Shingle” (8.2) • “Slippin’ And Slidin’” (7.6)
Whilst America was dealing with the English invasion, the bold Gene was reversing the trend with a one-man American inva...more →
The Dubliners with Luke Kelly
Transatlantic Records TRA-116
“Decent enough” FolkJukebox picks: “Tramps And Hawkers [live ’63]” (8.3) • “Love Is Pleasing [live ’63]” (7.0) • “The Wild Rover [live ’63]” (6.9)
Away back at the start of the century, scholar Cecil Sharp had warned that the old folk forms were in grave danger of dy...more →
The Beatles
United Artists UAL-3366
“Decent enough” PopJukebox picks: “I Should Have Known Better” (9.7) • “A Hard Day’s Night” (8.3) • “Can’t Buy Me Love” (8.3)
The third Beatles “A-list” LP arrive in the summer of ’64 and, in America at least, served as a full-on soundtrack to th...more →
The Yardbirds
Columbia 33SX 1677
“Decent enough” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Respectable [live ’64]” (7.7) • “Smokestack Lightning [live ’64]” (7.3) • “I’m A Man [live ’64]” (6.7)
A highly spirited debut from the south-west London blues rockers, where sheer energy trumps finesse. I should point out ...more →
Patsy Cline
Decca DL-4508
“Decent enough” CountryJukebox picks: “When I Get Thru With You” (8.6) • “Your Kinda Love” (8.4) • “When You Need A Laugh” (7.1)
Patsy Cline’s 4th and final LP of new music was recorded at various times between February 1962 and February 1963 in Nas...more →
Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-2030
“Decent enough” Country; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Making Believe [album version ’64]” (7.6) • “The Keeper Of The Key” (6.9) • “Cold, Cold Heart” (6.7)
Having been heavily identified with the rockabilly scene in the preceding years, “Two Sides of Wanda” would prove to be ...more →
Swinging Blue Jeans
His Master's Voice CLP-1802
“Decent enough” Pop; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Save The Last Dance For Me” (8.8) • “That’s The Way It Goes” (7.7) • “Around And Around” (7.6)
An entertaining set from the Liverpudlian quartet, now firmly entrenched in the new beat-group genre, with clear Rock n ...more →
James Brown
Smash SRS-67058
“Decent enough” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Maybe The Last Time” (8.3) • “I Got You” (7.7) • “Come Rain Or Come Shine” (7.4)
In 1964, figuring his deal with King was at an end, Brown and fellow Famous Flame Bobby Byrd formed the production compa...more →
Dave Van Ronk
Mercury SR-60908
“Decent enough” FolkJukebox picks: “Pastures Of Plenty” (7.3) • “Wanderin’” (7.0) • “Bad Dream Blues” (6.5)
A most efficient conduit of the folk music story, Dave van Ronk was an interesting and entertaining interpreter and crea...more →
Dusty Springfield
Philips BL-7594
“Decent enough” PopJukebox picks: “Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa” (8.5) • “When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes” (7.2) • “Mockingbird” (7.0)
With this LP, Dusty broke free of the shackles that came with being a singer with the Springfields; her solo debut was b...more →
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2027
“Average” Pop; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Don’t Worry Baby” (9.2) • “Fun, Fun, Fun” (8.5) • “Louie, Louie” (6.5)
So named as a follow-up to Capitol’s 1963 Hot Rod compilation, “Shut Down”, which included “409” and “Shut Down” but was...more →
Nina Simone
Colpix Records CP-465
“Average” FolkJukebox picks: “The Young Knight [live ny ’63]” (8.8) • “Erets Zavat Chalav [live ny ’63]” (6.6) • “When I Was A Young Girl [live ny ’63]” (6.3)
Nina’s final LP for Colpix Records was, for me, her best yet. For the fifth time, her latest offering was recorded all-l...more →
Nina Simone
Philips PHM 200-148
“Average” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Don’t Take All Night” (8.3) • “Our Love (Will See Us Through)” (7.2) • “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” (6.9)
She could deliver something approaching album-of-the-year if only she'd focus on the blues and drop the broadway ballads...more →
The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24117
“Below average” Pop; Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Ol’ Sol” (6.7) • “Come On Over” (6.4) • “I Want You Still” (6.1)
“American Tour” (Epic LN 24117) was released in the USA in July 1964. They’re catching up with themselves now, with 12 b...more →
The Hollies
Parlophone PMC-1220
“Below average” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; PopJukebox picks: “Whatcha Gonna Do ’Bout It” (7.3) • “You Better Move On” (6.9) • “Memphis” (5.8)
Often perfunctory, this beat group do sparkle occasionally, and their debut offers tasteful covers of “You Better...more →
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount ABC-495
“Below average” Big Band / Jive / SwingJukebox picks: “The Man With The Weird Beard” (7.7) • “The Thing” (6.0) • “Smack Dab In The Middle” (5.9)
Released June, 1964. Having suffered through 5 of Ray’s 9 albums of new music in the 1960s so far, I am relieved to disc...more →
The Dave Clark Five
Columbia 33SX 1598
“Below average” PopJukebox picks: “Rumble” (7.0) • “Funny” (6.5) • “She’s All Mine” (6.4)
The first album for the British market, released in April 1964. I can see the strategic point to it - all material was f...more →
The Hollies
Parlophone PMC-1235
“Below average” Pop; Blues / Rhythm n BluesJukebox picks: “Come On Home” (6.6) • “Please Don’t Feel Too Bad” (5.5) • “Set Me Free” (5.3)
Released in November, “In The Hollies Style” was the second album for The Hollies in 1964. The R n B covers are a little...more →
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2164
“Poor” Crooner / Cabaret; PopJukebox picks: “Little Saint Nick” (7.7) • “Merry Christmas, Baby” (6.4) • “Blue Christmas” (5.7)
Containing five original songs and seven standards, this is an album which has proved to be a perennial favourite in the...more →
The Seekers
W & G WG-B-2362
“Poor” Folk; Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “The Eriskay Love Lilt” (8.7) • “We’re Moving On” (5.5) • “Ox Driving Song” (5.5)
The Seekers are usually too middle-of-the-road for my tastes but I don't deny for a minute they have decent folkie crede...more →
James Brown
Smash SRS-67057
“Lame” JazzJukebox picks: “Grits” (5.7) • “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolf” (5.2) • “Infatuation” (4.7)
Six originals and a cover of Jimmy Smith’s “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Wolf” make up this low-key mid 1964 release, hi...more →
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount ABC-480
“Terrible” Crooner / Cabaret; Big Band / Jive / SwingJukebox picks: “A Tear Fell” (5.8) • “Don’t Cry Baby” (4.5) • “Cry” (4.4)
Released January, 1964. The latest in a long line of Ray’s concept albums, this time featuring 12 cover songs (I wonder ...more →
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor LPM-2999
“Terrible” PopJukebox picks: “Hard Knocks” (5.5) • “Wheels On My Heels” (5.2) • “Roustabout” (3.7)
Roustabout is a 1964 American musical feature film starring Elvis Presley as a singer who takes a job working with a str...more →
Stan Getz and João Gilberto featuring Antônio Carlos Jobim
Verve Records V6-8545
“Dire” JazzJukebox picks: “The Girl From Ipanema” (7.4) • “Doralice” (2.7) • “Desafinado” (2.2)
A somewhat dire jazzy bossa nova snoozefest, the rather lovely “The Girl From Ipanema” notwithstanding. The collabor...more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Victor LPM-2854
“Dire” Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Oh! What It Seemed To Be” (3.7) • “Rosa Rio” (3.0) • “Mexicali Rose” (2.9)
Not one glimmer of a decent track on this one; Jim's in full-on Perry Como mode, and it's a rather grim experience for a...more →
Jim Reeves
RCA Victor LPM-2780
“An embarrassment” Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Roving Gambler” (3.2) • “Kimberley Jim” (2.9) • “Born To Be Lucky” (2.7)
Reeves goes Elvis… sort of. This was the soundtrack to the first and only movie that he made, interesting if a bit cor...more →
| see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1964 |
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