Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s (part 2)
Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s (part 2) |
JUST JIMMY REED
Jimmy Reed
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1050 (1962)
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox 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
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ELVIS IS BACK!
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor LPM-2231 (1960)
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop
Jukebox picks: “Reconsider Baby” (10) • “The Girl Of My Best Friend” (8.4) • “It Feels So Right” (7.5)

Elvis arrived back from his Army stint in Germany on March 2, 1960, and was honourably discharged with the rank of serge
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THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
Bob Dylan
Columbia CL-2105 (1964)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox 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
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AT HOME WITH THE DUBLINERS
The Dubliners
Tribune TRLP-1010 (1969)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “The Molly Maguires” (8.4) • “The Saxon Shilling” (8.3) • “God Save Ireland” (8.0)

With the contract at Major Minor expired, Tommy Scott introduced his Dubliners boys to his pal Bill Martin, who, togethe
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RIDE THIS TRAIN
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-1464 (1960)
“Really good” Country
Jukebox picks: “Loading Coal” (8.7) • “Old Doc Brown” (7.7) • “Going To Memphis” (7.5)

“A stirring travelogue of Americana in song and story” is how the front cover sums up this release – dubiously described
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BERT JANSCH
Bert Jansch
Transatlantic Records TRA-125 (1965)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Needle Of Death” (9.4) • “Rambling's Gonna Be The Death Of Me” (9.2) • “Angie” (8.7)

The debut album from the Glasgow-born singer-songwriter firmly places the artist in a distinguished guitar picker lineag
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BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-1930 (1963)
“Really good” Country
Jukebox 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
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THE SOUND OF SIGHT
Ray Martin
Decca PFS-4043 (1963)
“Really good” Film Score / Incidental
Jukebox 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
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GRIS-GRIS
Dr. John, the Night Tripper
ATCO Records SD 33-234 (1968)
“Really good” Psychedelia
Jukebox picks: “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” (8.8) • “Danse Kalinda Ba Doom” (8.4) • “Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya” (7.8)

In a year chock-full of absorbing eccentrics, Dr. John more than holds his own in the higher echelons alongside Marc Bol
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007 SHANTY TOWN
Desmond Dekker and The Aces
Doctor Bird DLM-5007 (1967)
“Really good” Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Shing A Ling” (9.3) • “007 (Shanty Town)” (8.5) • “Unity” (8.4)

Six years had passed since Desmond’s successful audition for Leslie Kong’s Beverley’s record label when he sang “Honour
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CHANGING HORSES
The Incredible String Band
Elektra EKS-74057 (1969)
“Really good” Alternative Folk
Jukebox picks: “Creation” (9.8) • “Dust Be Diamonds” (8.1) • “Mr. And Mrs.” (6.7)

By the time of their fifth album, the Increbible String Band were living communally at a farmhouse near Newport, in Pemb
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MEET THE MAHOTELLA QUEENS
Mahotella Queens
Motella LMO-101 (1966)
“Really good” Africana
Jukebox picks: “We Boy” (8.4) • “Kuqale Bani” (8.2) • “Hamba Mzala” (7.7)

This was a hugely enjoyable debut set from the infamous singing group which would eventually find adoring fans in every
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BRA SELLO WITH ABAFANA BENTUTHUKO VOLUME ONE
Bra Sello with Abafana Bentuthuko
CBS LAB-4006 (1968)
“Really good” Africana
Jukebox picks: “Mthembu Nonzimande” (8.0) • “Siyanyawuka Nzimande” (7.9) • “Mr Music” (7.8)

This album rounds up recent single sides on CBS, all themed by being predominantly instrumental and being led, melody wi
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INTENSIFIED
Desmond Dekker and The Aces
Beverley's Records LP-004 (1968)
“Really good” Ska / Rocksteady; Reggae
Jukebox picks: “Israelites” (10) • “A It Mek” (10) • “Music Like Dirt (Intensified ’68)” (9.0)

Dekker’s second Jamaican LP, issued on Beverleys LP-004. Although three of these twelve tracks repeat from last year’s U
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THE HANGMAN’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER
The Incredible String Band
Elektra EUK-258 (1968)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “A Very Cellular Song” (9.7) • “The Minotaur’s Song” (8.9) • “Mercy I Cry City” (7.6)

On their third album, the Incredible String Band’s song arrangements are more complex than ever before; the exotic range
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NOW, THERE WAS A SONG!
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-1463 (1960)
“Really good” Country
Jukebox picks: “Just One More” (9.7) • “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (8.3) • “Time Changes Everything” (8.1)

Johnny Cash takes his country ’n’ roll home boys Luther Perkins (lead guitar) and Marshall Grant (bass) on a pure Nashvi
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DRINKIN’ AND COURTIN’
The Dubliners
Major Minor MMLP-14 (1968)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Gentleman Soldier [album version ’68]” (9.4) • “Dirty Old Town [album version ’68]” (8.9) • “The Parting Glass [album version ’68]” (7.9)

The classic Dubliners quintet continue with their third album on Major Minor Records and whaddya know – they’re still ba
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TO LOVE SOMEBODY
Nina Simone
RCA Victor LSP-4152 (1969)
“Really good” Cerebral Pop; Songwriter; Soul
Jukebox picks: “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” (9.0) • “Suzanne” (8.3) • “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (8.0)

Nina finished the 60s with her greatest LP yet. Ironically for such an accomplished songwriter, it was predominantly an
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WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9227 (1963)
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
Jukebox 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’
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JERRY LEE’S GREATEST
Jerry Lee Lewis
Sun Record Company LP-1265 (1961)
“Really good” Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
Jukebox picks: “Great Balls Of Fire” (9.2) • “Hello, Hello Baby” (9.0) • “Cold Cold Heart” (8.7)

1961 goes down as one of the better years for Jerry Lee. Having been followed by a cloud of doubt since 1958, there were
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SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-7027 (1967)
“Really good” Psychedelia; Pop; Blues Rock / Soul Rock
Jukebox picks: “She’s Leaving Home” (10) • “Within You Without You” (9.4) • “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!” (8.2)

Another solid Beatles album with a couple of real killers on-board – George Martin’s orchestrated approach to “
She’s L...more →
WHAT’S BIN DID AND WHAT’S BIN HID
Donovan
Pye Records NPL-18117 (1965)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Catch The Wind” (10) • “Josie” (8.5) • “Cuttin’ Out” (8.3)

He had just turned 19 by the time his first LP was issued, and he sounds fired up and ready to go; the first four tracks
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JUDGE DREAD ROCK STEADY
Prince Buster
Blue Beat BBLP-809 (1967)
“Really good” Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Judge Dread (Judge Four Hundred Years)” (9.7) • “The Barrister (The Appeal)” (8.6) • “A Change Is Gonna Come” (8.0)

On the tightly-knit music-loving island of Jamaica, the latest singles can grip the nation like a soap opera – as I have
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DA CAPO
Love
Elektra EKS-74005 (1966)
“Really good” Cerebral Pop; Psychedelia
Jukebox picks: “Stephanie Knows Who” (8.6) • “7 And 7 Is” (8.2) • “She Comes In Colors” (8.0)

Arriving in November ’66 was the second LP of the year from the Los Angeles group led by Arthur Lee, with the quintet no
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HELP!
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-1255 (1965)
“Really good” Pop; Folk Rock / Americana
Jukebox picks: “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” (9.6) • “Tell Me What You See” (9.2) • “Ticket To Ride” (8.5)

Released in August, and named after their recent comedy adventure film. The first side of the album features 7 songs fro
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EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Reprise Records RS-6349 (1969)
“Really good” Folk Rock / Americana; Rock
Jukebox picks: “Round & Round (It Won’t Be Long)” (8.6) • “Cinnamon Girl” (8.2) • “Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)” (7.8)

Very much like Led Zepp in this era, Neil Young was completely palatable to non-Rockheads like me. He veers from the wis
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CHUCK BERRY IN LONDON
Chuck Berry
Chess LPS-1495 (1965)
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
Jukebox picks: “She Once Was Mine” (9.5) • “After It’s Over” (8.2) • “I Got A Booking” (7.7)

13 brand new recordings (only 8 of which were made in London) plus, somewhat strangely, the 1957 recording “
Nightbeat...more →
THE CROFTERS
The Crofters
Beltona MBE-103 (1969)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Killie Crankie” (8.7) • “Drunken Sailor” (7.9) • “I Never Will Marry” (7.7)

It would’ve been a great night out going to sing-a-long with The Crofters; they’re really strong players. “
Killie Cran...more →
12 X 5
The Rolling Stones
London Records LL-3402 (1964)
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox 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
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AIN’T THAT GOOD NEWS
Sam Cooke
RCA Victor LPM-2899 (1964)
“Really good” Soul; Crooner / Cabaret
Jukebox 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
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A LOT OF DOMINOS!
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9127 (1960)
“Really good” Crooner / Cabaret; Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop
Jukebox picks: “Walking To New Orleans” (9.8) • “Three Nights A Week” (9.3) • “Natural Born Lover” (7.5)

Released October 1960. Fats indulges his penchant for a good croon on this set, aided by an almost constant string secti
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COMPLETE AND UNBELIEVABLEː THE OTIS REDDING DICTIONARY OF SOUL
Otis Redding
Volt VOLT-415 (1966)
“Really good” Soul
Jukebox picks: “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” (9.6) • “My Lover’s Prayer” (9.2) • “Day Tripper” (7.3)

The Otis Redding dream team delivered their second high quality LP of the year in October ’66. Once again it features th
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COLORSː A SENSUOUS LISTENING EXPERIENCE
Ken Nordine
Philips PHM 200-224 (1966)
“Really good” Poetry; Jazz
Jukebox picks: “Flesh” (10) • “Beige” (9.4) • “Crimson” (9.1)

Sometime in 1965, the smoothest, most suave, most soothing voice in all of recorded history was commissioned to script a
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BOOGIE WITH CANNED HEAT
Canned Heat
Liberty LST-7541 (1968)
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Blues Rock / Soul Rock
Jukebox picks: “On The Road Again” (10) • “Amphetamine Annie” (8.4) • “Turpentine Moan” (7.9)

There are 9 out of 10 originals on the second Canned Heat album – albeit with a few “adaptions”. If 1967 was a big year
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MELLOW YELLOW
Donovan
Epic LN-24239 (1967)
“Really good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Mellow Yellow” (9.3) • “Sunny South Kensington” (8.5) • “Hampstead Incident” (8.2)

Released stateside in March 1967, but not released in Britain due to the continuing contractual dispute that also preven
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PAIN IN MY HEART
Otis Redding
ATCO Records 33-161 (1964)
“Really good” Soul
Jukebox 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
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IF YOU CAN BELIEVE YOUR EYES AND EARS
The Mamas and The Papas
Dunhill DS-50006 (1966)
“Really good” Pop
Jukebox picks: “Monday, Monday” (9.7) • “California Dreamin'” (9.3) • “Go Where You Wanna Go” (7.8)

I’ve heard of close-knit harmonies, but the 4-in-the-bath routine was maybe taking it TOO far. Scraping some ceramic fro
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TRAVELIN’
John Lee Hooker
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1023 (1960)
“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox picks: “Sunnyland” (8.3) • “No Shoes” (8.0) • “Whiskey And Wimmen [1960 version]” (7.9)

This is a really great listen from start to finish – unlike many of John Lee’s foot stomping one-man holler-a-thons it t
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THE SHIRELLES SING TO TRUMPETS AND STRINGS
The Shirelles
Scepter Records LP-502 (1961)
“Good” Pop
Jukebox picks: “What A Sweet Thing That Was” (9.8) • “I Saw A Tear” (9.2) • “Mama Said” (7.6)

“The Shirelles Sing To Trumpets and Strings” arrived in March, although there weren’t too many trumpets and strings were
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LIEGE AND LIEF
Fairport Convention
Island Records ILPS-9115 (1969)
“Good” Folk Rock / Americana; Folk
Jukebox picks: “The Deserter” (8.7) • “Tam Lin” (8.0) • “Reynardine” (7.5)

Arriving in December, “Liege and Lief” was the third of three albums from Fairport Convention in 1969. Following on from
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BEACH BOYS’ PARTY!
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records MAS-2398 (1965)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox picks: “Barbara Ann” (9.6) • “There’s No Other (Like My Baby)” (8.2) • “Mountain Of Love” (7.3)

Capitol wanted “Pet Sounds” out in time for Christmas 1965. That was never going to happen. The pressure from the label
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VENTURES IN SPACE
The Ventures
Dolton BST-8027 (1964)
“Good” Film Score / Incidental; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
Jukebox 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
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MUDDY WATERS SINGS ‘BIG BILL’
Muddy Waters
Chess LP-1444 (1960)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox picks: “When I Get To Thinking” (8.0) • “Double Trouble” (7.7) • “Southbound Train” (7.4)

William Broonzy had died in August 1958 after suffering from the effects of throat cancer. Just a year or so later, Mudd
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IN A SILENT WAY
Miles Davis
Columbia CS-9875 (1969)
“Good” Jazz
Jukebox picks: “In A Silent Way / It’s About That Time / In A Silent Way” (7.7) • “Shhh / Peaceful” (6.2)

Miles goes electric! It’s a Jazz World stooshie to rival Dylan. From time to time these mega-talented giants of Jazz com
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ALL SUMMER LONG
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2110 (1964)
“Good” Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; Pop
Jukebox 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
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BOOKENDS
Simon and Garfunkel
Columbia KCS-9529 (1968)
“Good” Folk Rock / Americana; Songwriter
Jukebox picks: “Hazy Shade Of Winter” (9.7) • “Fakin’ It” (8.3) • “Mrs. Robinson” (7.9)

Having been central musically to Mike Nichols ’67 film “The Graduate” (the soundtrack for which was issued in January ’6
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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The United States of America
Columbia CS-9614 (1968)
“Good” Psychedelia
Jukebox picks: “The Garden Of Earthly Delights” (9.3) • “Coming Down” (8.7) • “Cloud Song” (8.2)

Joseph Byrd – fresh from his wonderful production on Phil Och’s “The Crucifixion” from ’67 – delivered another fine stat
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THE IMMORTAL OTIS REDDING
Otis Redding
ATCO Records SD 33-252 (1968)
“Good” Soul; Soul Ballad
Jukebox picks: “I’ve Got Dreams To Remember” (9.5) • “Hard To Handle” (8.3) • “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” (7.5)

“The Immortal Otis Redding” – who could fail to be touched by that title in 1968? The intended seventh Otis Redding albu
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JOAN BAEZ
Joan Baez
Vanguard VSD-2077 (1960)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “El Preso Número Nueve” (9.7) • “Donna Donna” (8.0) • “All My Trials” (7.5)

Simple and effective, 13 old folk songs, one singer, one guitar. Joan’s intense reading of Roberto Cantoral’s “
Ninth P...more →
SURFERS CHOICE
Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
Deltone LPM-1001 (1962)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
Jukebox 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
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I’M A LOSER
Doris Duke
Canyon Records LP-7704 (1969)
“Good” Soul; Soul Ballad
Jukebox picks: “Feet Start Walking” (9.0) • “Your Best Friend” (8.3) • “I Can’t Do Without You” (8.0)

After several years as a session singer with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Jackie Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sa
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SONGS OF TWO REBELLIONS - THE JACOBITE WARS OF 1715 AND 1745 IN SCOTLAND
Ewan MacColl with accompaniments by Peggy Seeger
Folkways Records FW-8756 (1961)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Such A Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation” (8.9) • “Donald MacGillavry” (8.4) • “Ye Jacobites By Name” (8.0)

His best to date, delivered with respect for the subject matter and sung with gusto. As the man himself said: “
What so...more →
TOMORROW
Tomorrow
Parlophone PCS-7042 (1968)
“Good” Psychedelia; Pop
Jukebox picks: “My White Bicycle” (9.2) • “Real Life Permanent Dream” (8.0) • “Colonel Brown” (7.6)

This was a very fine debut album from the London quintet who lined up: Keith West (vocals); Steve Howe (guitar); John Wo
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TURN! TURN! TURN!
The Byrds
Columbia CS-9254 (1965)
“Good” Folk Rock / Americana
Jukebox picks: “He Was A Friend Of Mine” (8.3) • “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)” (8.1) • “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (7.0)

Following a similar formula to the debut from just six months earlier, featuring five and a half originals, with five an
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A FULL SPOON OF SEEDY BLUES
Sky Saxon Blues Band
GNP Crescendo GNP-2040 (1967)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox picks: “Plain Spoken” (8.0) • “Creepin’ About” (7.7) • “Moth And The Flame” (7.5)

Essentially, this was the Seeds 4th LP; all group members played and were supplemented by Muddy Waters' band members Geo
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SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!)
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2354 (1965)
“Good” Pop; Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox picks: “Help Me, Rhonda” (8.8) • “You’re So Good To Me” (8.6) • “Then I Kissed Her” (8.3)

Under pressure from Capitol Records who had expressed concern at the “melancholy” nature of the second side of the prece
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FINBAR AND EDDIE FUREY
Finbar and Eddie Furey
Transatlantic Records TRA-168 (1968)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Come By The Hills” (8.9) • “The Curragh Of Kildare” (8.7) • “The Spanish Cloak” (8.6)

Back in 1960, for £2 each, these child protégés were playing in O’Donoghues; they were still school kids at the time! Ma
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A TIME FOR SINGING
Jean Ritchie
Warner Bros. Records W-1592 (1965)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Nottamun Town [album version ‘65]” (8.6) • “The L And N Don’t Stop Here Anymore” (8.1) • “Golden Ring Around The Susan Girl” (8.0)

Issued in April ’65. There are 8 Jean Ritchie compositions (often taking inspiration from traditionals) and 4 straight t
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THE KINK KONTROVERSY
The Kinks
Pye Records NPL-18131 (1965)
“Good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock
Jukebox picks: “It’s Too Late” (8.4) • “Till The End Of The Day” (8.0) • “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” (7.9)

The third Kinks LP opens up with the sole cover, as they rock out with John Estes’s “
Milk Cow Blues”. In stark contr
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A DATE WITH THE EVERLY BROTHERS
The Everly Brothers
Warner Bros. Records W-1395 (1960)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop; Pop Ballad
Jukebox picks: “Cathy’s Clown” (9.4) • “Made To Love” (8.5) • “Donna, Donna” (8.0)

The album gets off to a flyer with a sole Phil Everly rhythmic strummer, “
Made To Love” – he’s Hank Marvin and Eddie
...more →
LEADER OF THE PACK
The Shangri-Las
Red Bird RB 20-101 (1965)
“Good” Pop; Rock n Roll Ballad
Jukebox picks: “Leader Of The Pack” (8.8) • “Maybe [live]” (8.1) • “It’s Easier To Cry” (7.9)

In 1964, four every-girl school pals, with an exceptional talent for singing together, shot to fame overnight with a str
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CRYING
Roy Orbison
Monument M-4007 (1962)
“Good” Pop; Pop Ballad
Jukebox 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
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RUBBER SOUL
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-1267 (1965)
“Good” Pop; Blues Rock / Soul Rock
Jukebox picks: “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (9.4) • “Nowhere Man” (8.8) • “In My Life” (7.4)

All contents were hot off the press and out just in time for Christmas. All original compositions, there are eleven cred
...more →
THE BEACH BOYS TODAY!
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2269 (1965)
“Good” Pop
Jukebox picks: “When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)” (9.3) • “Help Me, Ronda” (9.0) • “Do You Wanna Dance?” (7.9)

Following a particularly stressful 1964, group leader Brian Wilson retired from touring, citing nervous exhaustion. Resu
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RING OF FIREː THE BEST OF JOHNNY CASH
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-2053 (1963)
“Good” Country
Jukebox 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
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THE NEW BRITON GAZETTE VOLUME 2
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger
Folkways Records FW-8734 (1963)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox 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 →
WHAT A HARD MAN FE DEAD
The Prince Buster All Stars
Blue Beat BBLP-807 (1967)
“Good” Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Hard Man Fe Dead” (8.9) • “Ten Commandments” (8.2) • “Moving Spirit” (7.2)

The first “new” Prince Buster LP in quite some time was a bit of a hodge-podge affair. The first half pools single sides
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YOU GOT MY MIND MESSED UP
James Carr
Goldwax Records 3001 (1967)
“Good” Soul Ballad; Soul
Jukebox picks: “Forgetting You” (8.2) • “Love Attack” (7.5) • “You’ve Got My Mind Messed Up” (7.3)

Just like the great Sam Cooke and Solomon Burke before him, James Carr’s gospel roots served him well for his foray into
...more →
THE ANIMALS
The Animals
MGM Records E-4264 (1964)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox 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 →
LET IT BLEED
The Rolling Stones
Decca SKL-5025 (1969)
“Good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock
Jukebox picks: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (8.8) • “Country Honk” (8.2) • “Midnight Rambler” (7.5)

Brian Jones was 5 months dead by the time “Let It Bleed” was released in Dec ’69. He takes his final bow on side 2 by pl
...more →
THE NEW BRITON GAZETTE
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger
Folkways Records FW-8732 (1960)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “The Crooked Cross” (8.6) • “When I Was A Young Lad” (8.5) • “The Lifeboat Mona” (7.9)

A welcome turn to the contemporary from Ewan, bolstered throughout by prominent co-vocal harmonizing from Peggy. “
The...more →
THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND
The Incredible String Band
Elektra EUK-254 (1966)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Footsteps Of The Heron” (9.3) • “Can’t Keep Me Here” (8.9) • “Maybe Someday” (8.8)

This fine debut LP arrived in June 1966. At the time of release the trio were: Mike Heron (24, lead vocals, guitar); Cli
...more →
KING AND QUEEN
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas
Stax S-716 (1967)
“Good” Soul; Soul Ballad
Jukebox picks: “Tramp” (9.3) • “Bring It On Home To Me” (8.3) • “Knock On Wood” (7.1)

Immodestly titled perhaps, but “King and Queen” was a potent collaboration all the same. Producer Jim Stewart’s idea was
...more →
THINK!
James Brown and The Famous Flames
King Records 683 (1960)
“Good” Soul Ballad; Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox picks: “Think [1960 version]” (8.1) • “I’ll Go Crazy [1960 version]” (7.8) • “You’ve Got The Power [1960 version]” (7.4)

Another quality LP from JB and his crew, rounding up 12 of the latest sides for Federal, and it’s more widely distribute
...more →
BASKET OF LIGHT
The Pentangle
Transatlantic Records TRA-205 (1969)
“Good” Folk; Folk Rock / Americana
Jukebox picks: “Hunting Song” (9.0) • “House Carpenter” (7.7) • “The Cuckoo” (7.2)

Here, the five points of The Pentagle are: Bert Jansch (25, lead and backing vocals, guitar, banjo); Jacqui McShee (25,
...more →
AFTERMATH
The Rolling Stones
Decca SKL-4786 (1966)
“Good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Cerebral Pop
Jukebox picks: “Mother's Little Helper” (8.9) • “Out Of Time” (8.8) • “Doncha Bother Me” (7.3)

1966 was very much a progressive year for music in general, with phenomenal song writing growth in evidence all around f
...more →
BLUES IN MY HEART
Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-2306 (1965)
“Good” Country; Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox picks: “Weary Blues From Waitin’” (9.9) • “Night Life” (8.3) • “Lonely Street” (7.6)

’65 was another busy year for Wanda – she had been invited to record in Germany and soon found herself with German langu
...more →
SHOWCASE
Patsy Cline with The Jordanaires
Decca DL-4202 (1961)
“Good” Country
Jukebox picks: “I Fall To Pieces” (10) • “Crazy” (8.1) • “A Poor Man’s Roses (Or A Rich Man’s Gold)” (7.5)

It was the strangest darn thing that Patsy Cline had released almost 20 singles between 1955 and 1960 but had only ever
...more →
ROCKIN’ AT THE HOPS
Chuck Berry
Chess LP-1448 (1960)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
Jukebox picks: “Worried Life Blues” (9.0) • “Bye Bye Johnny” (8.1) • “Down The Road A Piece” (8.0)

Chuck’s golden period at Chess continues in fine style into 1960 with the latest 8 sides from 1959, together with first-
...more →
THE BARLEY CORN
The Johnstons
Transatlantic Records TRA-185 (1969)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Ye Jacobites By Name” (8.5) • “The Flower Of Northumberland” (8.3) • “Fuigfidh Mise ’n’ Baile Seo” (7.8)

Recorded at Sound Technique Studios, London in 1968, and engineered by John Wood and Ron Fender. Notably, their 3rd and
...more →
TWO-WAY TRIP
Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl
Folkways Records FW-8755 (1961)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “Matty Groves” (9.8) • “The Devil's Nine Questions (Riddles Wisely Expounded)” (8.4) • “The Two Brothers” (7.7)

“Two-Way Trip” features a mix of British and American folk songs, hence the title. It's a new set, although it does in
...more →
THE TWAIN SHALL MEET
Eric Burdon and The Animals
MGM Records SE-4537 (1968)
“Good” Psychedelia
Jukebox picks: “Sky Pilot” (9.8) • “Monterey” (6.5) • “Just The Thought” (6.5)
“If you wanna find truth in life, don’t let music pass you by” sings Burdon on the opening track “
Monterey”, the
...more →
LUDO
The Ivor Cutler Trio
Parlophone PMC-7040 (1967)
“Good” Avant-Garde; Storytelling
Jukebox picks: “The Shapely Balloon” (9.7) • “Mary’s Drawer” (8.9) • “Good Morning! How Are You? Shut Up!” (8.5)

Fresh from an acting stint playing would-be courier Buster Bloodvessel in The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film, Ivor t
...more →
SURFIN’ USA
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-1890 (1963)
“Good” Rock n Roll / Rockabilly; Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox 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 →
STAR TIME
Dark City Sisters
His Master's Voice JCLP-46 (1964)
“Good” Africana
Jukebox 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 JOHNSTONS [1968]
The Johnstons
Transatlantic Records TRA-169 (1968)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox picks: “The Lambs On The Green Hills” (10) • “The Apprentice’s Song” (8.1) • “The Rounding Of Cape Horn” (7.3)

The Johnstons were an Irish close-harmony folk group, originally founded in the early 60s in Slane, County Meath, consis
...more →
UNHALFBRICKING
Fairport Convention
Island Records ILPS-9102 (1969)
“Good” Folk Rock / Americana
Jukebox picks: “A Sailor’s Life” (8.7) • “Si Tu Dois Partir” (8.4) • “Genesis Hall” (7.0)

Arriving in July, “Unhalfbricking”, so named on account of one of Sandy Denny's contributions to an inexplicable on-the-
...more →
GLAD ALL OVER
The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24093 (1964)
“Good” Pop; Proto-Punk
Jukebox 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 →
GREEN ONIONS
Booker T. and The M.G.’s
Stax S-701 (1962)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox 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 →
COLD BLOOD
Cold Blood
San Francisco Records SD-200 (1969)
“Good” Soul
Jukebox picks: “I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)” (7.5) • “Let Me Down Easy” (7.0) • “If You Will” (6.9)

A highly stylish debut album from the soulful Californian rockers, fronted by Lydia Pense whose impassioned vocal style
...more →
JUST DOMINO
Fats Domino
Imperial LP-9208 (1962)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop
Jukebox 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 →
UNDERGROUND
The Electric Prunes
Reprise Records RS-6262 (1967)
“Good” Psychedelia
Jukebox picks: “Wind-Up Toys” (8.7) • “Long Days Flight (Til Tomorrow)” (8.5) • “Doctor Do-Good” (7.5)

No big hits on the Electric Prunes second set – but it’s stronger as a whole, with the band who, it seems, were very muc
...more →
TRADITIONAL SONGS AND BALLADS
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger
Folkways Records FW-8760 (1964)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox 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 →
NUCLEUS OF SOUL
O.V. Wright
Back Beat BLP-67 (1969)
“Good” Soul Ballad
Jukebox picks: “I’ll Take Care Of You” (8.6) • “Why Not Give Me A Chance” (7.7) • “Pledging My Love” (7.4)

Famed producer Willie Mitchell was at the helm for Overton Vertis’s second new music album on Backbeat. As O.V. put it:
...more →
A SAILOR’S GARLAND
Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd
Prestige International INT-13043 (1962)
“Good” Folk
Jukebox 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 →
THE BIG SOUL OF JOHN LEE HOOKER
John Lee Hooker
Vee Jay Records VJLP-1058 (1963)
“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues
Jukebox 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 →
SENTIMENTALLY YOURS
Patsy Cline
Decca DL-4282 (1962)
“Good” Country; Pop
Jukebox 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 →
SKA-LIP-SOUL
Prince Buster
Blue Beat BBLP-805 (1965)
“Good” Caribbean; Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Cut Munno” (8.9) • “Mek It Tan Deh Goosie” (7.6) • “Rum And Coca Cola” (7.5)

12 new cuts on Blue Beat 805, and so deemed the 2nd proper Prince Buster album, although saxophonist Val Bennett is, unu
...more →
LED ZEPPELIN
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic 588171 (1969)
“Good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Rock
Jukebox picks: “Dazed And Confused” (8.7) • “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” (7.7) • “How Many More Times” (7.6)

Following the virtual dissolution of The Yardbirds in August ‘68, guitarist Jimmy Page wasted no time in re-recruiting.
...more →
1968 ESQUIVEL!!
Esquivel
RCA Victor MKS-1777 (1968)
“Good” Latin; Orchestra Dance
Jukebox picks: “El Cable” (8.0) • “Mini Skirt” (7.7) • “Lamento Borincano” (7.6)

After 12 years, “1968 Esquivel!!” is last in line of his original RCA albums. Groovy bachelors living in space-age Londo
...more →
Album Charts by year
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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
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1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s