Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s
by 
Romanelli 
- Chart updated: 3 days ago
- (Created: 12/04/2011 20:31).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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1966-ATCO
Produced By CHARLES GREENE & BRIAN STONE
1. For What It’s Worth
2. Go And Say Goodbye
3. Sit Down I Think I Love You
4. Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing
5. Hot Dusty Roads
6. Everybody’s Wrong
7. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong
8. Burned
9. Do I Have To Come Right Out And Say It
10. Leave
11. Out Of My Mind
12. Pay The Price
What turned out to be a stepping stone band on a par only with The Yardbirds, Buffalo Springfield existed for only two years. But the band launched the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina, making future acts Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Poco, Manassas and Loggins & Messina possible. The history of the band was tumultuous, and they burned out by 1968 in the midst of multiple drug busts. But they also made three albums, including this one, their first. Messina wasn’t there yet, but the front line of Stills, Young and Furay was pretty potent. Here, they had been together just a few months, and they were ultimately unhappy that the hurried nature of the recordings resulted in not capturing the live sound they were after. There is an uncomfortable and rushed feeling to the album, for sure.
This version of Buffalo Springfield is a re-release from 1967 that was done after “For What It’s Worth” (not on the original version) became a hit. It replaces the track “Baby Don’t Scold Me”, and puts the songs in different order. Other highlights include Young’s “Burned” and “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing”, and Stills’ “Sit Down I Think I Love You”. The next album, Buffalo Springfield Again, was much better, but this is still an important part of the American rock resurgence of the late 60’s, and an important start to the recording legacy of the band and its individual members. It’s interesting to hear the genesis of everything that came afterwards here, while the members were still young and not yet famous. All of which makes this somewhat flawed album very worthwhile. [First added to this chart: 11/13/2013]
Produced By CHARLES GREENE & BRIAN STONE
1. For What It’s Worth
2. Go And Say Goodbye
3. Sit Down I Think I Love You
4. Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing
5. Hot Dusty Roads
6. Everybody’s Wrong
7. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong
8. Burned
9. Do I Have To Come Right Out And Say It
10. Leave
11. Out Of My Mind
12. Pay The Price
What turned out to be a stepping stone band on a par only with The Yardbirds, Buffalo Springfield existed for only two years. But the band launched the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina, making future acts Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Poco, Manassas and Loggins & Messina possible. The history of the band was tumultuous, and they burned out by 1968 in the midst of multiple drug busts. But they also made three albums, including this one, their first. Messina wasn’t there yet, but the front line of Stills, Young and Furay was pretty potent. Here, they had been together just a few months, and they were ultimately unhappy that the hurried nature of the recordings resulted in not capturing the live sound they were after. There is an uncomfortable and rushed feeling to the album, for sure.
This version of Buffalo Springfield is a re-release from 1967 that was done after “For What It’s Worth” (not on the original version) became a hit. It replaces the track “Baby Don’t Scold Me”, and puts the songs in different order. Other highlights include Young’s “Burned” and “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing”, and Stills’ “Sit Down I Think I Love You”. The next album, Buffalo Springfield Again, was much better, but this is still an important part of the American rock resurgence of the late 60’s, and an important start to the recording legacy of the band and its individual members. It’s interesting to hear the genesis of everything that came afterwards here, while the members were still young and not yet famous. All of which makes this somewhat flawed album very worthwhile. [First added to this chart: 11/13/2013]
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
926
Rank in 1966:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1967-POLYDOR
Produced By ANDY WARHOL
1. Sunday Morning
2. I'm Waiting For The Man
3. Femme Fatale
4. Venus In Furs
5. Run Run Run
6. All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Heroin
8. There She Goes Again
9. I'll Be Your Mirror
10. The Black Angel's Death Song
11. European Son
The debut album from The Velvet Underground was an event that changed the way rock music would be made forever...although hardly anyone knew about it at the time. It's been said that the only people who bought their records ended up in bands, and a lot of that may be true. Highly influential, yet mostly unheard. This is where we first got to hear Lou Reed and John Cale, a highly volatile pair. Reed's songwriting is powerful from the beginning, with treasures like "Femme Fatale", "Venus In Furs" and "Heroin". This was not the stuff of hippies, this was the beginning of punk and alternative music.
Nico was a fashion model with a stiff sounding voice that somehow worked. As for Andy Warhol, it's questionable as to what he really had to do with this musically. But this, and all of the Velvet's albums, are of huge importance in the evolution of rock. [First added to this chart: 01/11/2012]
Produced By ANDY WARHOL
1. Sunday Morning
2. I'm Waiting For The Man
3. Femme Fatale
4. Venus In Furs
5. Run Run Run
6. All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Heroin
8. There She Goes Again
9. I'll Be Your Mirror
10. The Black Angel's Death Song
11. European Son
The debut album from The Velvet Underground was an event that changed the way rock music would be made forever...although hardly anyone knew about it at the time. It's been said that the only people who bought their records ended up in bands, and a lot of that may be true. Highly influential, yet mostly unheard. This is where we first got to hear Lou Reed and John Cale, a highly volatile pair. Reed's songwriting is powerful from the beginning, with treasures like "Femme Fatale", "Venus In Furs" and "Heroin". This was not the stuff of hippies, this was the beginning of punk and alternative music.
Nico was a fashion model with a stiff sounding voice that somehow worked. As for Andy Warhol, it's questionable as to what he really had to do with this musically. But this, and all of the Velvet's albums, are of huge importance in the evolution of rock. [First added to this chart: 01/11/2012]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
38,660
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1969 – ATLANTIC
Produced By David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash
1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
2. Marrakesh Express
3. Guinnevere
4. You Don’t Have To Cry
5. Pre-Road Downs
6. Wooden Ships
7. Lady Of The Island
8. Helplessly Hoping
9. Long Time Gone
10. 49 Bye-Byes
Maybe the supergroup to top all supergroups, Crosby, Stills & Nash were perfect for the times…and perfect for each other. Consisting of members of The Byrds (Crosby), Buffalo Springfield (Stills), and The Hollies (Nash), the musical mix of these three was something to behold. The harmonies were perfect and oh so cool, but it was the extra added bonus of the personality differences of the three that made it all the better. This, their debut album, was a monster hit in its day. Today, it’s almost forgotten, which is nothing short of a damn shame. There are tracks here that are some of the most beautiful recordings in the history of rock, and this is one of the most perfect albums for its time ever made. These three together in 1969, just getting together, showing the world what they could do and getting ready to take the stage at Woodstock is something special indeed. It’s instrumentally almost all Stills, but vocally, and the writing…nothing short of an amazing group effort.
Stills’ “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, written about his love for Judy Collins, is the greatest Stills song of all time, and it’s a masterpiece that Lennon & McCartney would have been proud to have written. His “You Don’t Have To Cry” and the gorgeous “Helplessly Hoping” are not far behind. Crosby’s “Guinnevere” is stunning, and his “Long Time Gone”, a response to the killing of Robert Kennedy, is perfect. The three Nash tracks maybe sound the most dated, but you can’t help but love “Marrakesh Express” and “Pre-Road Downs”, which features Cass Elliot singing backups. And there’s “Wooden Ships”, a beautiful track by Crosby, Stills and Paul Kantner of the Airplane. Plenty of great moments awaited this trio (with help from future member Neil Young), but man…what an amazing debut. How amazing must it have been to have heard this for the first time in 1969? This is one hell of a great and absolutely beautiful album. Must have. [First added to this chart: 04/01/2012]
Produced By David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash
1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
2. Marrakesh Express
3. Guinnevere
4. You Don’t Have To Cry
5. Pre-Road Downs
6. Wooden Ships
7. Lady Of The Island
8. Helplessly Hoping
9. Long Time Gone
10. 49 Bye-Byes
Maybe the supergroup to top all supergroups, Crosby, Stills & Nash were perfect for the times…and perfect for each other. Consisting of members of The Byrds (Crosby), Buffalo Springfield (Stills), and The Hollies (Nash), the musical mix of these three was something to behold. The harmonies were perfect and oh so cool, but it was the extra added bonus of the personality differences of the three that made it all the better. This, their debut album, was a monster hit in its day. Today, it’s almost forgotten, which is nothing short of a damn shame. There are tracks here that are some of the most beautiful recordings in the history of rock, and this is one of the most perfect albums for its time ever made. These three together in 1969, just getting together, showing the world what they could do and getting ready to take the stage at Woodstock is something special indeed. It’s instrumentally almost all Stills, but vocally, and the writing…nothing short of an amazing group effort.
Stills’ “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, written about his love for Judy Collins, is the greatest Stills song of all time, and it’s a masterpiece that Lennon & McCartney would have been proud to have written. His “You Don’t Have To Cry” and the gorgeous “Helplessly Hoping” are not far behind. Crosby’s “Guinnevere” is stunning, and his “Long Time Gone”, a response to the killing of Robert Kennedy, is perfect. The three Nash tracks maybe sound the most dated, but you can’t help but love “Marrakesh Express” and “Pre-Road Downs”, which features Cass Elliot singing backups. And there’s “Wooden Ships”, a beautiful track by Crosby, Stills and Paul Kantner of the Airplane. Plenty of great moments awaited this trio (with help from future member Neil Young), but man…what an amazing debut. How amazing must it have been to have heard this for the first time in 1969? This is one hell of a great and absolutely beautiful album. Must have. [First added to this chart: 04/01/2012]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,411
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1969-WARNER BROS
Produced By FLEETWOOD MAC
1. Coming Your Way
2. Closing My Eyes
3. Show-Boz Blues
4. My Dream
5. Underway
6. Oh Well
7. Although The Sun Is Shining
8. Rattlesnake Shake
9. Searching For Madge
10. Fighting For Madge
11. When You Say
12. Like Crying
13. Before The Beginning
Then Play On is the 3rd album by Fleetwood Mac, and the last to feature guitarist Peter Green. It's most notable for containing the classic "Oh Well", but there is a lot more to recommend this. Green and Danny Kirwan do the bulk of the writing, and songs like "Coming Your Way" and "Before The Beginning" are excellent. This was the Mac's first real step toward the giant they would become in the mid 70's, but their blues beginnings were still intact here. Then Play On is an album dwarfed in a catalog that contains Rumours, Fleetwood Mac, and Tusk. This is not the same band, and it's great to hear how they sounded early on.
Guitarist Jeremy Spencer played only a couple of piano parts, and Christine Perfect played uncredited keyboards as well. Green left to join a cult afterward. "Oh Well" was not included in the original British release, but was added to the American version after it had become a hit. [First added to this chart: 09/04/2012]
Produced By FLEETWOOD MAC
1. Coming Your Way
2. Closing My Eyes
3. Show-Boz Blues
4. My Dream
5. Underway
6. Oh Well
7. Although The Sun Is Shining
8. Rattlesnake Shake
9. Searching For Madge
10. Fighting For Madge
11. When You Say
12. Like Crying
13. Before The Beginning
Then Play On is the 3rd album by Fleetwood Mac, and the last to feature guitarist Peter Green. It's most notable for containing the classic "Oh Well", but there is a lot more to recommend this. Green and Danny Kirwan do the bulk of the writing, and songs like "Coming Your Way" and "Before The Beginning" are excellent. This was the Mac's first real step toward the giant they would become in the mid 70's, but their blues beginnings were still intact here. Then Play On is an album dwarfed in a catalog that contains Rumours, Fleetwood Mac, and Tusk. This is not the same band, and it's great to hear how they sounded early on.
Guitarist Jeremy Spencer played only a couple of piano parts, and Christine Perfect played uncredited keyboards as well. Green left to join a cult afterward. "Oh Well" was not included in the original British release, but was added to the American version after it had become a hit. [First added to this chart: 09/04/2012]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
894
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/08/2011]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,545
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 5. Page 1 of 1
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1 | 1% | |
| 1961 | 1 | 1% | |
| 1962 | 2 | 2% | |
| 1963 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1964 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1965 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1966 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1967 | 18 | 18% | |
| 1968 | 16 | 16% | |
| 1969 | 28 | 28% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Beatles | 12 | 12% | |
| Bob Dylan | 7 | 7% | |
| The Byrds | 4 | 4% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 4 | 4% | |
| The Kinks | 3 | 3% | |
| The Mothers Of Invention | 3 | 3% | |
| Laura Nyro | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s chart changes
There have been no changes to this chart.Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s similar charts
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 37 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/31/2025 14:14 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,089 | 85/100 | |
| 08/08/2024 20:52 |  pedro1976 | 106 | 85/100 | |
| 07/22/2024 19:21 | Rivera | 49 | 98/100 | |
| 09/15/2023 11:08 |  Larcx13 | 1,139 | 86/100 | |
| 03/06/2023 07:29 | Moondance | 476 | 85/100 |
Rating metrics:
Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 2% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 90.2/100, a mean average of 89.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 91.4/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 15.6.
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s comments
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From 
Tamthebam 07/22/2024 08:41 | #304475
Tamthebam 07/22/2024 08:41 | #304475
Well what can I say 48 albums in common ! You have good taste ! the order we rank them is slightly different so overall 95/100 but a really good chart obviously its one of my favourites.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Rm12398 09/15/2023 22:37 | #299128
47 in common! Great list!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Moondance 03/06/2023 07:29 | #294753
Yep, nailed it.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Goliath 04/16/2022 17:39 | #284304
Goliath 04/16/2022 17:39 | #284304
26 in common (and there's only 36 in my 60's chart).
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Juneof44 04/13/2022 07:41 | #284140
Really appreaciate the comments below the albums and the producer.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From leniad 10/26/2020 01:57 | #259787
good choices
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 10/25/2017 11:35 | #200055
Great chart. I love the time that has gone into this with notes against albums. I've tried to do this myself but run out of patience. Respect.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
NowhereMan 07/25/2014 21:04 | #117790
NowhereMan 07/25/2014 21:04 | #117790
Hard day's night in top 10. Brilliant.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Antonio-Pedro 10/29/2013 17:25 | #89713
Antonio-Pedro 10/29/2013 17:25 | #89713
Nice chart. I Agree with some Albuns. But i don't Guess ThatvThe White Album Is The Best Of The 60s. Yes He is one of the best abums of the beatles but not to be the best
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
tgarritsen 10/10/2013 23:13 | #88123
tgarritsen 10/10/2013 23:13 | #88123
Great Album. But I don't think the White Album is the best Beatles album
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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