Top 9 Music Albums of 1959
by 
Romanelli 
- Chart updated: 07/17/2026 16:45
- (Created: 04/12/2012 17:17).
- Chart size: 9 albums.
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1959-COLUMBIA
Produced By IRVING TOWNSEND
1. So What
2. Freddie Freeloader
3. Blue In Green
4. All Blues
5. Flamenco Sketches
6. Flamenco Sketches (Alternate Take)
One of the not so few albums by Miles Davis in which he changes the way jazz is played. Kind Of Blue marks the introduction of modal improvisation into his solo work...but more importantly, it's maybe the most beautifully played album of its time. Davis and his twin saxophone attack of John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderly turn in what could be Davis' finest album. This is one record you could listen to for days and never tire of. Every track is as beautiful and stunning as the last.
This is one of the few albums that should be heard by everyone, jazz lover or not. It's simply an amazing work from start to finish, and proof that Miles Davis was maybe our greatest musical treasure. This is a no doubt, all thumbs up, required listen for the fanatics among us. You know who you are. [First added to this chart: 03/02/2014]
Produced By IRVING TOWNSEND
1. So What
2. Freddie Freeloader
3. Blue In Green
4. All Blues
5. Flamenco Sketches
6. Flamenco Sketches (Alternate Take)
One of the not so few albums by Miles Davis in which he changes the way jazz is played. Kind Of Blue marks the introduction of modal improvisation into his solo work...but more importantly, it's maybe the most beautifully played album of its time. Davis and his twin saxophone attack of John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderly turn in what could be Davis' finest album. This is one record you could listen to for days and never tire of. Every track is as beautiful and stunning as the last.
This is one of the few albums that should be heard by everyone, jazz lover or not. It's simply an amazing work from start to finish, and proof that Miles Davis was maybe our greatest musical treasure. This is a no doubt, all thumbs up, required listen for the fanatics among us. You know who you are. [First added to this chart: 03/02/2014]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
20,997
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 12/08/2019]
[First added to this chart: 10/21/2023]
1959 – COLUMBIA
Produced By TEO MACERO
1. Better Git It In Your Soul
2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
3. Boogie Stop Shuffle
4. Self-Portrait In Three Colors
5. Open Letter To Duke
6. Bird Calls
7. Fables Of Faubus
8. Pussy Cat Dues
9. Jelly Roll
10. Pedal Point Blues
11. GG Train
12. Girl Of My Dreams
Charles Mingus is responsible for some of the greatest jazz records of all time…Mingus Ah Um, from 1959, is one of his very best. It was not lost in the shuffle of great albums that came out that year, standing alongside Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue, Coltrane’s Giant Steps, Brubeck’s Time Out and The Shape Of Jazz To Come by Ornette Coleman. He was at his peak, and in the midst of a feverishly proficient time when he released 30 records during a ten year period, many of which still stand as classics today. Mingus Ah Um is bluesy, adventurous, and grooves to the end of the world and back. His bass lines are perfection, and his band is as tight as a drum. Without exception.
That groove on “Pussy Cat Dues” alone is worth the price of admission…Mingus outshines everyone with his bass playing. “Fables Of Faubus”, later recorded with vocals, is one of Mingus’ more political songs (a powerful protest against Arkansas Governor Faubus, who sent troops to stop integration of a high school in 1957). “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” was written for the recently passed saxophonist Lester Young. The CD version is not only 11 minutes longer than the original LP, it also contains three bonus tracks that are fine as well. So much of what Mingus recorded is excellent and important. This is one of many albums by him that are essential. Truly one of the greatest albums of the late 50’s. [First added to this chart: 02/13/2022]
Produced By TEO MACERO
1. Better Git It In Your Soul
2. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
3. Boogie Stop Shuffle
4. Self-Portrait In Three Colors
5. Open Letter To Duke
6. Bird Calls
7. Fables Of Faubus
8. Pussy Cat Dues
9. Jelly Roll
10. Pedal Point Blues
11. GG Train
12. Girl Of My Dreams
Charles Mingus is responsible for some of the greatest jazz records of all time…Mingus Ah Um, from 1959, is one of his very best. It was not lost in the shuffle of great albums that came out that year, standing alongside Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue, Coltrane’s Giant Steps, Brubeck’s Time Out and The Shape Of Jazz To Come by Ornette Coleman. He was at his peak, and in the midst of a feverishly proficient time when he released 30 records during a ten year period, many of which still stand as classics today. Mingus Ah Um is bluesy, adventurous, and grooves to the end of the world and back. His bass lines are perfection, and his band is as tight as a drum. Without exception.
That groove on “Pussy Cat Dues” alone is worth the price of admission…Mingus outshines everyone with his bass playing. “Fables Of Faubus”, later recorded with vocals, is one of Mingus’ more political songs (a powerful protest against Arkansas Governor Faubus, who sent troops to stop integration of a high school in 1957). “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” was written for the recently passed saxophonist Lester Young. The CD version is not only 11 minutes longer than the original LP, it also contains three bonus tracks that are fine as well. So much of what Mingus recorded is excellent and important. This is one of many albums by him that are essential. Truly one of the greatest albums of the late 50’s. [First added to this chart: 02/13/2022]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,791
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/12/2018]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,242
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1959-RCA
NO PRODUCTION CREDIT
1. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
2. Young And Beautiful
3. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care
4. Milkcow Blues Boogie
5. Baby Let’s Play House
6. Good Rockin’ Tonight
7. Is It So Strange
8. We’re Gonna Move
9. I Want To Be Free
10. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
In 1959, with Elvis Presley in the middle of a two year stint in the army, Col. Tom Parker and RCA Records were faced with the task of not allowing their biggest star to be forgotten by the music buying public. Their solution was to put together albums culled from material that was difficult to find at the time. A Date With Elvis followed the formula set on the previous album, For LP Fans Only. Half of the tracks were Sun Studio recordings that had seen limited release in the South only, while the rest were taken from previously released EP’s. The album was successful in that it kept the Presley name alive until he got back. But, as it turns out, this very short (22 minutes) album is also a very fine collection of not as well known Presley songs. “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” is a rollicking, speedy version of the Bill Monroe song, and shows why Elvis was a great rocker early on. This is followed by two tracks from the Jailhouse Rock soundtrack. Then, it’s one of Presley’s most classic moments. The band begins “Milkcow Blues Boogie” at a slow tempo. Elvis stops the recording and tells them to get “real gone with it”. They then tear through the song like it’s made of cheap paper.
The rest of the song list is just as fine. The tracks for this album were exceptionally well chosen, and it sounds perfect. Adding another five tracks would have been a good idea, but other than the terrible shortness of the album, it’s great stuff. It was released on CD in 1988, but it’s been out of print almost since that time, so you might have a hard time finding it…especially since the glut of Presley compilations in the CD age have made all of its tracks available elsewhere. But not all together, like they are here. A year later, Elvis was back, but he was never the same. The Elvis that he had once been, from 1954 through 1958, was gone forever. But, man, has it ever lived on. The early, pre-war career of Elvis Presley was truly remarkable, and anytime you can get a package like A Date With Elvis, you’ve got something special. [First added to this chart: 12/17/2017]
NO PRODUCTION CREDIT
1. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
2. Young And Beautiful
3. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care
4. Milkcow Blues Boogie
5. Baby Let’s Play House
6. Good Rockin’ Tonight
7. Is It So Strange
8. We’re Gonna Move
9. I Want To Be Free
10. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
In 1959, with Elvis Presley in the middle of a two year stint in the army, Col. Tom Parker and RCA Records were faced with the task of not allowing their biggest star to be forgotten by the music buying public. Their solution was to put together albums culled from material that was difficult to find at the time. A Date With Elvis followed the formula set on the previous album, For LP Fans Only. Half of the tracks were Sun Studio recordings that had seen limited release in the South only, while the rest were taken from previously released EP’s. The album was successful in that it kept the Presley name alive until he got back. But, as it turns out, this very short (22 minutes) album is also a very fine collection of not as well known Presley songs. “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” is a rollicking, speedy version of the Bill Monroe song, and shows why Elvis was a great rocker early on. This is followed by two tracks from the Jailhouse Rock soundtrack. Then, it’s one of Presley’s most classic moments. The band begins “Milkcow Blues Boogie” at a slow tempo. Elvis stops the recording and tells them to get “real gone with it”. They then tear through the song like it’s made of cheap paper.
The rest of the song list is just as fine. The tracks for this album were exceptionally well chosen, and it sounds perfect. Adding another five tracks would have been a good idea, but other than the terrible shortness of the album, it’s great stuff. It was released on CD in 1988, but it’s been out of print almost since that time, so you might have a hard time finding it…especially since the glut of Presley compilations in the CD age have made all of its tracks available elsewhere. But not all together, like they are here. A year later, Elvis was back, but he was never the same. The Elvis that he had once been, from 1954 through 1958, was gone forever. But, man, has it ever lived on. The early, pre-war career of Elvis Presley was truly remarkable, and anytime you can get a package like A Date With Elvis, you’ve got something special. [First added to this chart: 12/17/2017]
1959 – ATLANTIC
Produced By NESUHI ERTEGUN
1. Lonely Woman
2. Eventually
3. Peace
4. Focus On Sanity
5. Congeniality
6. Chronology
One of the more influential albums in jazz, and a great way to end the fifties into the future of the sixties and beyond. Ornette Coleman’s third album helped pave the way for avant- garde jazz, and his quartet (Don Cherry on cornet, Charlie Haden on bass and drummer Billy Higgins, along with Coleman on alto saxophone) are exceptional. The songs all feature sections of free improvisation, and the album made Coleman a leader in jazz. The centerpiece here is “Lonely Woman”, which became one of his best known songs. The Shape Of Jazz To Come is not a perfect album, but the doors it opened and what it led to are hugely important.
Coleman stayed prolific until the late 90’s, and passed away in 2015. He spent the sixties expanding his free jazz sound, then dabbled in fusion by adding electric instruments in the seventies. He’s not as big as Davis, Coltrane, Mingus…but his place in jazz history is secure, and that’s in large part thanks to this album. Free jazz can be difficult, but if you have the patience for it, the rewards can be massive. This is the best album by Coleman, and a must have if the avant-garde side of jazz means anything to you. It’s not for everyone, but it is important, excellent, and set the stage for large amounts of the music that was to come after it. [First added to this chart: 11/07/2022]
Produced By NESUHI ERTEGUN
1. Lonely Woman
2. Eventually
3. Peace
4. Focus On Sanity
5. Congeniality
6. Chronology
One of the more influential albums in jazz, and a great way to end the fifties into the future of the sixties and beyond. Ornette Coleman’s third album helped pave the way for avant- garde jazz, and his quartet (Don Cherry on cornet, Charlie Haden on bass and drummer Billy Higgins, along with Coleman on alto saxophone) are exceptional. The songs all feature sections of free improvisation, and the album made Coleman a leader in jazz. The centerpiece here is “Lonely Woman”, which became one of his best known songs. The Shape Of Jazz To Come is not a perfect album, but the doors it opened and what it led to are hugely important.
Coleman stayed prolific until the late 90’s, and passed away in 2015. He spent the sixties expanding his free jazz sound, then dabbled in fusion by adding electric instruments in the seventies. He’s not as big as Davis, Coltrane, Mingus…but his place in jazz history is secure, and that’s in large part thanks to this album. Free jazz can be difficult, but if you have the patience for it, the rewards can be massive. This is the best album by Coleman, and a must have if the avant-garde side of jazz means anything to you. It’s not for everyone, but it is important, excellent, and set the stage for large amounts of the music that was to come after it. [First added to this chart: 11/07/2022]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,824
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 04/03/2025]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,515
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 04/16/2026]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
604
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 9. Page 1 of 1
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Top 9 Music Albums of 1959 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Miles Davis | 2 | 22% | |
| Dave Brubeck | 1 | 11% | |
| Elvis Presley | 1 | 11% | |
| Ornette Coleman | 1 | 11% | |
| Chuck Berry | 1 | 11% | |
| Ritchie Valens | 1 | 11% | |
| Cecil Taylor | 1 | 11% | |
| Show all | |||
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