Top 4 Music Albums of 1962
by 
Romanelli 
- Chart updated: 07/01/2026 17:45
- (Created: 04/13/2012 19:06).
- Chart size: 4 albums.
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[First added to this chart: 02/12/2023]
Year of Release:
1962
Appears in:
Rank Score:
718
Rank in 1962:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1962 – ATCO
Produced By AHMET ERTEGUN, JERRY LEIBER & MIKE STOLLER
1. Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)
2. Ecstasy
3. On The Horizon
4. Show Me The Way
5. Here Comes The Night
6. First Taste Of Love
7. Stand By Me
8. Yes
9. Young Boy Blues
10. The Hermit Of Misty Mountain
11. I Promise Love
12. Brace Yourself
Ben E. King was originally a member of the vocal group The Five Crowns. When the entire lineup of The Drifters was fired in 1958, the Crowns were hired as their replacements. King recorded only about a dozen tracks as a Drifter, some of which were hits (and most of which are forgotten, except for “Save The Last Dance For Me”). King went solo in 1960, and with his 1962 album Don’t Play That Song! came the one track that has made him immortal. King co-wrote “Stand By Me” with Lieber & Stoller, and it remains one of the greatest tracks of the original rock and roll era. The rest of King’s body of work has faded from memory, but as soon as you hear that bass intro, and King’s smooth tenor, you know exactly who he is. “Stand By Me” is, by far, King’s crowning achievement, and makes him worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the all time greats.
The rest of Don’t Play That Song! will surprise you. It contains lesser known tracks by Ahmet Ertegun, Goffin & King, Doc Pomus, and Phil Spector, and has four other songs that were minor hits for King. The title track, “First Taste Of Love”, “Ecstasy”, and “Young Boy Blues” made this, by far, King’s most successful album, and it’s well worth hearing more than 50 years later. The hits dried up for King pretty quickly after this album, although he did soldier on with some success for many years. The truth is, King was never the greatest Drifter (Clyde McPhatter was), and as a solo artist, he was never much of a household name. Except for “Stand By Me”, for which he will always be remembered and cherished. But check out Don’t Play That Song. It’s about as good a record in the pre-album era of rock as you will find…soulful, tasteful, and smooth as soul should be. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2020]
Produced By AHMET ERTEGUN, JERRY LEIBER & MIKE STOLLER
1. Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)
2. Ecstasy
3. On The Horizon
4. Show Me The Way
5. Here Comes The Night
6. First Taste Of Love
7. Stand By Me
8. Yes
9. Young Boy Blues
10. The Hermit Of Misty Mountain
11. I Promise Love
12. Brace Yourself
Ben E. King was originally a member of the vocal group The Five Crowns. When the entire lineup of The Drifters was fired in 1958, the Crowns were hired as their replacements. King recorded only about a dozen tracks as a Drifter, some of which were hits (and most of which are forgotten, except for “Save The Last Dance For Me”). King went solo in 1960, and with his 1962 album Don’t Play That Song! came the one track that has made him immortal. King co-wrote “Stand By Me” with Lieber & Stoller, and it remains one of the greatest tracks of the original rock and roll era. The rest of King’s body of work has faded from memory, but as soon as you hear that bass intro, and King’s smooth tenor, you know exactly who he is. “Stand By Me” is, by far, King’s crowning achievement, and makes him worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as the all time greats.
The rest of Don’t Play That Song! will surprise you. It contains lesser known tracks by Ahmet Ertegun, Goffin & King, Doc Pomus, and Phil Spector, and has four other songs that were minor hits for King. The title track, “First Taste Of Love”, “Ecstasy”, and “Young Boy Blues” made this, by far, King’s most successful album, and it’s well worth hearing more than 50 years later. The hits dried up for King pretty quickly after this album, although he did soldier on with some success for many years. The truth is, King was never the greatest Drifter (Clyde McPhatter was), and as a solo artist, he was never much of a household name. Except for “Stand By Me”, for which he will always be remembered and cherished. But check out Don’t Play That Song. It’s about as good a record in the pre-album era of rock as you will find…soulful, tasteful, and smooth as soul should be. [First added to this chart: 01/26/2020]
1986-RCA
Produced By STEVE BACKER
1. Dizzy Moods
2. Ysabel's Table Dance
3. Tijuana Gift Shop
4. Los Mariachis (The Street Musicians)
5. Flamingo
6. Dizzy Moods (Alternate Take)
7. Tijuana Gift Shop (Alternate Take)
8. Los Mariachis (The Street Musicians)(Alternate Take)
9. Flamingo (Alternate Take)
Recorded in 1957 and released originally in 1962 as Tijuana Moods, this has been considered one of the top recordings by bassist Charles Mingus. That the newer release almost repeats itself with alternate takes is frustrating, but the music is excellent both times around. "Ysabel's Table Dance" is amazing, but the other tracks have merit as well. Mingus considered this his best recording, and his band, particularly Clarence Shaw (sax) and Shafi Hadi (trumpet) are top notch. A true jazz classic from one of the very best.
Mingus died in the 70's of Lou Gehrig's disease while working on the Joni Mitchell album Mingus. [First added to this chart: 07/07/2018]
Produced By STEVE BACKER
1. Dizzy Moods
2. Ysabel's Table Dance
3. Tijuana Gift Shop
4. Los Mariachis (The Street Musicians)
5. Flamingo
6. Dizzy Moods (Alternate Take)
7. Tijuana Gift Shop (Alternate Take)
8. Los Mariachis (The Street Musicians)(Alternate Take)
9. Flamingo (Alternate Take)
Recorded in 1957 and released originally in 1962 as Tijuana Moods, this has been considered one of the top recordings by bassist Charles Mingus. That the newer release almost repeats itself with alternate takes is frustrating, but the music is excellent both times around. "Ysabel's Table Dance" is amazing, but the other tracks have merit as well. Mingus considered this his best recording, and his band, particularly Clarence Shaw (sax) and Shafi Hadi (trumpet) are top notch. A true jazz classic from one of the very best.
Mingus died in the 70's of Lou Gehrig's disease while working on the Joni Mitchell album Mingus. [First added to this chart: 07/07/2018]
Year of Release:
1962
Appears in:
Rank Score:
479
Rank in 1962:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
1962 – WARNER BROS.
Produced By ALBERT GROSSMAN
1. Early In The Morning
2. 500 Miles
3. Sorrow
4. This Train
5. Bamboo
6. It’s Raining
7. If I Had My Way
8. Cruel War
9. Lemon Tree
10. If I Had A Hammer
11. Autumn To May
12. Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
Before Bob Dylan became the biggest thing in American music, the Greenwich Village folk scene was very much up and coming. In 1961, Albert Grossman assembled Peter, Paul & Mary, a likeable and talented trio that helped shape the landscape of American popular music throughout the decade of the sixties. Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers released their self titled debut album in 1962, two months after Dylan released his. This was easily the bigger hit. Much of the record features upbeat arrangements, great 3 part harmonies, and a nice stockpile of folk standards. There are a trio of Stookey-Yarrow originals, as well as songs by Pete Seeger, Dave Van Ronk and The Rev. Gary Davis. No Dylan. Not yet. That came later.
Their breakthrough hit was “Lemon Tree”, which sounds horribly dated today. But “500 Miles” is beautifully done, and the two Seeger songs, “If I Had A Hammer” and “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” suit the trio perfectly. They were a great fit vocally, and the sparse acoustic guitar arrangements work well. And while this trio sang songs that were important, they also came across as just pop enough to sell a boatload of records. Not all of this has aged well, but enough of it has to keep it as a still important record. American folk music of the early sixties was kept relevant by folks like Dylan and Van Ronk and Phil Ochs…and by Peter, Paul And Mary. Enjoy these songs, and enjoy the vocal gifts that these three brought to the table. [First added to this chart: 03/01/2026]
Produced By ALBERT GROSSMAN
1. Early In The Morning
2. 500 Miles
3. Sorrow
4. This Train
5. Bamboo
6. It’s Raining
7. If I Had My Way
8. Cruel War
9. Lemon Tree
10. If I Had A Hammer
11. Autumn To May
12. Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
Before Bob Dylan became the biggest thing in American music, the Greenwich Village folk scene was very much up and coming. In 1961, Albert Grossman assembled Peter, Paul & Mary, a likeable and talented trio that helped shape the landscape of American popular music throughout the decade of the sixties. Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers released their self titled debut album in 1962, two months after Dylan released his. This was easily the bigger hit. Much of the record features upbeat arrangements, great 3 part harmonies, and a nice stockpile of folk standards. There are a trio of Stookey-Yarrow originals, as well as songs by Pete Seeger, Dave Van Ronk and The Rev. Gary Davis. No Dylan. Not yet. That came later.
Their breakthrough hit was “Lemon Tree”, which sounds horribly dated today. But “500 Miles” is beautifully done, and the two Seeger songs, “If I Had A Hammer” and “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” suit the trio perfectly. They were a great fit vocally, and the sparse acoustic guitar arrangements work well. And while this trio sang songs that were important, they also came across as just pop enough to sell a boatload of records. Not all of this has aged well, but enough of it has to keep it as a still important record. American folk music of the early sixties was kept relevant by folks like Dylan and Van Ronk and Phil Ochs…and by Peter, Paul And Mary. Enjoy these songs, and enjoy the vocal gifts that these three brought to the table. [First added to this chart: 03/01/2026]
Total albums: 4. Page 1 of 1
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Top 4 Music Albums of 1962 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Booker T. & The M.G.'s | 1 | 25% | |
| Ben E. King | 1 | 25% | |
| Charles Mingus | 1 | 25% | |
| Peter, Paul And Mary | 1 | 25% |
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