Top 5 Music Albums of 1961
by 
Romanelli 
- Chart updated: 01/22/2026 17:45
- (Created: 04/13/2012 19:11).
- Chart size: 5 albums.
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1961 – PRESTIGE
Produced By BOB WEINSTOCK
1. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
2. Salt Peanuts
3. Something I Dreamed Last Night
4. Diane
5. Well, You Needn’t
6. When I Fall In Love
On two dates in 1956, Miles Davis and his band went into the studio and recorded enough material to flesh out four future albums: Relaxin’, Cookin’, Workin’, and Steamin’. Of the four, Steamin’ concentrates more on the improvisational dynamic of the group, and is the least desirable of the four. This does not mean that this is a bad album by any means…it just means that it’s the only one of the four that is not flawless. After all, Davis isn’t maybe the most important recording artist in history for no reason. He’s a giant, and he is because he made more great music than pretty much anyone else could ever even dream about. The Quintet of these 1956 sessions is bolstered not only by the legendary Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland and Paul Chambers, but also by the power of saxophonist John Coltrane. The interplay between Davis and Coltrane during this period is exceptional, laying the groundwork for the future growth of jazz is so many ways.
The weakest moment here is Dizzy Gillespie’s “Salt Peanuts”. A great song is a great song, but overdone is overdone. “When I Fall In Love” is simply beautiful, with Davis and Red Garland taking sweet turns on the solo. But the best of this period, and of this album, is the pure joy of having Davis and Coltrane in the studio together. Coltrane plays on 4 of the album’s six tracks, and his presence makes a huge difference. Steamin’ is notable for being the last album released by Davis on the Prestige label, and despite the fact that it’s often overshadowed by his more famous records (‘Round Midnight, In A Silent Way), it’s definitely a piece of beauty, and deserves to be heard just as much as anything else he was doing during this period. Coltrane eventually went on his own, but died of cancer at age 40 in 1967. Garland, Jones and Chambers all moved on by 1962, and Davis continued his incredible run. Steamin’ is another in a long line of fine Davis moments. [First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
Produced By BOB WEINSTOCK
1. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
2. Salt Peanuts
3. Something I Dreamed Last Night
4. Diane
5. Well, You Needn’t
6. When I Fall In Love
On two dates in 1956, Miles Davis and his band went into the studio and recorded enough material to flesh out four future albums: Relaxin’, Cookin’, Workin’, and Steamin’. Of the four, Steamin’ concentrates more on the improvisational dynamic of the group, and is the least desirable of the four. This does not mean that this is a bad album by any means…it just means that it’s the only one of the four that is not flawless. After all, Davis isn’t maybe the most important recording artist in history for no reason. He’s a giant, and he is because he made more great music than pretty much anyone else could ever even dream about. The Quintet of these 1956 sessions is bolstered not only by the legendary Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland and Paul Chambers, but also by the power of saxophonist John Coltrane. The interplay between Davis and Coltrane during this period is exceptional, laying the groundwork for the future growth of jazz is so many ways.
The weakest moment here is Dizzy Gillespie’s “Salt Peanuts”. A great song is a great song, but overdone is overdone. “When I Fall In Love” is simply beautiful, with Davis and Red Garland taking sweet turns on the solo. But the best of this period, and of this album, is the pure joy of having Davis and Coltrane in the studio together. Coltrane plays on 4 of the album’s six tracks, and his presence makes a huge difference. Steamin’ is notable for being the last album released by Davis on the Prestige label, and despite the fact that it’s often overshadowed by his more famous records (‘Round Midnight, In A Silent Way), it’s definitely a piece of beauty, and deserves to be heard just as much as anything else he was doing during this period. Coltrane eventually went on his own, but died of cancer at age 40 in 1967. Garland, Jones and Chambers all moved on by 1962, and Davis continued his incredible run. Steamin’ is another in a long line of fine Davis moments. [First added to this chart: 12/02/2014]
[First added to this chart: 12/28/2025]
[First added to this chart: 06/25/2024]
1961 – ATLANTIC
Produced By NESUHI ERTEGUN
1. Blues Connotation
2. Beauty Is A Rare Thing
3. Kaleidoscope
4. Embraceable You
5. Poise
6. Humpty Dumpty
7. Folk Tale
Saxophonist Ornette Coleman was a genius, pure and simple. He was a main inventor of free jazz and jazz fusion, and was a king of the avant-garde. His recording career began in the late 1950’s, and for the next four decades, he made some of the most innovative jazz records ever recorded. This Is Our Music is his fifth album, and the first to be openly credited to his Quartet. The title alone is a major statement: this was not a solo album. This was a collaboration between four of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet, with eyes on a few things. The album is very listenable, and even contains a rare standard (“Embraceable You”). It’s loaded with breathtaking turns of improvisation. And Coleman and trumpeter Don Cherry (the father of both Eagle-Eye and Neneh Cherry) trade solos like it’s the easiest thing on the planet.
The upbeat material here, particularly “Blues Connotation” and “Poise”, is lively and flawless. The moody slower tracks are perfectly executed. The rhythm section of Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell are as good as any you will ever hear. The greatness in the playing is spread evenly between all four members…it is absolutely a group effort. This may not be held in as high regard as his Coleman’s greatest record (The Shape Of Jazz To Come), but it is really almost impossible to find a single flaw. Coleman made studio records through 1996, and live recordings up through 2009. But his earliest work, including This Is Our Music, remains groundbreaking and special. This flawless record should stand as one of the greatest in the history of jazz. Check it out. [First added to this chart: 07/15/2024]
Produced By NESUHI ERTEGUN
1. Blues Connotation
2. Beauty Is A Rare Thing
3. Kaleidoscope
4. Embraceable You
5. Poise
6. Humpty Dumpty
7. Folk Tale
Saxophonist Ornette Coleman was a genius, pure and simple. He was a main inventor of free jazz and jazz fusion, and was a king of the avant-garde. His recording career began in the late 1950’s, and for the next four decades, he made some of the most innovative jazz records ever recorded. This Is Our Music is his fifth album, and the first to be openly credited to his Quartet. The title alone is a major statement: this was not a solo album. This was a collaboration between four of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet, with eyes on a few things. The album is very listenable, and even contains a rare standard (“Embraceable You”). It’s loaded with breathtaking turns of improvisation. And Coleman and trumpeter Don Cherry (the father of both Eagle-Eye and Neneh Cherry) trade solos like it’s the easiest thing on the planet.
The upbeat material here, particularly “Blues Connotation” and “Poise”, is lively and flawless. The moody slower tracks are perfectly executed. The rhythm section of Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell are as good as any you will ever hear. The greatness in the playing is spread evenly between all four members…it is absolutely a group effort. This may not be held in as high regard as his Coleman’s greatest record (The Shape Of Jazz To Come), but it is really almost impossible to find a single flaw. Coleman made studio records through 1996, and live recordings up through 2009. But his earliest work, including This Is Our Music, remains groundbreaking and special. This flawless record should stand as one of the greatest in the history of jazz. Check it out. [First added to this chart: 07/15/2024]
Year of Release:
1961
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,762
Rank in 1961:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 5. Page 1 of 1
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Top 5 Music Albums of 1961 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Miles Davis Quintet | 1 | 20% | |
| Louis Armstrong | 1 | 20% | |
| Dion | 1 | 20% | |
| Ornette Coleman | 1 | 20% | |
| Robert Johnson | 1 | 20% |
Top 5 Music Albums of 1961 chart changes
| New entries |
|---|
| King Of The Delta Blues Singers by Robert Johnson |
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