Best Albums of the 1950s
Explore the best albums of the 1950s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 60,000 charts
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Last updated: 3 hours ago
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"A damn near perfect record!" Reply
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,345
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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"A more experimental release from Mingus that leads to some highly interesting moments but also some parts that sound a little scattered. Starting with the highs we have the fantastic 1st and 3rd tracks which are the best on the record. They are so energetic and exciting to listen to with both of ..." Reply
Year of Release:
1956
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,976
Rank in 1956:
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Average Rating:
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"A tremendous album with truly amazing playing" Reply
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seb7 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
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Year of Release:
1957
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,852
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Nothing wrong with Ray Charles, but this album didn't really pique my interest." Reply
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planetneutral | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 1
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Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,738
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Bo Diddley at his finest. No-one else in the blues game had as much fun, or as much energy as Bo." Reply
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junodog4 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3
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Year of Release:
1958
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,713
Rank in 1958:
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Comments:
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"I heard that lonesome whistle blow reminds me of Hank Williams. Great country album. Johnny Cash's debut shows how serious/true this man's heart has been. Cry Cry Cry, Folsom, I walk the line, are key tracks." Reply
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RoundTheBend | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2
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Year of Release:
1957
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,692
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Ella with the voice of an angel, Louis with the voice of the heart. Paired with some absolutely great jazz tunes, this album is one of the best ever made!! Reminds me of 1950s Paris in the winter" Reply
- seb7 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 0
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Year of Release:
1956
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,688
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Comments:
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"The highest rated EAN track on BEA is Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue. The best track of EAN, according to Nape, is Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue. Coincidence? I think NOT!" Reply
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Facetious | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3
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Year of Release:
1956
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,662
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Ah back when country music had some class. Songs about something other than the pap crap that passes for country today. A classic and classy record in every sense of the word." Reply
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,643
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Chuck Berry's first album from 1957 is mostly a collection of single and EP tracks. Only three songs had not been released previously. Highlights are the songs written in the classic Berry rock'n roll style; "School Days", "Too Much Monkey Business" and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man". The first two we..." Reply
Year of Release:
1957
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,513
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Total albums: 1,000. Page 3 of 100
Best Albums of the 1950s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 48 | 5% | |
| 1951 | 44 | 4% | |
| 1952 | 57 | 6% | |
| 1953 | 61 | 6% | |
| 1954 | 71 | 7% | |
| 1955 | 91 | 9% | |
| 1956 | 116 | 12% | |
| 1957 | 153 | 15% | |
| 1958 | 169 | 17% | |
| 1959 | 190 | 19% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Miles Davis | 22 | 2% | |
| Billie Holiday | 18 | 2% | |
| Sonny Rollins | 16 | 2% | |
| Frank Sinatra | 16 | 2% | |
| Various Artists | 15 | 2% | |
| Thelonious Monk | 14 | 1% | |
| Ella Fitzgerald | 13 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
788 | 79% | |
 |
33 | 3% | |
 |
33 | 3% | |
 |
24 | 2% | |
 |
17 | 2% | |
 |
13 | 1% | |
 |
10 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Best Albums of the 1950s chart changes
| Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 9 from 81st to 72nd |
Up 6 from 67th to 61st |
Up 3 from 59th to 56th |
| Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 4 from 74th to 78th |
Down 3 from 63rd to 66th |
Down 2 from 25th to 27th |
Recognised
Year Charts (2025)
