Best Albums of the 1960s
Explore the best albums of the 1960s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 60,000 charts
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Last updated: 3 hours ago
"When I was curious about The Beatles I asked a friend who absolutely loves them where I should start. Without question he handed me Abbey Road and now I understand why. This album is the culmination of The Beatles' long and winding road together. It represents what each of the members brought to ..." Reply
Year of Release:
1969
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Rank Score:
53,397
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"As great as this album is, it would have been even greater if they had included "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" (and taken off "Dr. Robert" and "Got to get you into my life")...which were released as "single" only in May, 1966...terrible decision. I hated when they released "single only" records." Reply
Year of Release:
1966
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Rank Score:
46,040
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"The influence of this album on the trajectory of popular music cannot be overstated. The Beatles experimentation with the recording process was something that hit a definite high point on this album. This process was something no bands had the rescourses to do at the time(with the exception of th..." Reply
Year of Release:
1967
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Rank Score:
40,172
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"Velvet Underground created an original piece of work that has arguably become the most influencial album in alternative music. Produced by Andy Warhol, this album is something special when it comes to the creative artistic expression. The music and lyrics are incredibly minimal, yet powerfully be..." Reply
Year of Release:
1967
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Rank Score:
37,082
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"I wonder what people would think of The Beach Boys if this hadn't been made, considering all their other albums are so ridiculously underrated. Would they even be remembered? For that reason alone, this album is crucial. And it is indeed a masterpiece, worthy of every piece of praise it receives...." Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
36,287
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"Like any other double album you care to mention, this could probably have been streamlined into something even more magical than it already is, but there is a certain charm to all this – it feels quite rough and ragged and almost thrown together, but in a good way of course and it is the antithes..." Reply
Year of Release:
1968
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Rank Score:
35,032
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"21st Century Schizoid Man is a serious contender for best song ever recorded and the rest of the album is not all that far behind. A masterpiece indeed." Reply
Year of Release:
1969
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Rank Score:
26,305
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"The Doors 1967 debut seemed an obvious classic to me upon my very first listen. Their music possesses a magical, hypnotic and sensual quality that seems to instantly resonate both intellectually and on a primal, animalistic level. Jim Morrison’s shamanistic approach to fronting a Rock & Roll band..." Reply
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
25,330
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"This is essential listening with Dylan creating one of the greatest records of his career on here. It is consistent in style and tone leading to a cohesive listen that feels extremely fulfilling by the time you reach the end of the masterpiece that is Desolation Row. This isn't the only masterpie..." Reply
Year of Release:
1965
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Rank Score:
25,134
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"This might not be a popular opinion but I consider this album to be better than both "The White Album" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". The compositions, songwriting, the emotions, the singing... just top-notch. Some of the songs even at their most simplest, really do have a long-term..." Reply
Year of Release:
1965
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Rank Score:
24,878
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Total albums: 1,000. Page 1 of 100
Best Albums of the 1960s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 57 | 6% | |
| 1961 | 66 | 7% | |
| 1962 | 50 | 5% | |
| 1963 | 49 | 5% | |
| 1964 | 71 | 7% | |
| 1965 | 90 | 9% | |
| 1966 | 99 | 10% | |
| 1967 | 139 | 14% | |
| 1968 | 184 | 18% | |
| 1969 | 195 | 20% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| John Coltrane | 17 | 2% | |
| The Beatles | 17 | 2% | |
| The Beach Boys | 15 | 2% | |
| Miles Davis | 15 | 2% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 15 | 2% | |
| Nina Simone | 10 | 1% | |
| Bob Dylan | 10 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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|||
|
635 | 64% | |
|
204 | 20% | |
|
38 | 4% | |
|
23 | 2% | |
|
22 | 2% | |
|
17 | 2% | |
|
10 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Best Albums of the 1960s chart changes
| Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 5 from 100th to 95th |
Up 2 from 85th to 83rd |
Up 2 from 84th to 82nd |
| Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 4 from 83rd to 87th |
Down 2 from 82nd to 84th |
Down 2 from 96th to 98th |




