247 Album Verdict
Home / Years / 1961
By year

Albums of 1961

The folk revival in full swing: Dylan's debut year, Joan Baez establishing herself, the Newport scene at its most vital.

All 1960s albums1959196019621963

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.

  1. 1
    Sunday at the Village VanguardBill Evans

    Sunday at the Village Vanguard

    Bill Evans · 1961 · Jazz

    An intimate live trio recording of extraordinary interplay, captured shortly before bassist Scott LaFaro's death. Lyrical and conversational. One of the great piano-trio documents.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
  2. 2
    ExplorationsBill Evans

    Explorations

    Bill Evans · 1961 · Jazz

    A lyrical trio peak of conversational interplay. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
  3. 3
    Joan Baez, Vol. 2Joan Baez

    Joan Baez, Vol. 2

    Joan Baez · 1961 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    The follow-up deepened the debut's promise, widening the repertoire and cementing her place at the centre of the Greenwich Village scene.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
  4. 4
    My Favorite ThingsJohn Coltrane

    My Favorite Things

    John Coltrane · 1961 · Jazz

    A landmark soprano-sax reinvention of the show tune into hypnotic modal jazz. Inventive and beloved. A genre touchstone.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
  5. 5
    Free Jazz: A Collective ImprovisationOrnette Coleman

    Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation

    Ornette Coleman · 1961 · Jazz

    The double-quartet landmark that named free jazz. Radical and influential. A genre cornerstone.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
  6. 6
    King of the Delta Blues SingersRobert Johnson

    King of the Delta Blues Singers

    Robert Johnson · 1961 · Blues

    The foundational Delta-blues recordings that influenced virtually everyone who followed, from the Stones to Clapton. Eerie and essential. Where the electric blues lineage begins.

    Vinyl →CD →More →