Best Albums of 1961

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Listed below are the best albums of 1961 as calculated from their overall rankings in over 53,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1961 year summaryThe best artists of 1961 were John Coltrane, Robert Johnson, Ornette Coleman, Bill Evans, Bill Evans Trio, Ornette Coleman Double Quartet, Miles Davis, Oliver Nelson, John Coltrane Quartet and Ray Charles.

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Collector's summary (top 454)Log in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!

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31.

Forbidden Fruit

Nina Simone

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

62 charts

Rank Score:

149

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

611

Overall Rank:

8,268

Average Rating:

72 (47 votes)

Comments:

32.

Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet

Miles Davis Quintet

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

47 charts

Rank Score:

147

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

619

Overall Rank:

8,363

Average Rating:

77 (67 votes)

Comments:

33.

Explorations

Bill Evans Trio

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

45 charts

Rank Score:

143

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

633

Overall Rank:

8,543

Average Rating:

74 (52 votes)

Comments:

34.

Ezz-thetics

George Russell Sextet

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

35 charts

Rank Score:

132

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

665

Overall Rank:

9,125

Average Rating:

73 (36 votes)

Comments:

35.

Bags & Trane

Milt Jackson & John Coltrane

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

34 charts

Rank Score:

126

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

693

Overall Rank:

9,455

Average Rating:

75 (33 votes)

Comments:

36.

Genius + Soul = Jazz

Ray Charles

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

39 charts

Rank Score:

125

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

700

Overall Rank:

9,543

Average Rating:

72 (39 votes)

Comments:

37.

Jump Up Calypso

Harry Belafonte

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

26 charts

Rank Score:

124

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

702

Overall Rank:

9,558

Average Rating:

73 (26 votes)

Comments:

38.

Focus

Stan Getz & Eddie Sauter

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

44 charts

Rank Score:

124

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

703

Overall Rank:

9,563

Average Rating:

74 (38 votes)

Comments:

39.

Lush Life

John Coltrane

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

49 charts

Rank Score:

121

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

710

Overall Rank:

9,743

Average Rating:

75 (57 votes)

Comments:

40.

Out There

Eric Dolphy

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

53 charts

Rank Score:

116

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

745

Overall Rank:

10,091

Average Rating:

75 (69 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 454. Page 4 of 46

Best Albums of 1961 composition

Artist	Albums	%

John Coltrane	5	1%
Frank Sinatra	5	1%
Grant Green	4	1%
Ray Charles	3	1%
The Ventures	3	1%
Lightnin' Hopkins	3	1%
Lou Donaldson	3	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	312	69%
	36	8%
	16	4%
	11	2%
	10	2%
	9	2%
	7	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	438	96%
Yes	16	4%

Live?	Albums	%
No	444	98%
Yes	10	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	450	99%
Yes	4	1%

« View best albums of 1960View best albums of 1962 »

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