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 451)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:

60 charts

Rank Score:

147

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

618

Overall Rank:

8,344

Average Rating:

72 (46 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:

8,355

Average Rating:

77 (64 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:

8,541

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:

663

Overall Rank:

9,087

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:

9,445

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:

702

Overall Rank:

9,552

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:

703

Overall Rank:

9,562

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:

704

Overall Rank:

9,582

Average Rating:

74 (38 votes)

Comments:

39.

Lush Life

John Coltrane

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

47 charts

Rank Score:

118

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

737

Overall Rank:

9,974

Average Rating:

75 (56 votes)

Comments:

40.

Out There

Eric Dolphy

Year of Release:

1961

Appears in:

53 charts

Rank Score:

117

Rank in 1961:

Rank in 1960s:

744

Overall Rank:

10,053

Average Rating:

75 (69 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 451. Page 4 of 46

Best Albums of 1961 composition

Artist	Albums	%

John Coltrane	5	1%
Frank Sinatra	5	1%
Grant Green	4	1%
Buck Owens	3	1%
Freddie Hubbard	3	1%
Ray Charles	3	1%
The Ventures	3	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	310	69%
	36	8%
	16	4%
	11	2%
	10	2%
	9	2%
	7	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	435	96%
Yes	16	4%

Live?	Albums	%
No	441	98%
Yes	10	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	447	99%
Yes	4	1%

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

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