List of 1960s albums considered the best

This is a list of 1960s albums that multiple music journalists, music magazines, and professional music review websites have considered to be among the best of the 1960s and of all time, separated into the years of each album's release. The albums listed here are included on at least four separate "best/greatest of the 1960s/all time" lists from different professional publications (inclusive of all genres and nationalities) as chosen by their editorial staffs or by a sample size of an entire publication's audience, and/or hall of fame awards and historical preservation measures.^[1]

[1]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
February 1960	Giant Steps	John Coltrane	Jazz post-bop hard bop	Atlantic	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 232^[1] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 36^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 144^[3] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
July 18, 1960	Sketches of Spain	Miles Davis	Third stream orchestral jazz Spanish classical music	Columbia	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 358 Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 43^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 63^[3]
October 1960	Joan Baez	Joan Baez	Folk	Vanguard	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4] Library of Congress' National Recording Registry^[7]
November 15, 1960	At Newport 1960	Muddy Waters	Chicago blues	Chess	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 348 Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 398^[3]
November 15, 1960	At Last!	Etta James	R&B blues pop jazz	Argo	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 191^[1] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 62^[2] Paste's "The 60 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 38^[8] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 432^[3]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
August 1961	The Blues and the Abstract Truth	Oliver Nelson	Post-bop	Impulse!	The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[9] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 167^[3] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 333^[10]
September 1961	Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation	Ornette Coleman	Free jazz	Atlantic	Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 96^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 284^[3] Spin's "The Top 100 Alternative Albums of the 1960s": No. 7^[11] Entertainment Weekly's "The 100 Greatest CDs of All Time": No. 84
October 1961	Sunday at the Village Vanguard	Bill Evans Trio	Jazz	Riverside	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[12] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 126^[3]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
January 11, 1962	Howlin' Wolf	Howlin' Wolf	Chicago blues	Chess	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 238 Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 96^[2] Paste's "The 60 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 52^[8] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 284^[3]
March 1962	Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music	Ray Charles	Country rhythm and blues countrypolitan	ABC-Paramount	Accolades
April 20, 1962	Jazz Samba	Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd	Bossa nova samba-jazz	MGM/Verve	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[13] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 926^[10] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
October 1962	Green Onions	Booker T. & the M.G.'s	R&B rock soul	Stax Atlantic	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Paste's "The 60 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 60^[8] Library of Congress' National Recording Registry^[7]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
March 22, 1963	Please Please Me	The Beatles	Merseybeat rock and roll pop	Parlophone	Rankings
May 27, 1963	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan	Bob Dylan	Folk blues	Columbia	Legacy
May 1963	Live at the Apollo	James Brown	R&B soul	King	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 65^[1] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 125^[14] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[15]
July 1963	The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady	Charles Mingus	Avant-garde jazz third stream experimental big band	Impulse!	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 15^[2] Blender's "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die"^[16] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 187^[3]
November 22, 1963	With the Beatles	The Beatles	Merseybeat rock and roll pop R&B	Parlophone	Release and reception
November 22, 1963	A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector	Various Artists	Christmas pop	Philles	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 142 Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 130^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 80^[3]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
March 1964	Getz/Gilberto	Stan Getz and João Gilberto	Jazz bossa nova	Verve	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 447 Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 15^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 187^[3]
April 17, 1964	The Rolling Stones	The Rolling Stones	Blues rock British R&B Rock and roll	Decca	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] NME's "All Times Top 100 Albums": No. 24^[17] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 418^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 298^[3]
July 10, 1964	A Hard Day's Night	The Beatles	Rock pop rock pop	Parlophone	Critical reception and legacy
July 1964	The Sidewinder	Lee Morgan	Jazz hard bop	Blue Note	Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 584^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 397^[3] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
August 1964	Out to Lunch!	Eric Dolphy	Avant-garde jazz	Blue Note	The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[18] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 15^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 250^[3]
November 1964	Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes	The Ronettes featuring Veronica	Pop	Philles	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 494^[1] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 15^[2] Paste's "The 60 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 47^[8] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 178^[3]
1964	Live at the Star Club, Hamburg	Jerry Lee Lewis	Rock and roll	Philips	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[19] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 142^[3]

List of 1960s albums considered the best

List

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

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Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
January 1965	A Love Supreme	John Coltrane	Modal jazz post-bop spiritual jazz	Impulse!	Reception and legacy
March 8, 1965	The Beach Boys Today!	The Beach Boys	Chamber pop orchestral rock	Capitol	Release and initial reception
March 1965	Here Are the Sonics	The Sonics	Garage rock rock and roll proto-punk	Etiquette	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 169^[2] Spin's "The Top 100 Alternative Albums of the 1960s": No. 34^[11] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 90^[3]
April 1965	Bringing It All Back Home	Bob Dylan	Folk rock folk blues	Columbia	Reception
May 1965	Spiritual Unity	Albert Ayler	Free jazz	ESP-Disk	The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[20] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 30^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 136^[3]
June 21, 1965	Mr. Tambourine Man	The Byrds	Folk rock	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 287^[1] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 93^[3]
August 6, 1965	Help!	The Beatles	Pop rock folk rock	Parlophone	Retrospective assessments
August 30, 1965	Highway 61 Revisited	Bob Dylan	Folk rock blues rock rock and roll	Columbia	Reception and legacy
September 15, 1965	Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul	Otis Redding	Soul R&B blues rock southern soul	Volt	Critical reception and legacy
December 3, 1965	Rubber Soul	The Beatles	Folk rock rock pop	Parlophone Capitol	Critical reception
December 3, 1965	My Generation	The Who	Mod pop garage rock R&B power pop proto-punk	Brunswick Decca	Reception and legacy
1965	Live at the Regal	B. B. King	Blues	ABC	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 299^[1] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 282^[3]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
January 17, 1966	Sounds of Silence	Simon & Garfunkel	Folk rock	Columbia	Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 169^[2] Paste's "The 60 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 50^[8] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 65^[3] Library of Congress' National Recording Registry^[7]
February 28, 1966	If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears	The Mamas & the Papas	Folk rock pop rock pop soul sunshine pop	Dunhill	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[21] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 112
March 1966	Black Monk Time	The Monks	Garage rock beat proto-punk	Polydor	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 169^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 75^[3] Spin's "The Top 100 Alternative Albums of the 1960s": No. 45^[11]
April 15, 1966	Aftermath	The Rolling Stones	Rock and roll folk rock blues rock art rock	Decca London	Reappraisal
May 16, 1966	Pet Sounds	The Beach Boys	Progressive pop chamber pop psychedelic pop art rock	Capitol	Retrospective assessments and legacy
May 17, 1965	Maiden Voyage	Herbie Hancock	Modal jazz post-bop	Blue Note	Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 82^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 251^[3] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
June 20, 1966	Blonde on Blonde	Bob Dylan	Folk rock blues rock country rock rock and roll	Columbia	Reappraisal and legacy
June 27, 1966	Freak Out!	The Mothers of Invention	Experimental rock	Verve	Reception
July 15, 1966	Roger the Engineer	The Yardbirds	Psychedelic rock blues rock	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 350 Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 271^[3]
July 18, 1966	Fifth Dimension	The Byrds	Folk rock psychedelic rock raga rock	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] NME's "All Times Top 100 Albums": No. 55 Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 290^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 174^[3]
July 22, 1966	Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton	John Mayall with Eric Clapton	Blues rock blues	Decca	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2003): No. 391^[22] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 443^[3]
August 5, 1966	Revolver	The Beatles	Rock pop psychedelia R&B	Parlophone Capitol	Influence and legacy
August 26, 1966	Sunshine Superman	Donovan	Psychedelia folk psychedelic folk raga rock	Epic	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[18] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 199^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 205^[3]
September 16, 1966	Wild Is the Wind	Nina Simone	Jazz blues folk R&B	Philips	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 212^[1] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 5^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 77^[3]
October 17, 1966	The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators	The 13th Floor Elevators	Psychedelic rock garage rock acid rock R&B	International Artists	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[23] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 88^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 114^[3]
October 24, 1966	Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme	Simon & Garfunkel	Folk rock	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 202 Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 225^[3] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
October 28, 1966	Face to Face	The Kinks	Rock baroque pop garage pop art pop	Pye Reprise	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[24] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 554^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 225^[3]
December 1966	Fred Neil	Fred Neil	Folk rock	Capitol	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[9] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 135^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 170^[3]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
January 4, 1967	The Doors	The Doors	Psychedelic rock art rock psychedelia	Elektra	Retrospective reception
January 20, 1967	Between the Buttons	The Rolling Stones	Pop rock psychedelic rock baroque pop music hall	Decca	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 357 Blender's "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die"^[16] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 96^[3] Paul Gambaccini's Critic's Choice: Top 200 Albums: No. 183^[25]
February 1, 1967	Surrealistic Pillow	Jefferson Airplane	Folk rock acid rock psychedelic rock blues rock	RCA Victor	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[26] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 471^[1] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 187^[2]
February 6, 1967	Younger Than Yesterday	The Byrds	Rock folk rock psychedelic rock country rock raga rock	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 127 NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 343^[27] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 36^[3]
March 10, 1967	I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You	Aretha Franklin	Southern soul	Atlantic	Reception and legacy
March 1967	Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim	Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim	Bossa nova	Reprise	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 335^[3] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
March 1967	The Velvet Underground & Nico	The Velvet Underground and Nico	Art rock proto-punk experimental rock avant-pop garage rock	Verve	Reappraisal
May 12, 1967 (UK) August 23, 1967 (US)	Are You Experienced	The Jimi Hendrix Experience	Psychedelic rock hard rock acid rock blues	Polydor Track	Reception and legacy
May 26, 1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	The Beatles	Rock pop psychedelia art rock	Parlophone Capitol	Further public and critical recognition
June 6, 1967	Moby Grape	Moby Grape	Psychedelic rock power pop country rock	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 124 NME's "All Times Top 100 Albums": No. 90 Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 125^[3]
August 4, 1967	The Piper at the Gates of Dawn	Pink Floyd	Psychedelic rock acid pop experimental rock space rock	EMI Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 253 NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 190^[14] Q's "100 Greatest British Albums Ever": No. 55
August 1967	Safe as Milk	Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band	Blues rock garage rock R&B acid rock folk rock	Buddah	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 65^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 39^[3] The Guardian Writers' Favourite Albums Ever^[28]
September 15, 1967	Something Else by the Kinks	The Kinks	Pop art pop rock psychedelia folk music hall	Pye	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 478^[1] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 124^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 57^[3]
September 25, 1967	Strange Days	The Doors	Psychedelic rock acid rock psychedelic pop	Elektra	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 409 NME's "All Times Top 100 Albums": No. 47 Sounds's "The 100 Best Albums of All Time": No. 85 Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 175^[3]
October 1967	Chelsea Girl	Nico	Folk rock baroque pop avant-pop art rock experimental rock	Verve	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 124^[2] Spin's "The Top 100 Alternative Albums of the 1960s": No. 91^[11] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 86^[3]
November 1, 1967	Forever Changes	Love	Folk rock orchestral pop psychedelia baroque pop	Elektra	Legacy
November 2, 1967	Disraeli Gears	Cream	Psychedelic rock blues rock hard rock	Reaction	Reception
November 17, 1967	Days of Future Passed	The Moody Blues	Progressive rock art rock psychedelic rock baroque pop symphonic prog	Deram	Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 914^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 384^[3] Paul Gambaccini's Critic's Choice: Top 200 Albums: No. 107^[25] Chris Smith's 101 Albums That Changed Popular Music^[29]
27 November 1967 (US LP) 8 December 1967 (UK EP)	Magical Mystery Tour	The Beatles	Psychedelia rock art pop	Parlophone Capitol	Retrospective assessments
December 1, 1967	Axis: Bold As Love	The Jimi Hendrix Experience	Psychedelic rock pop rock funk rock	Polydor/Track Reprise	Release and reception
December 8, 1967	Mr. Fantasy	Traffic	Psychedelic rock	Island United Artists	Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 517^[10] NME's "All Times Top 100 Albums": No. 86 Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 119^[3] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
December 27, 1967	John Wesley Harding	Bob Dylan	Folk rock country rock roots rock	Columbia	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 337^[1] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 343^[30] Blender's "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die"^[16] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 60^[3]
December 27, 1967	Songs of Leonard Cohen	Leonard Cohen	Folk	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 195^[1] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 232^[27]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Accolades
January 15, 1968	The Notorious Byrd Brothers	The Byrds	Psychedelic rock pop	Columbia	Legacy
January 22, 1968	Lady Soul	Aretha Franklin	R&B soul	Atlantic	Legacy
January 22, 1968	Gris-Gris	Dr. John	New Orleans R&B psychedelic funk swamp blues swamp rock	Atco	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[18] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 356^[1]
January 30, 1968	White Light/White Heat	The Velvet Underground	Noise rock proto-punk art rock experimental rock acid rock	Verve	Rankings
March 4, 1968	We're Only in It for the Money	The Mothers of Invention	Avant-garde psychedelic rock acid rock experimental rock	Verve	Critical reception
March 6, 1968	The United States of America	The United States of America	Psychedelic rock art rock experimental rock psychedelic pop electronic rock	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[31] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 129^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 62^[3]
March 13, 1968	Eli and the Thirteenth Confession	Laura Nyro	Pop blue-eyed soul folk jazz	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 463^[1] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 58^[3]
March 1968	The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter	The Incredible String Band	Acid folk	Elektra / WEA	Legacy and influence
April 3, 1968	Bookends	Simon & Garfunkel	Folk rock	Columbia	Accolades
April 19, 1968	Odessey and Oracle	The Zombies	Baroque pop chamber pop psychedelic pop pop rock avant-pop	CBS Date	Legacy
May 6, 1968	At Folsom Prison	Johnny Cash	Country	Columbia	Legacy
May 24, 1968	Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake	Small Faces	Psychedelia	Immediate	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 337^[10] Q's "100 Greatest British Albums Ever": No. 59^[32] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 83^[3]
14 June 1968 (US) 9 August 1968 (UK)	Wheels of Fire	Cream	Psychedelic rock blues rock hard rock proto-metal	Polydor	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 205 Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 757^[10] The Times's "The 100 Best Albums of All Time": No. 44^[33] Sean Egan's 100 Albums That Changed Music^[34]
June 1968	Os Mutantes	Os Mutantes	Tropicália psychedelic pop psychedelic rock	Polydor	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 51^[2] Spin's "The Top 100 Alternative Albums of the 1960s": No. 91^[11] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 121^[3]
July 1, 1968	Music from Big Pink	The Band	Americana roots rock country rock	Capitol	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 100^[1] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 452^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 59^[3]
August 12, 1968	Cheap Thrills	Big Brother and the Holding Company	Blues rock acid rock psychedelic rock	Columbia	Critical reception
August 1968	Sweetheart of the Rodeo	The Byrds	Country rock country progressive country roots rock Americana	Columbia	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 274^[1] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 351^[30] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 50^[3]
September 20, 1968	Traffic	Traffic	Folk rock	Island United Artists	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[23] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 312^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 143^[3]
October 16, 1968	Electric Ladyland	The Jimi Hendrix Experience	Psychedelic rock acid rock hard rock blues rock funk psychedelic soul	Polydor / Track Reprise	Reappraisal
November 22, 1968	The Beatles	The Beatles	Rock pop folk	Apple	Retrospective assessments
November 22, 1968	The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society	The Kinks	Pop rock baroque pop folk-pop	Pye	Rankings
November 29, 1968	Astral Weeks	Van Morrison	Folk rock folk jazz progressive folk blue-eyed soul	Warner Bros.	Legacy and influence
December 6, 1968	Beggars Banquet	The Rolling Stones	Roots rock country blues hard rock	Decca London	Reappraisal
December 20, 1968	S. F. Sorrow	The Pretty Things	Psychedelic rock psychedelic pop experimental rock garage rock	EMI Columbia (UK) Motown (USA)	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[35] NME's "The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever": No. 68 Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 128^[3]

Release date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 1969	Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin	Hard rock heavy metal blues rock	Atlantic		Legacy
February 6, 1969	The Gilded Palace of Sin	The Flying Burrito Brothers	Country rock	A&M		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 462^[1] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 132^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 26^[3]
February 1969	Kick Out the Jams	MC5	Proto-punk garage rock hard rock punk rock heavy metal	Elektra	It is considered one of the heaviest albums ever.^[36]	Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 349^[1] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 55^[3]
March 31, 1969	Dusty in Memphis	Dusty Springfield	Pop rhythm and blues blue-eyed soul	Atlantic Philips		Release and reception
March 1969	The Velvet Underground	The Velvet Underground	Folk rock pop rock	MGM		Rankings
March 1969	Happy Trails	Quicksilver Messenger Service	Psychedelic rock acid rock	Capitol		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 161^[1] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 83^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 76^[3]
April 28, 1969	Chicago Transit Authority	Chicago	Jazz rock progressive rock blues rock	Columbia		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4] Library of Congress' National Recording Registry^[7]
April 1969	Happy Sad	Tim Buckley	Psychedelic folk jazz fusion folk jazz	Elektra		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 398^[30] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 954^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 79^[3]
May 3, 1969	Stand!	Sly and the Family Stone	Psychedelic soul funk rock funk progressive soul psychedelic funk	Epic		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 299^[1] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 25^[3]
May 14, 1969	Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere	Neil Young with Crazy Horse	Country rock folk rock garage rock hard rock acid rock	Reprise		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 407^[1] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 398^[30] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 20^[3]
May 19, 1969	Tommy	The Who	Rock hard rock	Track Decca		Legacy and reappraisal
May 19, 1969	Oar	Skip Spence	Psychedelic folk folk rock psychedelic rock	Columbia		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 510^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 89^[3]
May 29, 1969	Crosby, Stills & Nash	Crosby, Stills & Nash	Folk rock	Atlantic		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 161^[1] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 83^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 76^[3]
June 2, 1969	From Elvis in Memphis	Elvis Presley	Rock soul country blues	RCA Victor		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 322^[1] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[35] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 64^[3]
June 16, 1969	Trout Mask Replica	Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band	Experimental rock blues avant-garde	Straight		Reception and legacy
June 16, 1969	At San Quentin	Johnny Cash	Country rock and roll	Columbia		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[37] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 89^[3] Grammy Hall of Fame induction^[4]
June 1969	Hot Buttered Soul	Isaac Hayes	Progressive soul psychedelic soul	Enterprise		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 373^[1] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[38] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 34^[3]
July 3, 1969	Five Leaves Left	Nick Drake	Folk folk-pop chamber folk folk rock	Island		Accolades
July 3, 1969	Unhalfbricking	Fairport Convention	British folk rock	Island		Reception
July 30, 1969	In a Silent Way	Miles Davis	Jazz fusion jazz rock	Columbia		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 9^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 27^[3]
August 5, 1969	The Stooges	The Stooges	Proto-punk garage rock hard rock	Elektra		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[39] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 488^[1] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 10^[3]
August 7, 1969	Green River	Creedence Clearwater Revival	Swamp rock blues rock rock and roll Americana	Fantasy		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2003): No. 95^[22] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 94^[3]
September 22, 1969	The Band	The Band	Roots rock folk rock country rock americana	Capitol		Reception
September 26, 1969	Abbey Road	The Beatles	Rock pop	Apple		Retrospective
October 10, 1969	In the Court of the Crimson King	King Crimson	Progressive rock art rock	Island Atlantic E.G.		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"^[24] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: No. 193^[10] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 47^[3]
October 10, 1969	Hot Rats	Frank Zappa	Jazz fusion blues rock instrumental rock	Bizarre/Reprise		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Mojo's "The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made": No 89^[40] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020): No. 373^[1] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 34^[3]
October 22, 1969	Led Zeppelin II	Led Zeppelin	Hard rock blues rock heavy metal	Atlantic		Legacy and reappraisal
October 29, 1969	Willy and the Poor Boys	Creedence Clearwater Revival	Swamp rock blues rock Southern rock Americana	Fantasy		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 78^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 110^[3]
November 7, 1969	Scott 4	Scott Walker	Orchestral pop baroque pop avant-garde	Philips		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 45^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 23^[3] The Guardian's Writers' Favourite Albums Ever^[28]
November 10, 1969	Live/Dead	Grateful Dead	Acid rock psychedelic rock jam rock	Warner Bros.-Seven Arts		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2012): No. 247 Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s": No. 60^[2] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 141^[3]
November 28, 1969	Let It Bleed	The Rolling Stones	Hard rock blues country blues	Decca London		Reception
December 1969	Liege & Lief	Fairport Convention	British folk rock	Island A&M		Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die^[6] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die^[5] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": No. 110^[14] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1960s": No. 61^[3]