The Best Albums of 1962

In mid-1962 the Rolling Stones started as one of a number of groups increasingly showing blues influence, along with bands like the Animals and the Yardbirds.  During 1963, the Beatles and other beat groups, such as the Searchers and the Hollies, achieved great popularity and commercial success in Britain itself.  By the end of 1962, the British rock scene had started with beat groups like the Beatles drawing on a wide range of American influences including soul music, rhythm and blues, and surf music.  Initially, they reinterpreted standard American tunes, playing for dancers doing the twist, for example. Gerry Goffin and Carole King become a very influential duo in pop music, writing numerous number-one hits including the first song to ever reach number-one by a girl group, The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and the 1962 number-one hit, “The Loco-Motion” which was performed by Little Eva. Here are all of the 1962 albums ranked.

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10. Takin’ Off (Herbie Hancock)

“Recorded in May 1962, midway through Herbie Hancock’s two year Jazz apprenticeship that began the year before, all of the signs of his future greatness are here. Some of his electrifying talent and obvious promise are exemplified by his superb pianism: a solo rooted in the 1940s Blues and Stride technique of Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis, single note lines with fragmented chords whose complex beauty evoke composer favorites like Ravel and Debussy, blues and gospel influenced melodies that are effortlessly stretched into 16 and 32-bar themes, and those crisp, caustic tone-clusters that Hancock would later use to such wonderful effect while anchoring the rhythm section in the second great Miles Davis Quintet.”

9. Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles (Françoise Hardy)

“Originally released in France in late 1962 with simply her name as the title, this was one of the great surprise LP premieres ever in France: a mega smash by an unknown 18-year-old singer-songwriter with a fresh, natural-sounding and sincere vocal style all her own, far more mature than her Gallic contemporaries (due to her having carefully studied the great French song creators and chanteuses who preceded her) but with a refreshing new young outlook in her original lyrics. Hearing this album again only confirms the obvious conclusion that Françoise Hardy was an artist who would be around a long time.”

8. Tijuana Moods (Charles Mingus)

“This album was actually recorded in 1957, but was not released until 1962. Personnel include: Charles Mingus (bass, vocals), Clarence Shaw (trumpet), Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Shafi Hadi (alto and tenor saxophones), Bill Triglia (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums with Frankie Dunlop on other percussion), Ysabel Morel (castanets, vocals) and Lonnie Elder (voices). A quick note about Frankie Dunlop – he is one of my drumming inspirations who was my favorite drummer in Monk’s 1960s line-ups.

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7. Jazz Samba (Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd)

“As a prequel to Getz/Gilberto it is fantastic. All the elements are here with the same loose atmosphere that made Girl from Ipanema a worldwide hit. Surprised this album doesn’t get more attention, as it is the perfect companion volume. It just doesn’t feature Gilberto and Jobim. Instead, you get the wonderful Charlie Byrd on guitar. No piano.”

6. Go (Dexter Gordon)

“From the first moments when Dexter Gordon sails into the opening song full of brightness and confidence, it is obvious that Go is going to be one of those albums where everything just seems to come together magically. A stellar quartet including the stylish pianist Sonny Clark, the agile drummer Billy Higgins, and the solid yet flexible bassist Butch Warren are absolutely crucial in making this album work, but it is still Gordon who shines.”

5. Green Onions (Booker T. & The M.G.’s)

“This is it the first Booker T. and the MGS album. They were the band behind all of that great music to come out of Memphis soul playing behind Otis and Sam and Dave. What a great group and what a great album. Green Onions that hugh hit is here along with some many other tasty treats. I love this group and the sound of that Hammond B-3. I love the remasters of the classics that have been coming out hearing these classic albums with their facelift sounding better than ever. Not only is the whole great album is here but a couple bonus tracks live versions of Green Onions and Can’t Sit Down a wonderful addition.”

4. Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan)

“Bob Dylan’s first album is often overlooked, probably because it only contains two originals and the rest are covers of old folk and blues tracks. No, it isn’t essential compared with later Dylan records, but it is a very enjoyable one. It starts with the giddy, you’re no good. The first thing you notice is how youthful and energetic Dylan’s voice is, it never quite sounded like this again. Of the two originals, talkin’ New York, and, a song to woody, is very derivative of Bob’s idol, Woody Guthrie, but they’re fine.”

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3. Waltz For Debby (Bill Evans Trio)

“A beautiful late-night jazz album recorded at the village vanguard. It’s a lovely record if you want to hear some jazz but without the saxes and trumpets. It truly is superb with the title track and, milestones, particularly nice. The album rarely excites and it goes on a long time. I think you will like the album is you like pianos though.”

2. Howlin’ Wolf (Howlin’ Wolf)

“From a purely vocal perspective Wolf sounds threatening, dangerous, belligerent. Perfectly in tune with the albums’ darkly funky and psychedelicized vibe. In comparison, Waters, although a fantastic and powerful singer, comes across on Electric Mud as being a friendly crowd-pleasing showman having a blast with some young psyched-out chums. His voice lacks the inherent edge of Wolf’s. He could just as well be singing exactly the same vocal lines to any style of backing, be that brass, strings, piano, whatever.”

1. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music (Ray Charles)

“I have nothing to say. Ray Charles is one of the greatest artists of all time. He is best known for his soul songs, but “Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music” is the best country album of all time in my opinion. Usually, I’m not a big fan of country albums but this album is really different because it mixes western music and soul. This album is absolutely original, revolutionary, exceptional.”