Albums from the Year 1961

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Other Years: 1950s 1960s 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

This page lists the top albums of 1961 in the source charts. The way that the various charts are combined to reach this final list is described in the site generation page. A list of biggest hit songs of 1961 can be found here.

The top ten album artists of 1961 were:

1:Elvis Presley3:Judy Garland5:Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra7:Lawrence Welk9:Mitch Miller
2:Frank Sinatra4:Bill Evans6:Bob Newhart8:Ray Charles10:Cliff Richard
# Artist Album Title Year Chart Entries
1 Judy Garland Judy At Carnegie Hall 1961 US num 1 for 13 weeks - Sep 1961, Library of Congress artifact added 2003 (1961), Grammy in 1961, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1961), US BB 4 of 1961, US Gold (certified by RIAA in Jun 1962), US CashBox 8 of 1962, BEA 8 of 1961, UK 13 - Mar 1962 (3 weeks), Billboard 199 - Jul 1969 (2 weeks), Acclaimed 1093 (1961), RYM 23 of 1961
2 Original Cast Camelot 1961 US CashBox 1 of 1961, US 1 of 1961, US num 1 for 6 weeks - Jun 1961, US BB 1 of 1961, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006 (1960), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Feb 1962), UK 10 - Oct 1964 (12 weeks), US Longest Running Album 13 1960 (265 weeks), Billboard 21 - Aug 1963 (132 weeks), RYM 97 of 1960
3 Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii 1961 UK 1 - Dec 1961 (71 weeks), US num 1 for 20 weeks - Dec 1961, US 3 X Platinum (certified by RIAA in Jul 2002), US CashBox 3 of 1962, US 3 of 1962, US BB 3 of 1962, Canada Gold (certified by CRIA in May 2002), RYM 56 of 1961
4 Original Soundtrack Exodus 1961 US CashBox 1 of 1961, US num 1 for 14 weeks - Jan 1961, US BB 3 of 1961, US Gold (certified by RIAA in Mar 1963), US 5 of 1961, UK 17 - Jun 1961 (1 week), RYM 190 of 1960
5 Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra Wonderland By Night 1961 US num 1 for 5 weeks - Jan 1961, Austria 4 - Nov 1980 (2 months), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Mar 1969), ODK Germany 5 - Aug 1980 (16 weeks) (4 weeks in top 10), Germany 5 - Aug 1980 (9 weeks), US BB 10 of 1961, US CashBox 17 of 1961
6 Ray Charles Genius & Soul = Jazz 1961 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 (1961), Grammy in 1961 (Nominated), US CashBox 21 of 1961, Guiness 76, WXPN 843 (1961), Acclaimed 1479 (1961), RYM 47 of 1961
7 Elvis Presley Something For Everybody 1961 US num 1 for 3 weeks - Sep 1961, UK 2 - Nov 1961 (18 weeks), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Jul 1999), US CashBox 16 of 1961, US BB 58 of 1961, RYM 99 of 1961
8 Bob Newhart The Button-down Mind Strikes Back! 1961 US num 1 for 1 week - Jan 1961, US Gold (certified by RIAA in Dec 1967), US CashBox 9 of 1961, US BB 17 of 1960, UK EP 20 - Oct 1962, RYM 94 of 1960
9 Bill Evans Sunday at the Village Vanguard 1961 Library of Congress artifact added 2009 (1961), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 (1961), BEA 6 of 1961, Acclaimed 479 (1961), RYM 3 of 1961
10 John Coltrane My Favorite Things 1961 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1961), BEA 2 of 1961, WXPN 442 (1961), Acclaimed 444 (1961), RYM 1 of 1961
11 Lawrence Welk Calcutta! 1961 US num 1 for 12 weeks - Mar 1961, US Gold (certified by RIAA in Mar 1961), US CashBox 5 of 1961, US BB 6 of 1961
12 Various Artists Great Motion Picture Themes 1961 US 2 of 1961, US CashBox 3 of 1961, US BB 5 of 1961, UK 19 - Mar 1962 (1 week)
13 Enoch Light & his Orchestra Stereo 35mm 1961 US num 1 for 7 weeks - Nov 1961, US BB 2 of 1961, US CashBox 6 of 1962
14 Mantovani Exodus 1961 UK EP 3 - Apr 1961, US Gold (certified by RIAA in Sep 1963), US BB 8 of 1961, US CashBox 10 of 1961
15 Bill Evans Waltz for Debby 1961 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1961), BEA 5 of 1961, Acclaimed 496 (1961), RYM 2 of 1961
16 Original Soundtrack Never On Sunday 1961 US 3 of 1961, US CashBox 6 of 1961, US BB 7 of 1961, UK 17 - Jan 1961 (1 week)
17 Elvis Presley His Hand In Mine 1961 US Platinum (certified by RIAA in Mar 1992), UK 3 - May 1961 (25 weeks), Acclaimed 2285 (1961), RYM 42 of 1960, Xgau rating C (1978)
18 Various Artists Stars For A Summer Night 1961 US num 1 for 9 weeks - Jul 1961, US BB 9 of 1961, US CashBox 27 of 1961
19 Frank Sinatra Ring-a-ding Ding! 1961 UK 8 - Dec 1961 (9 weeks), BEA 10 of 1961, US CashBox 26 of 1961, US BB 28 of 1961, RYM 48 of 1961
20 Ray Conniff Memories Are Made Of This 1961 US Gold (certified by RIAA in Jul 1962), UK 14 - May 1961 (4 weeks), US CashBox 20 of 1961, US BB 25 of 1961
21 Etta James At Last 1961 BEA 4 of 1961, Rolling Stone 116, Defin200 146 (1961), Acclaimed 1375 (1961), RYM 14 of 1960
22 Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane 1961 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1961), Acclaimed 733 (1957), RYM 6 of 1961
23 Stan Getz & Eddie Sauter Focus 1961 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1961), Acclaimed 1769 (1961), RYM 28 of 1961
24 The Shadows The Shadows 1961 UK 1 - Sep 1961 (57 weeks), Acclaimed 1281 (1961), RYM 86 of 1961
25 Frank Sinatra Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! 1961 UK 6 - Sep 1961 (8 weeks), US BB 12 of 1961, US CashBox 15 of 1961, RYM 40 of 1961
26 Robert Johnson King of the Delta Blues Singers, Volume 1 1961 BEA 1 of 1961, Rolling Stone 27
27 Original Cast Carnival 1961 US num 1 for 1 week - Jul 1961, US CashBox 30 of 1961
28 Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock 1961 US Platinum (certified by RIAA in Mar 1992), UK EP 14 - Nov 1961, UK 40 - Apr 1983 (2 weeks)
29 Harry Belafonte Jump Up Calypso 1961 US Gold (certified by RIAA in Aug 1963), US CashBox 33 of 1962, US BB 50 of 1961, RYM 60 of 1961
30 Frank Sinatra Sinatra Swings 1961 UK 8 - Oct 1961 (8 weeks), US BB 19 of 1961, US CashBox 36 of 1961, RYM 111 of 1961
31 Frank Sinatra I Remember Tommy 1961 UK 10 - Apr 1962 (12 weeks), US BB 17 of 1961, US CashBox 28 of 1962, RYM 72 of 1961
32 Frank Sinatra Come Swing With Me 1961 UK 13 - Feb 1962 (4 weeks), US CashBox 45 of 1961, US BB 52 of 1961, RYM 76 of 1961
33 Mitch Miller Happy Times! Sing Along With Mitch 1961 US Gold (certified by RIAA in Jul 1962), US BB 15 of 1961, US CashBox 19 of 1961
34 Ornette Coleman Free Jazz 1961 BEA 2 of 1960, Acclaimed 501 (1961), RYM 10 of 1961
35 Stan Freberg The United States of America, Vol. 1: The Early Years 1961 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1961), RYM 136 of 1961
36 Rusty Warren Knockers Up! 1961 US CashBox 8 of 1961, US Longest Running Album 51 1960 (181 weeks), Billboard 64 - Aug 1963 (35 weeks)
37 Original Cast Bye Bye Birdie 1961 UK 17 - Jul 1961 (3 weeks), US BB 57 of 1961, Billboard 88 - Sep 1963 (5 weeks)
38 Buddy Holly That'll Be The Day 1961 UK 5 - Oct 1961 (14 weeks), Australia Goset 9 - Jun 1974 (9 weeks), RYM 21 of 1958
39 Johnny Horton Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits 1961 US Platinum (certified by RIAA in Nov 1986), US BB 47 of 1961
40 Johnny Mathis I'll Buy You A Star 1961 UK 18 - Jun 1961 (1 week), US CashBox 50 of 1961, RYM 130 of 1961
41 Cliff Richard I'm 21 Today 1961 UK 1 - Oct 1961 (16 weeks)
42 Cliff Richard The Young Ones 1961 UK 1 - Dec 1961 (42 weeks)
43 Helen Shapiro Helen 1961 UK EP 1 - Nov 1961
44 George Mitchell Minstrels Another Black & White Minstrel Show 1961 UK 1 - Oct 1961 (64 weeks)
45 The Shadows The Shadows To The Fore 1961 UK EP 1 - Jun 1961
46 Mitch Miller Folk Song Sing Alongs With Mitch 1961 US Gold (certified by RIAA in Nov 1963), US BB 60 of 1961
47 Eddie Harris Exodus To Jazz 1961 US CashBox 30 of 1961, US BB 36 of 1961, RYM 128 of 1961
48 Arthur Lyman Yellow Bird 1961 US CashBox 35 of 1961, US BB 51 of 1961, RYM 95 of 1961
49 The Kingston Trio Make Way! 1961 US CashBox 12 of 1961, US BB 16 of 1961
50 Mitch Miller TV Sing Along With Mitch 1961 US CashBox 14 of 1961, US BB 18 of 1961
51 Frank Sinatra All The Way 1961 US CashBox 13 of 1961, US BB 26 of 1961
52 Lawrence Welk Yellow Bird 1961 US BB 13 of 1961, US CashBox 31 of 1961
53 Chet Atkins Chet Atkins' Workshop 1961 UK 19 - Jun 1961 (1 week), US BB 33 of 1961
54 Lawrence Welk Last Date 1961 US CashBox 21 of 1961, US BB 31 of 1961
55 The Kingston Trio Going Places 1961 US CashBox 20 of 1961, US BB 35 of 1961
56 Mitch Miller Your Request Sing Along With Mitch 1961 US BB 21 of 1961, US CashBox 34 of 1962
57 Johnny Mathis Portrait Of Johnny 1961 US BB 24 of 1961, US CashBox 32 of 1962
58 Original Cast The Unsinkable Molly Brown 1961 US BB 29 of 1961, US CashBox 37 of 1961
59 The Kingston Trio Close-up 1961 US CashBox 31 of 1962, US BB 37 of 1961
60 The Limeliters Tonight: In Person 1961 US CashBox 29 of 1961, US BB 54 of 1961
61 Billy Vaughn Orange Blossom Special & Wheels 1961 US CashBox 39 of 1961, US BB 43 of 1961
62 Mantovani Italia Mia 1961 US BB 41 of 1961, US CashBox 49 of 1961
63 Bill Black's Combo Solid & Raunchy 1961 US CashBox 37 of 1961, Billboard 168 - Sep 1969 (4 weeks)
64 The Smothers Brothers The Songs & Comedy of The Smothers Brothers Live at the Purple Onion 1961 US Gold (certified by RIAA in Nov 1968), RYM 190 of 1961
65 Nat King Cole The Nat King Cole Story 1961 Grammy in 1961 (Nominated)
66 Si Zentner & Johnny Mann Singers Great Band with Great Voices 1961 Grammy in 1961 (Nominated)
67 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Don Giovanni 1961 Norway 36 - Jan 1981 (4 weeks), RYM 59 of 1961
68 Bob Newhart The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart, Volume II 1961 UK EP 2 - Jun 1961
69 Cliff Richard Listen To Cliff No 1 1961 UK 2 - Apr 1961 (28 weeks)
70 Nina & Frederik Christmas At Home With Nina & Frederick 1961 UK EP 2 - Nov 1961
71 Temperance Seven The Musick 1961 UK EP 2 - May 1961
72 Patsy Cline Showcase 1961 BEA 7 of 1961, RYM 45 of 1961
73 Frankie Laine Hell Bent For Leather 1961 UK 7 - Jun 1961 (23 weeks), RYM 197 of 1961
74 Nat King Cole Nat King Cole Sings & The George Shearing Quintet Plays 1961 UK 8 - Oct 1962 (7 weeks), RYM 57 of 1961
75 Dion Runaround Sue 1961 US CashBox 22 of 1962, RYM 64 of 1961
76 Bo Diddley Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger 1961 UK 20 - Nov 1963 (1 week), RYM 52 of 1961
77 The Ventures The Ventures 1961 UK EP 20 - May 1961, RYM 68 of 1961
78 Ricky Nelson Rick Is 21 1961 US CashBox 35 of 1961, RYM 112 of 1961
79 The Limeliters Slightly Fabulous 1961 US BB 38 of 1961, RYM 182 of 1961
80 Bob Newhart Behind The Button-down Mind Of Bob Newhart 1961 US CashBox 40 of 1962, RYM 193 of 1961
81 Henry Mancini Mr Lucky Goes Latin 1961 US CashBox 47 of 1961, RYM 124 of 1961
82 Oliver Nelson The Blues & the Abstract Truth 1961 Acclaimed 455 (1961), RYM 4 of 1961
83 Shirley Bassey As Long As He Needs Me 1961 UK EP 3 - Jan 1961
84 Dorothy Provine The Roaring Twenties - Songs From The TV Series 1961 UK 3 - Dec 1961 (42 weeks)
85 Andy Stewart Andy Sings 1961 UK EP 3 - Jun 1961
86 Cliff Richard Dream 1961 UK EP 3 - Nov 1961
87 Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen Kenny's Big Four 1961 UK EP 3 - Dec 1961
88 John Coltrane Ole Coltrane 1961 Acclaimed 2377 (1961), RYM 5 of 1961
89 Charles Mingus Oh Yeah 1961 Acclaimed 2605 (1961), RYM 8 of 1962
90 Miles Davis Steamin' With the Miles Davis Quintet 1961 Acclaimed 1277 (1961), RYM 12 of 1961
91 Eric Dolphy & Booker Little Far Cry 1961 Acclaimed 2416 (1961), RYM 12 of 1962
92 John Coltrane Africa/Brass 1961 Acclaimed 2166 (1961), RYM 13 of 1961
93 Art Blakey Mosaic 1961 Acclaimed 2510 (1961), RYM 13 of 1962
94 Eric Dolphy At The Five Spot (Vol 1) 1961 Acclaimed 1834 (1961), RYM 15 of 1961
95 Ornette Coleman This Is Our Music 1961 Acclaimed 1688 (1961), RYM 17 of 1961
96 Bill Evans Explorations 1961 Acclaimed 2257 (1961), RYM 16 of 1961
97 Milt Jackson & John Coltrane Bags & Trane 1961 Acclaimed 1963 (1961), RYM 20 of 1961
98 Freddie Hubbard Ready for Freddie 1961 Acclaimed 2408 (1961), RYM 21 of 1961
99 Benny Carter Further Definitions 1961 Acclaimed 1590 (1961), RYM 28 of 1962
100 George Russell Ezz-thetics 1961 Acclaimed 1605 (1961), RYM 35 of 1961

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