Album Chart of 1952

← 1951

1953 →

TRAD FOLK REVIVAL PROPELLED

Despite the insane cold-war paranoia of the period, the “lefties” associated with the folk music scene continued to build strong underground roots, defying blatant media blackouts and discrimination.

Acoustic Folk songs were mostly heard in coffee houses, private parties, open-air concerts, hootenannies, and at college-campus concerts. The arrival of the LP allowed further opportunities and, in 1952, Folkways Records released the Anthology of American Folk Music, compiled by anthropologist and experimental film maker Harry Smith. The Anthology, spread over 6 LPs, featured 84 songs by traditional country and blues artists, initially recorded between 1927 and 1932, and was credited with making a large amount of pre-War material accessible to younger musicians.

Jean Ritchie (pictured in 1950, aged 27) chose the perfect time to release her first album, showcasing no less than 16 songs. As a traditional folk artist she was the real deal, with both parents having been part of the “great ballad-singing families” of Kentucky.

The Folk Music crowd was growing. Several years down the line, these records would have a big impact on Bob Dylan. And he would have a big impact on every cat in the zoo. And so it goes, and so it goes…

The Jukebox Rebel
22-Oct-2015

SINGING THE TRADITIONAL SONGS OF HER KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN FAMILY
Jean Ritchie
Elektra EKLP-2

“Good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Black Is The Color” (8.4) • “Skin And Bones” (8.2) • “Old Virginny” (7.7)
Back in the first decade of the 20th century, British scholar Cecil J. Sharp famously declared the traditional English b...more →

SONNY TERRY AND HIS MOUTH HARP [1952]
Sonny Terry
Stinson

“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Silver Fox Chase” (7.9) • “Tell Me Litte Woman” (7.0) • “South Bound Express” (6.5)
10" LP, thought to have had a low-key issue in 1952, and a higher profile 12" LP re-issue in 1963. Not to be confused (a...more →

MOANIN’ THE BLUES
Hank Williams
MGM Records E-168

“Average” Country

Jukebox picks: “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (7.9) • “I’m A Long Gone Daddy” (6.3) • “Long Gone Lonesome Blues” (6.2)
Compiling recordings from 1947 to 1951, the second album from the 29 year old was packed full of hits including three #1...more →

see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1952

Album Charts by year

“A-list”

1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

“B-list”

1943 1945 1946 1950 1951 1952 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Album Charts by decade

“A-list”

1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

“B-list”

1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s