Album Chart of 1965

← 1964

1966 →

47 tracks, runtime 2h 17m. The playlist features the highest-rated track from each album (subject to what's available on YouTube) in chart order, with a minimum individual track-rating of 6.5 required for inclusion. To view the full tracklist, access shuffle-play or avoid in-play interruption due to territorially blocked videos, it might be best playing directly via YouTube

ELECTRIC DYLAN STILL BOSS HOSS

Despite some rumblings of discontent from certain quarters within the Folk fraternity, Bob Dylan’s shift to electric elevated his work to yet a new level of greatness. As if wary of a new puritan revolt, “Bringing It All Back Home” (March) started the process gently with an electric / acoustic compromise, before “Highway 61 Revisited” (August) maxed out. Quite frankly, anyone who didn’t dig “Like A Rolling Stone” must have been tasteless beyond comprehension.

Once again, the British invasion is held at arm’s length, as the U.S. takes my Top 5, and with beautiful diversity too, as the Proto-Punk assault of The Sonics, the melodramatic Pop of The Shangri-Las and the spine-tingling Soul of Otis Redding accompanies the electric one in the higher echelons.

From England, The Rolling Stones were on their A-game and The Who delivered as dynamic a debut as anyone from the green and pleasant land to date.

The Byrds were notable debutants and Johnny Cash delivered the best album of his career - and a double at that.

Them put Northern Irleland on the map with an angry debut, and two fine Scots by the names of Bert Jansch and Donovan led the way in the world of acoustic folk music. Keeping traditional fires burning were The Dubliners, now firmly established as the pride of the Emerald Isle.

Bob Marley appears for the first time, although the debut set from The Wailers fails to catch a fire, and sits outside of the Top 30.

A quick look at the albums which find themselves outside of my Top 30 demonstrates the ever-increasing strength in depth of the album market in 1965…

The Jukebox Rebel
28-Dec-2015

revised 06-Mar-2016

HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED
Bob Dylan
Columbia CL-2389

“An elite masterpiece” Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “Like A Rolling Stone” (10) • “Ballad Of A Thin Man” (10) • “Tombstone Blues” (10)
Much to the chagrin of the eclectically challenged, the decade’s lead hipster deepened his experimental hybrid of folk r...more →

HERE ARE THE SONICS
The Sonics
Etiquette Records ETALB-024

“A masterpiece” Proto-Punk; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Psycho” (10) • “Have Love Will Travel” (10) • “Boss Hoss” (9.7)
Whilst mere Rock n Rollers were getting their kicks on route 66, these reckless thrill seekers from Tacoma, Washington w...more →

SHANGRI-LAS 65!
The Shangri-Las
Red Bird RB 20-104

“Excellent” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Out In The Streets” (9.8) • “The Train From Kansas City” (9.3) • “Give Us Your Blessings” (9.1)
To all intents and purposes, “Leader Of The Pack”, the preceding Shangri-Las debut album from February ’65, was a 1964 p...more →

BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME
Bob Dylan
Columbia CL-2328

“Excellent” Folk Rock / Americana; Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Folk

Jukebox picks: “On The Road Again” (9.6) • “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (8.9) • “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream” (8.7)
The first of two Bob Dylan albums in 1965, and the prolific songwriter is restless for something new, something differen...more →

OUT OF OUR HEADS [US]
The Rolling Stones
London Records LL-3429

“Excellent” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man” (10) • “That's How Strong My Love Is” (9.3) • “The Spider And The Fly” (9.3)
As any discographer will tell you, discographies for the English beat groups were a total nightmare in the mid-60s; Amer...more →

OTIS BLUEː OTIS REDDING SINGS SOUL
Otis Redding
Volt VOLT-412

“Excellent” Soul; Soul Ballad

Jukebox picks: “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (9.7) • “Respect” (9.5) • “A Change Is Gonna Come” (8.8)
Following on from “The Great Otis Redding Sings Ballads” in March, came “Otis Blue” in September. Team Otis were just go...more →

SINGS THE BALLADS OF THE TRUE WEST
Johnny Cash
Columbia C2L-38

“Brilliant” Folk; Country

Jukebox picks: “25 Minutes To Go [1965]” (10) • “Sam Hall” (10) • “Streets Of Laredo” (9.2)
His finest hour. And 4 minutes 50 seconds. Folk and country get all mixed up once again, as Johnny continues his concept...more →

MY GENERATION
The Who
Brunswick LAT-8616

“Brilliant” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “My Generation” (10) • “The Kids Are Alright” (9.8) • “Much Too Much” (9.5)
Looking up at you from the cover of their December ’65 debut release they were: Roger Daltrey (21, flame haired, lead vo...more →

MR. TAMBOURINE MAN
The Byrds
Columbia CS-9172

“Brilliant” Folk Rock / Americana; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Mr. Tambourine Man” (10) • “All I Really Want To Do” (9.6) • “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” (9.4)
As far as the makers of this glorious debut were concerned, Rock n Roll was now firmly dead. Behold the jingle-jangle re...more →

THE DUBLINERS IN CONCERT
The Dubliners
Transatlantic Records TRA-124

“Brilliant” Folk

Jukebox picks: “The Kerry Recruit [live ‘64]” (9.9) • “Róisín Dubh [live ‘64]” (9.8) • “The Leaving Of Liverpool [live ‘64]” (9.7)
During 1964, the Dubliners had become Ireland’s top selling artists, were TV regulars, and were playing to sell-out hous...more →

THE GREAT OTIS REDDING SINGS SOUL BALLADS
Otis Redding
Volt VOLT-411

“Brilliant” Soul Ballad; Soul

Jukebox picks: “That’s How Strong My Love Is” (9.4) • “Come To Me” (8.9) • “Keep Your Arms Around Me” (8.9)
The same team who delivered “Pain in my Heart” remained intact for album # 2. The core band of Booker T. Jones (organ), ...more →

PARTY HULAS
Genoa Keawe
Hula Records ‎HS-507

“Really good” Pacific

Jukebox picks: “`Ahulili” (9.3) • “Mauna Loa” (9.1) • “`Alika” (7.8)
To get to know Aunty Genoa Keawe is to love her; quite apart from being an extraordinary singer and an infectious ukelel...more →

THE ANGRY YOUNG THEM
Them
Decca LK-4700

“Really good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Gloria” (9.8) • “Bright Lights, Big City” (8.7) • “I’m Gonna Dress In Black” (7.8)
Although LP liner notes often talked rubbish in the 60s, the back of this one noted: “These five young rebels are outr...more →

BERT JANSCH
Bert Jansch
Transatlantic Records TRA-125

“Really good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Needle Of Death” (9.4) • “Rambling's Gonna Be The Death Of Me” (9.2) • “Angie” (8.7)
The debut album from the Glasgow-born singer-songwriter firmly places the artist in a distinguished guitar picker lineag...more →

WHAT’S BIN DID AND WHAT’S BIN HID
Donovan
Pye Records NPL-18117

“Really good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Catch The Wind” (10) • “Josie” (8.5) • “Cuttin’ Out” (8.3)
He had just turned 19 by the time his first LP was issued, and he sounds fired up and ready to go; the first four tracks...more →

HELP!
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-1255

“Really good” Pop; Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” (9.6) • “Tell Me What You See” (9.2) • “Ticket To Ride” (8.5)
Released in August, and named after their recent comedy adventure film. The first side of the album features 7 songs fro...more →

CHUCK BERRY IN LONDON
Chuck Berry
Chess LPS-1495

“Really good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly

Jukebox picks: “She Once Was Mine” (9.5) • “After It’s Over” (8.2) • “I Got A Booking” (7.7)
13 brand new recordings (only 8 of which were made in London) plus, somewhat strangely, the 1957 recording “Nightbeat...more →

BEACH BOYS’ PARTY!
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records MAS-2398

“Good” Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Barbara Ann” (9.6) • “There’s No Other (Like My Baby)” (8.2) • “Mountain Of Love” (7.3)
Capitol wanted “Pet Sounds” out in time for Christmas 1965. That was never going to happen. The pressure from the label ...more →

TURN! TURN! TURN!
The Byrds
Columbia CS-9254

“Good” Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “He Was A Friend Of Mine” (8.3) • “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)” (8.1) • “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (7.0)
Following a similar formula to the debut from just six months earlier, featuring five and a half originals, with five an...more →

SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!)
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2354

“Good” Pop; Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Help Me, Rhonda” (8.8) • “You’re So Good To Me” (8.6) • “Then I Kissed Her” (8.3)
Under pressure from Capitol Records who had expressed concern at the “melancholy” nature of the second side of the prece...more →

A TIME FOR SINGING
Jean Ritchie
Warner Bros. Records W-1592

“Good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Nottamun Town [album version ‘65]” (8.6) • “The L And N Don’t Stop Here Anymore” (8.1) • “Golden Ring Around The Susan Girl” (8.0)
Issued in April ’65. There are 8 Jean Ritchie compositions (often taking inspiration from traditionals) and 4 straight t...more →

THE KINK KONTROVERSY
The Kinks
Pye Records NPL-18131

“Good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “It’s Too Late” (8.4) • “Till The End Of The Day” (8.0) • “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” (7.9)
The third Kinks LP opens up with the sole cover, as they rock out with John Estes’s “Milk Cow Blues”. In stark contr...more →

LEADER OF THE PACK
The Shangri-Las
Red Bird RB 20-101

“Good” Pop; Rock n Roll Ballad

Jukebox picks: “Leader Of The Pack” (8.8) • “Maybe [live]” (8.1) • “It’s Easier To Cry” (7.9)
In 1964, four every-girl school pals, with an exceptional talent for singing together, shot to fame overnight with a str...more →

RUBBER SOUL
The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-1267

“Good” Pop; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (9.4) • “Nowhere Man” (8.8) • “In My Life” (7.4)
All contents were hot off the press and out just in time for Christmas. All original compositions, there are eleven cred...more →

THE BEACH BOYS TODAY!
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2269

“Good” Pop

Jukebox picks: “When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)” (9.3) • “Help Me, Ronda” (9.0) • “Do You Wanna Dance?” (7.9)
Following a particularly stressful 1964, group leader Brian Wilson retired from touring, citing nervous exhaustion. Resu...more →

BLUES IN MY HEART
Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-2306

“Good” Country; Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Weary Blues From Waitin’” (9.9) • “Night Life” (8.3) • “Lonely Street” (7.6)
’65 was another busy year for Wanda – she had been invited to record in Germany and soon found herself with German langu...more →

SKA-LIP-SOUL
Prince Buster
Blue Beat BBLP-805

“Good” Caribbean; Ska / Rocksteady

Jukebox picks: “Cut Munno” (8.9) • “Mek It Tan Deh Goosie” (7.6) • “Rum And Coca Cola” (7.5)
12 new cuts on Blue Beat 805, and so deemed the 2nd proper Prince Buster album, although saxophonist Val Bennett is, unu...more →

SKA WITH LAUREL
Laurel Aitken
Rio LR-1

“Decent enough” Ska / Rocksteady; Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Street Of Glory” (7.7) • “Madame Sorosie” (7.2) • “Call The Doctor” (7.0)
It's hard to find out the background to this LP – sources seem divided between 1965 and 1966 as to the year of release. ...more →

FOR YOUR LOVE
The Yardbirds
Epic LN-24167

“Decent enough” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “I Ain’t Done Wrong” (8.4) • “For Your Love” (7.9) • “Putty (In Your Hands)” (7.4)
The second Yardbirds album was compiled by Giorgio Gomelsky, the group’s impresario, for Epic in the United States. It w...more →

IT’S BURKES LAW
Prince Buster All Stars
Blue Beat BBLP-806

“Decent enough” Ska / Rocksteady

Jukebox picks: “Al Capone” (9.0) • “She Pon Top” (8.8) • “Burke’s Law” (7.2)
His second new set of the year for Blue Beat, moving away from the Jamaican traditionals in favour of the Ska. Opens up ...more →

THE BLUES NEVER DIE!
Otis Spann
Prestige PR-7391

“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Dust My Broom” (8.0) • “Lightnin’” (6.7) • “Straighten Up, Baby” (6.6)
Recorded in Chicago, Illinois on November 21st, 1964. 2 tracks gets a reworking – “I Got A Feeling” (The Blues Of Ot...more →

IF IT’S ONLY FOR TONIGHT
O.V. Wright
Back Beat BLP-61

“Decent enough” Soul Ballad; Soul

Jukebox picks: “Motherless Child” (7.2) • “You’re Gonna Make Me Cry” (7.0) • “Can’t Find True Love” (6.6)
Beset by legal wrangles, O.V. switched from Goldwax to the Peacock Records imprint Back Beat where he'd settle for sever...more →

ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL
Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-2309

“Decent enough” Country; Folk

Jukebox picks: “Orange Blossom Special [1964]” (8.2) • “The Wall [1964]” (7.3) • “It Ain’t Me Babe” (6.7)
Whilst it can’t live with the exhilarating brilliance of the preceding “Bitter Tears” LP, “Orange Blossom Special” conti...more →

KINDA KINKS
The Kinks
Pye Records NPL-18112

“Decent enough” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Tired Of Waiting For You” (8.1) • “Got My Feet On The Ground” (6.4) • “Naggin’ Woman” (6.3)
After the raucous debut of 5 months earlier, the rush-released follow up was, to a certain extent, anti-climactic, lacki...more →

PASTEL BLUES
Nina Simone
Philips PHM 200-187

“Average” Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” (7.4) • “Be My Husband” (6.8) • “Sinner Man” (6.5)
Classed as a new album since only 1 track had appeared before – “Chilly Winds” (which is the only live track on the ...more →

COAST TO COAST
The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24128

“Average” Pop; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Any Way You Want It” (8.2) • “When” (7.1) • “Say You Want Me” (6.3)
Arriving in January, this was the first Dave Clark Five album of 1965. Again, no release for Britain. It’s a noticeable ...more →

I PUT A SPELL ON YOU
Nina Simone
Philips PHM 200-172

“Average” Crooner / Cabaret; Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “Feeling Good” (9.7) • “I Put A Spell On You” (8.2) • “You’ve Got To Learn” (5.7)
A pop concession of sorts for Nina, dominated by two exceptional cuts. Side one opens with a fantastic cover of “I Put...more →

THE ZOMBIES
The Zombies
Parrot PAS-71001

“Average” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Pop

Jukebox picks: “You Really Got A Hold On Me / Bring It On Home To Me” (7.7) • “She’s Not There” (7.4) • “Can’t Nobody Love You” (6.0)
In January, 1965, the debut Zombies album was rush-released in America by Parrot Records, anxious to capitalize on the s...more →

FRESH BERRY’S
Chuck Berry
Chess LPS-1498

“Average” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly

Jukebox picks: “Every Day We Rock And Roll” (6.5) • “It’s My Own Business” (6.4) • “It Wasn’t Me” (6.3)
Fresh? That’s debatable. Chuck Berry starts to run out of ideas right about here on this uninspiring affair. Although th...more →

THE BARBARIANS
The Barbarians
Laurie Records LLP-2033

“Average” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Memphis, Tennessee” (7.0) • “House Of The Rising Sun” (6.7) • “What The New Breed Say” (6.7)
The one and only album from the Massachusetts garage poppers wasn’t bad, but there was nothing too remarkable onboard ei...more →

THE WAILING WAILERS
The Wailers
Studio One S-1001

“Average” Ska / Rocksteady; Soul

Jukebox picks: “Simmer Down” (9.9) • “Rude Boy” (8.1) • “Put It On” (7.2)
When this LP was released in late '65, it's doubtful that anyone realised it would stand as such an iconic historical do...more →

WANDA JACKSON SINGS COUNTRY SONGS
Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-2438

“Average” Country

Jukebox picks: “Slippin’” (8.4) • “Kickin’ Our Hearts Around” (6.7) • “My Destiny” (6.4)
Arriving just in time for Christmas '65, “Sings Country Songs” consists mainly of Capitol sides released in the last few...more →

CALL ME BURROUGHS
William S. Burroughs
The English Bookshop ‎LAGF-1

“Below average” Storytelling

Jukebox picks: “Uranian Willy (Rewrite)” (6.6) • “Where You Belong (Rewrite)” (6.0) • “The Fish Poison Con” (5.5)
Recorded in Paris, at the behest of an English Bookshop owner there, this was an unusual album of Burroughs reading extr...more →

I LIKE IT LIKE THAT
The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24178

“Below average” Pop

Jukebox picks: “I Need Love” (7.1) • “I Am On My Own” (6.7) • “Pumping” (6.5)
The LP “I Like It Like That” (Epic LN 24178) was released in the USA in November 1965. If British fans wanted it they ha...more →

WEEKEND IN LONDON
The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24139

“Below average” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Your Turn To Cry” (5.8) • “I’m Thinking” (5.5) • “Mighty Good Loving” (5.5)
The LP “Weekend In London” (Epic LN 24139) was released in the USA in April 1965. Second album of 1965, once again its “...more →

HOLLIES [1965]
The Hollies
Parlophone PMC-1261

“Below average” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop

Jukebox picks: “That’s My Desire” (6.2) • “Put Yourself In My Place” (5.6) • “When I Come Home To You” (5.5)
Keen fans of The Hollies would be disappointed to note that the majority of their 3rd LP was made up of cover versions; ...more →

THE BEE GEES SING AND PLAY 14 BARRY GIBB SONGS
Barry Gibb and The Bee Gees
Leedon LL-31

“Poor” Pop

Jukebox picks: “And The Children Laughing” (7.6) • “I Was A Lover, A Leader Of Men” (5.7) • “To Be Or Not To Be” (5.6)
These smilers with insanely white teeth are chameleon’s extraordinaire on their debut album. They’re Bobby Vee. They’re ...more →

A SONG WILL RISE
Peter, Paul and Mary
Warner Bros. Records WS-1589

“Poor” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Gilgarra Mountain” (7.2) • “Ballad Of Spring Hill (Spring Hill Disaster)” (6.1) • “Wasn’t That A Time” (5.7)
So sweetly nice are Peter, Paul and Mary that I'm always amazed when they deliver any songs which I actually quite like....more →

MANN MADE
Manfred Mann
His Master's Voice CLP-1911

“Poor” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop

Jukebox picks: “L.S.D.” (6.1) • “You’re For Me” (5.9) • “The Abominable Snowman” (5.5)
The last Mann album to feature original members Mike Vickers and Paul Jones. It's a strange affair, a bit Ray-Charles-es...more →

I’VE GOT A TIGER BY THE TAIL
Buck Owens and his Buckaroos
Capitol Records ST-2283

“Poor” Country

Jukebox picks: “Let The Sad Times Roll On” (5.8) • “The Band Keeps Playin' On” (5.7) • “Memphis” (5.4)
Buck Owens was hugely successful at this time, racking up a string of country #1 hits. His delivery on this critically a...more →

UP-TIGHT
Stevie Wonder
Tamla TM-268

“Poor” Soul; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (6.2) • “I Want My Baby Back” (5.1) • “Blowin’ In The Wind” (5.0)
For me, a surefire improvement on the preceding boyish efforts where he couldn't seem to make up his mind whether he wan...more →

EASY
The Easybeats
Parlophone PMCO-7527

“Poor” Pop; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “You Got It Off Me” (7.4) • “You’ll Come Back Again” (5.4) • “Ya Can’t Do That” (5.0)
Having absorbed “Beatlemania” from a distance, the Easybeats created their own Australian version, dubbed “Easyfever”. T...more →

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE TAKES OFF
Jefferson Airplane
RCA Victor LPM-3584

“Poor” Folk Rock / Americana; Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Pop

Jukebox picks: “And I Like It” (6.3) • “Chauffeur Blues” (5.6) • “Blues From An Airplane” (5.4)
The debut LP from the pre-Grace-Slick version of Jefferson Airplane starts and ends reasonably well, but bores me greatl...more →

RUTH BROWN ’65
Ruth Brown
Mainstream Records S-6034

“Terrible” Crooner / Cabaret

Jukebox picks: “He’s A Real Gone Guy” (5.9) • “Help A Good Girl Go Bad” (5.6) • “Hurry On Down” (5.5)
The former R n B Queen turned accomplished gospel singer now turns to the American songbook as she channels her inner Di...more →

A LOVE SUPREME
John Coltrane
Impulse! A-77

“Terrible” Jazz

Jukebox picks: “Psalm” (4.8) • “Acknowledgement” (4.5) • “Pursuance” (2.3)
Widely regarded as the tenor saxophonist's masterpiece, “A Love Supreme” is a suite with four parts: “Acknowledgement...more →

DAVID JONES
David Jones
Pye Records NPL-18178

“An embarrassment” Pop; Crooner / Cabaret

Jukebox picks: “Put Me Amongst The Girls” (2.5) • “Any Old Iron” (2.4) • “Maybe It’s Because I’m A Londoner” (2.2)
This pre-Monkees release was a dire affair; he was lucky to find a place with the troop after this....more →

see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1965

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