Top 5 New Rock Music Artists of Each Year - 1960-1979
Criteria: Here are the top 5 new rock artists of each year. In order to qualify in a given year the artist has to have had his first ever release in that year (single, EP or album). The artists were ranked based upon initial popularity, lasting popularity, impact and influence of ONLY their records that were released in that calendar year.
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1960
1. Gary U.S. Bonds
2. Carla Thomas
3. Mary Wells
4. (Ike &) Tina Turner
5. Maxine Brown
2. Carla Thomas
3. Mary Wells
4. (Ike &) Tina Turner
5. Maxine Brown
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1961
1. Del Shannon
2. Marcels
3. Marvelettes
4. Jive Five
5. Gene Chandler
2. Marcels
3. Marvelettes
4. Jive Five
5. Gene Chandler
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1962
1. Four Seasons
2. Little Eva
3. Booker T. & the MG's
4. Peter, Paul & Mary
5. Beatles
2. Little Eva
3. Booker T. & the MG's
4. Peter, Paul & Mary
5. Beatles
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1963
1. Lesley Gore
2. Tymes
3. Darlene Love
4. Kingsmen
5. Searchers
2. Tymes
3. Darlene Love
4. Kingsmen
5. Searchers
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1964
1. Animals
2. Kinks
3. Shangri-Las
4. Zombies
5. Yardbirds
2. Kinks
3. Shangri-Las
4. Zombies
5. Yardbirds
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1965
1. Lovin' Spoonful
2. Mamas & Papas
3. Vogues
4. McCoys
5. Donovan
2. Mamas & Papas
3. Vogues
4. McCoys
5. Donovan
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1966
1. Monkees
2. Percy Sledge
3. Buffalo Springfield
4. Cream
5. Blues Magoos
2. Percy Sledge
3. Buffalo Springfield
4. Cream
5. Blues Magoos
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1967
1. Doors
2. Box Tops
3. Procol Harum
4. Traffic
5. Pink Floyd
2. Box Tops
3. Procol Harum
4. Traffic
5. Pink Floyd
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1968
1. Steppenwolf
2. Iron Butterfly
3. The Band
4. Three Dog Night
5. Blue Cheer
2. Iron Butterfly
3. The Band
4. Three Dog Night
5. Blue Cheer
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1969
1. Led Zeppelin
2. Crosby, Stills & Nash
3. Santana
4. King Crimson
5. Chicago Transit Authority
2. Crosby, Stills & Nash
3. Santana
4. King Crimson
5. Chicago Transit Authority
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1970
1. Black Sabbath
2. Emerson, Lake and Palmer
3. Main Ingredient
4. White Plains
5. Partridge Family
2. Emerson, Lake and Palmer
3. Main Ingredient
4. White Plains
5. Partridge Family
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1971
1. Bill Withers
2. Undisputed Truth
3. America
4. Persuaders
5. The 8th Day
2. Undisputed Truth
3. America
4. Persuaders
5. The 8th Day
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1972
1. Eagles
2. Steely Dan
3. Raspberries
4. Jackson Browne
5. Gary Glitter
2. Steely Dan
3. Raspberries
4. Jackson Browne
5. Gary Glitter
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1973
1. Bruce Springsteen
2. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
3. Aerosmith
4. Marshall Tucker Band
5. New York Dolls
2. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
3. Aerosmith
4. Marshall Tucker Band
5. New York Dolls
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1974
1. Bad Company
2. B.T. Express
3. Blackbyrds
4. Graham Central Station
5. Ace
2. B.T. Express
3. Blackbyrds
4. Graham Central Station
5. Ace
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1975
1. Natalie Cole
2. Silver Bird Convention
3. Outlaws
4. Pete Wingfield
5. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
2. Silver Bird Convention
3. Outlaws
4. Pete Wingfield
5. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1976
1. Boston
2. Heart
3. Ramones
4. Sex Pistols
5. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
2. Heart
3. Ramones
4. Sex Pistols
5. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1977
1. Elvis Costello
2. Foreigner
3. The Clash
4. Talking Heads
5. George Thorogood and the Destroyers
2. Foreigner
3. The Clash
4. Talking Heads
5. George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1978
1. Van Halen
2. Cars
3. Dire Straits
4. B-52s
5. Squeeze
2. Cars
3. Dire Straits
4. B-52s
5. Squeeze
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1979
1. The Knack
2. Christopher Cross
3. Sugarhill Gang
4. Pretenders
5. Madness
2. Christopher Cross
3. Sugarhill Gang
4. Pretenders
5. Madness
List Compiled and Edited By: Bruce