100 Greatest Albums of 1963

Criteria: These albums were chosen for their initial and lasting popularity and their influence and impact on rock music in general. Also considered is critical acclaim. The list includes rock and roll and related genres that were influential on rock music.

Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'. Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. Live At The Apollo
James Brown
2. Please Please Me
The Beatles
3. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
4. With The Beatles
The Beatles
5. A Christmas Gift For You
Phil Spector (Various Artists)
6. Night Beat
Sam Cooke
7. Surfin' USA.
The Beach Boys
8. In Dreams
Roy Orbison
9. The 12 Year Old Genius
Little Stevie Wonder
10. If You Need Me
Solomon Burke
11. The Impressions
The Impressions
12. Surfer Girl
The Beach Boys
13. Ingredients In A Recipe for Soul
Ray Charles
14. (The) Ventures in Space
The Ventures
15. Call on Me / That's the Way Love Is
Bobby Bland
16. Bo Diddley & Company
Bo Diddley
17. Little Deuce Coupe
The Beach Boys
18. So Much In Love: The Story of A Summer Love
The Tymes
19. Bo Diddley's Beach Party
Bo Diddley
20. Presenting Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
21. Surfing
The Ventures
22. King of The Surf Guitar
Dick Dale
23. The Wham of That Memphis Man!
Lonnie Mack
24. He's A Rebel
The Crystals
25. Cry Baby
Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters
26. The Fabulous Miracles
The Miracles
27. Prisoner of Love
James Brown
28. That Stubborn Kinda' Fellow
Marvin Gaye
29. Walking the Dog
Rufus Thomas
30. Meet the Searchers
The Searchers
31. Jack The Ripper
Link Wray
32. Wipe Out and Surfer Joe
The Surfaris
33. Surf Rider!
The Lively Ones
34. Let's Go!
The Ventures
35. Pipeline
The Chantays
36. The Surfaris Play
The Surfaris
37. Surf City
The Lively Ones
38. I Feel The Spirit
Prince Buster
39. Mr. Soul
Sam Cooke
40. Little Town Flirt
Del Shannon
41. Surfin' With The Astronauts - The Astronauts
42. The Fabulous Ventures
The Ventures
43. Big Girls Don't Cry and Twelve Others
The Four Seasons
44. Reminiscing
Buddy Holly
45. Drag City
Jan & Dean
46. It's Gonna Work Out Fine
Ike & Tina Turner
47. Donna the Prima Donna
Dion
48. Right Now!
The Righteous Brothers
49. The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey
The Miracles
50. Doin' the Bird
The Rivingtons
51. Never Grow Old
Toots & The Maytals
52. Hello Stranger
Barbara Lewis
53. It's Too Late
Wilson Pickett
54. I'll Cry If I Want To
Lesley Gore
55. Sings of Mixed Up Hearts
Lesley Gore
56. Tell Him
The Exciters
57. Heat Wave
Martha and The Vandellas
58. He's So Fine
The Chiffons
59. Mind Over Matter
Nolan Strong and the Diablos
60. Marvelous Marvelettes
The Marvelettes
61. Baby Workout
Jackie Wilson
62. I Just Gotta Know
Jimmy McCracklin
63. Village of Love
Nathaniel Mayer
64. Lou Christie
Lou Christie
65. Surf City and Other Swingin' Cities
Jan & Dean
66. Surfbeat
The Challengers
67. Surfin' Hootenanny
Al Casey
68. Checkered Flag
Dick Dale and His Del-Tones
69. Come and Get These Memories
Martha and The Vandellas
70. How Do You Like It?
Gerry and The Pacemakers
71. Remember Me Baby
The Earls
72. Summer Holiday
Cliff Richard & The Shadows
73. Zip-A-Dee Doo Dah
Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans
74. The Monkey Time - Major Lance
75. That's How Heartaches Are Made
Baby Washington
76. Dance With the Guitar Man
Duane Eddy
77. Here Comes ... Fats Domino
Fats Domino
78. Surfin' 'Round the World
Bruce Johnston
79. Blue Gene
Gene Pitney
80. Tribute To Uncle Ray
Little Stevie Wonder
81. The Wailers and Company
The Fabulous Wailers
82. Ain't That a Shame and 11 Others
The Four Seasons
83. Big Jay McNeely Recorded Live at Cisco's, Manhattan Beach, California
Big Jay McNeely
84. Need To Belong
Jerry Butler
85. The Raindrops
The Raindrops
86. Let Me In / Music, Music, Music
The Sensations
87. You're No Good
Betty Everett
88. Meet The Majors
The Majors
89. Dion Sings to Sandy (and All His Other Girls)
Dion
90. Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
91. Wild Weekend
The Rockin' Rebels
92. Rhythm of the Rain
The Cascades
93. It Happened at the World's Fair
Elvis Presley
94. Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures
Bobby Vee & the Ventures
95. Two Lovers and Other Great Hits
Mary Wells
96. Twangin' Up a Storm
Duane Eddy
97. My Boyfriend's Back
The Angels
98. You Can't Sit Down
The Dovells
99. Ruby Baby
Dion
100. Rick Nelson Sings "For You"
Rick Nelson
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1963
An unheralded great album from 1963
Bruce's choice:
* Walkin' To New Orleans - Fats Domino

Adam's choice:
* Back Porch Bluegrass - Dillards

Lew's choice:
* In the Wind - Peter, Paul and Mary
1962   |   1964