100 Greatest Albums of 1962

1962 record album covers for Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, Green Onions, Bob Dylan, and Crying
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.

Edited By:
Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'.
Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.
  1. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music - Ray Charles
  2. Green Onions - Booker T and the MG's
  3. Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan
  4. Crying - Roy Orbison
  5. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Vol. 2 - Ray Charles
  6. Here's The Man!!! - Bobby "Blue" Bland
  7. Surfer's Choice - Dick Dale and the Del-Tones
  8. Baby It's You - The Shirelles
  9. Lovers Who Wander - Dion
10. Sherry & 11 Others - The Four Seasons
11. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
12. Mother-In-Law - Ernie K-Doe
13. The Ventures Play Telstar - The Lonely Bull - The Ventures
14. Twistin' The Night Away - Sam Cooke
15. Surfin' Safari - The Beach Boys
16. Coast Along With The Coasters - The Coasters
17. The Duke Of Earl - Gene Chandler
18. Save The Last Dance For Me - The Drifters
19. Driving Wheel - Junior Parker
20. Shout And Shimmy - James Brown and His Famous Flames
21. Album Seven By Rick - Rick Nelson
22. Ya! Ya! - Lee Dorsey
23. The Many Sides Of Gene Pitney - Gene Pitney
24. Burnin' - John Lee Hooker
25. Mojo Hand - Lightnin' Hopkins
26. Just Jimmy Reed - Jimmy Reed
27. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Huey "Piano" Smith & Clowns
28. Bo Diddley's A Twister - Bo Diddley
29. The Fabulous Wailers At The Castle - The Fabulous Wailers
30. James Brown And His Famous Flames Tour The USA - James Brown
31. R & B From The Marquee - Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated
32. Etta James - Etta James
33. The One Who Really Loves You - Mary Wells
34. Pot Luck - Elvis Presley
35. Telstar: The Sounds Of The Tornadoes - The Tornadoes
36. Don't Play That Song - Ben E. King
37. The Young Ones - Cliff Richard & The Shadows
38. Letter Full Of Tears - Gladys Knight And The Pips
39. I'll Try Something New - Miracles
40. Playboy - The Marvelettes
41. Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance) - The Contours
42. I Don't Want To Cry! - Chuck Jackson
43. I Need Your Lovin' - Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford
44. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley
45. The Wah-Watusi - The Orlons
46. Bobby Vee Meets The Crickets - Bobby Vee & The Crickets
47. Soul Twist - King Curtis
48. Any Day Now - Chuck Jackson
49. Dance - Ike & Tina Turner's Kings of Rhythm
50. James Brown Presents His Band Featuring Night Train - James Brown
51. Twist & Shout - Isley Brothers
52. Twist Uptown - The Crystals
53. Twist Up Calypso - Gary U.S. Bonds
54. Blues For Me - B.B. King
55. Mean Ol' Frisco - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
56. Out Of The Shadows - The Shadows
57. Bustin' Surfboards - The Tornadoes
58. For Teen Twisters Only - Chubby Checker
59. You Belong To Me - The Duprees
60. Meet The Supremes - The Supremes
61. Twist With The Ventures - The Ventures
62. Mashed Potatoes And Gravy (The Ventures Beach Party) - The Ventures
63. Going To The Ventures' Dance Party - The Ventures
64. Brenda, That's All - Brenda Lee
65. The Electrifying Aretha Franklin - Aretha Franklin
66. Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker
67. What's A Matter Baby - Timi Yuro
68. The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin - Aretha Franklin
69. The Jazz Soul Of Little Stevie - Little Stevie Wonder
70. You'll Lose A Good Thing - Barbara Lynn
71. Etta James Sings For Lovers - Etta James
72. Soul!!! - Timi Yuro
73. The Sound Of The Flamingos - The Flamingos
74. Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles - Bobby Darin
75. Just Domino - Fats Domino
76. Palisades Park - Freddy Cannon
77. All The Hits For Your Dancin' Party -Chubby Checker
78. I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) - Barbara George
79. You Better Move On - Arthur Alexander
80. Llllloco-Motion - Little Eva
81. The Ventures' Twist Party Vol. 2 - The Ventures
82. Sheila - Tommy Roe
83. Give A Twist Party - The Shirelles & King Curtis
84. Twistin' 'n' Twangin' - Duane Eddy
85. It's Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp
86. The 4 Season's Greetings - The Four Seasons
87. Lie To Me - Brook Benton Singing The Blues - Brook Benton
88. Bossa Nova And Blues - Freddy King
89. Lover Please! - Clyde McPhatter
80. Twistin' The Stomp - Fats Domino
91. Jimmy McCracklin Sings - Jimmy McCracklin
92. The Original Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
93. Drums Are My Beat! - Sandy Nelson
94. Things & Other Things - Bobby Darin
95. Body And Soul - Jackie Wilson
96. For Sentimental Reasons - The Cleftones
97. The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens
98. Party Lights - Claudine Clark
99. The Marvelettes Sing (Smash Hits of 1962) - The Marvelettes
100. Moon River - Jerry Butler


Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music - Ray Charles album cover
Green Onions album cover
Bob Dylan album cover
Crying - Roy Orbison album cover
Here's The Man album cover
Surfer's Choice: Dick Dale and the Del-Tones album cover
 DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1962
  Bruce's choice - An unheralded great album from 1962
 •  The Twisting Fools - Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
  Adam's choice:
 •  Know What I Mean? - Cannonball Adderley & Bill Evans


Top 100 Albums by Year: