1963’s Best Rock Albums list is the one we have been waiting to compose. And that my friends is for one big reason, The Beatles! Yes, 1963 is the year that The Beatles released their first album Please Please Me on EMI’s Parlophone Record label on March 22nd 1963 in the United Kingdom. From that point on rock and roll would never be the same…eventually. Eight months later The Beatles released their second album titled With The Beatles. Soon, hundreds of bands on both sides of the Atlantic would follow in their footsteps although never coming close to wearing the same size shoes. Some did get close, like The Rolling Stones. However, in a recent interview with Howard Stern in the middle of this coronavirus pandemic, Â Paul McCartney was asked by Stern who was better, “the Beatles or the Stones?” McCartney responded, “The Beatles of course.” We happen to agree.
Looking back at 1963’s Rock albums we see evidence of small changes in music. The Beatles two albums would have more of an impact on the music of 1964 and on, than it did in 1963. The Gerry and the Pacemakers album was clearly inspired by the Beatles, but most of the other year’s records were based on other trends. The twist craze of 1962 had died out but the surfing trends that began that year really took off in 1963 with the sounds of Dick Dale, The Ventures, The Safaris and most importantly the big time arrival of the Beach Boy who released four albums in 1963.
Bob Dylan released a significant work with his album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. The album would be just as inspiring to an entire generation of activists, folk singers and artists that would try to follow in his footsteps the way rockers would try to follow in the footsteps of The Beatles.
The voices of Dion and Roy Orbison continued to release new music that utilized their magnificent vocal chords wrapped in poignant and memorable original songs. The sound of Motown, R&B and Soul continued to be a dominant force in music with artists like Stevie Wonder, The Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas, Ray Charles, Ike & Tina Turner, Solomon Burke and James Brown releasing very successful and much loved albums.
1963 was a fabulous and interesting year. Just wait until 1964.
# 50 – Dance with the Guitar Man – Duane Eddy
# 49 – Tell Him – The Exciters
# 48 – Jack The Ripper – Link Wray
# 47 – Lou Christie – Lou Christie
# 46 – The Ventures Play Telstar and the Lonely Bull – The Ventures
# 45 – Surfing with the Astronauts – The Astronauts
# 44 – Meet The Searchers – The Searchers
# 43 – Walking The Dog – Rufus Thomas
# 42 – Checkered Flag – Dick Dale
# 41 – The Impressions – The Impressions
# 40 – He’s So Fine – The Chiffons
# 39 – Ain’t That A Shame – The Four Seasons
# 38 – Baby Workout – Jackie Wilson
# 37 – Pipeline – The Chantays
# 36 – He’s A Rebel – The Crystals
# 35 – Drag City – Jan & Dean
# 34 – I’ll Cry if I Want To – Lesley Gore
# 33 – Little Town Flirt – Del Shannon
# 32 – Let’s Go – The Ventures
# 31 – With a Song In My Heart – Stevie Wonder
# 30 – A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector – P. Spector
# 29 – In The Wind – Peter, Paul & Mary
# 28 – Heat Wave – Martha and the Vandellas
# 27 – Little Deuce Coup – The Beach Boys
# 26 – Prisoner of Love – James Brown
# 25 – Wipe Out – The Surfaris
# 24 – It’s Gonna Work Out Fine – Ike & Tina Turner
# 23 – If You Need Me – Solomon Burke
# 22 – The 12 Year Old Genius – Stevie Wonder
# 21 -The Ventures in Space – The Ventures
# 20 – Right Now! – The Righteous Brothers
# 19 – Twangin’ Up A Storm – Duane Eddy
# 18 – Ruby Baby – Dion
# 17 – Night Beat – Sam Cooke
# 16 – Laughing on the Outside – Aretha Franklin
# 15 –The Fabulous Miracles – The Miracles
# 14 – Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul – Ray Charles
# 13 – Come and Get These Memories – Martha and the Vandellas
# 12 – Johnny “Guitar” Watson – Johnny “Guitar” Watson
# 11 – Donna the Prima Donna – Dion
# 10 – Surfer Girl – The Beach BoysÂ
#Â 9 – In Dreams – Roy Orbison
#Â 8 – Live At The Apollo – James Brown
#Â 7 – How Do You Like It – Gerry and the Pacemakers
#Â 6 – Big Girls Don’t Cry and Twelve Others – Four Seasons
#Â 5 – King Of The Surf Guitar – Dick Dale
#Â 4 – Surfin’ U.S.A. – The Beach Boys
#Â 3 – With The Beatles –Â The BeatlesÂ
#Â 2 – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan
#Â 1 – Please Please Me – The BeatlesÂ
Best Albums of The Year Series
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1978’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1979’s Best Classic Rock Albums List
1980’s Best Rock Albums List
1981’s Best Rock Albums List
1982’s Best Rock Albums List
1983’s Best Rock Albums List
1984’s Best Rock Albums List
1985’s Best Rock Albums List
1986’s Best Rock Albums List
Updated May 22, 2023
1963’s Best Rock Albums article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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