Top 10 Debut Albums Of The 60s – You Decide!
During rock’s 60s heyday, the long-player gradually became the medium of choice for artists chasing critical and commercial success. By 1969, album sales officially overtook singles for the very first time in the UK, so in celebration, uDiscover Music has picked the Top 10 Debut Albums Of the 60s. All you have to do is decide which order they go in!
The uDiscover Team selected debut albums from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Velvet Underground, The Doors, The Band, Free, The Stooges and Nick Drake.
Which ones would you have chosen? Are there any we left out? Let us know below and start the debate!
Format: 
UK English
UK English
Blair Bartholomew
June 1, 2017 at 11:06 pm
How could you leave out “Mr Tambourine Man” by the Byrds?
“The album, along with the single of the same name, established the band as an internationally successful rock act and was also influential in originating the musical style known as folk rock”
Wiki
N schalj
January 23, 2018 at 5:23 pm
For sure. And buffalo Springfield.
Jude James
January 31, 2018 at 7:20 pm
A great album
Edi Cavalcante
July 28, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Well said
Ole Thomasen
October 30, 2018 at 9:14 pm
I miss
Jefferson Airplane
The Who
The Byrds
Donovan
Grateful Dead
Frank. Zappa
Jeff
June 5, 2017 at 8:16 pm
What about Led Zeppelin?
Ednaldo
December 23, 2018 at 9:47 pm
Led Zeppelin
Kevin McDonough
June 5, 2017 at 8:35 pm
The Who was huge in the mid-60’s! They should be 1 or 2 on this list! Their music, stage performance and presence was not to be ignored!
Garrett Jennings
October 30, 2017 at 4:34 am
I agree. “My Generation” album is under-rated especially “The Good’s Gone” which I think was a song ahead of its time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgb2L2u07-U
Kevin McDonough
June 5, 2017 at 9:04 pm
Janis? Grateful Dead? Jefferson Airplane? Emerson, Lake & Palmer? Ten Years After?
Creedance Clearwater Revival? Grand Funk RR?
Spirit? Canned Heat? Beach Boys? Simon & Garfunkle? The Chambers Brothers? Deep Purple?
Jethro Tull? The Rascals? Love? Too many great groups & LP’s to limit the list to 10!
Garib Dow
May 22, 2018 at 3:48 am
Agree 100%
John
June 5, 2017 at 9:13 pm
Seriously?…I agree wth the above comments…Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin among so many others. Nick Drake? Free? The Stooges?….Yer drinking the cool-ade and smoking crack!
Darko
June 5, 2017 at 9:53 pm
King Crimson, there were a lot of good bands and artists, but their debut was incredible.
Mohit Pant
November 3, 2018 at 4:14 pm
“In The Court of The Crimson King”, stirred my musical senses like no other. King Crimson’s music was pure genius, spurred on by musical brilliance rather than being guided by commercial success. A must have on this list.
Aldo Oliveira
November 3, 2018 at 6:07 pm
I was about to talk: “In the court of Crimson King an observation by King Crimson” is the best first album ever. Not only by my opinion.
GA Kulp
June 6, 2017 at 12:28 am
The Stooges??!! Honestly I wouldn’t use that album for a Frisbee.These lists are always compiled by some very troubled clueless revisionist history individuals
Crash
June 20, 2018 at 9:49 am
You know nothing GA Kulp. That is one of the greatest albums ever recorded and easily as important as the Velvet Underground. You must be thinking about sales, not music.
Mari
June 6, 2017 at 12:58 am
Agreed.Conmercial choices he should have specified
Justin
June 6, 2017 at 3:41 am
What about dark side of the moon by pink floyd or stairway to heaven led Zeppelin or even house of the rising sun by the animals
J
January 21, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Those first 2 came out in the 70s but the 3rd you can have!
Ken
January 21, 2018 at 6:58 pm
DSOTM Was the 70’s. So was Stairway.
Carlos Ruz
March 10, 2018 at 4:05 am
Those are 70’s albums…
Dave
March 10, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Debut albums?
Willard Freeman
March 12, 2018 at 1:38 am
Dark side of the moon and stairway to heaven were released in the 1970s.
Joaquim
May 27, 2018 at 11:37 pm
“The Dark Side of the Moon” was not a debut álbum and “Stairway to Heaven” was not even an album (that would be “Led Zeppelin IV”) and they are both from The 70’s. But then there’s “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” and “Led Zeppelin I”, respectively Floyd and Zeppelin’s debut albums, both from the 60’s which definitely should be on this list. And highly ranked!
Andriy
May 28, 2018 at 5:02 pm
100 %, agree!
Nathan
June 6, 2017 at 6:04 pm
What about Bee Gees 1st that was an amazing album.
Guy Corti
June 6, 2017 at 9:44 pm
Have of them on LP.
Gert Wilhelm
June 7, 2017 at 9:43 am
It is almost impossible to limit the selection to a number of 10. Anyway, Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull should not be missed here.
Nigel
June 8, 2017 at 2:01 pm
I agree with the above comments, where is Led Zeppelin, Blind Faith, Moody Blues, Small Faces and Traffic
Sulaiman Kani
May 22, 2018 at 6:18 am
Yes, Moody Blues and don’t forget Procol Harum….
Howard
June 10, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Without a doubt!
Vrilya Mahpee
June 25, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Out of respect for quite a few ultra mega rock performer groups and iconic albums, I can no longer personally narrow it down to ten. There were just too many definitive sounds and exceptionally performed album recordings that these days when I attempt to spin iconic albums for friends at gatherings, I find the task of picking the pinnacle recordings near IMPOSSIBLE to narrow down which should receive priority. I will add, those listening in the milieu create a bit of a quander because some of the triggered memories the iconic vinyl invokes can and often Sparks undesirable results. The music does invoke more than would be supposed because they are iconic and so many people have suppressed the past time stamp musical landmarks.
King JammyJam
June 26, 2017 at 12:44 am
Ten of hundreds of fantastic debut albums. I have no complaints about this list.
Robert Roder
June 28, 2017 at 4:58 am
I would agree, to limit it to only ten misses the mark for me. With all the legendary artists and albums being released make in this renaissance era, no where to be fair to all of the other greats. And another point I agree with 300% is to have the Stooges, Nick Drake and Free on this list makes one wonder about the author of this article. To have these 3 choices above and beyond Tull, Traffic and the Led, Beach Boys, 4 seasons and so many other superior choices just doesn’t add up for me. Oh yes and about The Zombies, the Animals and definitely The Who, and let’s not leave out Yes!
Scott
January 21, 2018 at 5:49 pm
I had never heard of Nick Drake before. But I don’t complain about lists. Yes, I think there are many deserving records, but this is to just start conversations. I had Alexa play me Drake, and it was quite good. I prefer James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens, more in folk but Drake was good.
Andy
June 28, 2017 at 2:52 pm
Led Zeppelin.
James
June 28, 2017 at 3:23 pm
Chicago Transit Authority
Mark Kennet
June 28, 2017 at 6:05 pm
Nos. 1-5 definitely belong on a list like this. No. 6 is more debatable, but OK. The rest – are you smoking crack to include them and not Bob Dylan’s first, Jefferson Airplane’s first, and many of the others mentioned in other comments.
John Rose
March 28, 2018 at 12:56 am
People keep bringing up Airplane. Was that first album with Signe Anderson really that great? I’ve never heard it but I suspect it’s not as good as Surrealistic Pillow with Grace Slick.
Luis Rey
June 28, 2017 at 8:19 pm
Led Zeppelin yes….. and King Crimson!!!
Max Palfenier
July 18, 2017 at 5:32 pm
Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Music in a Doll’s House, Mr. Fantasy, Led Zep I, In The Court of KC, Crazy World of AB, these albums belong in the list.
Max
May 22, 2018 at 7:45 pm
They most certainly do!!
Chaim Caran
July 19, 2017 at 12:56 pm
Dylan 1st, Byrds Mr. Tambourin Man, Lovin’ Spoonful, Do you believe in Magic, Mama & Papas If you can believe your ears and eyes, Fairport Convention 1st, Kinks You really got me, Simon & Garfunkel Sound of Silence
Les Harris
July 19, 2017 at 7:46 pm
Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan. Nnyyaahh – Noel Murphy. Rambling Boy – Tom Paxton. A Drop Of The Hard Stuff – The Dubliners.
Tommy Hjalmarsson
July 20, 2017 at 4:35 am
Freak Out! (The Mothers Of Invention)
Andreas Oberndorfer
July 22, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Steppenwolf! (Born to be wild)
Talitha Bewlay
July 22, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Pink Floyd – The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn; Jeff Beck Group –
Truth; The Kinks(1964); Kaleidoscope – Tangerine Dream; The Who – My Generation; Small Faces(1966); Love(1966); King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King; Jacques Dutronc(1966); Mutantes(1968); Led Zeppelin(first); Sly And The Family Stone – A Whole New Thing; Traffic – Mr. Fantasy; Mothers Of Invention – Freak Out!; Zombies – The Zombies Begin Here; Beach Boys – Surfin’ Safari… I guess the list never ends!
Dax
July 22, 2017 at 6:50 pm
It’s funny how most of these “Top 10” albums are even considered at the time… Let’s face it, albums like The Stooges, and the Velvet Underground were considered failures at the time they were released. I think people should realize that this is just a modern day wish list by people that weren’t around when the albums came out.
uwe thurm
July 23, 2017 at 9:04 am
king crimson ,led Zeppelin ,black sabbath,grand funk railroad,
uwe thurm
July 23, 2017 at 9:07 am
led Zeppelin,black sabbath ,Grand funk railroad ,pink floyd ,king crimson.
uwe thurm
July 23, 2017 at 9:08 am
quicksilver Messenger Service ,Country Joe & fish
Armando
July 23, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Now …. this is for the author of this article.
Now U have to discover these albums.
1. Truth by Jeff Beck (Rod Stewart)
2. James Gang , Yer’ album
3. First Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green
4. Led Zeppelin I
5. John Mayall and The Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton.
I agree with the personal list from the author as his personal choice. But From my choice I would of make it at least up to 25 instead of only 10 . And in no specific order.
JESUS RAMÍREZ BERMÚDEZ
July 23, 2017 at 2:10 pm
As we are talking of debut albums in the 60s, I would include In the court of the Crimson King,
Steppenwolf first album,
Led Zeppelin first album,
Procol Harum first album,
Mr Fantasy, Traffic.
Blind Faith first and only album
Daniel Moore
July 24, 2017 at 11:43 am
Also: In the Court Of The Crimson King, Dear Mr Fantasy, Soft Machine, Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Eagle
July 24, 2017 at 6:16 pm
I think this article should have had as the title: “the top five debut albums” …nuff said.
Jim M.
July 24, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Kinks, Buffalo Springfield, Jefferson Airplane, Lovin’ Spoonful, so many others. Baffled by inclusion of the three mentioned already several times, Nick Drake, The Stooges and Free. Many superior debut albums and subsequent careers should be well ahead of those.
Olaf d-simonsen
August 30, 2017 at 10:20 pm
KINKS
Pedro Says
October 6, 2017 at 10:48 pm
Really? Led Zeppelin is not Top 10?
It should be #1
Max Palfenier
January 21, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Moby Grape, Family, Traffic, Pink Floyd, all top 10
larry fogarty
January 21, 2018 at 8:39 pm
david mc williams vol 1….nirvana uk all of us….love forever changes
Art
January 22, 2018 at 12:44 pm
A list without Led Zeppelin’s first album is not credible. Can’t say Nick Drake belongs there when there’s no Dylan, Neil Young, The Byrds , Canned Heat,Taste,The Who, The Kinks, CS & N, Cat Stevens,Jethro Tull, CHICAGO Transit authority, Blood Sweat & Tears first album with the David Clayton-Thomas line-up,Creedence, and no soul artists
Jmi. Antcliffe
March 10, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Debut albums only remember. Dylan, Love, Neil Young all had great albums in the 60s but their debuts were bot as good as their later work.
George Kotzas
January 22, 2018 at 5:46 pm
Moby Grape, King Crimson
Doug
January 23, 2018 at 2:16 am
Chicago Transit Authority – the iconic debut album from Chicago. Their music was unique and still as good today as it was back in the 60’s.
David
January 29, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Led Zeppelin for sure. Frank Zappa
Comrade Calv
January 29, 2018 at 10:53 pm
My Generation – The Who. ?
Melanie
January 30, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Where is Bob Dylan, The Animals,LED Zepplun and the Byrds ?
Kevin
February 27, 2018 at 5:08 am
The Byrds & DC5!
Geoffrey Groves
March 3, 2018 at 8:59 pm
Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac… trash can album and then play on.
Jim
March 4, 2018 at 3:22 am
The Allman Brothers Band 1st album/ 1969
Dave Bodley
March 4, 2018 at 6:20 pm
No Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd? I’d love to see Moby Grape’s first album there. Wasn’t a big seller at the time but it’s become a classic since.
Christer Andersson
March 4, 2018 at 8:43 pm
Blue Cheer not mentioned.
John Bagnall
March 5, 2018 at 2:23 am
Which one of these is not like the other? Big Pink. #7. Incredible.
Tennis girl
March 8, 2018 at 11:21 pm
Nazz (Todd rundgren), Love (Arthur Lee) Cream-wheels of Fire
Edd Speaks
March 10, 2018 at 4:27 pm
In my opinion, the number one spot should go to the album that undenablyl started it all. That would be the Beatles first LP, Meet the Beatles. This was the initial salvo of the British invasion. What happened after it’s release, was truly musical history!
Jmi. Antcliffe
March 10, 2018 at 5:13 pm
Safe as Milk Capt Beefheart must be on the list .
Sebastián Campana
March 10, 2018 at 8:18 pm
The piper at the gates of dawn PINK FLOYD!!!!
J.J. Williams
March 27, 2018 at 4:58 am
I might catch some crap for this one, but what about The Monkees? I know they were a marketing ploy at first, but their Debut Album with “Last Train to Clarksville”, “I Wanna Be Free”, “Saturday’s Child”, and The “Theme to The Monkees” TV Show was a great album.
Pjack
April 12, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Love, Fleetwood Mac, yes
Paolo
April 13, 2018 at 12:21 am
Black Sabbath!
Michael Maldonado
May 5, 2018 at 2:37 am
No “Kick Out The Jams”? Seriously?!?
Bran
May 10, 2018 at 11:26 pm
Spirit, Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Zappa, King Crimson
Sulaiman Kani
May 22, 2018 at 6:35 am
Procol Harum must be on the top group list. Their song “A Whiter Shade of Pale”is the most played song is included in the US issued debute album…
Corey Wiley
May 28, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Piper At The Gates OF Dawn!
Chris Adams
May 29, 2018 at 6:34 am
Piper at the gates of dawn pinkfloyd . Safe as milk capt beefhart. Led Zeppelin 1.
John
August 20, 2018 at 10:17 pm
Blood Sweat and Tears Child….. with Al Kooper
Hamid
November 3, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Gary Fairchild
November 20, 2018 at 5:15 am
This was fun. Too many albums influenced us all. Mine were Ultimate Spinach and Rhinoceros along with Child is Father to the Man, Al Kooper’s Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Ednaldo
December 23, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Led Zeppelin
Kostas Sparta Greece
December 24, 2018 at 9:18 am
Gris-Gris by Dr.John in top10 for sure