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Top R&B albums of the 1960s

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Updated: 21 May
Average Ratings Reviews
Nina Simone - Pastel Blues, Cover art
Pastel Blues
Nina Simone
4.02 9k 9,354 72 72
October 1965 Album
Vocal Jazz Soul Rhythm & Blues
Blues Piano Blues
passionate melancholic spiritual melodic conscious longing sombre love
9k Ratings 72 Reviews 4.02 Average
Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul, Cover art
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
3.99 9k 8,991 144 144
May 1969 Album
Soul
Funk Deep Soul Smooth Soul Psychedelic Soul Spoken Word
lush passionate love warm romantic breakup soothing melodic
9k Ratings 144 Reviews 3.99 Average
Nina Simone - Wild Is the Wind, Cover art
Wild Is the Wind
Nina Simone
3.98 5k 5,277 49 49
June 1966 Album
Vocal Jazz Soul
Soul Jazz
sentimental love melancholic passionate romantic longing conscious melodic
5k Ratings 49 Reviews 3.98 Average
Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul, Cover art
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
3.96 9k 8,985 134 134
15 September 1965 Album
Deep Soul Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues Soul Blues
passionate romantic longing love melodic bittersweet raw warm
9k Ratings 134 Reviews 3.96 Average
Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul, Cover art
Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
3.93 5k 5,479 69 69
22 January 1968 Album
Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues Deep Soul
warm passionate love uplifting lush melodic triumphant sentimental
5k Ratings 69 Reviews 3.93 Average
Sly & The Family Stone - Stand!, Cover art
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
3.91 8k 7,977 129 129
3 May 1969 Album
Psychedelic Soul Funk
Psychedelic Rock
protest uplifting optimistic conscious happy psychedelic energetic rhythmic
8k Ratings 129 Reviews 3.91 Average
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Cover art
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
3.89 7k 6,875 108 108
10 March 1967 Album
Deep Soul Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues
passionate love warm uplifting melodic mellow romantic bittersweet
7k Ratings 108 Reviews 3.89 Average
Otis Redding - The Dock of the Bay, Cover art
The Dock of the Bay
Otis Redding
3.89 2k 2,413 33 33
23 February 1968 Album
Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues Deep Soul
passionate romantic love melodic bittersweet mellow longing sentimental
2k Ratings 33 Reviews 3.89 Average
Aretha Franklin - Aretha Now, Cover art
Aretha Now
Aretha Franklin
3.88 3k 2,766 31 31
14 June 1968 Album
Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues
passionate uplifting love melodic warm romantic summer energetic
3k Ratings 31 Reviews 3.88 Average
James Carr - You Got My Mind Messed Up, Cover art
You Got My Mind Messed Up
James Carr
3.83 3k 2,829 58 58
March 1967 Album
Deep Soul Southern Soul
Soul Blues
passionate warm love sensual melodic breakup lonely ballad
3k Ratings 58 Reviews 3.83 Average
Otis Redding - The Immortal Otis Redding, Cover art
The Immortal Otis Redding
Otis Redding
3.84 1k 1,184 11 11
15 June 1968 Album
Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues Deep Soul
romantic melodic love passionate
1k Ratings 11 Reviews 3.84 Average
Etta James - Tell Mama, Cover art
Tell Mama
Etta James
3.84 1k 1,321 23 23
January 1968 Album
Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues Soul Blues Blues
longing love sensual rhythmic passionate sentimental energetic bittersweet
1k Ratings 23 Reviews 3.84 Average
Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis, Cover art
Dusty in Memphis
Dusty Springfield
3.81 5k 5,344 122 122
17 January 1969 Album
Pop Soul Blue-Eyed Soul
Southern Soul Smooth Soul Northern Soul
romantic melodic warm lush mellow soothing uplifting love
5k Ratings 122 Reviews 3.81 Average
Bobby Bland - Two Steps From the Blues, Cover art
Two Steps From the Blues
Bobby Bland
3.83 869 869 23 23
May 1961 Album
Rhythm & Blues Soul Blues
Soul Electric Blues
passionate
869 Ratings 23 Reviews 3.83 Average
Nina Simone - I Put a Spell on You, Cover art
I Put a Spell on You
Nina Simone
3.81 4k 3,879 29 29
March 1965 Album
Vocal Jazz Soul
Soul Jazz Traditional Pop
sentimental passionate playful love lush sensual sombre rhythmic
4k Ratings 29 Reviews 3.81 Average
Otis Redding - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, Cover art
Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
Otis Redding
3.82 3k 2,509 39 39
15 October 1966 Album
Deep Soul Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues
passionate romantic longing mellow love playful breakup melodic
3k Ratings 39 Reviews 3.82 Average
Etta James - At Last!, Cover art
At Last!
Etta James
3.79 3k 3,406 48 48
15 November 1960 Album
Rhythm & Blues Soul Soul Blues
Vocal Jazz Southern Soul Blues
passionate love melodic sentimental breakup sensual romantic lush
3k Ratings 48 Reviews 3.79 Average
Laura Nyro - Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, Cover art
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
3.75 4k 4,085 87 87
13 March 1968 Album
Pop Soul Singer-Songwriter Progressive Pop
Brill Building Jazz Pop Vocal Jazz Sunshine Pop Art Pop
passionate uncommon time signatures melodic energetic LGBT alcohol progressive uplifting
4k Ratings 87 Reviews 3.75 Average
Sam Cooke - Ain't That Good News, Cover art
Ain't That Good News
Sam Cooke
3.76 2k 1,899 22 22
1 March 1964 Album
Southern Soul Traditional Pop
Pop Soul Traditional Pop Rhythm & Blues Deep Soul
passionate optimistic bittersweet love lush warm mellow summer
2k Ratings 22 Reviews 3.76 Average
Otis Redding - The Soul Album, Cover art
The Soul Album
Otis Redding
3.76 2k 1,603 15 15
1 April 1966 Album
Southern Soul Deep Soul
Rhythm & Blues
passionate sentimental warm mellow melodic love romantic longing
2k Ratings 15 Reviews 3.76 Average
Nina Simone - High Priestess of Soul, Cover art
High Priestess of Soul
Nina Simone
3.76 1k 1,303 14 14
January 1967 Album
Vocal Jazz Soul
Rhythm & Blues Soul Blues Gospel
melodic love passionate romantic spiritual poetic lush melancholic
1k Ratings 14 Reviews 3.76 Average
Otis Redding - The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads, Cover art
The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
Otis Redding
3.75 1k 1,322 12 12
March 1965 Album
Southern Soul Deep Soul
Rhythm & Blues
passionate longing sentimental romantic love ballad bittersweet lonely
1k Ratings 12 Reviews 3.75 Average
Dr. John, the Night Tripper - Gris-Gris, Cover art
Gris-Gris
Dr. John, the Night Tripper
3.71 5k 5,118 103 103
22 January 1968 Album
New Orleans R&B Psychedelic Soul
Swamp Rock Zydeco Freak Folk
occult psychedelic tribal mysterious hypnotic rhythmic spiritual drugs
5k Ratings 103 Reviews 3.71 Average
Roberta Flack - First Take, Cover art
First Take
Roberta Flack
3.74 1k 1,426 35 35
20 June 1969 Album
Soul
Soul Jazz
ballad warm sentimental sensual melancholic Christian lush conscious
1k Ratings 35 Reviews 3.74 Average
Wilson Pickett - The Exciting Wilson Pickett, Cover art
The Exciting Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
3.73 1k 1,194 17 17
1 August 1966 Album
Southern Soul Deep Soul
Rhythm & Blues
energetic rhythmic melodic uplifting playful summer love passionate
1k Ratings 17 Reviews 3.73 Average
James Carr - A Man Needs a Woman, Cover art
A Man Needs a Woman
James Carr
3.75 587 587 5 5
September 1968 Album
Deep Soul Southern Soul
raw passionate sensual love optimistic
587 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.75 Average
The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go, Cover art
Where Did Our Love Go
The Supremes
3.72 2k 2,487 30 30
31 August 1964 Album
Girl Group Motown Sound
romantic melodic love vocal group lush uplifting longing bittersweet
2k Ratings 30 Reviews 3.72 Average
Doris Duke - I'm a Loser, Cover art
I'm a Loser
Doris Duke
3.73 761 761 16 16
December 1969 Album
Deep Soul Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues
depressive breakup bittersweet passionate warm pessimistic
761 Ratings 16 Reviews 3.73 Average
Four Tops - Reach Out, Cover art
Reach Out
Four Tops
3.72 1k 1,342 23 23
July 1967 Album
Motown Sound
Baroque Pop Rhythm & Blues Brill Building
uplifting passionate vocal group melodic love lush romantic energetic
1k Ratings 23 Reviews 3.72 Average
Sam Cooke - Night Beat, Cover art
Night Beat
Sam Cooke
3.71 3k 2,510 54 54
September 1963 Album
Southern Soul Soul
Rhythm & Blues Blues Soul Blues
warm romantic mellow nocturnal passionate melodic sentimental soothing
3k Ratings 54 Reviews 3.71 Average
Irma Thomas - Wish Someone Would Care, Cover art
Wish Someone Would Care
Irma Thomas
3.73 674 674 10 10
June 1964 Album
Southern Soul Deep Soul
Pop Soul Soul Blues R&B
melancholic longing nocturnal warm melodic love passionate lonely
674 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.73 Average
Laura Nyro - New York Tendaberry, Cover art
New York Tendaberry
Laura Nyro
3.70 2k 2,065 43 43
24 September 1969 Album
Singer-Songwriter Pop Soul Art Pop
Brill Building Progressive Pop Piano Rock Vocal Jazz
passionate nocturnal urban manic complex lonely melodic introspective
2k Ratings 43 Reviews 3.70 Average
The Impressions - This Is My Country, Cover art
This Is My Country
The Impressions
3.71 944 944 16 16
October 1968 Album
Chicago Soul
uplifting political romantic passionate love longing melodic bittersweet
944 Ratings 16 Reviews 3.71 Average
The Impressions - The Young Mods' Forgotten Story, Cover art
The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
The Impressions
3.71 744 744 16 16
April 1969 Album
Chicago Soul
Pop Soul
political happy romantic passionate lush sentimental mellow soothing
744 Ratings 16 Reviews 3.71 Average
Otis Redding - Love Man, Cover art
Love Man
Otis Redding
3.72 576 576 6 6
20 June 1969 Album
Southern Soul
Deep Soul
love
576 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.72 Average
Elvis Presley - From Elvis in Memphis, Cover art
From Elvis in Memphis
Elvis Presley
3.68 3k 3,121 72 72
2 June 1969 Album
Country Soul Blue-Eyed Soul Pop Soul
Rhythm & Blues Rock & Roll
love melodic longing sentimental bittersweet passionate lush warm
3k Ratings 72 Reviews 3.68 Average
Sam & Dave - I Thank You, Cover art
I Thank You
Sam & Dave
3.73 310 310 8 8
25 October 1968 Album
Southern Soul
Rhythm & Blues Deep Soul
rhythmic uplifting melodic love passionate
310 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.73 Average
The Meters - The Meters, Cover art
The Meters
The Meters
3.69 2k 2,260 31 31
June 1969 Album
Deep Funk New Orleans R&B Funk
instrumental rhythmic warm uplifting playful urban summer repetitive
2k Ratings 31 Reviews 3.69 Average
Darrell Banks - Here to Stay, Cover art
Here to Stay
Darrell Banks
3.73 211 211 5 5
May 1969 Album
Southern Soul
Deep Soul
211 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.73 Average
Sam & Dave - Soul Men, Cover art
Soul Men
Sam & Dave
3.70 645 645 16 16
26 October 1967 Album
Southern Soul Deep Soul
Pop Soul
energetic rhythmic uplifting melodic passionate
645 Ratings 16 Reviews 3.70 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Lalo Schifrin - Bullitt, Cover art
    Bullitt
    1969 Album
    595 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.76 Average
    3.76 595 595 9 9
  • Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Up Tight, Cover art
    Up Tight
    1969 Album
    154 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.32 Average
    3.32 154 154 4 4
  • Galt MacDermot - Woman Is Sweeter, Cover art
    Woman Is Sweeter
    1969 Album
    41 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.46 Average
    3.46 41 41 1 1
  • Diana Ross and The Supremes With The Temptations - The Original Sound Track from TCB, Cover art
    The Original Sound Track from TCB
    1968 Album
    48 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.15 Average
    3.15 48 48 2 2
  • Johnny Hallyday - Salut les copains !, Cover art
    Salut les copains !
    1961 Album
    23 Ratings 3 Reviews 2.92 Average
    2.92 23 23 3 3
    • See all 7 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Otis Redding - In Person at the Whisky a Go Go, Cover art
    In Person at the Whisky a Go Go
    1968 Album
    539 Ratings 11 Reviews 3.96 Average
    3.96 539 539 11 11
  • Etta James - Rocks the House, Cover art
    Rocks the House
    1964 Album
    439 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.92 Average
    3.92 439 439 10 10
  • Otis Redding - Live in Europe, Cover art
    Live in Europe
    1967 Album
    589 Ratings 19 Reviews 3.84 Average
    3.84 589 589 19 19
  • James Brown and The Famous Flames - 'Live' at the Apollo, Volume II, Cover art
    'Live' at the Apollo, Volume II
    1968 Album
    579 Ratings 13 Reviews 3.83 Average
    3.83 579 579 13 13
  • James Brown - 'Live' at the Apollo, Cover art
    'Live' at the Apollo
    1963 Album
    5k Ratings 94 Reviews 3.76 Average
    3.76 5k 4,587 94 94
    • See all 91 Include in main chart

    Archival

  • Albert King / Otis Rush - Door to Door, Cover art
    Door to Door
    1969 Album
    147 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.59 Average
    3.59 147 147 3 3
    • See all 1 Include in main chart
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