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Top Folk albums of the 1960s

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Updated: 14 May
Average Ratings Reviews
Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen, Cover art
Songs of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
4.12 23k 23,083 323 323
27 December 1967 Album
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
Chamber Folk
poetic sombre acoustic melancholic introspective philosophical love serious
23k Ratings 323 Reviews 4.12 Average
Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home, Cover art
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
4.07 21k 21,464 411 411
22 March 1965 Album
Folk Rock Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk
Electric Blues Blues Rock
poetic sarcastic satirical surreal cryptic conscious humorous love
21k Ratings 411 Reviews 4.07 Average
Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left, Cover art
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
4.04 22k 22,043 306 306
1 September 1969 Album
Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk Contemporary Folk
Folk Baroque
mellow poetic peaceful lonely introspective melancholic acoustic melodic
22k Ratings 306 Reviews 4.04 Average
Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt, Cover art
Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
4.05 11k 10,634 82 82
September 1969 Album
Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk Country
melancholic acoustic poetic pastoral bittersweet love mellow longing
11k Ratings 82 Reviews 4.05 Average
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks, Cover art
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
3.94 17k 17,109 450 450
29 November 1968 Album
Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk
Blue-Eyed Soul Chamber Jazz Celtic Folk Music
passionate warm acoustic romantic poetic introspective pastoral lush
17k Ratings 450 Reviews 3.94 Average
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Cover art
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
3.93 22k 21,521 393 393
27 May 1963 Album
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
Acoustic Blues Talking Blues
acoustic poetic protest political conscious mellow autumn introspective
22k Ratings 393 Reviews 3.93 Average
Townes Van Zandt - Our Mother the Mountain, Cover art
Our Mother the Mountain
Townes Van Zandt
3.92 6k 5,692 57 57
April 1969 Album
Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk Country
Progressive Country
melancholic pastoral bittersweet longing love sentimental mellow poetic
6k Ratings 57 Reviews 3.92 Average
Jackson C. Frank - Jackson C. Frank, Cover art
Jackson C. Frank
Jackson C. Frank
3.90 7k 6,794 81 81
December 1965 Album
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
Acoustic Blues
lonely melancholic depressive acoustic introspective poetic longing autumn
7k Ratings 81 Reviews 3.90 Average
John Fahey - Volume 6: Days Have Gone By, Cover art
Volume 6: Days Have Gone By
John Fahey
3.87 3k 3,120 32 32
July 1967 Album
American Primitivism
Field Recordings Acoustic Blues
acoustic pastoral instrumental spiritual meditative hypnotic sparse mellow
3k Ratings 32 Reviews 3.87 Average
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends, Cover art
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
3.82 10k 9,735 172 172
3 April 1968 Album
Folk Pop Folk Rock
Chamber Folk Singer-Songwriter Baroque Pop
mellow melodic soft introspective bittersweet warm poetic acoustic
10k Ratings 172 Reviews 3.82 Average
Nico - The Marble Index, Cover art
The Marble Index
Nico
3.81 8k 8,365 113 113
November 1968 Album
Avant-Folk
Drone Chamber Music Experimental
cold sombre dark poetic winter ominous avant-garde cryptic
8k Ratings 113 Reviews 3.81 Average
Tim Buckley - Happy Sad, Cover art
Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
3.80 8k 7,663 126 126
April 1969 Album
Singer-Songwriter Psychedelic Folk
Chamber Folk Chamber Jazz Progressive Folk
happy sad introspective romantic bittersweet poetic mellow passionate
8k Ratings 126 Reviews 3.80 Average
Simon and Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Cover art
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Simon and Garfunkel
3.80 7k 7,482 131 131
10 October 1966 Album
Folk Pop Folk Rock
Chamber Folk Folk Baroque
mellow melodic pastoral soft autumn melancholic poetic psychedelic
7k Ratings 131 Reviews 3.80 Average
John Fahey - Vol. II: Death Chants, Breakdowns and Military Waltzes, Cover art
Vol. II: Death Chants, Breakdowns and Military Waltzes
John Fahey
3.82 3k 2,610 23 23
1964 Album
American Primitivism
Acoustic Blues
instrumental acoustic hypnotic pastoral bittersweet warm passionate soft
3k Ratings 23 Reviews 3.82 Average
Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin', Cover art
The Times They Are A-Changin'
Bob Dylan
3.76 13k 13,394 216 216
10 February 1964 Album
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
political acoustic protest poetic conscious serious minimalistic sombre
13k Ratings 216 Reviews 3.76 Average
Mississippi John Hurt - Today!, Cover art
Today!
Mississippi John Hurt
3.81 1k 1,232 17 17
October 1966 Album
Piedmont Blues
acoustic calm soft warm mellow melodic soothing pastoral
1k Ratings 17 Reviews 3.81 Average
Son House - Father of Folk Blues, Cover art
Father of Folk Blues
Son House
3.78 2k 2,465 39 39
18 October 1965 Album
Delta Blues
Gospel
acoustic pastoral spiritual raw Christian religious depressive lonely
2k Ratings 39 Reviews 3.78 Average
Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence, Cover art
Sounds of Silence
Simon & Garfunkel
3.75 9k 9,023 125 125
17 January 1966 Album
Folk Pop Folk Rock
Folk Baroque Contemporary Folk
bittersweet melodic poetic mellow introspective calm conscious philosophical
9k Ratings 125 Reviews 3.75 Average
Bob Dylan - John Wesley Harding, Cover art
John Wesley Harding
Bob Dylan
3.74 11k 10,721 219 219
27 December 1967 Album
Folk Rock Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
Country Rock
poetic acoustic pastoral cryptic history religious conscious autumn
11k Ratings 219 Reviews 3.74 Average
Muddy Waters - Folk Singer, Cover art
Folk Singer
Muddy Waters
3.77 3k 2,667 54 54
30 January 1964 Album
Delta Blues
acoustic melancholic minimalistic passionate pastoral atmospheric
3k Ratings 54 Reviews 3.77 Average
Tim Buckley - Goodbye and Hello, Cover art
Goodbye and Hello
Tim Buckley
3.74 7k 6,705 100 100
August 1967 Album
Singer-Songwriter Folk Rock Psychedelic Folk
Chamber Folk Baroque Pop
psychedelic poetic melancholic melodic cryptic passionate warm romantic
7k Ratings 100 Reviews 3.74 Average
John Fahey - The Yellow Princess, Cover art
The Yellow Princess
John Fahey
3.76 2k 2,192 26 26
March 1969 Album
American Primitivism
Psychedelic Folk Avant-Folk
instrumental acoustic passionate technical pastoral meditative melodic hypnotic
2k Ratings 26 Reviews 3.76 Average
Leo Kottke - 6- & 12-String Guitar, Cover art
6- & 12-String Guitar
Leo Kottke
3.77 2k 1,686 38 38
December 1969 Album
American Primitivism
acoustic instrumental complex technical pastoral playful warm peaceful
2k Ratings 38 Reviews 3.77 Average
Fabrizio De André - Tutti morimmo a stento, Cover art
Tutti morimmo a stento
Fabrizio De André
3.76 2k 1,571 19 19
September 1968 Album
Canzone d'autore Contemporary Folk
Chamber Folk
passionate drugs death sombre war concept album melancholic introspective
2k Ratings 19 Reviews 3.76 Average
Leonard Cohen - Songs From a Room, Cover art
Songs From a Room
Leonard Cohen
3.73 8k 8,035 109 109
7 April 1969 Album
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
Chamber Folk
melancholic poetic acoustic sombre sparse autumn lonely soft
8k Ratings 109 Reviews 3.73 Average
John Fahey - Vol 3: Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites, Cover art
Vol 3: Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites
John Fahey
3.75 2k 1,783 12 12
1965 Album
American Primitivism
Country Blues
instrumental acoustic pastoral meditative autumn bittersweet melancholic soft
2k Ratings 12 Reviews 3.75 Average
Robbie Băsho - The Falconer's Arm I, Cover art
The Falconer's Arm I
Robbie Băsho
3.75 991 991 7 7
1967 Album
American Primitivism
Avant-Folk
instrumental pastoral hypnotic meditative acoustic technical atmospheric peaceful
991 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.75 Average
Carlos Paredes - Guitarra portuguesa, Cover art
Guitarra portuguesa
Carlos Paredes
3.74 940 940 19 19
14 October 1967 Album
Portuguese Music Portuguese Folk Music
Fado de Coimbra
instrumental passionate technical acoustic warm soothing uplifting melancholic
940 Ratings 19 Reviews 3.74 Average
Phil Ochs - Rehearsals for Retirement, Cover art
Rehearsals for Retirement
Phil Ochs
3.74 603 603 20 20
May 1969 Album
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
Chamber Folk Folk Rock Baroque Pop
political sombre introspective war melancholic depressive protest sarcastic
603 Ratings 20 Reviews 3.74 Average
Sandy Bull - Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo, Cover art
Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo
Sandy Bull
3.74 2k 1,851 29 29
May 1963 Album
American Primitivism
Electric Blues Western Classical Music Fantasia Arabic Folk Music Progressive Folk
instrumental meditative acoustic melodic hypnotic rhythmic warm eclectic
2k Ratings 29 Reviews 3.74 Average
The Pentangle - Basket of Light, Cover art
Basket of Light
The Pentangle
3.72 3k 2,773 54 54
26 October 1969 Album
British Folk Rock Folk Baroque
Progressive Folk English Folk Music Neo-Medieval Folk
pastoral medieval longing uplifting melodic spring progressive folklore
3k Ratings 54 Reviews 3.72 Average
Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore, Cover art
I Ain't Marching Anymore
Phil Ochs
3.72 2k 1,702 27 27
February 1965 Album
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
protest political acoustic conscious melodic rebellious war passionate
2k Ratings 27 Reviews 3.72 Average
John Fahey - Volume 5: The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death, Cover art
Volume 5: The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
John Fahey
3.72 3k 3,062 39 39
February 1967 Album
American Primitivism
Acoustic Blues
instrumental acoustic pastoral meditative sparse lo-fi mellow spiritual
3k Ratings 39 Reviews 3.72 Average
Skip James - Today!, Cover art
Today!
Skip James
3.74 742 742 13 13
October 1966 Album
Delta Blues
Piano Blues
acoustic melancholic lonely pastoral calm raw
742 Ratings 13 Reviews 3.74 Average
Catherine Ribeiro + 2 Bis - Catherine Ribeiro + 2 Bis, Cover art
Catherine Ribeiro + 2 Bis
Catherine Ribeiro + 2 Bis
3.72 1k 1,087 27 27
1969 Album
Avant-Folk Psychedelic Folk
Progressive Folk
passionate protest surreal angry manic rebellious psychedelic energetic
1k Ratings 27 Reviews 3.72 Average
Ariel Ramírez - Misa Criolla: Messe et chants religieux d'inspiration folklorique Argentine, Cover art
Misa Criolla: Messe et chants religieux d'inspiration folklorique Argentine
Ariel Ramírez
3.75 329 329 5 5
1965 Album
Mass Hispanic American Folk Music Argentine Music
Chacarera Christmas Music Carnavalito Chamamé Taquirari
lush Christian spiritual melancholic hymn Christmas choral passionate
329 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.75 Average
Pedro Santos - Krishnanda, Cover art
Krishnanda
Pedro Santos
3.73 824 824 9 9
1968 Album
Psychedelic Folk Avant-Folk Brazilian Folk Music
Tropicália Samba Brazilian Classical Music Jongo Brazilian Folk Music
mysterious forest spiritual psychedelic melodic surreal rhythmic tropical
824 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.73 Average
Tim Buckley - Blue Afternoon, Cover art
Blue Afternoon
Tim Buckley
3.71 4k 3,543 51 51
24 November 1969 Album
Singer-Songwriter Psychedelic Folk
Chamber Jazz
lonely mellow peaceful poetic calm passionate melodic soothing
4k Ratings 51 Reviews 3.71 Average
Skip James - Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers, Cover art
Greatest of the Delta Blues Singers
Skip James
3.74 396 396 4 4
November 1965 Album
Delta Blues
acoustic introspective lonely melancholic raw minimalistic sombre passionate
396 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.74 Average
Pixinguinha, Clementina de Jesus & João da Baiana - Gente da antiga, Cover art
Gente da antiga
Pixinguinha, Clementina de Jesus & João da Baiana
3.74 360 360 7 7
April 1968 Album
Samba Choro Jongo
Samba de roda Lundu
warm uplifting lush melodic playful bittersweet instrumental melancholic
360 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.74 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Various Artists - Midnight Cowboy, Cover art
    Midnight Cowboy
    1969 Album
    348 Ratings 11 Reviews 3.69 Average
    3.69 348 348 11 11
  • Image blocked in settings
    The Graduate
    1968 Album
    1k Ratings 19 Reviews 3.35 Average
    3.35 1k 1,477 19 19
  • The Lovin' Spoonful - What's Up, Tiger Lily?, Cover art
    What's Up, Tiger Lily?
    1966 Album
    124 Ratings 6 Reviews 2.91 Average
    2.91 124 124 6 6
  • Sérgio Ricardo - Deus e o Diabo na terra do Sol, Cover art
    Deus e o Diabo na terra do Sol
    1963 Album
    38 Ratings 3.64 Average
    3.64 38 38
  • The New Christy Minstrels - Today, Cover art
    Today
    1964 Album
    18 Ratings 2.81 Average
    2.81 18 18
    • See all 8 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Phil Ochs - Phil Ochs in Concert, Cover art
    Phil Ochs in Concert
    1966 Album
    407 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.96 Average
    3.96 407 407 9 9
  • Tim Hardin - Tim Hardin 3: Live in Concert, Cover art
    Tim Hardin 3: Live in Concert
    1968 Album
    261 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.84 Average
    3.84 261 261 9 9
  • Pete Seeger - We Shall Overcome, Cover art
    We Shall Overcome
    1963 Album
    169 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.78 Average
    3.78 169 169 7 7
  • Joan Baez - Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2, Cover art
    Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2
    1963 Album
    201 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.61 Average
    3.61 201 201 5 5
  • Odetta - Odetta at Carnegie Hall, Cover art
    Odetta at Carnegie Hall
    1960 Album
    120 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.92 Average
    3.92 120 120 2 2
    • See all 100 Include in main chart

    Archival

  • Woody Guthrie - Library of Congress Recordings, Cover art
    Library of Congress Recordings
    1964 Album
    226 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.86 Average
    3.86 226 226 4 4
  • Woody Guthrie - Ballads of Sacco & Vanzetti, Cover art
    Ballads of Sacco & Vanzetti
    1960 Album
    134 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.39 Average
    3.39 134 134 4 4
  • Blind Willie McTell - 1940: The Legendary Library of Congress Session, Cover art
    1940: The Legendary Library of Congress Session
    1966 Album
    79 Ratings 3.75 Average
    3.75 79 79
  • Muddy Waters - Down on Stovall's Plantation, Cover art
    Down on Stovall's Plantation
    1966 Album
    50 Ratings 3.68 Average
    3.68 50 50
  • Son House & J.D. Short - Son House & J.D. Short - Blues From the Mississippi Delta, Cover art
    Son House & J.D. Short - Blues From the Mississippi Delta
    1963 Album
    32 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.84 Average
    3.84 32 32 1 1
    • See all 7 Include in main chart
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