Best Traditional Folk Music albums of the 1950s - Rate Your Music
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Top Traditional Folk Music albums of the 1950s

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1 2 ... 26 Next
Updated: 14 May
Average Ratings Reviews
Elizabeth Cotten - Folksongs and Instrumentals With Guitar, Cover art
Folksongs and Instrumentals With Guitar
Elizabeth Cotten
3.81 3k 2,638 28 28
1958 Album
Piedmont Blues
Appalachian Folk Music
acoustic pastoral warm raw melodic mellow passionate technical
3k Ratings 28 Reviews 3.81 Average
Dorival Caymmi - Canções praieiras, Cover art
Canções praieiras
Dorival Caymmi
3.76 1k 1,079 19 19
1954 Album
Singer-Songwriter Samba-canção Brazilian Folk Music
melancholic aquatic nature calm longing soothing sparse lonely
1k Ratings 19 Reviews 3.76 Average
Dorival Caymmi - Caymmi e seu violão, Cover art
Caymmi e seu violão
Dorival Caymmi
3.74 777 777 13 13
1959 Album
Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk Brazilian Folk Music
Samba-canção Lundu
melancholic poetic concept album acoustic death nature lonely sparse
777 Ratings 13 Reviews 3.74 Average
Leadbelly - Leadbelly's Last Sessions Volume One, Cover art
Leadbelly's Last Sessions Volume One
Leadbelly
3.74 217 217 3 3
1953 Album
Country Blues Work Songs Acoustic Blues
Field Hollers Gospel A cappella
raw repetitive a cappella passionate pastoral
217 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.74 Average
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Gospel Train, Cover art
Gospel Train
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
3.72 1k 1,080 11 11
1956 Album
Traditional Black Gospel Blues
Rock & Roll Spirituals
Christian passionate spiritual uplifting rhythmic energetic optimistic happy
1k Ratings 11 Reviews 3.72 Average
Dorival Caymmi - Caymmi e o mar, Cover art
Caymmi e o mar
Dorival Caymmi
3.73 240 240
1957 Album
Singer-Songwriter Brazilian Folk Music Samba-canção
Samba de roda Spoken Word Orchestral Music Samba-canção Brazilian Classical Music
nature poetic passionate orchestral concept album religious optimistic lush
240 Ratings 3.73 Average
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs - Foggy Mountain Jamboree, Cover art
Foggy Mountain Jamboree
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs
3.69 522 522 6 6
7 October 1957 Album
Bluegrass Traditional Country
Close Harmony Bluegrass Gospel
religious folklore pastoral energetic acoustic nature playful uplifting
522 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.69 Average
Odetta - Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues, Cover art
Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues
Odetta
3.66 797 797 17 17
November 1956 Album
Country Blues Contemporary Folk Acoustic Blues
Gospel A cappella Spirituals
spiritual raw longing passionate lonely religious pastoral ballad
797 Ratings 17 Reviews 3.66 Average
Odetta - At the Gate of Horn, Cover art
At the Gate of Horn
Odetta
3.67 313 313 2 2
October 1957 Album
Contemporary Folk Gospel American Folk Music
Acoustic Blues Gospel
passionate pastoral raw sombre sad melancholic acoustic
313 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.67 Average
Heitor dos Prazeres e Sua Gente - Macumba, Cover art
Macumba
Heitor dos Prazeres e Sua Gente
3.68 194 194 1 1
1955 Album
Ponto de umbanda Samba de roda
repetitive mythology rhythmic tropical spiritual religious choral bittersweet
194 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.68 Average
Louis Armstrong - Louis and The Good Book, Cover art
Louis and The Good Book
Louis Armstrong
3.66 364 364 8 8
1958 Album
Vocal Jazz Traditional Black Gospel Gospel
Spirituals
Christian spiritual religious uplifting mellow melodic passionate soft
364 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.66 Average
Jean Ritchie - Singing the Traditional Songs of Her Kentucky Mountain Family, Cover art
Singing the Traditional Songs of Her Kentucky Mountain Family
Jean Ritchie
3.65 630 630 3 3
1952 Album
Appalachian Folk Music
A cappella
soft acoustic sparse folklore playful love passionate pastoral
630 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.65 Average
Mary O'Hara - Songs of Ireland, Cover art
Songs of Ireland
Mary O'Hara
3.63 995 995 7 7
1958 Album
Irish Folk Music
Sean-nós
playful peaceful warm folklore pastoral soothing mysterious soft
995 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.63 Average
Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin' Hopkins, Cover art
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
3.62 645 645 10 10
1959 Album
Acoustic Texas Blues
Spoken Word
alcohol lonely introspective crime raw acoustic melancholic
645 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.62 Average
John Lee Hooker - The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker, Cover art
The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
3.63 246 246 4 4
1959 Album
Country Blues Acoustic Blues
melancholic lonely acoustic raw calm longing breakup minimalistic
246 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.63 Average
Orquestra Afro-Brasileira - Obaluayê!, Cover art
Obaluayê!
Orquestra Afro-Brasileira
3.62 343 343 1 1
1957 Album
Afoxé Batucada Candomblé Music
Maracatu Jongo
passionate rhythmic hypnotic spiritual sombre tropical ritualistic tribal
343 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.62 Average
Mahalia Jackson - The World's Greatest Gospel Singer, Cover art
The World's Greatest Gospel Singer
Mahalia Jackson
3.62 175 175 7 7
14 March 1955 Album
Traditional Black Gospel
Blues
religious passionate Christian
175 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.62 Average
Ahmed Abdul-Malik - Jazz Sahara, Cover art
Jazz Sahara
Ahmed Abdul-Malik
3.58 422 422 9 9
March 1959 Album
Arabic Jazz Arabic Folk Music
Modal Jazz
422 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.58 Average
Patrick Clancy, Tom Clancy, Liam Clancy, Tommy Makem, and Jack Keenan - Come Fill Your Glass With Us, Cover art
Come Fill Your Glass With Us
Pat Clancy, Tom Clancy, Liam Clancy, Tommy Makem & Jack Keenan
3.57 418 418 5 5
1959 Album
Irish Folk Music
alcohol acoustic passionate melancholic playful sparse sentimental melodic
418 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.57 Average
Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals, Cover art
Angola Prison Spirituals
3.57 375 375 2 2
1959 Album
Spirituals Blues Traditional Black Gospel
Work Songs A cappella Country Blues
spiritual religious lonely Christian passionate acoustic
375 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.57 Average
Brasiliana de Miécio Askanasy - Arranjos e direção de José Prates (Solo vocal: Ivan de Paula) - Tam... Tam... Tam...!, Cover art
Tam... Tam... Tam...!
Brasiliana, Miécio Askanasy, José Prates & Ivan de Paula
3.57 203 203 3 3
1958 Album
Candomblé Music
Maracatu Samba
triumphant ritualistic rhythmic tropical warm acoustic uplifting spiritual
203 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.57 Average
Shirley Collins - Sweet England, Cover art
Sweet England
Shirley Collins
3.55 268 268 8 8
1959 Album
English Folk Music
melancholic pastoral
268 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.55 Average
Lolita Cuevas & Frantz Casseus - Haitian Folk Songs, Cover art
Haitian Folk Songs
Lolita Cuevas & Frantz Casseus
3.54 588 588 2 2
1954 Album
Caribbean Folk Music Haitian Music
peaceful summer mellow melancholic acoustic warm passionate soothing
588 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.54 Average
The Everly Brothers - The Everly Brothers, Cover art
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
3.53 529 529 11 11
December 1957 Album
Close Harmony Pop Rock & Roll
Country Pop Rockabilly
love energetic uplifting playful melodic
529 Ratings 11 Reviews 3.53 Average
Peggy Seeger - Folk Songs of Courting and Complaint, Cover art
Folk Songs of Courting and Complaint
Peggy Seeger
3.63 154 154 1 1
1955 Album
American Folk Music
Appalachian Folk Music
acoustic melodic melancholic soft rhythmic love
154 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.63 Average
Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee & Coyal McMahan - Get on Board: Negro Folksongs by the Folkmasters, Cover art
Get on Board: Negro Folksongs by the Folkmasters
Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee & Coyal McMahan
3.66 131 131 1 1
1952 Album
Piedmont Blues
Spirituals Work Songs
uplifting acoustic folklore energetic history passionate spiritual sombre
131 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.66 Average
The Louvin Brothers - Satan Is Real, Cover art
Satan Is Real
The Louvin Brothers
3.43 1k 1,182 29 29
16 November 1959 Album
Country Gospel Close Harmony
Bluegrass Gospel
Christian bittersweet death melodic mellow melancholic optimistic concept album
1k Ratings 29 Reviews 3.43 Average
Shirley Collins - False True Lovers, Cover art
False True Lovers
Shirley Collins
3.46 317 317 7 7
1959 Album
English Folk Music
Scottish Folk Music
folklore acoustic ballad forest peaceful nursery rhyme longing spring
317 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.46 Average
Pete Seeger - American Industrial Ballads, Cover art
American Industrial Ballads
Pete Seeger
3.47 267 267 7 7
1956 Album
American Folk Music Contemporary Folk
Work Songs
protest political death history depressive melodic playful
267 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.47 Average
Lightnin' Hopkins - Country Blues, Cover art
Country Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins
3.59 158 158 5 5
1959 Album
Acoustic Texas Blues
lo-fi lonely introspective calm melancholic acoustic pastoral
158 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.59 Average
Trío Aguilillas - Sones of Mexico, Cover art
Sones of Mexico
Trío Aguilillas
3.41 1k 1,049 8 8
1950 Album
Son jarocho Son calentano Son huasteco
warm happy passionate raw acoustic melodic pastoral uplifting
1k Ratings 8 Reviews 3.41 Average
Maximiliano Valencia & Raymondo Nocameya Lori - Yaqui Dances: The Pascola Music of the Yaqui Indians of Northern Mexico, Cover art
Yaqui Dances: The Pascola Music of the Yaqui Indians of Northern Mexico
Maximiliano Valencia & Raymondo Nocameya Lori
3.40 229 229 1 1
1957 Album
Indigenous American Traditional Music Indigenous North American Music
melodic warm repetitive happy acoustic pastoral instrumental ethereal
229 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.40 Average
The Everly Brothers - Songs Our Daddy Taught Us, Cover art
Songs Our Daddy Taught Us
The Everly Brothers
3.38 350 350 8 8
December 1958 Album
Close Harmony Folk Pop
Country Pop
acoustic peaceful vocal group pastoral soft melodic sentimental
350 Ratings 8 Reviews 3.38 Average
Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry - Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry Sing, Cover art
Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry Sing
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
3.82 101 101 2 2
1958 Album
Piedmont Blues
rhythmic bittersweet optimistic
101 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.82 Average
Alfonso Cruz Jiménez - Folk Songs of Mexico, Cover art
Folk Songs of Mexico
Alfonso Cruz Jiménez
3.73 111 111 2 2
1959 Album
Mexican Folk Music
melodic acoustic passionate love pastoral romantic
111 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.73 Average
Violeta Parra - El folklore de Chile, Cover art
El folklore de Chile
Violeta Parra
3.64 120 120 1 1
1957 Album
Hispanic American Folk Music Chilean Music
Canto a lo poeta Tonada chilena Cueca Polka Nueva canción latinoamericana
acoustic pastoral romantic Christian death poetic eclectic folklore
120 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.64 Average
Sorcha Ní Ghuairim - Traditional Irish Songs, Cover art
Traditional Irish Songs
Sorcha Ní Ghuairim
3.26 186 186 1 1
1957 Album
Sean-nós
Spoken Word Lullabies
a cappella melodic folklore minimalistic soft
186 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.26 Average
Fabre Duroseau - Haitian Piano, Cover art
Haitian Piano
Fabre Duroseau
3.24 282 282
1952 Album
Méringue Romanticism
acoustic instrumental improvisation
282 Ratings 3.24 Average
Merle Travis - The Merle Travis Guitar, Cover art
The Merle Travis Guitar
Merle Travis
3.70 93 93
1956 Album
Western Swing Piedmont Blues
Acoustic Blues Western Swing
instrumental
93 Ratings 3.70 Average
Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy, Patrick Clancy & Tom Clancy - The Rising of the Moon: Irish Songs of Rebellion, Cover art
The Rising of the Moon: Irish Songs of Rebellion
Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy, Patrick Clancy Tom Clancy
3.50 125 125 2 2
1956 Album
Irish Folk Music
rebellious nationalism patriotic political history longing acoustic melodic
125 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.50 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Sara Montiel - La violetera, Cover art
    La violetera
    1958 Album
    23 Ratings 3.07 Average
    3.07 23 23
  • Lola Flores - Lola Flores [aka La Faraona], Cover art
    Lola Flores [aka La Faraona]
    1955 Album
    9 Ratings 3.36 Average
    3.36 9 9
  • Sara Montiel - El último cuplé, Cover art
    El último cuplé
    1957 Album
    18 Ratings 1 Reviews 2.85 Average
    2.85 18 18 1 1
  • Sara Montiel - Carmen, la de Ronda, Cover art
    Carmen, la de Ronda
    1959 Album
    6 Ratings 3.25 Average
    3.25 6 6
  • Marian Anderson - The Lady From Philadelphia (Original Soundtrack of "See It Now"), Cover art
    The Lady From Philadelphia (Original Soundtrack of "See It Now")
    1958 Album
    3 Ratings 3.27 Average
    3.27 3 3
    • See all 5 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Mahalia Jackson - Newport 1958, Cover art
    Newport 1958
    1958 Album
    381 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.79 Average
    3.79 381 381 7 7
  • Harry Belafonte - Belafonte at Carnegie Hall, Cover art
    Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
    1959 Album
    242 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.75 Average
    3.75 242 242 10 10
  • Amália Rodrigues - À l'Olympia, Cover art
    À l'Olympia
    1957 Album
    72 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.65 Average
    3.65 72 72 2 2
  • Pete Seeger - With Voices Together We Sing, Cover art
    With Voices Together We Sing
    1956 Album
    22 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.58 Average
    3.58 22 22 2 2
  • The Weavers - The Weavers on Tour, Cover art
    The Weavers on Tour
    1957 Album
    18 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.70 Average
    3.70 18 18 3 3
    • See all 11 Include in main chart
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