1963 was a transitional, formative year for long-playing albums. At this point in time, an album a relatively new commodity, and the buying public still approached them as some sort of novelty item, reserved for jazz artists, and ‘serious’ music.

Rock and roll was under-represented, and sold poorly when compared to Broadway soundtracks and popular folk artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary. This would change overnight with the Beatles’ LPs in 1964, but things were still a bit staid in 1963.

Here is a representation of albums from the pre-Beatle era;

1) Farmer’s Daughter – The Beach Boys (“Surfin’ USA’)

2) Shut Down – The Beach Boys (“Surfin’ USA’)

3) Girl from the North Country – Bob Dylan (“The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”)

4) Masters of War – Bob Dylan (“The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”)

5) Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright – Bob Dylan (“The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”)

6) I’ll Go Crazy – James Brown (“Live at the Apollo”)

7) Lost Someone – James Brown (“Live at the Apollo”)

8) Medley – James Brown (“Live at the Apollo”)

9) Summer Night – Miles Davis

10) Spike Driver Blues – Mississippi John Hurt (Avalon Blues”)