Top 10 Albums of 1951

The 10 Best Albums of 1951

In 1951, Libya became an independent nation, J.D. Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup and Thelonious Monk made the best album of the year.

As discussed in the Top 10 Albums of 1950, the “album format” as we know it had yet to gain traction, which is why these Colin’s Review Best Of lists from ’50-’54 are only limited to 10 selections as opposed to the customary Top 25. This increases the likelihood for intriguing statistical anomalies. For instance, I’ll check the charts, but I’m pretty sure that this is the only occasion with three country albums in the Top 10.

Does this mean that 1951 was the greatest year for country music ever? Sure, maybe, perhaps, yes. Even though the genre isn’t my usual cup of tea, I can’t deny greatness when I hear it. The albums by Hank Williams (#4) and Les Paul & Mary Ford (#2) are two of the genre’s all-time masterpieces, while the debut of Lefty Frizzell (#6) is aided by the readymade genius of Jimmie Rodgers.

Nevertheless, every LP from 1951 is overshadowed by Thelonious Monk’s bebop jazz masterpiece, Genius of Modern Music Vol. 1, which also bears the distinction of being the decade’s first A+ recording (even though the sessions date back to 1947). An even bigger distinction: Genius isn’t even Monk’s greatest work (see the Top 25 Albums of 1957 or the 50 Best Songs of the 1940s for further reading). He’ll be a staple on these lists for the rest of his career, .

And so, without further ado, here are the 10 best albums of 1951.

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10. The Lester Young Trio

Artist: Lester Young

Genre: Jazz

Buddy Rich on drums, Nat King Cole on piano and the Prez himself, the legendary Lester Young, on tenor sax. Quite a trio, and quite an album, too. The music of the Lester Young Trio is relaxing and inspired, every song a swinging showcase of each musician’s talents. With great interplay and memorable solos, this is a must-listen for any jazz fan. Continue reading…

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9. Mary Lou Williams

Artist: Mary Lou Williams

Genre: Bebop

Released in 1951 as a 10” LP on Atlantic Records, this self-titled Mary Lou Williams set finds the incomparable pianist in peak form. Backed only by soft bass and drums, Williams’ modernist melodies are given free room to roam. Recommended for fans of Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans and Erik Satie. Continue reading…

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8. City of Glass

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz

Stan Kenton’s City of Glass is probably the bandleader’s most experimental record. The music is filled with dissonance and polytonality and nods to German serialism. It hardly sounds like jazz, and it’s barely recognizable as classical — more out there than anything by Coltrane or Coleman. Not an easy listen, but if you can appreciate the cacophonous tone clusters, you’ll recognize that this is probably the most daring jazz album ever. Continue reading…

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7. Satchmo at Pasadena

Artist: Louis Armstrong

Genre: Jazz

Recorded live on January 30, 1951, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, three decades since they popularized — and perfected — jazz itself, Satchmo at Pasadena finds Louis Armstrong and his All Stars at the top of their game, delivering an energetic and lively performance. The concert is highlighted by Armstrong and Velma Middleton’s duet rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”: the funniest and most self-aware version of the holiday standard ever recorded. I laugh my ass off every single time I hear it. Brilliant stuff. Pure comedy. Continue reading…

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6. Songs of Jimmie Rodgers 

Artist: Lefty Frizzell

Genre: Country

A bold move for 23-year-old country musician Lefty Frizzell to cover The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers for his debut LP, but the newcomer is talented enough to pull it off. It helps that he’s got one of the smoothest singing voices ever, breathing new life into some of the best songs of the 1920s and ’30s, updating the classics for a brand new honky-tonkin’ audience. Continue reading…

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5. Masterpieces by Ellington

Artist: Duke Ellington

Genre: Jazz

One of the first 12″ LPs ever released, the aptly-titled Masterpieces by Ellington, recording consists of four lengthy standards, which allows plenty of room for relaxed and inspired soloing. Ellington’s big band perfects a swaying brand of lazy swing that sounds truly timeless. This is the rare Instant Cheer-Up Record — something that can be listened to at any time to brighten your day. Continue reading…

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4. Hank Williams Sings 

Artist: Hank Williams

Genre: Country

Released in 1951, featuring songs released from 1946-’49, Hank Williams Sings — the debut LP from the greatest country musician of all time — is a spellbinding blend of downtrodden melodies and steel guitars, the purest distillation of the genre ever produced.. Continue reading…

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3. Piano Interpretations

Artist: Wynton Kelly

Genre: Jazz

19-year-old Wynton Kelly was a terrific pianist who followed in the bebop blueprint of Bud Powell, with a relaxed style of playing that gave his arrangements plenty of room to breathe. Piano Interpretations is probably the greatest album he ever recorded as a bandleader. Every song is graceful and plaintive, filled with sonorous texture and a strong emphasis on mood and melody. Continue reading…

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2. Les Paul’s New Sound, Vol. 2

Artist: Les Paul & Mary Ford

Genre: Country

Country in name only, this vastly underrated LP is a sublime combination of rock ‘n’ roll, dream pop and jazzy improvisation. Les Paul’s guitar playing is cerebral, and when combined with the vocal melodies of spouse Mary Ford, the sound is timeless. Whether rave-up (“In the Good Old Summer Time”) or slow-moving ballad (“The Lonesome Road”), Ford’s voice has a stunning sense of control only equalled by her husband’s pioneering fretwork. Continue reading…

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1. Genius of Modern Music (Volume 1)

Artist: Thelonious Monk

Genre: Bebop

Originally recorded in 1947, the eight songs that make up the Genius of Modern Music (Volume One) compilation LP bristle with innovation and discovery. Each measure finds Thelonious Monk inventing something new — from the jittery rhythms of “Misterioso” to the angular melodies of “Thelonious” — this is music that eerily foretells the shape of jazz to come. One of the greatest collections of all time. Continue reading…