27. The Everly Brothers - A Date With The Everlys

Release Date: 1960
Label: Warner Bros.

Now, I'm no expert when it comes to dating, but it's advisable not to date two guys at the same time if you can help it. It's probably recommended that you don't date two guys who are likely to know each other; I'd even go as far as saying you shouldn't date brothers. You should definitely not date brothers at the same time so they both feel inspired to write a whole album about you and then screw them over by leaving them both for some other dude at the end of it. Yes Cathy, I'm speaking to you!

I am a big fan of The Everly Brothers, so I was looking forward to this, and it did not disappoint. It was short, sharp and to the point. The harmonies are glorious and I could listen to the record again and again. The only thing preventing it from getting 5/5 is because, at under thirty minutes, it feels a little short. No doubt one of the reasons why Cathy left them both for the clown.

Overall: 8.5/10
Favourite Track: Love Hurts

Next Album: Jimmy Smith - Back At The Chicken Shack

26. Miriam Makeba- Miriam Makeba

Release Date: 1960
Label: RCA Victor

Unfortunately this album wasn't available on Spotify.

Next Album: The Everly Brothers-  A Date With The Everly Brothers

25. Elvis Presley- Elvis is Back!

Release Date: 1960
Label: RCA

If the first Elvis album in the list is the one to play during the party, this second offering is the album to play when you've walked your date home for the night and gone in for a cup of coffee. It begins with the upbeat 'Make Me Know It' and immediately slows down with Elvis's cover of 'Fever', which is a surprising highlight. I can only presume the criteria for songs on this album were 'ones you can dance in the kitchen too'. It's probably not 'cool' to admit it, but this was far better than his self-titled debut in the sense that it was more structured and less all over the place.

Overall: 7/10
Favourite Track: The Girl of My Best Friend

Next Album: Miriam Makeba- Miriam Makeba

24. Joan Baez- Joan Baez

Release Date: 1960
Label: Vanguard

Taking us softly into the 1960s is the charming self-titled debut from Joan Baez. I must admit, I came to this with skepticism, and although it dragged a little towards the end, it was by no means the terrible record I was expecting. She can certainly sings, and although the songs are generally what you'd expect from a folk album, there are no space-fillers. Surprisingly it ends with a song sung entirely in Spanish, I've no idea what the song is about though.

Overall: 7/10
Favourite Track: All My Trials

Next Album: Elvis Presley- Elvis Back!

23. The Dave Brubeck Quarter - Time Out

Release Date: 1959
Label: Columbia

I've not logged into this blog for nearly four years, so it's difficult to remember how I felt about Time Out when I first listened to it. However, the fact I bought it suggests I enjoyed it quite a lot. Therefore, I won't review the album again, and instead I'll go straight into the 1960s with Joan Baez.

Overall: 8/10
Favourite Track: Take Five

Next Album: Joan Baez - Joan Baez

22. Marty Robbins- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs

Release Date: 1959
Label: CBS

After a couple of 'poorer' efforts from Miles Davis and Ray Charles, it was nice to listen to something that I could enjoy. Occasionally country music gets a bad reputation, but I've always had a soft spot for the Nashville Blues. If that phrase hasn't been used before, I'm claiming it by the way. I don't know much about Matry Robbins- I don't even know if he's still alive- (I've just checked, he died in 1982)- but I'm fully prepared to explore some more of his work after listening to this record- which is described by allmusic as the 'the single most influential album of Western songs in post-World War II American music'. Of course, one of the problems of listening to a single album by an artist you're otherwise naive towards is that sometimes it's unrewarding because it's not always representive of their other work.

Overall: 8.5/10
Favourite Track: They're Hanging Me Tonight.

21. Miles Davis- A Kind of Blue

Release Date: 1959
Label: Columbia

Second time around for Miles Davis, and the album which is generally regarded as the best of his career. Not by me though. I once owned A Kind of Blue, but I took it back to the man behind the counter. I have never understood its appeal (obviously my slight jazzphobia is partly to blame). I make no attempt to suggest it's not as good as critical/public opinion says it is; it's just not for me. I think there's a few more records to come from Miles so hopefully I'll appreciate those more. Otherwise I'll just have to suffer.

Overall: 6/10
Favourite Track: So What

Next Album: Marty Robbins- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs