List of Hot Country Albums number ones of 1964

Singer Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash had the first number one on the country albums chart.

Top Country Albums is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music albums in the United States, published by Billboard. The magazine had published an overall albums chart since 1945, but a chart specifically for country albums was not launched until the issue dated January 11, 1964. During the remainder of the year, nine different albums topped the chart, which was at the time published under the title Hot Country Albums, based on sales reports submitted by a representative sample of stores nationwide.[1]

The number-one album on the first published chart was the compilation album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash by Johnny Cash. After a single week in the top spot it was displaced by Night Life by Ray Price. Cash's album returned to the top of the chart, however, in the issue of Billboard dated February 8 and remained there for 13 consecutive weeks, the year's longest unbroken run at number one. Cash achieved a second chart-topper in August with I Walk the Line, and the total of 18 weeks which he spent atop the chart was the most by any artist in 1964. Cash is regarded as one of the most influential and successful country music artists of all time and his recording career spanned six decades,[2] but his success on the albums chart was largely confined to the 1960s; after 1971 he would not achieve another number one until after his 2003 death.[2][3]

In addition to Cash, two other vocalists achieved two chart-topping albums in 1964. Buck Owens spent two weeks at number one in January and February with Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins and six weeks atop the chart with Together Again/My Heart Skips a Beat, which was the year's final chart-topper. Owens was one of the biggest stars in country music in the mid-1960s, achieving a run of 15 consecutive chart-toppers on the Hot Country Singles chart between 1963 and 1967.[4] Jim Reeves spent eight weeks at number one on the albums listing beginning in the issue of Billboard dated July 4 with Moonlight and Roses and the same amount of time in the top spot with The Best of Jim Reeves beginning in the issue dated September 26. Moonlight and Roses was at number one when Reeves died in an aviation accident on July 31.[5] The Best of Jim Reeves also entered the top 10 of Billboard's all-genre albums chart, at the time known as Top LPs, his only release to do so.[6] On the country albums chart he would go on to achieve many more posthumous top 10 hits.[7] Every album to reach number one in 1964 was by a male vocalist; it would not be until July 1965 that an album by a female artist would top the chart for the first time.[8]

Chart history

Musician Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins topped the chart with Guitar Country.
Singer Buck Owens
Buck Owens had two chart-topping albums.
Singer Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves spent a total of 16 weeks at number one. His album Moonlight and Roses was in the top spot when he died on July 31.
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 11 Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash [9]
January 18 Night Life Ray Price [10]
January 25 Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins Buck Owens [11]
February 1 [12]
February 8 Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash [13]
February 15 [14]
February 22 [15]
February 29 [16]
March 7 [17]
March 14 [18]
March 21 [19]
March 28 [20]
April 4 [21]
April 11 [22]
April 18 [23]
April 25 [24]
May 2 [25]
May 9 Guitar Country Chet Atkins [26]
May 16 [27]
May 23 [28]
May 30 [29]
June 6 [30]
June 13 [31]
June 20 More Hank Snow Souvenirs Hank Snow [32]
June 27 [33]
July 4 Moonlight and Roses Jim Reeves [34]
July 11 [35]
July 18 [36]
July 25 [37]
August 1 [38]
August 8 [39]
August 15 [40]
August 22 [41]
August 29 I Walk the Line Johnny Cash [42]
September 5 [43]
September 12 [44]
September 19 [45]
September 26 The Best of Jim Reeves Jim Reeves [46]
October 3 [47]
October 10 [48]
October 17 [49]
October 24 [50]
October 31 [51]
November 7 [52]
November 14 [53]
November 21 Together Again/My Heart Skips a Beat Buck Owens and his Buckaroos [54]
November 28 [55]
December 5 [56]
December 12 [57]
December 19 [58]
December 26 [59]

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 6. ISBN 9780898201734.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Johnny Cash Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. pp. 53–54. ISBN 9780898201734.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Buck Owens Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  5. ^ Vinopal, David. "Jim Reeves Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  6. ^ "Jim Reeves Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. pp. 208–209. ISBN 9780898201734.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 333. ISBN 9780898201734.
  9. ^ "Country Albums chart for January 11, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "Country Albums chart for January 18, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  11. ^ "Country Albums chart for January 25, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  12. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 1, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  13. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 8, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  14. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 15, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  15. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 22, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  16. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 29, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  17. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 7, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 14, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  19. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 21, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 28, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  21. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 4, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 11, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  23. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 18, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  24. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 25, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  25. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 2, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  26. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 9, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  27. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 16, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  28. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 23, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  29. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 30, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  30. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 6, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  31. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 13, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  32. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 20, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  33. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 27, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  34. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 4, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  35. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 11, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  36. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 18, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  37. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 25, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  38. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 1, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  39. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 8, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  40. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 15, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  41. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 22, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  42. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 29, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  43. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 5, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  44. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 12, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  45. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 19, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  46. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 26, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  47. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 3, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  48. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 10, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  49. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 17, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  50. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 24, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  51. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 31, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  52. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 7, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  53. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 14, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  54. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 21, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  55. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 28, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  56. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 5, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  57. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 12, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  58. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 19, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  59. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 26, 1964". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019.