Top 5 New Rock Music Artists
of Each Year 1960-1979

Lesley Gore and Van Halen
Criteria: Here are the top 5 new rock artists of each year. In order to qualify in a given year the artist has to have had his first ever release in that year (single, EP or album). The artists were ranked based upon initial popularity, lasting popularity, impact and influence of ONLY their records that were released in that calendar year.

Last Updated: 2012-06-08
New Rock Music Artists of Each Year 1960-1979
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1960    1960 Top 100 Songs
  1. Gary U.S. Bonds
  2. Carla Thomas
  3. Mary Wells
  4. (Ike &) Tina Turner
  5. Maxine Brown
Gary U.S. Bonds
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1961    1961 Top 100 Songs
  1. Del Shannon
  2. Marcels
  3. Marvelettes
  4. Jive Five
  5. Gene Chandler
Del Shannon
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1962    1962 Top 100 Songs
  1. Four Seasons
  2. Little Eva
  3. Booker T. & the MG's
  4. Peter, Paul & Mary
  5. Beatles
Four Seasons
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1963    1963 Top 100 Songs
  1. Lesley Gore
  2. Tymes
  3. Darlene Love
  4. Kingsmen
  5. Searchers
Lesley Gore
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1964    1964 Top 100 Songs
  1. Animals
  2. Kinks
  3. Shangri-Las
  4. Zombies
  5. Yardbirds
Animals
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1965    1965 Top 100 Songs
  1. Lovin' Spoonful
  2. Mamas & Papas
  3. Vogues
  4. McCoys
  5. Donovan
Lovin' Spoonful
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1966    1966 Top 100 Songs
  1. Monkees
  2. Percy Sledge
  3. Buffalo Springfield
  4. Cream
  5. Blues Magoos
Monkees
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1967    1967 Top 100 Songs
  1. Doors
  2. Box Tops
  3. Procol Harum
  4. Traffic
  5. Pink Floyd
Doors
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1968    1968 Top 100 Songs
  1. Steppenwolf
  2. Iron Butterfly
  3. The Band
  4. Three Dog Night
  5. Blue Cheer
Steppenwolf
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1969    1969 Top 100 Songs
  1. Led Zeppelin
  2. Crosby, Stills & Nash
  3. Santana
  4. King Crimson
  5. Chicago Transit Authority
Led Zeppelin
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1970    1970 Top 100 Songs
  1. Black Sabbath
  2. Emerson, Lake and Palmer
  3. Main Ingredient
  4. White Plains
  5. Partridge Family
Black Sabbath
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1971    1971 Top 100 Songs
  1. Bill Withers
  2. Undisputed Truth
  3. America
  4. Persuaders
  5. The 8th Day
Bill Withers
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1972    1972 Top 100 Songs
  1. Eagles
  2. Steely Dan
  3. Raspberries
  4. Jackson Browne
  5. Gary Glitter
Eagles
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1973    1973 Top 100 Songs
  1. Bruce Springsteen
  2. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
  3. Aerosmith
  4. Marshall Tucker Band
  5. New York Dolls
Bruce Springsteen
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1974    1974 Top 100 Songs
  1. Bad Company
  2. B.T. Express
  3. Blackbyrds
  4. Graham Central Station
  5. Ace
Bad Company
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1975    1975 Top 100 Songs
  1. Natalie Cole
  2. Silver Bird Convention
  3. Outlaws
  4. Pete Wingfield
  5. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
Natalie Cole
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1976    1976 Top 100 Songs
  1. Boston
  2. Heart
  3. Ramones
  4. Sex Pistols
  5. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Boston
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1977    1977 Top 100 Songs
  1. Elvis Costello
  2. Foreigner
  3. The Clash
  4. Talking Heads
  5. George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Elvis Costello
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1978    1978 Top 100 Songs
  1. Van Halen
  2. Cars
  3. Dire Straits
  4. B-52s
  5. Squeeze
Van Halen
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1979    1979 Top 100 Songs
  1. The Knack
  2. Christopher Cross
  3. Sugarhill Gang
  4. Pretenders
  5. Madness
The Knack








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