The 1960s

(Great to Masterpiece) The number next to the band indicates how many albums I recommend.

Runner-Ups

Country:
Jerry Lee Lewis (2)
Merle Haggard (1) *****

International:
Joao Gilberto (1) *****

Jazz/Fusion:
George Benson (1) *****
Ida Cox (1)
Illinois Jacquet (1)
John Coltrane (2)
The Tony Williams Lifetime (1)

Musical:
West Side Story

Pop/R&B:
Aretha Franklin (1)
Etta James (1)
Isaac Hayes (1)
James Brown (1)
James Carr (1)
Nico (1)
Otis Redding (1)
Sam Cooke (1)
Sly & the Family Stone (1)
William Bell (1) *****

Rock/Folk:
Albert King (1) *****
The Allman Brothers Band (1)
The Animals (1) *****
B.B. King (1) *****
The Band (2) *****
The Beach Boys (2) *****
The Beatles (11) *****
Big Brother & Holding Company (1) *****
Blood, Sweat & Tears (1)
Bob Dylan (8) *****
Buffalo Springfield (1) *****
The Byrds (3) *****
Captain Beefheart (2) *****
Charlie Musselwhite (1) *****
Chuck Berry (1) *****
Creedence Clearwater Revival (2) *****
Davy Graham (1) *****
Dillard & Clark (1) *****
Doc Watson (2)
Donovan (1) *****
The Doors (2) *****
Dr. John (1)
The Everly Brothers (1)
The Flying Burrito Brothers (1) *****
Frank Zappa (1) *****
Fred Neil (1) *****
Gordon Lightfoot (1)
Jeff Beck (1) *****
Jefferson Airplane (1) *****
Jerry Lee Lewis (1)
Jimi Hendrix (2) *****
Joan Baez (1) *****
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers (1) *****
Johnny Winter (1)
King Crimson (1) ** Youtube Only **
The Kinks (4) *****
Led Zeppelin (2) *****
Leonard Cohen (1) *****
Love (2) *****
Magic Sam (1) *****
Moby Grape (1) ** Youtube Only **
Neil Young (1) *****
Nick Drake (1) *****
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (2) *****
Quicksilver Messenger Service (1)
The Rolling Stones (6) *****
Santana (1) *****
Silver Apples (1)
Simon & Garfunkel (2)
Small Faces (2)
Soft Machine (1)
The Stooges (1)
Taj Mahal (2) *****
Traffic (1) *****
Van Morrison (1) *****
The Velvet Underground (3) *****
The Who (2) *****
The Zombies (1) *****