Uncovering the Next Generation's Hall of Fame

| ⇦ 1950 | 1952 ⇨ |
The Best Music of 1951
Here is a selection of the best albums and songs from 1951. Hall of Famers are highlighted in orange.
For a list of the top artists who made their debut recording in 1951, check out this list.
| Albums (?) | Wikipedia | |
| Bud Powell | The Amazing Bud Powell | ☆ |
| Duke Ellington and His Orchestra | Masterpieces by Ellington | ☆ |
| Miles Davis | Blue Period | ☆ |
| Original Broadway Cast | The King and I | ☆ |
| Sarah Vaughan | Sarah Vaughan Sings | ☆ |
| Thelonious Monk | Genius of Modern Music (Volume 1) | ☆ |
| Various Artists | An American in Paris (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ☆ |
| Various Artists | Porgy and Bess | ☆ |
| Songs (?) | Wikipedia | |
| B. B. King | Three O'Clock Blues | ☆ |
| Big Joe Turner | Chains of Love | ☆ |
| Billie Holiday | Lover Man | ☆ |
| Bing Crosby | It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas | ☆ |
| Charles Brown | Seven Long Days | ☆ |
| Charles Brown and His Band | Black Night | ☆ |
| Dinah Shore | Sweet Violets | ☆ |
| Elmore James | Dust My Broom | ☆ |
| Fats Domino | Don't You Lie to Me | ☆ |
| Hank Williams | Hey Good Lookin' | ☆ |
| Hank Williams | Cold, Cold Heart | ☆ |
| Howlin' Wolf | How Many More Years | ☆ |
| Jackie Brenston | Rocket 88 | ☆ |
| Johnnie Ray | Cry | ☆ |
| Les Paul & Mary Ford | How High The Moon | ☆ |
| Nat "King" Cole | Unforgettable | ☆ |
| Nat "King" Cole | Too Young | ☆ |
| Rosemary Clooney | Come On-a My House | ☆ |
| Sonny Boy Williamson II | Eyesight to the Blind | ☆ |
| The Clovers | Fool, Fool, Fool | ☆ |
| The Dominoes | Sixty Minute Man | ☆ |
| The Dominoes | Harbor Lights | ☆ |
| The Orioles | You Are My First Love | ☆ |
| The Stanley Brothers | I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow | ☆ |
| The Weavers | On Top Of Old Smokey | ☆ |
| The Weavers | Wimoweh | ☆ |
| Tony Bennett | Cold, Cold Heart | ☆ |
| Wynonie Harris | Bloodshot Eyes | ☆ |
| ⇦ 1950 | 1952 ⇨ |