Robert Christgau's 1968 Jazz & Pop Ballot

Jazz: No choices

Pop:

1. Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding (Columbia) [MV 19]
2. Byrds: Notorious Byrd Brothers (Columbia) [PSG 17]
3. Janis Joplin: Cheap Thrills (Columbia) [FV 12]
4. The Who: The Who Sell Out (Decca) [PSG 11]
5. Grateful Dead: Anthem of the Sun (Warner Bros.) [PSG 9]
6. Byrds: Sweetheart of the Rodeo (Columbia) [PSG 8]
7. Sweet Inspirations: Sweet Inspirations (Atlantic) [FV 6]
8. Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request (London) [PSG 6]
9. Randy Newman: Randy Newman (Reprise) [MV 6]
10. Otis Redding: The Immortal Otis Redding (Atco) [MV 6]

Pop Musician of the Year: Bob Dylan

Best Pop Song: Bob Dylan: All Along the Watchtower

Best Pop Arrangement: The Box Tops: Cry Like a Baby

Notes

From the article:

Each of the participating critics was asked to select what he or she considered the ten best records of the year and to allot them one hundred points in all, but not more than thirty and not less than five to any one. Although it was not insisted upon, each was also asked to make at least one choice in six jazz categories as follows: Big Band (BB); Small Group (SG), of less than ten pieces; Piano (P); Vocal (V), male, female or group; Blues (B), vocal or instrumental; and Re-issue (R). For obvious reasons, the Reissue category was kept separate from the others in checking the Top Twenty Jazz Albums of 1968.

In the pop field, each participating critic was asked to make at least one choice in three pop categories, as follows: Pop Small Group (PSG); Male Vocal (MV); and Female Vocal (FV).

In both jazz and pop divisions, critics were further requested to elect a Musician of the Year; Best Composition of the Year; and Best Arrangement of the Year.

Eligible albums were those issued between October 1st, 1967 and September 30th, 1968. Where ineligible albums were voted for, they are shown in the critic's listing but not included in the final tabulation.

Jazz & Pop, 1968