The Vanguard Years is the title of a recording by American folk music and country blues artist Doc Watson, released in 1995.

There are 16 previously unreleased performances included that are live duets between Doc and his son Merle.

Music critic Richie Unterberger praises the release in his review for Allmusic writing "This was Doc's best period recording-wise, and certainly you couldn't hope for a better document of his virtuosity" but also qualifies his review, writing "It's too much, however, for listeners who aren't big fans; Vanguard's Essential Doc Watson is a more economical survey.

"[1] Mark Ray of No Depression wrote "By definition, The Vanguard Years is not a completist’s collection, although it is an expansive project, and much of Watson’s most popular work is represented here.

More interesting, though, is the lesser-known material, on which Watson can be heard evolving his famous flatpicking style...