Foot-stompin’ boogie plus prog equals…superstardom? It did for Kansas, who had the songcraft to back up their utterly unique concept. Here are their charting LPs Kansas (’74), Song for America and... more
Bands from the Beatles to Pink Floyd knew Parsons’ studio skills; the rest of the world discovered the producer after he started sending LPs up the charts in the ’70s. Pyramid (’78, #25), Eve (’79,... more
There certainly was a high degree of emotional power in Fleetwood Mac’s later pop recordings—but these early albums pack their own punch thanks to the band’s passion for blues and the searing strings... more
Soft Machine’s psychedelic jazz-rock really hit its surreal stride on Third (’70), their 2-LP debut for Columbia. Their trip got even stranger on the classic Fourth (’71) before the band dove fully... more
The amazingly prolific, endlessly energetic Randy California sure left us a whole lot to still discover. Joined by a booklet with a new essay and period photos, these 6 CDs gather 1979–83 studio and... more
Heart reached their apex of pop success with their 1985 self-titled LP full of synths and ballads. This set, though, takes us to the "heart" of the era when the Wilson sisters led one of the baddest... more
Each one of these 1969–72 LPs saw these UK art-rockers take a bigger step toward the top of the U.S. charts: "On the Threshold of a Dream" (#20), "To Our Children’s Children" (#14), "A Question of... more
The prolific beginnings of the greatest British folk-rock band of all time are brought together in complete form! Their 1968–70 LPs "Fairport Convention," "What We Did on Our Holidays,"... more
Following his success with the Blues Project and Blood, Sweat & Tears—and his triumphs with Mike Bloomfield—Al put out his own streak of excellent LPs on Columbia. Here are five from his... more
While the Byrds and Mamas & Papas mixed up folk-rock, psych-pop and good vibes on the West Coast, John Sebastian led the Lovin’ Spoonful to similar pastures—and heights of success—from NYC. Here are... more
This NY band had stronger songwriting chops than most of their so-called "hair-metal" brethren—but their late-’80s ascendance was, like so many other hard-rockin’ bands, snuffed out by grunge in the... more
In the U.S., Pilot scored a #5 smash with "Magic" and two minor hits with "January" and "Just a Smile." In the UK, they hit #1 with "January" and the Top 40 with "Magic," "Call Me Round" and "Just a... more
Few watching the Monkees knew that Texas-born Michael Nesmith was already a professional musician who’d done Stax/Volt session work—and who would later be one of the principal architects of... more
King rose from songwriter for the stars to a superstar in her own right with "Tapestry" (’71). This set picks up her career in ’77 with "Simple Things" then follows her through the rest of the ’70s... more
Rick is one of the all-time prog-rock kings of the keyboard, but he displays his mastery of classical, folk and funk, too, as you hear five pillars of his career: "The Six Wives of Henry VIII,"... more
Mixing jazz-rock invention with pop-chart conquest, BS&T packed a lot of brilliance and success into their 1968–72 prime. This set covers that whole stretch, from the band’s creation by Al Kooper to... more
Expanding Beatles-esque hooks with orchestral grandeur, ELO brought an epic new sound to rock. Here’s their early gem On the Third Day (’73), Top 10 LPs Face the Music (’75), A New World Record (’76)... more
The Steve Perry era well underway, Journey voyaged to the upper reaches of the charts on the back of that majestically soaring voice with Departure (’80), Escape (’81) and Frontiers (’83). Here are... more
Carlos reunited with Buddy Miles and many original Santana members on 1987’s Freedom. Leading up to that are four Top 40 LPs: Inner Secrets (’78), Marathon (’79), Zebop! (’81) and Shango (’82). Whole... more
In the early ’70s, Nugent scraped the charts with the Amboy Dukes. In ’75, he started a solo career that sent all these to the Top 40: Ted Nugent (’75), Free-for-All (’76), Cat Scratch Fever (’77),... more
This set centers on the apex of EWF’s success: 1975–79, when they sent That’s the Way of the World and Gratitude to #1 and Spirit, All ’n All and I Am to the Top 10. Smoldering soul ballads and... more
We file her under folk-rock, but Sandy was a soul-stirring songstress of the highest order no matter what she was singing, be it her own beguiling songs or her transfixing twists on ones penned by... more
The Byrds’ leader put out a streak of excellent LPs after that band split up, and here are the first five: "Roger McGuinn," "Peace on You," "Roger McGuinn & Band," "Cardiff Rose" and "Thunderbyrd."... more
Their guitar-powered jams made ’em famous in the South, but these Florida rockers were such excellent tunesmiths that the local charts couldn’t hold ’em. Here are their nationally charting 1978–83... more
The sublime high tenor of Simon & Garfunkel soared exquisitely on Art’s 1973 solo debut, "Angel Clare." "Breakaway" (’75) gave him his second Top 10 LP, and 1978’s "Watermark" was a big hit, too.... more
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