Album Rewinds
Given the test of time and the wisdom of hindsight, how do significant albums from the past sound and play today? Our critics take a second look from a fresh perspective
Elton John’s ‘Tumbleweed Connection’: Raising the Stakes
The musical language that would define his work is all present on this early gem that solidified Elton’s writing partnership with Bernie Taupin.
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Finding a ‘Pearl’–Janis Joplin’s Last Hurrah
It remains her most fully realized record, fronting the best band she would ever lead on her strongest set of material.
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Bob Dylan’s ‘Desire’: Story Time
Songs from the best-selling album continued to be heavily featured in the Rolling Thunder Revue live performances.
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Steve Winwood ‘Arc of a Diver’: Leaving the Past Behind
His most successful solo record, it allowed him to stand apart from the earlier work he had spawned with Traffic, Blind Faith and the Spencer Davis Group.
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The Band ‘Rock of Ages’: Their Live Pinnacle?
It belongs on any short list of the best live albums ever, while serving as a coda to the group’s groundbreaking influence.
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‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’—The Rolling Stones’ Worst, or An Unfairly Maligned Gem?
Some say it was little more than a ‘Sgt. Pepper’ ripoff. Others consider it one of their most original LPs. We gave a fresh listen.
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The Who’s Debut Album, ‘My Generation’: Sharks Circling in the Water
The 1965 album is a singular debut that “couldn’t have been made by anyone save these four men,” says our writer.
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‘Running on Empty’: Jackson Browne’s Romance of the Road
The 1977 LP was his most surprising, least typical album, a game-changer that updated his identity from folk-rock troubadour to rock headliner.
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‘Slowhand’: Eric Clapton’s 1977 Platinum Balancing Act
The album offers a lucid balance of technical mastery and artistic modesty. It became his best-selling studio LP to date upon its release.
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The Beatles’ White Album: Facts and Trivia
At the same time they were maturing, they were leaving behind the Beatles. Here are some fascinating details on all 30 tracks on their ’68 masterpiece.
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