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
Johnny Cash ‘Unchained’ With Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
For one of his final recordings, he teamed with the great rock band. “I was with a bunch of people and we had fun,” he said.
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Elton John’s ‘Madman Across the Water’: A Blue Jean Baby
He was everywhere in 1971 but still hadn’t quite found his way. Then he released the first album that defined his singular gifts.
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‘Wildflowers’: Tom Petty’s Heartbroken Solo Masterpiece
Petty called it his favorite album. Its generous song list only hinted at the virtual torrent of material he was creating during this period.
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‘The Who By Numbers’: Back to Basics
After an eight-year odyssey of releasing concept albums, the original quartet put together a set of unrelated songs that found favor with their fans.
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The Supremes at Their Peak With A’ Go-Go: Review
The expanded edition of the Motown trio’s first—and only—studio album to hit #1 includes mono and stereo mixes plus loads and loads of covers.
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Al Stewart and ‘Year of the Cat’: Musical Cinema
He liked the title track, but didn’t consider it suitable as a single, until producer Alan Parsons and the record company convinced him of its destiny.
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Traveling Wilburys’ Debut: Just Your Basic Dylan-Petty-Harrison-Orbison-Lynne Supergroup
Their unexpected union was a landmark combining an array of distinctive voices into something no individual could create alone.
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Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood ‘Live from Madison Square Garden’: Return of the Supergroup
Following their early teamups, they kept in touch, waiting for the right moment to collaborate again.
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‘John Prine’: A Debut for the Ages for a Songwriter’s Songwriter
The album is a quiet masterpiece, a portrait of a young singer-songwriter already fully formed and crafting songs for the ages.
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The ‘Swinging’ Dire Straits Breakthrough Debut Album
“Sultans of Swing” was immediately distinctive in both sound and story. The album proved the band to be one of the most refreshingly creative of its day.
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