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

Rod Stewart’s ‘Never a Dull Moment’: Another Step Forward

Collaborating with Ronnie Wood and his other mates in the Faces, the singer’s formula of mixing original tunes with covers proved successful.

Read More

The Eric Clapton Solo Debut LP: A Long Way From Home

With help from some of rock’s greatest songwriters and musicians, the former Cream/Blind Faith guitarist launched his solo career with a gem of an LP.

Read More

‘Countdown to Ecstasy’: Musical Adventures From Steely Dan

If the songcraft displayed on the first album reflected their Brill Building apprenticeship, the new material proved more open-ended—and more sophisticated

Read More

The Souther Hillman Furay Band’s Debut LP: Less Than the Sum of its Parts

The Souther Hillman Furay Band accomplished its commercial mission and displayed the stylistic DNA of the Byrds, Poco and, yes, the Eagles.

Read More

ELO’s ‘Xanadu’ Soundtrack With ON-J: Magic, All Over the World

With music from two popular acts, the soundtrack more than survived the 1980 film’s mixed reviews.

Read More

‘John Barleycorn’: From Winwood Solo Project to Traffic Reunion

The 1970 album morphed into a full-blown Traffic reunion with the addition of Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to the fold.

Read More

The Band and Their Pioneering ‘Music From Big Pink’: Review

The album offered quiet songs of experience bathed in a rustic glow, with no hints of the futurism and none of the kilowatt drama then prevalent elsewhere in rock.

Read More

Bob Dylan ‘Blonde on Blonde’: Twice As Good—Review

In many ways, it’s still Dylan’s defining album, one that helped to affirm his lingering largess. Its iconic standing remains as indelible as ever

Read More

1974’s Bad Company Debut Album: When Rock Fans Couldn’t Get Enough

Arising from the ashes of Free, Bad Company pursued a more stripped-down hard-rock vision. By the end of 1974, they had a #1 LP and were headlining arenas.

Read More

The Rascals’ ‘Time Peace’: A Greatest Hits LP That Foretold the Future

While the collection could be considered a document detailing the end of an era, it also marked a makeover: Time was marching on for the band.

Read More