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

‘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.

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

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

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‘Before the Flood’—Memorializing Dylan and The Band’s ‘Tour ’74’

More than seven years after his shocking motorcycle accident, Dylan returned to live performance in style, along with his favorite musicians.

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Journey ‘Escape’: When the Fans Really Started Believin’

This is a curious chapter in rock history, as one of a few select albums that defines listener taste, consumer spending and chart success.

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‘Blow by Blow’: A Jeff Beck Master Class in Guitar

The 1975 all-instrumental album, produced by George Martin, was a guitarist’s master class

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The Rolling Stones’ ‘Some Girls’: The Grooves of Now

With punk rock nipping at their aging heels, the Stones revved things up with classic tracks like “Shattered,” “Miss You” and “Beast of Burden.”

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‘Another Side of Bob Dylan’: Younger Than That Now

The album contained songs that were later cut by everyone from the Byrds to Johnny Cash to Cher.

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Nick Lowe: ‘Labour of Lust’—The Basher Blossoms

The highly regarded British singer/songwriter/producer and his pals from Rockpile cut this classic album at the height of the new wave era.

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The Laura Nyro and Labelle Collaboration: ‘Gonna Take a Miracle’

The album is Nyro’s tribute to the vocal groups and songwriters who continued to thrill and inspire her.

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George Harrison’s ‘Living in the Material World’: Is It Underrated?

He said at the time, “I wouldn’t really care if no one ever heard of me again. I just want to play and make records.”

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