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
Talking Heads’ ‘Fear of Music’: A Transitional Gem
“The first step in David Byrne’s assumption of power, moving Talking Heads from a band to his band… It was dance music that reflected the time.”
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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.
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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.
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‘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.
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‘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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‘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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