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 ‘Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player’: A High-Water Mark
The album marked a burgeoning ascent to superstardom and continued a solid streak of hits that are, to the present day, certified as classics.
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Willie Nelson: ‘Red Headed Stranger’ & the Birth of Outlaw Country
The album defined him as an iconoclast comfortable on his own path, which he would follow in singular fashion for decades to come.
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Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s ‘Deja Vu’: A Volatile Chemistry
By any standard, it was an enormous success. But when CSN added a new member for their second album, it was an alliance that would both define and bedevil them.
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Paul & Linda McCartney: ‘Ram’—Macca Magic
For all the criticism tossed his way, McCartney and his hired hands did an admirable job of conveying the mirth and merriment inherent in these songs.
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Squeeze ‘East Side Story’: A Wily New Wave Classic
The album’s success underscores how the lively, kinetic pop-rock outfit was elevated by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook’s artistry as storytellers.
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Pete Townshend ‘Empty Glass’: The Who Album That Wasn’t
Although it’s fully satisfying on its own, the 1980 album, the most successful of his solo releases, has been called a Who record that never was.
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Jethro Tull—’Aqualung’: The Ultimate Concept Album
It proved successful, with the rock press heralding the album for its variety, seriousness and the unmatched musicianship.
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Chicago’s Eclectic Debut Album: With Authority
Their speedy ascent was fueled by a landmark debut that made an immediate splash with critics and listeners, but it was more than a hit record.
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Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’ Swinging ‘Whipped Cream…’
The faux mariachi-style LP spent three years on the charts and appealed to seemingly every category of record buyer.
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Psychedelic Furs’ ‘Talk Talk Talk’: More Than Just ‘Pretty in Pink’
With its raw energy and Richard Butler’s distinctive, darkly romantic vocals, the 1981 album pushed the band beyond its initial post-punk sound.
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