Recordings

Best Classic Bands offers smart, informed and unbiased assessments of the latest rock album releases and reissues to offer readers guidance on what sounds they might enjoy.

The Kinks Complete ‘The Journey’ With 3rd Volume: Review

Part 3 delivers remasters of a dozen numbers initially issued between 1977 and 1984, plus a previously unheard 16-song concert.

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Nick Drake: ‘Five Leaves Left’ Expanded—Review

He remained little known for years. One reason might be that he was simply ahead of his time.

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Talking Heads: ‘More Songs About Buildings…’ Expanded—Review

David Byrne arguably comes across a bit less like a “Psycho Killer,” but his vocals still incorporate his trademark yelps and odd phrasing.

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Bruce Springsteen’s Remarkably Varied ‘Tracks II: The Lost Albums’—Review

The lion’s share of this material is just as compelling as much of what he has included on his many hit albums.

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Frank Zappa: Previously Unseen ‘Cheaper Than Cheep’ Reviewed

He and his band, the Mothers of Invention, were riding high in June 1974. After completing a 10th-anniversary tour, they filmed a two-hour concert for an invited audience in their Hollywood, Calif., rehearsal hall.

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Christopher Cross: An Expanded Edition of His Blockbuster Debut—Review

The album earned Cross Grammys for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist and Song of the Year.

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Review: ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ LP Delivered Classic Dylan

It seemed reasonable to suspect that we’d seen the last of his greatest albums. Well, here was a superb collection to prove you wrong

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‘Pink Floyd at Pompeii MCMLXXII’ Reappears: Review

Working from the recently discovered original 35mm negatives,’Pink Floyd at Pompeii’ has been restored, frame by frame, and expanded.

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The Bongos Unearth a Sizzling 1985 Live Set: Review

The album reveals gloriously raucous power pop that draws on new wave, psychedelia and British Invasion rock.

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Badfinger’s Lost LP, ‘Head First,’ Delivers Ear Candy: Review

A 50th-anniversary edition sounds great because it employs the recently discovered master tapes, which have been newly mixed and mastered.

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