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.

A Box Set Collects Four Joni Mitchell Asylum Albums: Review

She followed her muse in multiple directions, taking one chance after another, and most of the time, succeeding brilliantly.

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‘I See You Live on Love Street’ Samples the Abundant Laurel Canyon Music Scene: Review

The set includes Frank Zappa, the Mamas and the Papas, Love, the Turtles, Warren Zevon, the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Linda Ronstadt and many more.

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A New David Bowie Box Chronicles the Creation of ‘Ziggy Stardust’: Review

Included on the five CDs are 67 songs, among them demo, rehearsal and alternate mixes.

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Impassioned Music from Rock Pioneer Little Richard: ‘Right Now!’

The album, which he recorded in 1973, comes close to matching the impassioned music of his early days.

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Dr. John: An Anthology Focuses on His Peak Years

The 26-track, Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya: Singles 1968-1974, also includes key album tracks

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An Anthology from the Byrds’ Gene Clark: Review

Original compositions dominate the career-spanning set, which includes contributions from Roger McGuinn and Gram Parsons.

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New Album Captures the Doors Live in Sweden: Review

The 1968 program draws material from their first four studio albums.

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A New Riders of the Purple Sage Concert Set from 1976: Review

The one-time Grateful Dead country-rock spinoff dipped into their earliest material and choice covers for this live show.

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A Rollicking Live Album from Willie Nile: Review

His instantly recognizable voice conveys urgency throughout the set, which features his guitar and piano work and a tightly knit backup trio.

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‘New Guitars in Town,’ a Power Pop Anthology, Features Noteworthy Obscurities: Review

In addition to well-known artists like Elvis Costello and Squeeze, the collection features many artists about whom nothing is known.

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