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.
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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The Rolling Stones Rock the Wiltern in 2002: Review
The wide-ranging 20-song program features such often-played numbers as “Honky Tonk Women,” “Brown Sugar” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” but also includes a handful of obscurities
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Dion Teams with Female Artists on ‘Girl Friends’: Review
Joined by guests like Carlene Carter, Shemekia Copeland and Rory Block, the 84-year-old singer proves he can still make great music.
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Jerry Jeff Walker: More Than ‘Mr. Bojangles’
The outlaw country singer was also a first-rate songwriter, capable of sweet, evocative folk tunes of memorably iconoclastic characters
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