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.

Paul Simon Confronts Mortality on ‘Seven Psalms’: Review

The album, “an argument I’m having with myself about belief,” is gentle, sweet and worth hearing. Just leave your dancing shoes at the door.

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Stephen Stills’ ‘Live at Berkeley 1971’:  An Artistic Peak

Having established himself as a major force with Buffalo Springfield and CSNY, Stills performed this dazzling solo show in California.

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‘What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?’: Soundtrack Review

The horn-based ’60s band was coming off a chart-topping album when it agreed to tour Eastern Europe. Everything went wrong, except the music.

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‘The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967’ Serves Up Little-Known Gems: Review

If you need a reminder of just how adventurous rock artists were back in ’67, this three-disc set will deliver.

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U2 Reimagine Some of Their Best Work on ‘Songs of Surrender’

The lion’s share of these recordings sound relatively enervated compared with the frequently anthemic well-known versions.

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The Kinks Chronicle Their ‘Journey’: Review

Timed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the band’s arrival, the new set is a scaled-back affair sporting 36 tracks, many of them obscure.

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A New Box Celebrates Pink Floyd’s Classic ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ @50: Review

Both adventurous and accessible, the album is one of the most commercially successful in the history of rock.

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Mudcrutch ‘2’ Review: Tom Petty & Friends Making Great Music Together

Mudcrutch is an American rock band, Southern division, from the ’70s, from which Tom Petty emerged. Our review of their 2016 album…

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Prog-Rockers Barclay James Harvest Reissue an Innovative LP as a Box Set

The box offers a musical experience that’s satisfying and uplifting, enhanced by the sonic improvements and bonus features.

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Review: ‘The Songs of Bacharach & Costello’ Collects Memorable Collaborations

The 4-CD/2-LP set collects all of their collaborations and offers abundant evidence of how well they worked together.

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