There is much to recommend here for Martin Barre’s stalwart Jethro Tull fans, including sensitive new takes on eight lesser-known Tull tracks. He even takes up the flute.

For Rush’s Geddy Lee, the opportunity to get back into the studio in advance of Vapor Trails, after all that Neil Peart had been through, was its own reward.

For guitarist Steve Cropper, an intuitive sense of things served him well. Twice, when it came to legendary riffs on what would become legendary Stax songs, he simply did what came naturally.

Missouri Music unfolds like a musical travelogue across a broad and intriguing landscape, with the Mosby Group making pit stops along the way to pick up elements of folk, jazz, fusion, rock, funk and world music.

Steve Howe’s departure from Asia, which had been working with its original lineup again since 2006, has turned into something of a blessing, according to frontman John Wetton.

Kiss’ Paul Stanley could certainly be forgiven for picturing his band, after so many albums and assorted memorabilia sold over so many decades, as a super group. But as super heroes? Well, yeah. That, too.

In a style that would fully bloom years later with the emergence of Pat’s Pikasso guitar, “Suite: II. Legends Of The Fountain” has Metheny spinning up beautiful melodies and arpeggios supported by deep pedal tones and artificial harmonics.

Jeffery Straker sings with the unflinching attention to detail of Neil Young, but with the emotional arc of classic-era Elton John.