‘Band on the Run,’ released on Dec. 5, 1973, pushes Paul McCartney to new places, as he incorporates every part of his pop genius.

Frank Sinatra would enter a studio again only a handful of times after ‘Trilogy’ arrived 35 years ago. None produced more timeless results than this.

‘Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House,’ issued on Dec. 2, 2008, presents Neil Young before he rose to solo stardom. But you’d never know it.

Released in December 1967, ‘Sorcerer’ is the clearest sign yet that Miles Davis was letting go of the wheel.

When Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ arrived on Nov. 30, 1979, it included a deep cut that perfectly summed up the theme. Too bad he kept going.

When Brian Eno’s ‘Small Craft on a Milk Sea’ arrived in November 2010, I was disappointed. You expect him to be ever changing.

Pity the poor Brits, who didn’t initially receive the full 11-song U.S. version of the Beatles’ ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ released on Nov. 27, 1967.

Released this month in 1975, Queen’s ‘A Night at the Opera’ boasted a stunning musical promiscuity. They even found a way to take folk rock to outer space.

The Beatles’ Love, released this month in 2006, was at its best when George Martin got outside of convention – but that didn’t happen nearly enough.

‘The Fall,’ issued this week in 2009, revealed Norah Jones as a far more compelling artist than she seemed at first.