Released this week in May 1971, Paul McCartney’s ‘Ram’ was initially knocked for everything that makes it sound unexpectedly bold today.

Padded wall to wall with melodic singing, electrifying instrumentation and imaginative hooks, the Secrets’ ‘Collection’ is a power-pop delight.

This, quite clearly, is a labor of love, and every element speaks to Amy Helm’s steely focus on making the album she always wanted to make.

Nestled between “Takin’ It Back” and the smash hit “Hold the Line” on Toto’s 1978 debut, the steady and fun “Rockmaker” is too often overlooked.

Free of big concepts and the heavy legend of the Who’s songbook, Pete Townshend shows he hasn’t lost his writer’s spark, or his angry voice.

The Cash Box Kings’ ‘Holding Court’ isn’t music that builds off the post-war blues tradition. It advances that sound, reconstituted, into a new age.

At the peak of their powers, the Beatles considered recording an album at Stax Records in Memphis. Steve Cropper sorts out why it never happened.

Steve Robinson’s “Love Somebody” sounds like XTC doing Bob Dylan. No, really. It features ex-sidemen with both Dylan acolyte Roger McGuinn and XTC.

‘Brothers,’ released on May 18, 2010, stands as the Black Keys’ best-ever attempt at hybridizing black music into modern rock.

Astonishingly diversified, Thee Midniters played every stitch of music conceivable, leading them to appeal to both adults and kids.