Lounging between Chicago’s vintage poppier moments and the slicker stance they’d recently adopted, “Baby, What a Big Surprise” is the best of both worlds.

Keenly chiseled and immediately accessible, the Tol-Puddle Martyrs’ “One Drop In the Ocean” is a delightful slice of radio-friendly pop rock.

Glowing with beauty and lushness, Stephanie Angelini’s “A Secret Smile” whets the appetite for more great music.

Released just before Jeff Lynne arrived, ‘Shazam’ found the Move dropping their pop-art instincts in preference of a more experimental slant.

Though Chicago was headed towards a mellower mindset, “You Get It Up” grips tight to the group’s original mission of improvising.

Comparisons to his former band Spirit were inevitable, but Jay Ferguson’s work with with the more rock-focused Jo Jo Gunne stood on its own.

Stuffed with ear candy, Bill Lloyd’s ‘Feeling the Elephant’ arrived three decades ago with a flair for shrewdly stitched pop rock.

Kiss’ ‘Rock and Roll Over’ appeared only months after ‘Destroyer.’ History shows, however, that the best rock music thrives on spontaneity.

Carved of ragged and jagged guitars, cutting melodies and loose and natural energy, ‘Banchee’ is one rocking record. Too bad it’s so hard to find.

There’s nothing deep or profound, to be sure, about Peter Cetera’s “Mama Mama,” yet the sentiment on this ‘Chicago X’ deep cut is pure and sincere.