Surprise, indeed. This album, released on May 9, 2006, found Paul Simon broadly expanding his sonic palette through a collaboration with Brian Eno.

Jeff Beck returns to one of the best songs from 1972’s ‘Jeff Beck Group’ album, and ups the ante for an forthcoming concert release ‘Jeff Beck Live+.’

You hear something exceedingly rare for someone of John Lodge’s vintage and accomplishment: He’s pushing himself to new places.

There’s much to pull out of Chris Stamey’s “Make Up Your Mind,” which only seems to grower richer as an experience with each successive spin.

Jon Anderson and Billy Sherwood look back on Yes’ Frankenstein-like collaborative album ‘Union,’ released on April 30, 1991.

Neal Schon’s “El Matador” underscores a musical symbiosis with Steve Smith that lingers from their time together in Journey.

Richard Thompson is a traveler, always has been, and “Beatnik Walking” — both in its lyric, and in its creation story — speaks to that.

Les McCann’s free-form soul-jazz experiment ‘Invitation to Openness’ is the sound of someone loosing himself from the bonds of expectation.

Released as part of ‘Tug of War’ in April 1982, “Take It Away” is McCartney’s last best pop hit – but there was a darker undercurrent at work.

“Oh Daddy” got Adrian Belew a solo deal with Atlantic, who released ‘Mr. Music Head’ on April 28, 1989. The worry was that he’d be forever saddled with it.