Jeff Lynne’s ‘Armchair Theatre,’ released this month in 1990, struggled to live up to its opening track’s promise – but often charmed us, anyway.

This Mid-Year Best of 2015 list also includes Boz Scaggs, Pops Staples, Papa Mali, Wes Montgomery, Robben Ford, the Word, Steve Earle and Beth Hart.

Warren Haynes’ “Common Man” is just what you want from a collaborative effort like this, something that shines a new light on a long-treasured figure.

‘Steve McQueen,’ released this month in 1985, should’ve hurtled Prefab Sprout to fame in MTV-era America. Instead, they remained curiously anonymous.

Released this week in 1973, Chicago’s “Just You ‘N Me” combined their now-familiar easy-listening vibe with cool earlier-period improvisational asides.

Released in June of 1986, Emerson Lake and Powell represented a brawny, 1980s-era update of the old ELP sound — courtesy in part of a different drummer whose name also happened to begin with P. Seems Carl Palmer, co-founder with Greg Lake and Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake and Palmer,Read More

This Mid-Year Best of 2015 list also includes Emerson Lake and Palmer, Gov’t Mule, Jeff Beck, Lead Belly, the Knack and the Staple Singers.

This exclusive Something Else! stream from ‘Celebration’ offers new insights into one of Marco Minnemann’s very best solo projects.

When Jimmy Page’s ‘Outrider’ arrived on June 19, 1988, the focus went to a one-song Robert Plant reunion. The LP’s highpoint, however, was found elsewhere.

This Mid-Year Best of 2015 list also includes Death Cab for Cutie, James McMurtry, Steve Hackett, Randy Bachman, Richard Thompson and Ringo Starr.