Before any of those seminal recordings by the AACM family could happen, Roscoe Mitchell’s ‘Sound’ needed to.

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.

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.

Before Tom Kelly and Bill Steinberg found songwriting success with Heart, REO Speedwagon, Madonna and others, they put out an album as I-Ten.

Despite garnering great commercial rewards, Tommy James and the Shondells harbored a desire for more expressive modes of experimentation.

Created as a parody of late ’60s sounds, ‘Present the Battle of the Bands’ highlighted the Turtles’ fun factor.

Procol Harum’s ‘A Salty Dog’ was a lot to digest, yet there is no question the album remains a noble artistic statement.

Reactions were indeed mixed for ‘Pleasant Dreams,’ but, in the end, the Ramones’ sixth studio effort stands as their last truly great album.

The specter of Badfinger manifests throughout, but ‘The Pilgrim’ ends up reinforcing Joey Molland’s ability to stand on his own.