On Second Thought

Vinyl

The Bay City Rollers – The Definitive Collection (2000): On Second Thought

Listening again, it becomes obvious the Bay City Rollers were one of the most underrated and misunderstood bands of the 1970s.

Steve Lukather kept Toto’s legacy alive with All’s Well That Ends Well

Steve Lukather kept Toto’s legacy alive with All’s Well That Ends Well

When ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ arrived on Oct. 11, 2010, it looked as if Toto was over. Steve Lukather stepped forward to accept the mantle.

Miles Davis pushed free-form fusion to the very limit with On the Corner

Miles Davis pushed free-form fusion to the very limit with On the Corner

Released on Oct. 11, 1972, Miles Davis’ ‘On the Corner’ remains fresh and funky. So, why isn’t it more widely accepted as a fusion masterpiece?

Vinyl

The Pretenders took an unusual path back to relevance on Break Up the Concrete

With ‘Break Up the Concrete,’ released Oct. 7, 2008, the Pretenders found their old edge – but not with a return to hard-driving punk styles.

Kiss’ return-to-form Sonic Boom was anything but a guilty pleasure for me

Kiss’ return-to-form Sonic Boom was anything but a guilty pleasure for me

Kiss’ ‘Sonic Boom,’ released on Oct. 6, 2009, was packed with hooks, anthemic choruses, and a lifetime supply of innuendo. What’s not to like?

Elton John’s ambitious Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was as over the top as its singer

Elton John’s ambitious Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was as over the top as its singer

‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ released on Oct. 5, 1973, illustrates why – and how – Elton John became Elton John.

Paul McCartney’s look back on Run Devil Run served as a launching pad

Paul McCartney’s look back on Run Devil Run served as a launching pad

Released on Oct. 4, 1999, ‘Run Devil Run’ found a heartbroken Paul McCartney in the beginning stages of a still-on going creative resurgence.

Vinyl

Taj Mahal’s rangy, guest-packed Maestro was perfectly titled

Every song from Taj Mahal’s ‘Maestro,’ released on Sept. 30, 2008, was a change up. He’s a Swiss Army knife of the blues.

Robbie Robertson was again sparked by America, old friends on Storyville

Robbie Robertson was again sparked by America, old friends on Storyville

Robbie Robertson found another deeply resonant setting for his unique brand of storytelling with ‘Storyville,’ released on Sept. 30, 1991.

Gary Moore’s imperfect Back on the Streets pointed to bigger things

Gary Moore’s imperfect Back on the Streets pointed to bigger things

‘Back on the Streets,’ released on Sept. 30, 1978, underscores why Phil Lynott asked Gary Moore to join Thin Lizzy.