On Second Thought

Paul McCartney's Give My Regards to Broadstreet had one moment that wasn't awful

Paul McCartney’s Give My Regards to Broadstreet had one moment that wasn’t awful

Tucked away inside the largely avoidable ‘Give My Regards to Broadstreet,’ issued on Oct. 22, 1984, was Paul McCartney’s first real rock song in years.

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.

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.

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.

Walter Becker's '11 Tracks of Whack' Took Chances Steely Dan Never Did

Walter Becker’s ’11 Tracks of Whack’ Took Chances Steely Dan Never Did

Walter Becker’s ’11 Tracks of Whack,’ released on Sept. 27, 1994, is both a neglected minor treasure and a delightfully peculiar album.