Issued 50 years ago this week, ‘Fresh’ lived up to its title as Eric Carmen and the Raspberries balanced radio-ready pop with muscled rock reflexes.

Mott the Hoople deserves wider fame for their eclectic mix of Dylan-esque folk rock, glam leanings, prog-type forays, proto punk/metal and rock ‘n’ roll.

Released 50 years ago, ‘Guitar Man’ proved that Bread was a lot more mercurial than their soft-rock critics would ever admit.

Appealing to lovers of ‘No Smoke Without Fire’-era Wishbone Ash, Snakecharmer produced plenty of twin-guitar ecstasy during their short tenure.

Structured to mirror his live concerts from the 1975-80 period, ‘Sheik Yerbouti’ is actually one of the classics from Frank Zappa’s “rock” canon.

Mamas Gun closed out this five-song collection with “Saint Maria,” dedicated to the patron saint of teenaged women and victims of sexual assault.

Tim Berne’s and Gregg Belisle-Chi’s ‘ZONE 1’ completes a one-two punch of sax/guitar performances which are distinct from each other but at the highest level.

Far from a reinvention, ‘Music From Another Dimension’ arrived 10 years ago this week as another rehash of ideas from some of Aerosmith’s weakest records.

Here is a light-hearted new Christmas ditty from the 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco, based on a John Hughes short story that gave rise to the classic film ‘Christmas Vacation.’

Released 15 years ago this week, Levon Helm’s ‘Dirt Farmer’ was so determinedly rustic that it made the Band sound like sleek electronica.