Last year’s releases from Bruce Springsteen, Deep Purple, R.E.M. and the Beatles taught us that what was once new is now old – and now new again.

Dion will always be remembered for his pre-British Invasion songs, but there was far more to him than “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer.”

Always out of their time, the Del-Lords made a scruffy early-1980s debut in the age of synthesized MTV flashes in the pan. They return now with a suitably old-fashioned but similarly ageless amalgam of heartfelt lyrics and crunchy licks. You May Also Like: Conniption and Lords of the Trident: TwoRead More

In one way or another, each of these recordings confounded and delighted me. Pushed me to new vistas, either in the way I approached the artist, their own original work, or the tunes they covered. Made me think, and feel differently. You May Also Like: Robert Cray – Robert CrayRead More