There’s nothing forced about 1970’s back-to-basics ‘Morrison Hotel,’ which found the Doors offering blues-battered hard rock with renewed vim and vigor.

Taking its title from the name of the street the Verve Pipe’s Donny Brown grew up on, ‘Hess Street EP’ was a striking debut recording.

Although oodles of Guess Who compilations are available, ‘Track Record: The Guess Who Collection’ is possibly the best of the bounty.

‘Band on the Run,’ released on Dec. 5, 1973, pushes Paul McCartney to new places, as he incorporates every part of his pop genius.

Frank Sinatra would enter a studio again only a handful of times after ‘Trilogy’ arrived 35 years ago. None produced more timeless results than this.

‘Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House,’ issued on Dec. 2, 2008, presents Neil Young before he rose to solo stardom. But you’d never know it.

As brilliant as N’Dea Davenport is, I’m drawn more these days to feel-good instrumentals on the Brand New Heavies’ self-titled album from 25 years ago.

Released in December 1967, ‘Sorcerer’ is the clearest sign yet that Miles Davis was letting go of the wheel.

When Brian Eno’s ‘Small Craft on a Milk Sea’ arrived in November 2010, I was disappointed. You expect him to be ever changing.

Pity the poor Brits, who didn’t initially receive the full 11-song U.S. version of the Beatles’ ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ released on Nov. 27, 1967.