Released in July 1968, the embryonic ‘Shades of Deep Purple’ already underscored the novel and industrious path that Deep Purple would take.

An enjoyable compilation capturing a specific time, ‘Heavy Metal: Music From the Motion Picture’ arrived just before rock and pop became mechanical.

Over the years since Lou Reed released ‘Metal Machine Music’ in July 1975, many others have followed him into noise, distortion and atonality.

There’s no denying that Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309/Jenny” is the strongest track here, but ‘Tommy Tutone 2’ had more than that that going for it.

Jeff Lynne’s ‘Armchair Theatre,’ released this month in 1990, struggled to live up to its opening track’s promise – but often charmed us, anyway.

Alan Parsons Project’s prophetic ‘I Robot,’ issued this month in 1977, focused on the uneasy relationship between human and machine.

It turns out master singer-songwriter John Hiatt hit the nail on the head concerning the current Confederate flag controversy – some 15 years ago.

Released this week in 1973, Chicago’s “Just You ‘N Me” combined their now-familiar easy-listening vibe with cool earlier-period improvisational asides.

On stage, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson has been hit with a variety of items: a baseball, a rose, a splash of urine. This, however, may have been the worst.

When Jimmy Page’s ‘Outrider’ arrived on June 19, 1988, the focus went to a one-song Robert Plant reunion. The LP’s highpoint, however, was found elsewhere.