The incipient incarnation of Atomic Rooster – with Vincent Crane (organ/vocals), Nick Graham (vocals/bass), and Carl Palmer (drums) – was together just long enough to document its debut, Atomic Roooster (1970) – (note: the extra O is intentional). Prior to the last-minute addition of Graham – the only bassist Atomic Rooster ever had – the band emerged from the remnants of the then recently defunct Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The material was primarily courtesy of Crane and consisted of heavier sides. His versatility is evident throughout the impressive array of styles ranging from the folk-inspired pastoral "Winter" to the bluesy horn arrangement heard on "Broken Wings."

Thin Lizzy's Acoustic Sessions is a groundbreaking new frontline album that brings together the legendary voice of Philip Lynott, the masterful guitar work of founding member Eric Bell, and the powerful original drum takes of Brian Downey. This unique project offers fans a rare opportunity to experience Thin Lizzy's classic hits like never before, with Lynott's previously unheard vocal takes perfectly complemented by Bell's fresh acoustic arrangements and Downey's dynamic drumming. Drawing on material from the band's iconic Decca era in the UK, the album revisits tracks from Thin Lizzy's first three albums, presenting them in an intimate, stripped-down format that is sure to captivate both longtime fans and a new generation of listeners.

After bouncing around Philips, Atlantic, and Capitol playing Brazilian jazz or searching for an ideal blend of Brazilian and American pop, Sergio Mendes struck gold on his first try at A&M (then not much more than the home of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and the Baja Marimba Band). He came up with a marvelously sleek, sexy formula: dual American female voices singing in English and Portuguese over a nifty three-man bossa nova rhythm/vocal section and Mendes' distinctly jazz-oriented piano, performing tight, infectious arrangements of carefully chosen tunes from Brazil, the U.S., and the U.K. The hit was Jorge Ben's "Mas Que Nada," given a catchy, tight bossa nova arrangement with the voice of Lani Hall soaring above the swinging rhythm section…

U.S. progressive rockers Spock's Beard released their 13th studio album, "Noise Floor". For this disc, Ted Leonard, Alan Morse, Dave Meros and Ryo Okumoto are joined in the studio once again by drummer and original member Nick D'Virgilio. Spock's Beard is a band that is in a continual state of evolution, as is always the case with genuinely creative musicians. And "Noise Floor" fits perfectly into this process. "We are always about evolution, not revolution. But what we have done this time is make the songs more melodic," believes vocalist/guitarist Ted Leonard. "We still love our crazy prog, but now appreciate how important it is to grab people's attention early on."
As with all Spock's Beard songs, most of the new album was written by the individual members, and then brought to the rest of the band as high-quality demos…

Brian Eno's second album collaboration with Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius of Cluster consists of slow-moving instrumentals full of repeated synthesizer sound patterns and sustained guitar notes in the ambient style familiar from Eno's collaborations with Robert Fripp and albums of his own, such as Discreet Music. (One song, "Broken Head," features recited vocals by Eno, and on another, "The Belldog," he sings. On "Tzima N'Arki," he sings backwards.)

Shinin' On is the eighth album by Grand Funk Railroad and was released in 1974. Although not as successful as its predecessor, We're an American Band (1973), it peaked at #5 in the US and was certified gold, and its first single, a cover of "The Loco-Motion" topped the U.S. charts. The original cover was done in bi-visual 3-D and included the required blue and red lensed glasses to view it. A Quadraphonic mix of the album was available in the Quadraphonic 8-Track cartridge format. The title song was featured in The Simpsons' 7th season episode "Homerpalooza" on May 19, 1996.

You Want It, You Got It is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, released on July 28, 1981 by A&M Records. This was the album that created Adams' signature sound, which he has maintained throughout his recording career. Unlike Adams' debut album where he and Jim Vallance played most of the instruments themselves, You Want It You Got It was recorded live in the studio. The album was recorded at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec over a two-week period during the spring of 1981 and was mixed at The Power Station in New York City. The album was originally to be titled Bryan Adams Hasn't Heard Of You Either (due to critics' indifference to his first album and singles) but Adams' sense of humour didn't make it past the gatekeepers at the record company, who opted for the safer title.

Although it's slightly uneven, Sense and Sensuality is a rather enchanting collection of sweeping, orchestral pop. Strings and keyboards are inerlaced throughout the record, providing the perfect instrumental bed for Nicky Holland's wispy voice. Considering that she has written hits for a variety of artists, including Celine Dion, Tears for Fears and Cyndi Lauper, it isn't surprising that the songs on Sense and Sensuality are sturdy and well-constructed. What is surprising is that the songs don't sound manufactured, but intimate and personal, and that's what gives the album its edge.

Peter Donohoe is a pianist known for Liszt, Prokofiev, and other virtuoso repertory, but with this 2024 release, he attempts something of a different kind and with considerable success. The program is devoted to the shades the waltz took on in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and none of it is particularly daunting technically. All the music is relatively well known, although Schumann's Abegg Variations, Op. 1, one of his very few encounters with the waltz form, is not played terribly often. Donohoe nicely captures the explosive quality of the young Schumann's talent.