Heart-Greatest Hits/Live (1980)

Heart are one of the greatest American hard rock and melodic rock bands, having released a series of celebrated albums over the last five decades, some of them huge worldwide hits. From their first album, "Dreamboat Annie" (1976), this Seattle-based band showcased their raw and powerful rock sound, heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin. However, the fact that they were fronted by two women (sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson) made them different and unique at the time. The rest of the band was marked by a constant influx and departure of musicians, including guitarists Howard Leese, Roger Fisher, and Gilby Clarke, among many others. After “Dreamboat Annie”, came the more folk-rock-oriented “Little Queen” (1977), the intense “Dog & Butterfly” (1978), where they combined the raw energy of their powerful rock with acoustic sensitivity, and the experimental “Bebe Le Strange” (1980), where they attempted to blend the sounds of the new musical trends of the 1980s, but with a mediocre and rather predictable result. Towards the end of 1980, the group released “Greatest Hits/Live”, a double album composed of a combination of the greatest hits from their first five albums, with live tracks and new compositions. Comprised of energetic rock tracks like “Bebe Le Strange”, “Barracuda”, and “Mistral Wind”, along with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll”, the album is interspersed with more melodic songs such as “Straight On”, “Even It Up”, “Crazy On You”, and “Magic Man”, as well as ballads and acoustic pieces like “Sweet Darlin’ ”, “Dreamboat Annie”, and “Dog and Butterfly”. It even includes more avant-garde and experimental tracks like “Hit Single” and “Strange Euphoria”. The band that recorded this album consisted of Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson on vocals, drummer Michael DeRosier, guitarists Howard Leese and Roger Fisher, and bassist Steve Fossen. This double album was Heart’s third biggest hit to date in the North American market, reaching number thirteen on the Billboard charts and achieving multiple platinum records for its enormous sales.

Little River Band-Get Lucky (1990)

The Little River Band is one of the most famous Australian rock bands, achieving resounding worldwide success in the 1970s with their style, a blend of melodic folk and country rock from American bands like America, Poco, and The Eagles. Their first six albums topped the charts in a dozen countries around the world, beginning with the United States, where they earned gold and platinum records and sold over 30 million copies. Albums like "Diamantina Cocktail" (1977), "Sleeper Catcher" (1978), and "First Under the Wire" (1979) propelled them to the pinnacle of the rock world, to the point that Capitol Records itself signed them to a multi-million dollar contract for ten albums, which were released throughout the late seventies and much of the eighties. Under the wing of the legendary American label, a series of moderately successful albums followed, such as "Time Exposure" (1981), "Playing to Win" (1985), and "No Reins" (1988). Throughout those years, the band experienced a constant turnover of members, but this never diminished the group's immense quality. After their time with Capitol Records ended, the Australian group signed with MCA, releasing the albums "Moonson" (1988) and "Get Lucky" (1990), works that restored their former prestige and success. On "Get Lucky," they demonstrated that they could still produce great songs after fifteen years in the business. However, these songs leaned more towards melodic rock, hardening their style at the expense of folk and country, but always retaining the exceptional vocal melodies so characteristic of the Little River Band. Excellent tracks like the irresistible "If I Get Lucky", "There's Not Another You" or "Two Emotions", contrast with those closer to the group's initial style such as "Every Time I Turn Around", "I Dream Alone", "As Long I'm Alive" or "Listen To Your Heart", while the remarkable "Second Wind" or "Time & Eternity", show the most energetic side of the band with those sharp rock guitar riffs.

Spirogyra-Bells, Boots And Shambles (1973)

Another of the great prog-folk bands is Spirogyra (not to be confused with the American jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra). Although many categorized them as part of the Canterbury sound, they were never officially classified within that genre. Formed in 1967 in Bolton, in northwest England, their original lineup consisted of guitarist, composer, and singer Martin Cockerham, singer Barbara Gaskin, bassist Steve Borill, and violinist Julian Cusak, in addition to drummer Dave Mattacks, who would appear on all their albums as a guest musician. Their debut album, "St. Radiguns". was released in 1971 and achieved considerable success in the British folk scene. It featured a repertoire of politically conscious and spirited songs, along with a great deal of instrumental interplay and captivating vocals. A year later, "Old Bott Wine" was a continuation of their previous work and quite predictable. Despite its great folk harmonies, complex arrangements, and good balance between folk and rock elements, it was a slight step backward due to its predictable sound, offering nothing new compared to its predecessor. After this album, the band was reduced to just two permanent members, Cockerham and Gaskin, while collaborators and guest musicians included flautist Stan Sulzman, bassist Steve Borrill, drummer Dave Mattacks, and other musicians such as Steve Ashley, Henry Lowther, Julian Cusack, and Dolly Collins. With this lineup, Spirogyra recorded their third and final album, "Bells, Boots and Shambles", released in 1973. On this album, Spirogyra perfectly blended traditional folk elements with rock and progressive sounds, featuring tracks like the solemn and atmospheric "The Furthest Point", the acid rock anthem "The Sergeant Says", the atmospheric suite "Western World" with its grand, melancholic soundscapes, the bucolic "Old Boot Wine", and the melodic "Parallel Lines Never Separate" and "Everyday Consumption".

Dixie Dregs-Dregs Of The Heart (1980)

Although formed in the early seventies, it wasn't until the mid-seventies that the American band Dixie Dregs released their self-titled debut album, a genuine blend of styles ranging from jazz, country, bluegrass, progressive rock, and American rock. For six years, the band maintained the same lineup, recording four highly interesting albums that rank among the best of the instrumental jazz-rock scene of the 1970s. However, towards the end of the decade, some significant changes occurred. They left Capricorn Records for Arista Records, and after the magnificent "Night of the Living Dregs" in 1979, keyboardist Mike Parrish left the band and was replaced by Terry Lavitz, whose keyboards added a more symphonic feel. The rest of the lineup consisted of guitarist Steve Morse, drummer Rod Morgenstein, violinist Allen Solan, and bassist Andy West. In 1980 came Dixie Dregs' fifth album, "Dregs of the Heart", which became their best work to date. The standout track is the jazzy, progressive jam "I'm Freaking Out", a majestic piece that transforms into a symphonic tour de force and easily becomes one of the band's finest compositions. However, the rest of the album follows the group's usual musical style, with the rocker "Road Exposense", the progressive bluegrass "Pride O' the Farm", the progressive jazz "Twiggs Approved", the symphonic exercise "Hereatfer", the progressive "The Great Spectacular", and the boogie jazz "Broad Street Strut". In short, another essential Dixie Dregs album, where all the musicians demonstrate great virtuosity, particularly Steve Morse's hard rock guitar work and a repertoire of great melodies in a vast and complex, yet accessible, jazz-rock style.

Heavy Jelly-Heavy Jelly (1970)

Jackie Lomax was a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist who rose to fame in the late 1960s as one of the first artists to sign with The Beatles' label, Apple Corps Ltd., which had been founded in 1968 as a parallel record label to EMI Records. However, Lomax's career had begun much earlier with various projects as a member of some of the leading bands on the British pop-rock scene of the 1960s, such as Dee and The Dynamites. He later moved to the United States and joined The Undertakers, but without achieving the desired fame or fortune. Once back in the UK, thanks to The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, he signed with CBS, with whom he recorded several singles and an album that had little impact. His friendship with Epstein opened many doors and great opportunities for him, including collaborations with artists of the caliber of George Harrison and Eric Clapton, among many others. After leaving The Beatles' label, Lomax joined forces with former members of the band Aynsley Dunbar, John Morshead, and Alex Dmochowski, along with former Animals drummer Barry Jenkins, to form Heavy Jelly. In 1970, the band recorded their first and only album, which also featured Tom Evans and Pete Ham, both members of Badfinger, another Apple Records band, and the Rolling Stones' horn section, Bobby Keys and Jim Price. This debut album is essentially composed of an interesting repertoire of powerful rock tracks with psychedelic sounds, as demonstrated in "Take Me Down to the Water," while the group's melodic side is showcased in "You Better Let Me Know" and "Too Complicated". The Beatles-esque sound can be found in "Born For Something", along with darker hard blues-rock sounds in "Just Don't Feel So Good" and "F-F-F-Females", classic blues-rock tracks like "Bio-Blues", and another song with a Beatlesque flavor, "If You'd Like To". However, because the album featured artists signed to Apple Records, the label boycotted its release, preventing its official publication beyond a few promotional copies. Some of these copies served as master tapes for bootleg releases, which became highly sought after by collectors for decades. More than forty years later, after Jackie Lomax's death, his family was able to resolve the contractual issues with Apple, and the album was officially released in 2013, thus recovering one of the most famous lost albums in rock music history.