The Rolling Stones-Tattoo You (1981)

In 1981, the band led by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards released their sixteenth album, "Tattoo You" (their eighteenth in the American market). It was composed of unfinished tracks discarded from previous albums, given a precise reinterpretation for this release. Besides Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the rest of the lineup remained the same as in recent years: Ron Wood, Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts, along with guest appearances from Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, Ian Stewart, Pete Townshend, and Wayne Perkins, among others. The repertoire included here departs from the eclectic styles of their latest albums, maintaining a musical foundation rooted in the most organic and robust sounds of rock and roll, beginning with one of the band's anthems, the infectious "Start Me Up". The rest of the album showcases an effective collection of catchy, rhythmic songs like "Hang Fire", "Little T&A", and "Neighbours", nods to 80s sounds in "Heaven" and "Worried About You", vintage blues in "Black Limousine", and dusty, nostalgic tunes like "Waiting on a Friend". Despite being composed of songs that would have been considered dispensable in previous years, "Tattoo You" would go on to sell over eight million copies worldwide.

Lafauci-Lafauci (1978)

It's incredible how many Southern rock bands roamed the American South in the 1970s, and Lafauci is one of them. Formed in the mid-seventies in Louisiana, they released a single, limited-edition album in 1978, which is a highly sought-after piece of the genre today. The lineup consisted of Sal Lafauci (drums and vocals), Chip Weil (bass), Steve Dodds (guitar), and Keith Guidorz (guitar). This sole release was self-produced by the band, though primarily by Sal Lafauci himself, and pressed and distributed only within Louisiana. Their style, clearly related to other contemporary Southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, was full of solid, dusty hard rock, catchy melodies, and fiery guitar riffs. Skillful pieces of upbeat, cheerful southern rock such as "Loving You Is Right", "My Woman", "Ride Chester" or "Let The Good Times Roll", are interspersed with the restrained country rock "Help Yourself" and "Special Love" and even dare to include avant-garde songs as shown by the semi-complex "Flowing River".

Rare Earth-Ma (1973)

Rare Earth's sixth album was preceded by four excellent studio works and a sensational double live album, and became another of their great works thanks to a series of songs full of blues rock reminiscent of funk and soul. "Ma" was produced by one of the producers of the Motown label, Norman Whitfield, who in turn was co-author of some of the album's songs, which would provide it with the characteristic sound of the black bands of the legendary Detroit label. The line-up of Rare Earth for this new album was significantly different from that of their first works, said line-up was composed of Gil Bridges (saxophone, flute and vocals), Peter Hoorebelke (drums and vocals), Ray Monette (guitar and vocals), Mark Olson (keyboards and vocals), Pete Rivera (drums and vocals) and Mike Urso (bass and vocals). The seventeen-minute repetitive guitar riff on the psychedelic and sublime “Ma” is the high point of this album, a track that contrasts with the Zeppelin-like hard rock “Hum Along and Dance,” the soul-funk feel of “Big John is My Name,” and the experimental “Come With Me.” Although it did not have the same media or commercial impact as other previous works, “Ma” was considered one of the cult albums in the underground and over time became one of Rare Earth’s most popular albums.

Electromagnets-Electromagnets (1974)

Electromagnets was an interesting jazz-rock band known for having a very young Eric Johnson in its line-up, who was already showing signs of becoming one of the great jazz and blues rock guitarists. Originally formed under the name Aussenhorowitz in 1974 by keyboardist Stephen Barber and drummer Bill Maddox, they were soon joined by bassist Kyle Brock and guitarist Eric Johnson, changing the name to the definitive Electromagnets. That same year and under the EGM Records label they recorded their self-titled debut album, and ultimately their only release, where they showcase the instrumental virtuosity of the four musicians, especially Barber's skillful and sinuous jazz keyboards and Johnson's eclectic guitar sounds. Tracks like the funk rock “Hawaiian Punch”, the energetic jazz rock “Dry Ice” or the dynamic jazz fusion “Blackhole” show the outstanding mastery of Electromagnets, which together with an excellent production is among the highlights of jazz rock in the mid-seventies, almost at the level of the great bands of the genre such as Weather Report or Return to Forever.

Rory Gallagher-Live In Europe (1972)

After two solo albums, Irishman Rory Gallagher had established himself as one of the great British blues-rock guitarists. His career, which had begun years earlier with his seminal band Taste, culminated in a short but successful run after a superb performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. Those first two albums were his self-titled debut and "Deuce", two magnificent canvases of the best British blues-rock, seasoned with traditional Irish folk sounds. It was just after the release of his second album that Rory Gallagher embarked on a long tour across much of Europe, from which the material for his first live album was drawn. Accompanied by bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell, on this live album Rory Gallagher delivers a stunning and glorious musical performance, playing everything from his own compositions to masterfully executed covers. Among the covers, highlights include Junior Wells's exhilarating "Messin' With The Kid", Blind Boy Fuller's folk-blues "Pistol Slapper Blues", and the galloping blues "Bullfrog Blues", an old traditional song from the late fifties. His own compositions include the energetic "Laundromat", the hypnotic blues "I Could've Had Religion", and the dizzying boogie-blues "In Your Town". "Live In Europe" is undoubtedly one of the best live albums of the 1970s and a true historical document of one of the greatest Irish guitarists, alongside the legendary Gary Moore.

The Beach Boys-Pet Sounds (1966)

In 1966, the Californian band The Beach Boys left behind one of the most fundamental albums in rock music, "Pet Sounds", a true contemporary classic. With this release, the eleventh from the group led by Brian Wilson, they reached their creative peak, combining their laid-back surf style with psychedelia. The lineup that recorded this historic album consisted of Brian Wilson (vocals, piano, bass, and organ), Carl Wilson (guitars and vocals), Dennis Wilson (drums and vocals), and vocalists Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and Mike Love. By blending irresistible vocal melodies with psychedelic experimentation, The Beach Boys achieved their masterpiece thanks to immortal songs like "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "You Still Believe in Me", "Let's Go Away for Awhile", "God Only Knows", "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times", "Caroline, No", and "Sloop John B". Its reception was both triumphant and spectacular, achieving multiple platinum records in the United States and Great Britain. However, from this essential work onward, The Beach Boys began their gradual decline, although they would still release noteworthy albums such as "Smiley Smile" (1967), "Wild Honey" (1967), and "Sunflower" (1970).