#529 - Birth Of The Cool, Miles Davis

"This 1949 release really was the birth of Cool Jazz. Davis eases into being an introspective horn player and leads a team that would define Cool Jazz and West Coast Bop in the years to come: Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, Gil Evans, and Lee Konitz. The album initially bombed with the public, but it was instantly snatched up and studied by other jazz musicians." (real music guide)

#528 - Songs In The Attic, Billy Joel

"Billy Joel wisely decided to use the live album as an opportunity to draw attention to songs from his first four albums. Apart from "Piano Man," none of those songs had been heard by the large audience he had won with The Stranger. Furthermore, he now had a seasoned backing band that helped give his music a specific identity -- in short, it was an opportunity to reclaim these songs, now that he had a signature sound."

#527 - Babylon By Bus, Bob Marley & The Wailers

"Recorded on the road in Europe during a 1978 tour, this is one of the Wailers' definitive live releases. Marley may be associated with ganja and tripped-out hippies in the U.S., but a certain ferocity lies under songs like "Exodus" and "War/No More Trouble," reminding us how political Marley's message actually was. Ashton "Familyman" Barrett is on bass." (real music guide)

#526 - John Wesley Harding, Bob Dylan

"After angering pony-tailed people all over by going electric, Dylan diverged from his rock path to release this stark and mystical album which has closer ties to country than anything else. "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" is sadly beautiful, and it's obvious that the combination of reefer cigarettes and "All Along the Watchtower" really blew Jimi's mind." (real music guide)

#525 - Trilogy, Emerson, Lake & Palmer

"By 1972, Eddie Offord's recording and producing techniques had reached a peak. He provided a lush, comfy finish to the album that made it particularly suited for living-room listening and the FM airwaves. Yet the material lacks a bit of excitement. Trilogy still belongs to ELP's classic period and should not be overlooked. For newcomers to prog rock it can even make a less-menacing point of entry." (allmusic guide)

#524 - Get Happy!!, Elvis Costello & The Attractions

"A 20-song blue-eyed soul tour-de-force, where Costello doesn't just want to prove his love, he wants to prove his knowledge. So, he tries everything, starting with Motown and Northern Soul, then touching on smooth uptown ballads and gritty Southern soul, even finding common ground between the two by recasting Sam & Dave's "I Can't Stand Up (For Falling Down)" as a careening stomper."