The fourth studio album by folk rock artist Harry Chapin, Verities & Balderdash was released in 1974 on Elektra 7ES-1012. This album contains his biggest hit Cat's in the Cradle, as well 30,000 lbs of Bananas, which is based on an actual truck crash in 1965 in Pennsylvania.

The self titled debut album by singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman, released in 1988 on Elektra E1- 60774, sold over 1 million copies in just two weeks after its release.  This is a great album,  simple acoustic sound with intelligent lyrics. It's no wonder it has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.  Here is She's Got Her Ticket followed by For You:

Originally released in October '78 in Japan only, Cheap Trick at Budokan, sold so well as an import in North America, it was release there in early '79 and became their best selling album.  At Budokan is the fourth album rock/power pop band from Illinois since their start in 1973; on Epic PE-35795.  Sounding less like a pop band and more like the rock band they were becoming, here is their first recording of Surrender:

From 1979 comes the follow up album to At Budokan, Dream Police, the of which the title track became a top 30 hit. Another good album by this band, and probably the last really good one, at least for the next couple of decades. Here is Gonna Raise Hell: