The cover photo for the debut, self titled album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, was taken on the porch of an abandoned house.  After reviewing the photo, they were concerned that they should retake the photo with the band members in the order of the band name, unlike the existing picture.  When they went back to re shoot the picture a few days later, the house had been demolished; so it remains, Nash, Stills & Crosby!  A beautiful album with stunning vocal harmonies, this album is one for everybody's collection.  From 1969, on Atlantic records SD-8229 here is Helplessly Hoping: 

With the success of their debut album, requests were coming in for live performances.  Although they had made a successful studio album, live music was another thing, and they knew they were missing something.  The head of Atlantic, Ahmet Ertegun, had the answer in Neil Young.  Despite the fact that Steven Stills was against the idea, having had such a tumultuous relationship with him in Buffalo Springfield, he also knew that it was the right mix musically; so Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young was born.  Some of the songs from those live performances became the basis for their next album Deja Vu.  Released in early 1970 on Atlantic SD 7200.  This copy is a 1977 import from Holland on brown vinyl.  A caution about coloured vinyl:  It is harder to visually judge the condition, especially on the lighter colours, as there is very little contrast, so harder to see.  Another problem can be contaminants in the vinyl which cause ticks an pops, even if the surface looks perfect.  This is much more common with coloured vinyl that black. You will be able to hear some of that background noise on this record (which looks almost mint visually).
Here is Teach Your Children followed by 4 + 20

4 Way Street, a double live album by Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, was recorded during their tour in support of the Deja Vu album, at concerts in New York, Chicago and L.A.  Having always suffered from much tension and infighting, the concert tour proved to be the end for CSNY and they dissolved before 4 Way Street hit the stores.  Released in April 1971, this much anticipated album shipped Gold, which means it had pre-sold over 500,000 copies! This is a great live album, with songs from each band member individually as well as both incarnations CSN & CSNY. Here is Ohio followed by Find the Cost of Freedom:

The third studio album by Folk/Rock singer Jim Croce, You Don't Mess Around With Jim, contains three of his most famous hits; Time in a Bottle, Operator and the Title Track.   This is a good album, one I quite like, sounds a little like Gordon Lightfoot in places and Bread in others, but mostly like Jim Croce. On ABC/Dunhill ABCX 756, released in 1972 here is Hey Tomorrow:

Life and Times, released in 1973 had a number one hit in Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.  This is his fourth studio album, and second with ABC/Dunhill. Croce's first album, Facets, was self published with a $500 wedding gift from his in-laws.  The plan was that having a record published ,would get the idea of making a living as a musician out of his system.  Having pressed only 500 copies, everyone copy sold and today they are very collectible!  This is also a very good album, sort of reminds me of James Taylor, but I prefer the previous release a bit.  My pick from this album would be Roller Derby Queen:

 I Got A Name, is Jim Croce's fifth and final studio album.  Released in December 1973, a few short months after he was killed in a plane crash.  The song Salon and Saloon, written by his guitarist Maury Muehleisen, was the last song Croce recorded.  Photographs & Memories is a compilation of Jim Croce's greatest hits and would be a good start for any casual listener looking for his radio hits. Quite a lot of hits for 2 years of recording! Here is his final song:

Bad Manors, is the second release by Canadian Rock band Crowbar, on Daffodil Label SBA-16004. This is the second release by the Hamilton band, from 1971, in a cool gold foil album cover with a die cut crowbar at the top. I guess I would describe this music as roots rock or boogie rock.  You may recognize this song Oh, What a Feeling, but probably not the next one (unless you have this album) Mountain Fire:

Perhaps they couldn't come up with a title, so they just used the catalogue number for the name.  Crowbar on Epic KE 32746, was released in 1973 and is the fifth release by the band.  Bad Manors is a good album with some really good songs, but this album has very little going for it! I don't know what happened in the two years between these albums, but they kind of lost it. This is a strange mix of styles from bad ballads, to hard rock to reggae to hillbilly music. Here is the one song sort of worth playing All The Living Things:

Creedence Clearwater Revival is the self titled debut album by the swamp rock/blues rock band from San Fransisco, released in 1968 on Fantasy Label F-8382. I grew up with this music.  I had a friend (the one with the car) who I think only had CCR 8 tracks, so we heard a lot of CCR. Even though we got kind of sick of hearing them back in '70 '71, I love their music.  I recently saw Creedence Clearwater Revisited, a band formed from 2 original members of CCR, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford; and they were fantastic!  Knew every song!  Although their best was yet to come this is a good album.  My pick is Portersville, followed by the beginning of the 8 minute plus cover of Suzie Q (such a great song!).

The first of three album released in 1969 by CCR, Bayou Country went to #7 on the charts in the US.  This album makes you feel like you are fishin' for crawdads in the swamps!  It has such a southern bayou feel with Born on the Bayou & Graveyard Train, plus it has one of their biggest hits in Proud Mary. Here is Bootleg:  (just try keeping your feet still!)

CCR's fourth studio release and their third from 1969, Willy and the Poorboys, is another great album producing two big hit in Down on the Corner and Fortunate Son.  For a band from the centre of the psychedelic music movement (San Fran.) they sure were able to produce their own style of roots rock! My pick from this album is their cover of Leadbelly's Cotton Fields:

By the time Cosmo's Factory was released in mid '70, many of the songs on it had already been released as singles, so the album is almost a greatest hits in a way.  With five albums released in basically two years, and all good to great music, you start to wonder when the creative energy will dry up.  Certainly not on this album! On the Fantasy label, F 8402, here is one of my favourite CCR songs Lookin' Out My Back Door:

 By the time Mardi Gras was released in 1972, the band was all but done.  This was to be their final studio album, and unfortunately was probably their worst album.  But then, there is always the Greatest Hits! From Mardi Gras, here is Sail Away:

Often referred to as the first "Super Group", Cream, the blues/rock band, formed in 1966 of musical giants, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.  Their debut album Fresh Cream was released in 1966 and went to #6 in the UK & #39 in the US.  This copy is a reissue from 1974 on RSO label, but the album itself is mislabelled as Disraeli Gears (a bit of an anomaly).  Although they had a short career as a band and produced only 4 studio albums, their influence on rock, hard rock, progressive rock and psychedelic rock music has been enduring.  Much of their music sounds as current today as it did almost 50 years ago.  Here is their cover of the great Willie Dixon song Spoonful:

So is this a psychedelic cover or what?  Disraeli Gears, is the second album by Cream, released in 1967 on Reaction Label in the UK and on Atco in the US.  I have both copies in my collection, but the picture and recording are from Reaction.  Considering that Reaction only released three LP during its brief time (2 by Cream and 1 by the Who) they are kind of rare.  This is by far my favourite Cream album, much more psychedelic and innovative, plus the cover is great!  Here is Swlabr (she walks like a bearded rainbow) followed by Sunshine of Your Love:

Wheels of Fire, released in 1968, is a double album with one album recorded in the studio and the other a live recording. The studio album has the bands new recordings including the huge hit White Room, and my pick As You Said. The live album is a great example of the group live and showcased each artist and their strength in different songs. Clapton's guitar work on Crossroads & Spoonful, Jack Bruce's harmonica solo on Traintime and Ginger Baker's drumming on Toad. Here is As You Said followed by clips from the live album.

Goodbye Cream, the farewell album by Cream is similar to Wheels of fire, in that part of this LP is recorded live from the farewell tour and part is recorded in the studio.  This album was released in early 1969, slightly over two years from their debut album! Considering they were breaking up at the time they were recording this album, I think it is very good.  I am not a huge fan of the song Politician, but I think the live version on this album is my favourite recording of this song.  My pick from this album is Badge: the only complaint is that it is too short.

I think that if you are a huge fan of Cream, then this is a worthwhile album to get, especially since they were really know as a "live" band. But, this is not a really well recorded album (although I believe the '98 remastered version is better) also, I think the live music on Wheels of Fire is superior.  Released in 1972, Live Cream Volume II, on Atco SD 7005, this is the US pressing; Canadian pressing is on Polydor. Here is Tales of Brave Ulysses:

This album is exactly as the title says, Strange Brew: The Very Best Of Cream.  All their hit singles from their four studio albums, as well as Anyone for Tennis (released as a single only).  A great collection of Cream musical greats! From 1983 on RSO/Polydor.

Armed Forces is the third album by new wave artist Elvis Costello, and the first to credit the band The Attractions.  Popular for Oliver's Army and Accidents Will Happen.  Early issues of the album included a bonus 7" three track single with live recordings of Alison, Watching the Detectives and Accidents Will Happen.
From 1979 on Columbia JC 35709, here is Two Little Hitlers:

The seventh studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Imperial Bedroom, released in 1982, was a move away from his new wave/punk rock style.  Although not as commercially successful as some other releases, this album was critically acclaimed and raised his profile as a songwriter and music maker.  This is an album that grew on me.  On first listen I had a mixed reaction, but now I really like it.  Here is The Long Honeymoon:

The second album by San Fransisco psychedelic rock band Country Joe and The Fish, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die,was released in 1967.  Influential in the psychedelic rock genre, but most famous for their Vietnam protest song and title track from this album. This copy has been well played, and is in rough shape! On the Vanguard label VRS-9266, here is the title track:

When I picked up this album 3 or 4 years ago at a second hand shop, although I had heard of the band, I really had no idea of their sound.  I was pleasantly surprised! The Trinity Session by the Cowboy Junkies is an amazing album.  Recorded in 1987 (in one day!) at Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity, for the acoustics, and according to the cover, "using only a Calrec Ambisonic Microphone".  This is the kind of album you want to listen to laying on the couch with the lights off and the music loud, so you can really experience it, you will feel like you are in the church!  The album starts of with an a cappella piece and then slowly more instruments and musicians are added to the mix.  This was done so they could balance the acoustics as the sound expanded.  The effect is wonderful.  With so many great songs it is hard to choose.  Here is 200 More Miles followed by their cover of Lou Reed's Sweet Jane:

Who's Been Talkin' is the debut album by The Robert Cray Band. Originally on Tomato Records, the label went out of business 6 months after the release in 1980. This copy is a digitally remastered edition by Atlantic Records of this great record. The ten songs on this album are a combination of covers of blues classics and songs by Robert Cray.  I tend to think that all the great blues songs were recorded long before this, but this album proves that thinking is wrong! Here is If You're Thinking What I'm Thinking:

I can honestly say that I did not buy this album for the music; however as a collectible, it is certainly more valuable.  From 1969, on the Straight Label STS 1051, this is a white label DJ Promo copy (usually means an early pressing, for release to radio stations to get airplay before the album hits the stores). Pretties For You is the debut album by the band Alice Cooper.  After clearing a bar within 10 minutes of starting to play, the band was brought to the attention of, and signed by, musician/producer Frank Zappa, as a potential band for his Bizarre/Straight record label.  With signs of what the band, and lead singer Alice Cooper (Vincent Furnier) was to evolve into musically, here is Reflected:  if you are an Alice Cooper fan you may recognise this as the roots of a future hit song...

The third studio release by Alice Cooper, Love it to death, was more successful, having changed the music to a more main steam hard rock style from the psychedelic vein of the first two albums.  There are a number of versions of this album. Earliest pressings are on Zappa's Straight label, then Warner Brothers (as is this copy) WS 1883; then with controversy over Coopers thumb/penis exposed (see cover pic) this was airbrushed out on later copies. I'm Eighteen was the biggest hit from this album, and continues to be one of their most famous songs.  My pick from this album Is It My Body:

Influential on future heavy metal and punk rock, Alice Cooper released Killer in late 1971, on WB records BS-2567.  Following the success of their previous release, Killer also did well with two hits in Under My Wheels and Be My Lover; although it had some negative criticism over the song Dead Babies. Original releases were on the olive green WB label, and had a 1972 calendar with a picture of Alice Cooper in a noose.  It wasn't until 1973 that WB started using the "Burbank" label, as on this reissue.  Here is Desperado:

Big on gimmicks with album releases, Schools Out opens like a school desk revealing the contents of a typical desk. Also original releases had a pair of paper panties wrapped around the album.  Having the panties with the album still, more than doubles the value.  The title track is likely Alice Cooper's biggest and best known hit ever; who hasn't heard it played on the radio in late June!  From WB BS-2623, my pick is Blue Turk: 

Another gimmick cover, this one a cardboard box instead of record sleeve, Muscle Of Love, was released in 1973.  This album would be the last studio album by the Alice Cooper band.  Although the reviews were mixed, especially after their previous album Billion Dollar Babies, went to #1, this album does have some great rock and roll, like Teenage Lament '74:

Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits, issued in mid 1974 is a great intro to the bands music.  This album covers tracks from their third release, Love It To Death up to their last album as a band, Muscle of Love.  On Warner Brothers label,  W-2803, here is No More Mr. Nice Guy:

Alice Coopers first solo album Welcome To My Nightmare, released in 1975, was a concept album tied to a story line that was used in his concert tour that supported the albums release.  Dark and twisted, but a good album and some feel his best solo release.  I believe this is his only release on Atlantic; from SD 18130, here is Cold Ethyl followed by Years Ago:

Alice Cooper's third solo album and tenth overall, Lace and Whiskey, is not a bad album musically, but it is hard to reconcile this with the Alice Cooper of past albums.  Totally different style. Without his name on the jacket I would not have guessed it was his album! Perhaps this is due in part to his alcohol abuse at this stage.  He check in to a sanatorium for alcohol treatment following this release.  As an example of the style on this album here is (No More) Love At Your Convenience:

From The Inside is a concept album based upon Alice Cooper's stay at the Sanatorium. Teaming up with Bernie Taupin to write the songs, this is a much stronger album that its predecessor (and one of my favorites). A very personal album as well, with the songs based upon his experience and on actual people in the sanitarium.  Here is a look at Alice Cooper through his own eyes on From The Inside:

and a look at one of the other patients in Nurse Rozetta: