Close to You
Artist: The Carpenters
Community Score: 7.46

Hurriedly put together in the wake of the success of the title song, and containing the follow-up hit "We've Only Just Begun," Close to You is a surprisingly strong album, and not just for those hits. Richard Carpenter's originals "Maybe It's You" and "Crescent Noon" are superb showcases for Karen Carpenter's developing talent, the latter a... Read More

Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop)
Artist: Dave Loggins

Kenny Loggins' second cousin hit the big time for a couple of months in 1975 with "Please Come to Boston," a serviceable and sentimental soft rock gem from his second album, Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop). Part of the lexicon of harmless '70s singer/songwriters like Dan Fogelberg and James Taylor, Dave Loggins never again regained the... Read More

Bright Eyes
Artist: Melissa Manchester

On her second album, Melissa Manchester remained largely under the influence of some immediate predecessors, though she was beginning to show evidence of an original talent. The impact of Laura Nyro still could be heard on songs like the title track and "O Heaven (How You've Changed to Me)," with their vibrant gospel tone. If Manchester seemed... Read More

Heart Like a Wheel
Artist: Linda Ronstadt
Community Score: 9.33

Following the same formula as her early records, Heart Like a Wheel doesn't appear to be a great breakthrough on the surface. However, Ronstadt comes into her own on this mix of oldies and contemporary classics. Backed by a fleet of Los Angeles musicians, Ronstadt sings with vigor and passion, helping bring the music alive. But what really makes... Read More

Paul Simon
Artist: Paul Simon
Community Score: 8.00

If any musical justification were needed for the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel, it could be found on this striking collection, Paul Simon's post-split debut. From the opening cut, "Mother and Child Reunion" (a Top Ten hit), Simon, who had snuck several subtle musical explorations into the generally conservative S&G sound, broke free, heralding... Read More

America
Artist: America
Community Score: 8.65

America's debut album is a folk-pop classic, a stellar collection of memorable songs that would prove influential on such acts as the Eagles and Dan Fogelberg. Crosby, Stills & Nash are the group's obvious stylistic touchstone here, especially in the vocal harmonies used (compare the thick chordal singing of "Sandman" and "Children" to CS&N's... Read More

First Grade
Artist: Thomas Jefferson Kaye

Thomas Jefferson Kaye steps out of his usual spot in the producer's chair for his second record, 1974's First Grade, handing the reins over to Gary Katz (Steely Dan). Together, Kaye and Katz create what appears at first to be a fairly typical bit of M.O.R., L.A. rock -- caught somewhere between tepid country-rock, Southern boogie, and the... Read More

Shiloh
Artist: Shiloh
The Best of Bobby Goldsboro
Artist: Bobby Goldsboro