The Best of B.T.O. (So Far)
Artist: Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Community Score: 7.50

This nine-song collection released in 1976 was the first of close to two dozen "Best Of," "Greatest Hits," and "Greatest Hits Live" collections by the Guess Who's major competition when Randy Bachman left that venerable Canadian band. If you add "Free Wheelin'" (not included on this initial compilation), Bachman-Turner Overdrive equaled the... Read More

The Grand Illusion
Artist: Styx
Community Score: 9.69

Other than being their first platinum-selling album, The Grand Illusion led Styx steadfastly into the domain of AOR rock. Built on the strengths of "Come Sail Away"'s ballad-to-rock metamorphosis, which gained them their second Top Ten hit, and on the high harmonies of newcomer Tommy Shaw throughout "Fooling Yourself," The Grand Illusion... Read More

Decade of Rock & Roll '70-'80
Artist: REO Speedwagon

This is a well-chosen recap of REO's dues-paying years. ~ Dan Heilman, All Music Guide Read More

You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish
Artist: REO Speedwagon
Community Score: 8.67

You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish was a breakthrough album for REO Speedwagon in a sense, gelling the guitar craft of Gary Richrath and the vocals of Kevin Cronin with songs that rambled and rolled and never stopped for air. Richrath's style finally formed some catchy hooks, and Cronin's songwriting is solid, while his voice sounds... Read More

Ridin' the Storm Out
Artist: REO Speedwagon
Community Score: 10.00

REO Speedwagon began to come into its own with its third album, Ridin' the Storm Out. Over the years, the record became a platinum-seller, due to the strength of their series of opening shows for more successful rock acts, but it originally charted at number 171. While the group still had elements of their bar band boogie, they began to... Read More

Greatest Hits 1974-1978
Artist: Steve Miller Band
Community Score: 7.62

Greatest Hits 1974-1978 collects the majority of Steve Miller's biggest hits -- "The Joker," "Take the Money and Run," "Rock 'n Me," "Fly Like an Eagle," "Jet Airliner," "Jungle Love," "Swingtown" -- and seven album tracks that received a fair amount of airplay on album rock radio. The collection only covers a total of three albums -- The Joker,... Read More

Fly Like an Eagle
Artist: Steve Miller Band
Community Score: 7.92

Steve Miller had started to essay his classic sound with The Joker, but 1976's Fly Like an Eagle is where he took flight, creating his definitive slice of space blues. The key is focus, even on an album as stylishly, self-consciously trippy as this, since the focus brings about his strongest set of songs (both originals and covers), plus a... Read More

Gold
Artist: Jefferson Starship

This 1979 compilation culls the hit singles and strongest album tracks from Jefferson Starship's four elemental-titled albums of the 1970s: 1974's Dragon Fly (evoking air), the 1975 number one smash Red Octopus (water), 1976's Spitfire (fire), and the more obviously titled Earth from 1978. These albums saw the Jefferson Starship hit-making... Read More

Red Octopus
Artist: Jefferson Starship
Community Score: 10.00

Technically speaking, Red Octopus was the first album credited to Jefferson Starship, though practically the same lineup made Dragon Fly, credited to Grace Slick/Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship. The difference, however, was crucial: Marty Balin was once again a fully integrated band member, writing or co-writing five of the ten tracks. And there... Read More

Cornerstone
Artist: Styx
Community Score: 8.23

Presenting radio with one of the best rock ballads ever, Cornerstone gave Chicago's Styx their big break with the number one single "Babe," which held that spot for two weeks in October of 1979. "Babe" is a smooth, keyboard-pampered love song that finally credited Dennis De Young's textured vocals. While this single helped the album climb all... Read More