 | Eldorado by Electric Light Orchestra
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $4.91 Another orchestral rock crew, but they listened to more Beatles than Bach. This was their first major hit. Hits: "Can't Get It Out Of My Head"
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 | On the Border by Eagles
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $3.47 Before ONE OF THESE NIGHTS made them superstars, this was another great pre-stardom hit. Hits: "Already Gone", "James Dean", "Ol' 55", "Best Of My Love" (my parents' wedding song)
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 | Second Helping by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $4.97 Not as legendary as their debut, but this did have "Sweet Home Alabama", every redneck's rallying cry. Other hits: "Workin' For MCA", "Call Me The Breeze", "Don't Ask Me No Questions"
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 | It's Too Late to Stop Now... by Van Morrison
Buy used from: $7.66 He was no longer a commercial darling, but he still made excellent albums like this legendary live outing. Great combination of originals & faithfully-done covers
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 | Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $4.54 Now just Fagen & Becker in the studio, this heightened their profile after the "hitless" COUNTDOWN. Hits: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", "Any Major Dude Will Tell You", "Barrytown", "Pretzel Logic"
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 | Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley by Robert Palmer
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.84 Thanks to Little Feat members, pre-RIPTIDE Palmer created an excellent debut. Contains an excellent cover of Feat's "Sailin' Shoes"
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 | Feats Don't Fail Me Now by Little Feat
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $2.58 Meanwhile, Feat created their last truly great album as Lowell George began slipping away from reality. Just about every song is a classic
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 | The Hoople by Mott the Hoople
Buy used from: $1.78 Stardom can tear many bands apart & certainly did for this one who had yet to reach their full potential. Hits: "The Golden Age Of Rock & Roll", "Pearl 'N' Roy", "Trudi's Song" (for Ian Hunter's wife)
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 | Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $2.92 This was Joni's first major commercial breakthrough. It was accessible without being a sell-out. Hits: "Help Me", "Free Man In Paris" (even this industry indictment was a hit), "Raised On Robbery"
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 | New Skin for the Old Ceremony by Leonard Cohen
Buy used from: $5.56 SONGS may be all the Leonard you need, but this wouldn't be a bad addition either. A truly underrated classic that was another subtle attempt to get on the charts
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 | Country Life by Roxy Music
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $5.63 Almost any Roxy is worth a try, but this one had a cover to make even the Ohio Players blush. But the biggest controversy was all about if that one woman was touching herself?!!
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 | Kiss by Kiss
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $3.07 They may have been better showmen than musicians, but influence isn't always about musical aptitude. Just about every song on here has been made a classic live. "Kissin' Time" was a small hit
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| Hotter Than Hell by Kiss
Buy new: $9.98 / Used from: $3.39 They were about as prolific as you can get back then, releasing this only 7 months after their debut. "Let Me Go, Rock & Roll" & the title track were live standards, of course
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 | Get Your Wings by Aerosmith
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $3.99 They were getting better with time, too. This one even outdid their classic debut! Hits: "Same Old Song & Dance", "Lord Of The Thighs", "Woman Of The World", "Train Kept A Rollin'"
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 | Chicago VII by Chicago
Buy used from: $5.19 They temporarily returned to the double format for this one. However, this had more songs than jams. Hits: "[I've Been] Searchin' So Long", "Wishing You Were Here", "Call On Me"
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 | What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits by The Doobie Brothers
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $3.44 Their hit status kept rising with this classic pre-Michael McDonald winner. Hits: "Black Water" (their first #1), "Another Park, Another Sunday", "Eyes Of Silver"
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 | So Far by Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Buy used from: $3.73 Yes, it's a greatest hits album, but where else could one find the classic social rocker "Ohio" & "Find The Cost Of Freedom". 14 more years, we'd get a real reunion
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 | Apostrophe (') by Frank Zappa
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $10.98 He certainly was a stranger to hits, but "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" on here became a surprise one for him. The rest of the album wasn't half-bad either!
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 | Jolene by Dolly Parton
Buy used from: $2.88 When her albums left a whole lot to be desired. However, this did have hits in the title track & the original version of "I Will Always Love You" (before Whitney guaranteed Dolly royalties for life)
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 | Sally Can't Dance by Lou Reed
Buy new: $9.98 / Used from: $3.00 Interestingly, this was Lou's only top 10 album. That was probably the best thing about it, but it showed that even when Lou was after a hit, he never fell flat on his face (except for MMM)
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 | Muscle of Love by Alice Cooper
Buy used from: $5.94 This was better known as Alice's last album with the original group, for even though it made the top 10, it was no BILLION DOLLAR BABIES. Still worth a gander, though
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 | Moontan by Golden Earring
Buy used from: $4.70 Who'd have thought the Dutch could rock hard?! We all know "Radar Love", but sadly it was only one of two hits in America for them (talk about injustice!)
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 | Late for the Sky by Jackson Browne
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $5.82 His most personal album to date, this dared to outdo his wonderful debut & very nearly succeeded. No hits, but the title track, "Fountain Of Sorrow" & "For A Dancer" were all favorites
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 | Stars
Buy used from: $119.44 Recovering from the teen success of "Society's Child", this was where Janis started to become a successful adult. But we hadn't heard nothing yet. "Jesse" was a hit for Roberta Flack
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 | Living and Dying in 3/4 Time by Jimmy Buffett
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.97 The Parrotheads will lap up just about anything from him, but this one had "Come Monday", his first top 40 hit & an appropriate introduction to the uninitiated (or who've only heard "Margaritaville")
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