Listening guides and background stories behind key albums in music history.

80/81, by Pat Metheny

As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays

Basra, by Pete La Roca

Brilliant Corners, by Thelonious Monk

Caravanserai, by Santana

Conference of the Birds, by Dave Holland

Escalator Over the Hill, by Carla Bley

First Utterance, by Comus

Five Leaves Left, by Nick Drake

Gris-Gris, by Dr. John

Hearts and Bones, by Paul Simon

Heavy Horses, by Jethro Tull

Hounds of Love, by Kate Bush

In the Land of Grey and Pink, by Caravan

In The Wake Of Poseidon, by King Crimson

John Barleycorn Must Die, by Traffic

Magic and Loss, by Lou Reed

Moonmadness, by Camel

Ommadawn, by Mike Oldfield

On The Shore, by Trees

Phantasmagoria, by Curved Air

Rain Dogs, by Tom Waits

Relayer, by Yes

Ricochet, by Tangerine Dream

Rock Bottom, by Robert Wyatt

S.F. Sorrow, by The Pretty Things

Scheherazade and Other Stories, by Renaissance

Secrets of the Beehive, by David Sylvian

Spirit of Eden, by Talk Talk

Stomu Yamashta’s Go

Stormcock, by Roy Harper

Swaddling Songs, by Mellow Candle

Tago Mago, by Can

Tango: Zero Hour, by Astor Piazzolla

The Ballad of the Fallen, by Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra

The Beatles Discovering the Moog on Abbey Road

The Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard, 1961

The Blues and the Abstract Truth, by Oliver Nelson

The Geese and the Ghost, by Anthony Phillips

The soundtrack to Wim Wenders’ Until The End Of The World

Time Out, by the Dave Brubeck Quartet

Treasure, by Cocteau Twins

U.K.’s Debut Album

Unhalfbricking, by Fairport Convention

Without Mercy, by the Durutti Column