When was the last time you really listened to just how hard Dick Dale hit those strings? He is, indeed, the undisputed king of surf guitar, and here are 20 reverb-drenched essentials from his... more

Patty Smyth, both with her hit band Scandal and as a solo artist, is a true "New Wave Queen" and has always been a rock and roll chick. If Smyth did nothing but marry New York punk poet Richard Hell... more

Propelled by their breakthrough hit "Goodbye to You" and its endlessly watched MTV video, Scandal gave Columbia its best-selling EP ever with their self-titled 1982 debut. A hit LP followed, as did... more

Some groups exceed the designation of "influential." This crucial gospel ensemble ("The Beatles of gospel"—Al Kooper) is one such group. This is essential, indeed: the first CD of their key sides on... more

Known for his Gypsy influenced acoustic guitar playing, the jazz icon plugged in occasionally and this 14 track CD compilation is dedicated to his best electrified explorations. 14 tracks including... more

These recordings (some of which were produced by Dave Alvin) were made from 1994–2004, but they'll have you swearing you're back in the honky-tonks and roadhouses of the '50s., You get prime cuts... more