A look into the history, storylines, and players on a given album. What was the historical context surrounding a given record’s creation? What songs stand out, and what impact did the LP have on music history—both in the moment and over the course of the following years and decades? Writers can also examine the album cover itself and its impact on fans. But mostly, the piece should include a deep dive into the tracks: who wrote them and what impact they had on the band, songwriters, and listeners.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young perform at Olympia Stadium on June 12, 1970 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 11: Singers Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmy Lou Harris (l. to r.), who recorded an album together, in dressing room at CBS. (Photo by Susan Watts/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – American, country singer Kenny Rogers sings on stage during a concert on November 8, 1981 at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)
(Original Caption) New York: Singer Johnny Cash performs during a recent concert at Madison Square Garden. The performer is currently on top of the country and western charts, his most notable achievements being recorded performances for inmates of Folsom, and San Quentin prisons. 12/11/1969 (Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images)
New York, NY – 1975: John Lennon performing live in his last public performance on the ABC tv special 'Salute to Sir Lew – The Master Showman' at the Grand Hilton Hotel. (Photo by Ken Regan /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)
(MANDATORY CREDIT Ebet Roberts/Getty Images) UNITED STATES – OCTOBER 10: NOKIA THEATER Photo of Vince GILL, performing live onstage at the benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)
(GERMANY OUT) Paul McCartney, Mitglied der Musikgruppe "Beatles", im Jahr 1966 auf Tournee in Hamburg, wo die "Beatles" zwei 30minütige Konzerte in der Ernst-Merck-Halle gaben. (Photo by Peter Timmullstein bild via Getty Images)
Musician and Singer Jacob Dylan with The Wallflowers during photo shoot, September 18, 2000 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)