From rushed follow-ups to overblown experiments, these 15 'difficult second albums' prove that early success can be a tough act to follow ...

John Lennon’s angry song inspired by an alleged sexual assault in India is one of the darkest Beatles songs – but is the story true?

Many an iconic rocker has found religion or spirituality. It hasn't always led them where they might have hoped ...

Singer-songwriters ruled the 1970s. Musicians who’d come up through the coffeehouses and clubs of the folk scene were coming of age. Writers who’d cut their teeth churning out hits in Tin Pan Alley ...

Motown gave us The Sound Of Young America throughout the ’60s, but one year – 1966 – was the year Berry Gordy’s label truly came of age ...

From the raw energy of punk to stadium-filling anthems, these 21 artists define the defiant, melodic soul of Irish music ...

For long neglected outside her own nation, Welsh composer Grace Williams is starting to enjoy her time in the sun again ...

From the smooth gold of Laurel Canyon to the polished perfection of AOR, here are the 21 definitive soft rock masterpieces ...

A debut album is often the purest, most unadulterated artistic statement a band will ever make. Forged in years of obscurity, ...

Awards were announced last night, 'shining a light on musicians and musical initiatives doing so much to inspire and enrich ...

From Fleetwood Mac to Pink Floyd, here are 17 classic rock albums that cost blood, sweat and tears to put together ...

Not every reunion rocks. 13 legendary bands tried to recapture the magic – and proved some breakups should stay permanent ...