Additional personnel: Paul Prestopino (banjo).

Recorded at The Warehouse, Waltham, Massachusetts and The Record Plant, New York.

Personnel: Joe Perry (vocals, guitar, steel guitar, lap steel guitar, electric bass, 6-string bass, percussion); Steven Tyler (vocals, harmonica, keyboards, electric bass, percussion); Tom Hamilton (guitar, electric bass); Brad Whitford (guitar); Paul Prestopino (banjo); Joey Kramer (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Recording information: Record Plant, New York, NY; Wherehouse, Waltham, MA.

Directors: Steve Leber; David Krebs.

Photographers: Scott Enyart; Fin Costello; Ron Pownall; Tom Hamilton; Brad Whitford.

Arrangers: David Hewitt; Jack Douglas; Aerosmith.

Few albums have been so appropriately named as Aerosmith's 1976 classic Rocks. Despite hard drug use escalating among bandmembers, Aerosmith produced a superb follow-up to their masterwork Toys in the Attic, nearly topping it in the process. Many Aero fans will point to Toys as the band's quintessential album (it contained two radio/concert standards after all, "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion"), but out of all their albums, Rocks did the best job of capturing Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking. Like its predecessor, a pair of songs have become their most renowned -- the menacing, hard rock, cowboy-stomper "Back in the Saddle," as well as the downright viscous funk groove of "Last Child." Again, even the lesser-known tracks prove essential to the makeup of the album, such as the stimulated "Rats in the Cellar" (a response of sorts to "Toys in the Attic"), the Stonesy "Combination," and the forgotten riff-rocker "Get the Lead Out." Also included is the apocalyptic "Nobody's Fault," the up-and-coming rock star tale of "Lick and a Promise," and the album-closing ballad "Home Tonight." With Rocks, Aerosmith appeared to be indestructible. ~ Greg Prato

One of the reasons why Aerosmith, after a number of creatively lean years, are still given legendary credence and an eager ear with each new release, Rocks encapsulated the very essence of rock 'n' roll. They may have been the target of detractors who still pinned them as nothing more than a poor man's Rolling Stones, but Rocks pioneered a strength and swagger and real depth that remains very nearly unsurpassed. From the slowly escalating 'Back In The Saddle' to the dying strains of 'Home Tonight', this album held the full spirit and soul of Aerosmith in both hands.