Album of the Day

As frontman of Yes during the band's 1970s heyday, Jon Anderson had one of the most famous voices in progressive rock, and it's put to excellent use on his solo debut, OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW. The 1976 Atlantic collection, painstakingly produced by the singer-songwriter over the better part of a year, is of a piece with classic Yes albums but features enough twists to remain distinct. There's lavish cover art (though by David Roe rather than Roger Dean), virtuoso instrumental work (almost all by Anderson himself) and a fantastical unifying concept (an alien race led to a new world by the title character). Yes members have released their share of solo sets over the years, and OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW ranks among the very best of them; we'll give it another spin now to celebrate Jon Anderson's birthday.