This time it's 1972. Huge albums were made by Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, and the Rolling Stones. The O'Jays had a big hit. David Bowie was busy: he issued "Space Oddity" and wrote a song for his buddies Mott the Hoople, too.

It's 2002, the year of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" from Wilco. The Flaming Lips released a masterpiece called "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots." Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings emerged. And Johnny Cash was still with us, and he recorded an unforgettable cover of a Nine Inch Nails tune.

It's 1994 this time. The late Tom Petty made a masterpiece called "Wildflowers." There were new bands like Oasis and G. Love and Portishead emerging, and we first heard of this "loser" named Beck.

This time, it's 1961. Ray Charles was huge. Ben E. King and Etta James had their biggest tracks. We would lose Patsy Cline in 1963, but 1961 was her biggest year.

It's 1982 this time, year of the English Beat's swan song, "Special Beat Service." Hip hop was emerging, thanks in part to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. X released a punk classic called "Under the Big Black Sun." It was the year of "Chronic Town," the initial EP for R.E.M. It was also the year of the best-selling album of all time — you guessed it, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson.

This time, it's 1973: Led Zeppelin pretty much the biggest band in the land. We first started to learn of Bruce Springsteen. Dr. John had his biggest hit. And Stevie Wonder dropped the big one.

Bill DeVille celebrates Mardi Gras with classic sounds of New Orleans funk and soul.

This time, it's 2003. A great year for local hip hop with albums from Atmosphere and Brother Ali. My Morning Jacket and the Black Keys emerged. The White Stripes released Elephant. Ben Gibbard was busy releasing albums from both Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service, and Outkast had a big hit.

This week, it's 1998. Billy Bragg and Wilco collaborated on some leftover Woody Guthrie lyrics. Lucinda Williams made perhaps her finest album. It was the year of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. And Semisonic had a massive hit.

This week, we'll go back 50 years. In 1968, Sly and the Family Stone were emerging. Tony Joe White had his biggest hit. The Beatles and the Stones made great albums. And Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay" became the first posthumous single to top the charts in the U.S.