Forty Years Ago Today Aerosmith Released ‘Toys In The Attic’

'Toys in the Attic' is easily in the top 5 of the most played albums that I own and simply one of the best recordings ever made.

It was the band's third release and they were totally on top of their game. From the first drop of the needle with the title track until the last notes of 'You See Me Crying", (one of the first great rock ballads), this record kicks ass.

It spawned two hit singles, 'Sweet Emotion' at #36, and of course 'Walk this Way charting at #10, but this record has never been defined by the singles. Every song is solid.

I didn't know a soul in my peer group who didn't own this record, and it was the soundtrack for not only 1975, but for many years after that.

I was 11 years old when I brought 'Toys' home, and the first time my parents heard Steven Tylers' voice scream "my big ten inch!" from the speakers, they knew the musical game had changed for me.

'Toys in the Attic' is a defining moment for me, much like the reading of a certain book is for some. After listening to it, another door opened and I ran through.