I think Aerosmith invented/perfected the power ballad

[LuvLoogie]

They had one on each of their first three albums. While they would have commercial success with later offerings, none reached the heights of these three epic tunes.

[brewens]

1. Dream On didn't do much until it was rereleased, I think. Awesome tune, but I don't think many of us

heard it before Toys in the Attic came out.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. My Recollection Too

Released in '73 & got modest airplay. Broke big in '75 or '76. Was a top 10 single that second go around.

[brewens]

3. I went out and bought that and Get Your Wings not long after all that. n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

4. I May Have As Well

Not sure. Actually, I'm not sure I ever had Get Your Wings, but I had the first album & Toys.
I played in a band in '78/'79 that did a couple songs by them. Mama Kin & Train Kept'A Rollin'.

[LuvLoogie]

5. I don't think that its relative popular chronology

affects Dream On's standing as perhaps the original power ballad.

Expanding upon the OP, I don't know if another American band's early work can hold a candle to Aerosmith's first four albums. I really think that those four albums take the cake in American rock music by one band over an extended period.

This tune from Rocks is an example. One of the coolest tunes by ANYONE from that era.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

7. My favorite song on an album chock full of great songs ... so dark, dirty and badass

And in the theme of this thread, since this was the 4th album, the list should be extended IMHO to include Home Tonight which is yet another great power ballad.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

6. You See My Cryin' is SO high on my list of favorite Aerosmith songs

Toys was the first album I bought with my own money from doing chores as a kid, think I was 11 or so.

Other than Dream On, I don't think there's any song of theirs where Steven sounds better. The vocals in the bridge are just like ... are you fucking kidding me? And his piano work is actually pretty wicked complicated. It's not a simple song.

I've seen them I think 6 times in concert, starting in I think 1984. They are true rock and roll gods.

Probably going in December to see 'em with the Black Crowes on their Farewell Tour. It'll be bittersweet for sure.

[LuvLoogie]

9. I think Steven really stands out on Toys and Wings

Dream On is of course unsurpassed, but the work by Steven on Toys and Wings is just so artful, raw, poetic, and cool. His phrasing, inflection, and word choice are just so unique and spontaneous and organic. He's a true artist and great singer.

[highplainsdem]

10. Invented/perfected the power ballad? Not exactly. They followed in Led Zeppelin's footsteps,

but couldn't equal them. Especially the second and third songs here. The first two from 1969, the third from 1971.