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Best vinyl purchases based on pressing, studio production, sound quality and enjoyment.

As you all know this question has been asked a million times on a million sites BUT each time it’s asked, it can be very helpful to those trying to find great vinyl that is quiet, produced well and touches the heart each time it’s played.

I’ve only been into vinyl for 6 months now and have purchased 250 albums, 99 percent new, recent pressings, reissues. So within the last year, what are 10 of your favorite album purchases based on pressing, studio production, sound quality and pure enjoyment??? Here’s my top 20:

1. The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals. (Various artists, 200 gram QRP)
2. Willie Nelson- To all the Girls (Various artists 180 gram Legacy)
3. Dead Can Dance- Into the Labyrinth (180 gram Mobile Fidelity reissue)
4. Rickie Lee Jones- Rickie Lee Jones (180 HQ Pressing Warner Bros reissue)
5. Stevie Ray Vaughn- The Sky is Cryin (200 gram Analogue productions 45rpm reissue)
6. Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon (2016 reissue)
7. Renee Flemming- The Beautiful Voice (Decca 20th anniversary gatefold)
8. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong- Ella and Louis (Analogue productions Mono reissue)
9. Eva Cassidy- Nightbird (Blix Street Records 180 gram)
10. Doors- All the new reissue 45’s from Analogue Productions, 200 gram
11. Cash- The Man Comes Around (American Records, QRP, 180 gram)
12. Shelby Lynne- Just a Little Lovin (QRP, Analogue Productions, 45 rpm, 200 gram)
13. Vanessa Fernandez- When the Levee Breaks (Groove Note, 45 rpm, 180 gram)
14. Nils Lofgren- Acoustic Live (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram)
15. Neil Young- Live at Massey Hall (Reprise, 180 gram reissue)
16. Tony Bennett- I Wanna Be Around (Mobile Fidelity, 180 gram reissue)
17. Linda Ronstadt- What’s New (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram, reissue)
18. Cat Stevens- Tea for the Tillerman (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram reissue)
19. Muddy Waters- Folk Singer (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram reissue)
20. Fleetwood Mac- Tango in the Night (Rhino, 180 gram, 2017 reissue)

Ps: You can go beyond 1 year if needed.


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Showing 8 responses by fjn04

fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Love GD: Wake... I have a nice copy, on early press. Always thought it was a good listen, but I may grab the Rocktober. I bought the T-Rex LP on Rocktober due to overwhelming great feedback, but have yet to crack it open. 
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Some stand outs for me, but will give this more thought....
Nick Drake: Pink Moon. UM 2009
The Cars:  S/T Red Label STERLING
Fleetwood Mac: S/T KENDUN (Ken Duncan) 75
Dire Straits: Love Over Gold. STERLING
Buckingham/Nicks:  Sterling US (beat my Quality CAN label)
The Doors: Strange Days US Gold label early pressing
Grateful Dead: American Beauty (Warner- GREEN label)
Leonard Cohen: Popular Problems 
+1 on above.... Neil Young: Massey Hall!!!

fjn04
1,561 posts
 
If you're speaking of the QRP 45, the Strange Days sounds great to my ears. I haven't heard the Rhino 33 rpm. I reach for my early Gold label more often then the 45, but that's also because I prefer not dealing with 45's sometimes. Let me think of a few more....

Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left: 1st US Antilles from 76'.... Have not heard the new remaster, because it's not all analog, and I avoided it. 

Jennifer Warnes: The Well...Cisco label- 33 wonderful 45 even better

ZZ Top: Tres Hombres: Mine is early press, but I heard the new reissue is also very well done. 

Neil Young: Comes a Time... Early US Reprise

Last but not least... If you don't have Allman Brothers: Live @ Fillmore, you really should. There is The Classic, or STERLING stamped US. I enjoy both, but prefer the latter, Not audiophile good, but easily good enough to enjoy this timeless classic. 

fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Regarding Pink Floyd: The Wall... I'm not a huge Japanese pressing guy, but I must say, my Japanese pressing of The Wall is oh, so good. Quiet, so analog sounding, dynamic as hell. The Cowboy Junkies: Trinity Sessions is also excellent. I have the Classic 45, which in this case, is worth the extra hassle. 
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Picked up a NM copy of the David Gilmour S/T solo LP. Sound is extremely good. I believe it has Sterling stamp in dead wax, but I have to double check. Always loved this record, and very happy to have this great sounding vinyl, to go along with my See-Dee. (-: 
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
No Slaw...you're killing me. $17, and I was done (-: Just kidding... Great record, love No Way Out of Here, and also last song on same (1st) side. 
Same Record Riot show, and another score. After a nice AIVS bath, the Jerry Garcia: S/T early Warner green is also a winner. Another great album. Speaking of his first, with Deal, Sugaree, The Wheel... Lucked out this time, and still have Little Feat: Sailin Shoes to wash and spin from that record show. Another great sounding record, and Whart (Bill) gets all the credit for this... Janis Ian: Between the Lines. Mine is a Side 2 RL, and that side sounds great. My copy has a Side 2 VG, and side 1,Good + condition. I have never played side 1. 
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Funny that you bring up the FRIDAY MUSIC GBMB Slaw... I always hesitate because of their spotty rep, but yet there are titles I've heard others say are great. The 45 rpm Close to the Edge comes to mind. I do have the Friday version of America: The Best Of from a collection I recently purchased. I plan to give that a spin soon. THAT'S STRANGE, THAT WAS MY POST ABOVE AND FOR SOME REASON i WAS SIGNED IN UNDER THE ABOVE GUYS NAME. HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT JUST HAPPENED. 
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Oops- My bad. I meant to say The Yes Album, not Close to the Edge. The Yes Album is my favorite from Yes, but I'm happy with my early press.I need to revisit FRAGILE, because I've acquired the Hoffman pressing, and need to compare to my Early US directly. I've enjoyed both on separate occasions. As far as great sounding pressings, I also picked up a US Antilles (first press) of Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left... A winner for sound quality, and the music IMO,  is sublime
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