2. analog
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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.


128x128knollbrent

Showing 2 responses by folkfreak

folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
While many if not most of the LPs suggested hit the OPs request I worry that thread such as this miss the real value of LP reproduction -- the ability to dig into over 60 years of history at frankly minimal cost and to uncover discs you had never heard of -- instead of relentlessly poring over the same old warhorses

For example where I live in Portland OR there are two great sources of new finds -- for re-relesases I browse the bins at Floating World comics and unearth such gems as
https://www.discogs.com/Michael-Raven-2-Joan-Mills-Death-And-The-Lady/release/11872005 - the original is super pricey unobtainium

A few miles North in St Johns there’s Vinyl Resting Place with a great selection of the folk I like -- on a recent visit for $80 I got 15 records including such tough (but rewarding) listens as
https://www.discogs.com/Alan-Stivell-E-Langonned/release/2529857

And odd balls like this, which is a Jethro Tull album in all but name
https://www.discogs.com/Maddy-Prior-Woman-In-The-Wings/release/2065646

My point is not to select these discs as anything special (although they each present real music in an honest fashion) but to encourage the OP to visit his local record store and pick out things that look fun or interesting and give them a try -- if you find something you like you can then start the search for the best pressing if that’s what you’re after but a good system should find the positives in any recording, not just the ones that have the TAS Super List imprimatur

ps If you want other suggestions here’s my collection (and yes it does include lots of certified Audiofool approved reissues!)
https://www.discogs.com/user/folkfrk/collection
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@knollbrent as you asked

Here’s a good sense of what I like listening too -- some of these LPs are rare and expensive in the original versions but one of the great benefits of services like Spotify is that you can sample say the Heron and decide if it’s your cup of tea before pursuing the chase for an original

https://www.audiostream.com/content/lovely-recordings-hosted-simon-goodall

Spillane Atlantic Bridge btw is a blockbuster recording and a Fremer favorite. The Tara is slightly better than the Cooking Vinyl, but both are good.

In terms of more recent material that is on my go to test list you need to own at least one copy of Janis Ian’s "Breaking Silence". The copy to own is the original numbered AP 33 pressing which to my ears beats the newer 45RPM (although the latter is still very good)

Also have on hand a copy of Joni’s Blue -- this one is fine, although a clean original US or UK is also great and one should always keep an original as reference.

Finally if I was in Miami I would be hightailing it to this store which seems to have a very interesting selection

Enjoy!

S
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