@bdp24 near mint ( if properly graded, always an IF ) Andrew Gold s/t on the way for under $10 delivered....cheaper than drinking...ha
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.
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.
148 responses Add your response
Nice additions everyone! I'll check em out @chrisoshea @slaw @tzh21y @whart I'm currently mowing thru the reissued Stevie Ray Vaughn collection from Analogue Productions, QRP. I gotta tell ya Chad Kassem has his blank together. These reissues are quiet and beautiful to listen too! Of course, not everything has to be a reissue, I understand that. Listening to Stevie's Texas Flood right now and it is balls out amazing. Wow! Happy New Year everyone! |
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I’ll second wharts' recommendation of Andrew Gold, whose 1975 s/t debut solo album is mighty fine. In 1997 he put out a really well done tongue-in-cheek parody of late-60’s psychedelia, an album entitled Greetings From Planet Love by a group he named The Fraternal Order Of The All (CD only, J-Bird Records 80146). What The Rutles are to British Invasion, and Spinal Tap are to Metal. Great music, intentionally "period" lyrics. |
If you dig peak Linda Ronstadt, you might explore Andrew Gold, who worked with her on a number of those great albums. He was a producer, arranger, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is almost forgotten today. He came from very successful music biz parents and his work reflected some of the best of the LA '70's pop rock scene. Extreme talent, sadly passed at a relatively young age. |
Just listened to the latest by Maria Taylor "In The Next Life". Really nice. I'm a fan of her and Orenda Fink. Together they are known as Azure Ray. Orenda Fink's lp, "Blue Dream", IMO is masterpiece! Anyway, it's worth checking these two artists out as a band and separately. One thing you can always count on is EX SQ. |
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 |
@fjn04 , I don’t own too many FM releases but as my system has evolved, so has my appreciation for the one’s I do own. My OP of America "S/T" sounds better than the FM. My Kansas "Leftoverture" on FM sounds incredible. My Yes "The Yes Album" 45 rpm box really sounds great. My OP does sounds very good but for a warmer yet still detailed presentation with excellent bass, I go to the FM version. That’s 3 that come to mind. BTW, some crazy stuff has happened to me here in the past as well. |
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. |
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. |
I found this on BandCamp. https://tettero.bandcamp.com/album/tettero-plays-eddie-harris-les-mccannhttp:// Great funky guitar version of Less McCann´s classic tunes Superb 180 gr limited edition. Top notch sq, maybe even better than the DXD master. Very silent and stable grooves. Highly recommended. |
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. |
I’m gonna come at this just a bit different in my suggestions based on my digging around like folkfreak suggested as a methodology. I have found anything by these guys to be excellent music and top fkn shelf sound. These are not rare birds but I gottem cheap and were unknown by me. Gentle Giant Dan Hicks Tony Rice Brand X Brazil Classics any vol. compiled by D. Byrne(Tom Ze in particular) I also found some really cool used stuff I wouldn’t normally had considered (chamber music)but when I started really paying attention to names like Ludwig, Kipper whom I’ve come to realize are household names but anyway things really went some fun directions. New releases, many but I do not tire of John Abercrombie’s last. I’m blown away by it. Like seriously. May just be me but I think the mucisianship is absolutely crazy there’s just something special about the way they play together and off each other. The whole record ebbs seamlessly like a concert playing feelings less songs with so much depth and touch ECM label, so ya know sound does not suffer that’s for sure. Have fun!! |