Now that you have a lot of peoples favorites or suggestions ( I gave suggestions because my favorites would not necessarily be your favorites ) you have to now consider pressings . So here are a few thoughts from my experiences . For rock I like Japanese and German pressing in general , the English/Great British ones can be good if you find one without a lot ot background noise , Reprise is a good label So is London and Abbey Road . For classical I am limited in experience to Chicago Symphony Pressings , RCA Living Stereo , Decca/London ffrr and Mercury Presence , for Jazz Blue Note , for Folk Vanguard .
I like fidelity of the new re-releases at 45rpm as well as the double vinyl 33rpm releases ( like Dire Straits " Brothers in Arms " ) .
All of these are available within reason whereas the MOFI original and the new Ultra Disc are Ultra expensive , as are the Classic pressing ( great fidelity but so so quietness ) the same with Chesky .
While all this is just my opinion it is some to start thinking about .
As usual, lots of great suggestions by some serious music lovers and audiophiles.
Here are my 3. (Only 3!?!??!!)
1. Everly Brothers. A Date With The Everly Brothers. (Well recorded. Touching and emotional. Country and Blues crossover to equal Rock n Roll. One can hear where The Beatles, The Beachboys were influenced and “got” there sound. IMHO.
2. A Clockwork Orange soundtrack. Well recorded. Excellent intro to Classical music for those of us who were not exposed much.
Sheffield Labs "I've Got The Music In Me with Thelma Houston and Pressure Cooker", "Jethro Tull Aqualung," "The New York Rock And Soul Review" with Donald Fagen.
Third choice is really hard, so have to list a few
Will the Circle be Unbroken - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Heavy Weather - Weather Report
Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter - Joni Mitchell
School Days - Stanley Clarke
So many others I would want in my library of 100; they may not be the best recordings, but I find them significant in the story of music, and can listen to them over and over which I what I want in a library of 100.
Rather a sweeping statement. Listen to Debrinka Tobakova and some of the cello works she has written. Is Michael Nyman still regarded as contemporary? He has some exciting compositions.
By the way, just listening to "Hearing Solar Winds". An interesting piece though I do prefer the chanting in Norbu as a meditative experience.
So @stereo5, what should I have for breakfast? Good grief...you ever heard of asking a question to strike up a conversation? I find threads like this enjoyable and informative -- if you play along you might discover some "new to you" music.
Difficult but fun question, @hbarrel. Trying to narrow it down to JUST three albums would lead to many nights tossing and turning going over the pros and cons of each finalist. But, I did my best -- and number one on the list was a no-brainer for me.
1) Pink Floyd -- "Animals"
2) Led Zep -- "IV" (or Zoso as some Led Heads call it)
3) Opeth -- "Damnation"
Honorable Mention:
Dire Straits -- "Love Over Gold" & "Dire Straits"
Porcupine Tree -- "Fear of a Blank Planet" & "Deadwing"
Led Zep -- "Physical Graffiti"
Pink Floyd -- "Dark Side of the Moon" & "Wish You Were Here"
Dream Theater -- "Images & Words" & "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory"
Sounds like you’ve got lots of pop feedback, and lots of people will steer you to the classics like Barber’s Adagio. And modern serious stuff is mostly pretentious garbage, IMO, but there are a few exceptions, and they are sublime.
Modern serious music:
- Hearing Solar Winds, David Hykes and the New Harmonic Choir, Ocora label, number 558 607. Said to be the best classical album of 1981, Four singers each singing a chord (yes, it’s for real) in a medieval stone church. Must have because it’s meditative, original, and unique.
- Sound track for the French movie ’Police’, which just happens to be no more and no less than Gorecki’s Symphony III (of Sorrowful Songs), and the only vinyl rendition. Erato 9275, S. Woytowicz, soprano. A huge harmonious landmark piece of voice, piano, and orchestra. Just don’t look it up to see what it’s all about - you don’t want to know. Really.
- Tabula Rasa composed by Arvo Part (sometimes spelled Paert). Mainly piano and strings, give ’Fratres’ a few minutes until the piano part comes in - although you may prefer the transcription for the 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic. Must have because it’s fascinating, strange, and haunting, the best of modern Baltic music. ECM Records, New Series, ECM 1275.
I always find these kinds of posts interesting as I, like everyone else I'm sure, looks at so many selections and thinks somewhat incredulously, WTF? How could anyone feel "that" record is a must have? 🤣
Kind of a silly question since any pressing will sound different than another. Hence get ready to spend some big bucks searching for the best sound of any record.
Example, someone mentioned Electric ladyland. The newest 2010 edition remastered by Eddie Kramer himself, a supposedly top pressing, absolutely sucks. Instead the original naked ladies cover that was outlawed in the UK still rules.
Point is there is no quick road to owning the best sounding vinyl, it's a journey. The reward is researching for the better versions usually pays off if you can afford it.
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