A couple recent releases that I’ve been returning to often:
Lucrecia Dalt – ¡Ay!
Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces Of A Man recent 45 RPM reissue on BGP. Takes some hunting to find under $40, but one of those ee-bayy bulk discount sellers usually have them listed.
[edit: just realized this thread was started 5 years ago! If you adjust for inflation, I guess you're looking at under $50 now?]