The best acoustic guitar recordings??

a few of my favs....
Tony Rice & John Carlini, River Suite for Two Guitars (anything by Tony Rice for that matter)
Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, So What
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, self-titled
David Grier, Lone Soldier
Bryan Sutton, Ready to Go

nyctc7, nice call on "reckoning", great sound quality as well.......

Paul Kelly, "Words and Music" and "Post"
Everything But The Girl, "Acoustic"
Shelby Lynne's new album which is a tribute to Dusty Springfield

I second anything by the Assad Brothers and Christopher Parkening. Another contender: Joscho Stephan "Django Forever".

Was listening to Kenny Burrell "Guitar Forms" on Verve CD today.

Fantastic performance + fantastic sound! Highly recommended!

Kenny Burrell "Guitar Forms"
+1

Jorma Kaukonen "Quah" is still a classic.

David Bromberg's first album, 1972 or so. In fact, it is what I use to show off my turntable. Remarkable recording. Also, Ralph Stanley live at McCabe's.

One CD, I'd like to mention here
Decca Record,475-479-2
Dominic Miller , Album " Shapes"

Guitars, arrangements, and recordings are great.
I have introduced this to one of my friends, being manager
of one Hi-Fi showroom handling Mcintosh ,Opera,XLO etc.
and he uses for demonstration too, but he said it is good
for testing gears.

Fortunately, the Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live is back in print.
Marco- If you like the Nuno Bettancourt and his percussive style (which I do, thx for the tip) also try Kaki King. Other than Badi Assad, the only woman in the list so far.

The one I've been playing the heck out of lately is "Floating on the Silence," by Tom Wolfe and Gene Bertoncini. Absolutely virtuostic performances of original jazz compositions and standards. Just the two guitarists, unaccompanied. The music and quality of the recording are both first rate. Great late night stuff. In fact, I think I'll put it on right now.

As a classical guitarist of 25 years' duration, I've spent countless hours listening to recitals and performances in every conceivable venue. The most realistically recorded guitar performance that I have heard is the long out of print Sheffield Lab release #10, by Micheal Newman performing the Chaconne by Bach.

I am surprised only one entry for John Renbourne. I highly recommend
Sir John a lot
The lady and the unicorn
and the absolute best and masterpiece 'Hermit'
I also like Leo Kottke's One guitar, No vocals and Richard Leo Johnsons Fingertip ship

I would recommend Pavlo "Fantasia" Excellent CD great sonics

For latin...Luis Villages "cafe ol'e" and Oscar Lopez

John Fahey

Here's one I've really enjoyed: Images of Metheny by Jason Vieaux. All Pat Metheny tunes played on classical guitar. Very accomplished and wonderful! Recommended!

this month's issue of acoustic guitar magazine (which, coincidentally, i just read at borders) lists 240 essential acoustic albums from the past couple of decades. their choices seem very diverse and sound. check it out.

Rja, Jason Vieaux also recorded the Albeniz Suite Espanola on a small Cleveland-based label with audiophile aspirations (I'll have to check it when I get home, maybe it's the same label as the recording you're recommending), amazing playing and excellent sonics. His recording on Naxos is very good as well. Plus, as an aside, I have met him and he's not only a very nice guy but an audiophile too!

I believe he recently released a Bach CD as well.

Ray Brown & Laurindo Almeida: Moonlight Serenade

Jorma Kaukonen: "Too Hot to Handle"

Doc & Merle Watson - Pickin' The Blues

Gilberto Gil Acoustic. That's the best.

Awesome sounding solo guitar lp.

To add to many great recomendations above:

Erik Mongraine, Solo player mostly, exceptionally gifted technically, two albums, Fates and Equilibrium, both are wonderful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iRw0uKamN4

Andy McKee, solo and with Don Ross, gits, the pair of em..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgqnilG4pU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pbSvsIVTwQ

If it's blues then Mississippi John Hurt or Robert Johnson, both Legends of the 6 string..

This is different, but should be checked out, quite brilliant - Juan Carmona: Sinfonia Flamenca. On You Tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfyvcN_oSQw

Kenny Burrell, Midnight Blue, great Jazz guitar, he played with the greats and is a gem..

Hi, does anyone know who play this song and what's its tittle?
Wow, doesn't it sound like it was played from a vinyl record player?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVM18iJTMZs&feature=popular

Let's see if I have it as a clickable link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVM18iJTMZs&feature=popular

Any one? the 1st guitar's track sounds awesome, I must buy the CD. It sounded like Spanish, but does any1 know who played it?

"Pony Boy" - Allman Brothers

I second Aerial Bounderies. Can't go wrong with all The Ralph Towner stuff own ECM either. Also try Egberto Gismonte on ECM.

Also, the guitar playing by tomatito on flamenco vivo (cameron de la isla) is phenomenal and spectacularly recorded.

A few more good ones, following up on some of the suggestions above:

Doc and Merle Watson - Sitin' Here Pickin' The Blues. It's a compilation that includes Chazzro's suggestion plus additional material. Just great, great stuff, recorded nicely.

John Renbourne and Bert Jansch - Bert and John (or just about any of the Pentangle Cds/compilations)

I tend to agree with Nil re: Renbourne. Bert Jansch got most of the pub because Clapton and Page always name checked him, but I'll take Renbourne. Not that Bert is chopped liver....

also;

Kaki King - Until We Felt Red

Muddy Waters - Folk Singer

Steven Stills - Just Roll Tape. A mixed bag on SQ, but this is Stills in his prime on acoustic guitar and Dobro.

If your taste runs to classical, anything by Sharon Isbin is worth owning.

These are gernerally good to very good recordings of IMHO terrific acoustic guitar performances.

Marty

I second Michael Hedges "Ariel Boundaries" and "Breakfast in the Field".

Dorian CD label is a good place to look.

Early Acoustic Alchemy

Stephen Stills Live "Acoustic Side".

Strunz and Farah - Primal Magic

I have posted my review of above album here at Audiogon so if you like check it out.

Some great albums have been mentioned here. Members at Audiogon have the uncanny ability to rise to the occasion when called upon to do so, they have never disappointed me. Thank you for great music

Mark Selby, "and the horse he rode in on". Terrific music played on his '74 Mossman, and well recorded from inside his living room. Heard Mark and his beautiful wife Tia do some of these cuts live at a friend's home. Listening to him playing, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" right now ... goosebumps.

http://www.amazon.com/Horse-He-Rode-Mark-Selby/dp/B000EHRXKE/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1345557651&sr=1-6&keywords=mark+selby

A bit obscure, but the Melbourne Guitar Quartet's Toccata is superb

A hearty second to Edorr's recommendation of Ralph Towner and Egberto Gismonti on ECM. I am especially fond of Towner's work in Solstice and Gismonti's recording, "Silencio" with Charlie Haden.

Also worth checking out are recordings of various Robert Fripp projects (e.g., League of Crafty Guitarists).

Richard Thompson should be mentioned, although I'm not all that big a fan.

Jerry Garcia and Dave Grisman "So What"....
an incredible acoustic set of Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" album, transcribed for guitar and mandolin. It's really good stuff.

This one features solid (if unremarkable) SQ, but insane playing:

Tommy Emmanuel "Little By Little"

For a taste, click here ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S33tWZqXhnk

Marty

Sorry, the Gismonti recording I had in mind is "Magico" with a Haden composition called 'Silence'.

Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - "Me & Jerry"/"Me & Chet". Two early out-of-print 70's instrumental albums re-released in '09 by Raven Records out of Australia on one CD plus bonus tracks. Great sound quality & great pickin' - highly recommended.

Manuel Barrueco ‎– Works For Guitar By Albeniz & Granados

This is the best classical guitar LP I can think of. Amazing performance, and the guitar sounds like a guitar. This LP generated a huge amount of excitement in the classical guitar world when it came out.

This is available on CD as well in the very affordable 3 CD set titled 300 Years of Guitar Masterpieces

Vlatko Stefanovski i Miroslav Tadić - Live in Belgrade...stunning

Ulf Wakenius; Notes from the Heart

http://www.actmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=120

Ottmar Liebert - solo Para ti

Check out The Romeros on Mercury Living Presence for a special treat.

José Luis Montón's "Solo Guitarra" recording on ECM is a recent favorite and recommended to those who like a modern take on the flamenco tradition.

Rodriguo y Gabriela. Beautiful, electrifying, great music and their albums are nearly all reference quality for showing off systems...kinda the best of both worlds for me.

2 acoustic guitars playing Spanish, rock, elaborate intricate and fiery renditions of Dave Brubeck...these two are super-creative. their Live in Japan album is great.

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but Ry Cooder and VM Bhatt "Meeting by the River" is very interesting music by 2 great players. It is beautifully recorded, too. Cooder plays guitar, but Bhatt plays a variety of acoustic stringed instruments from India - so it is just a little OT. IMHO, it's well worth checking out and in the spirit of the OP.

Marty

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Rodriguo y Gabriela
Leo Kottke 6&12 string guitar
Romance de Guitar Xuefei Yang
lute Bach - Nigel north (linn records)

Acoustic guitar rock
Nirvana unplugged
This left feels right. Bon jovi
Clapton Unplugged
James Taylor Greatest Hits