... By the way ... The album by XTC is "Mummer", not "Murmur." Murmur, is an excellent album by R.E.M. with greats like Radio Free Europe, Laughing, Talk About The Passion,Sitting Still, etc.
Sorry. |
Great input everyone! Thanks for the suggestions!
I have a number of these records and will re-visit them. |
Hi Almandog, right on! Actually, I kick myself for not picking up a copy of Brothers in Arms when lp's were cheap and plentiful! The title track alone is excellent and I think must sound great on lp. I only have the cd, unfortunately.
Thanks for the pre-clean, then clean-the-good-ones suggestion; makes sense. What is your cleaner formula? Did you get it from an MSDS, or from audio folk lore?
I listened to a couple of Pat Metheny albums tonight, as well as Jackson Brown -- The Pretender, and Jimmy Buffet -- Son of a Son of a Sailor. They were all worthy of cleaning, and collecting. The Jackson Brown was somewhat disappointing in the first track. I love the song so much, but the recording was a bit flat (although, I must say it was satisfying). But then the rest of the album kicked into gear and the recording was very good. This Jimmy Buffet album is very well recorded. It is three-dimensional, and has a reasonably wide soundstage. The separation is very good on it! And, of course, I really enjoy the music on it. |
Bondmanp, you are absolutely write about Body and Soul! I particularly like "Heart of Ice." I love how it builds up from a whisper into a melodic, dynamic crescendo.
Fantastic pick! |
I completely agree with you Ehaller!
Incidentally, I haven't listened to Jumping Jive in a while. The music is fun and great. I forgot how the recording is -- I'll listen soon and report. But if the recording is as good as the music, it is definitely a "keeper." |
Joan Armatrading -- Me Myself I. Someone in my building was throwing it out. I picked it up. It is in excellent condition.
The music is great! The recording is great!
The quality of the recording supports my thought that the music industry recorded rock music very well until the early eighties. After that it seems to me that rock and other pop genres were not so well recorded. Of course, the exception is some artists who paid attention to how their albums were recorded, like Joe Jackson. |
Supertramp Live, Paris. One of the best live albums I have heard! Beautifully recorded!
Get one, and listen to it. It is great!
Cheers. |
Along with "For Duke", Duke Ellington's Symphony in Black and Other Works, by The Smithsonian Jazz Repertory Ensemble, is excellent.
I listened to Tears for Fears, Songs from the Big Chair last night. I forgot how wonderfully well recorded it is. I have been listening to some of the tracks from that album on their greatest hits cd. The sound -- fine, but not remarkable. The record, however, came alive and was truly captivating.
Cheers. |
The Hissing of Summer Lawns -- Joni Mitchell. Wow! Appropriate for the thick of Summer in NYC. Fantastic album -- great music, great recording!
Tvad, I also think Thriller is an excellent album. I will listen to it again and pay attention to the recording quality. My memory is that it is high quality.
I picked up a 180g version of Rickie Lee Jones' original album. My original pressing has a fair amount of surface noise; still listenable, but after hearing the new pressing, I realized that my old pressing is, well, old. I really enjoy the new 180g pressing. It is a Rhino Vinyl manufacture under Warner Music Group. I found it for $25 online. Ms. Jones' voice is not veiled on this pressing.
I wonder if anyone has compared it with the MFSL pressing.
Another pick of mine of late '70's music -- Foreigner -- Head Games. For music I listened to when I was a child, it is well recorded. I found a great condition original pressing at an NYC used record shop in the early '90's for $1. I still like the music, although a bit bubble gummy for rock.
Speaking of bubble gum rock, around the same time I found Get the Knack in mint condition for $1 in the same shop. Still cool stuff for me. And, also well recorded.
Two albums from earlier in the '70's that are in my "desert island 10" are Joe Walsh -- The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get, and Jackson Browne -- The Pretender. Both excellent recordings, and the music ... oh! ... takes me away! My apologies if I have already mentioned either of these records.
Also in my "desert island 10" is Chick Corea, either Return to Forever, or My Spanish Heart, varying from day-to-day. I don't want to put them both in because it is my hypothetical collection of 10 albums each from a different artist. Both great recordings. Again, the music is sublime on both albums. Tap Step by Chick Corea is fun, and a great recording, too! |
I haven't listened to Solitude Standing in years! Great mention!!!
Avalon is fantastic; have you heard Siren lately? I think Avalon is better recorded, but I also love every track on Siren. And, the recording seems acceptable.
I listened to Hotel California and Fleetwood Mac's first album tonight. While I love Hotel California, Fleetwood Mac's debut kicked HC's butt in recording quality.
Great picks, all! Thanks!!! This thread is turning out nicely into what I wanted -- an on-line place where we can comment and compare notes on albums we think worthy of mention. It is easy to recommend audiophile albums; you can count on them being very well recorded, but the music is not always so great. I wanted to share my experiences of what I think are well recorded non-audiophile albums, especially ones that may very well be overlooked as quality recordings and enjoyable music.
Cheers! |
Many thanks to all who have posted their picks in this thread!!!
With some clip and paste, one can make quite the listening list, or a list of records to look out for at swaps, used record shops, ebay, yard sales, and, of course, Audiogon! I have purchased some records from Audiogon, all with great success.
The mention of Heart, Dreamboat Annie, on the Mushroom label is a great pick, by the way. I have it, love it, and listen to it regularly.
Cheers! |
Thomas Dolby -- The Flat Earth. Listen to "I Scare Myself" -- delicious!
One thing I wanted to glean from this question posted was information on "sleeper" records. Records that are not normally thought of as high fidelity, yet turn out to be very well recorded and engineered -- records right under our noses that are actually of great quality. Also, records that are normally known for their music, but not for their sound quality, yet turn out to be sublime in that respect.
Great stuff posted so far!
Cheers. |
Hey Clarets2,
Thank you for your input and kind comment!
Why just two nights ago I was listening to Black Sea and Skylarking... (I hadn't seen your post yet.) If I didn't already post those XTC albums to this thread, I do so now. I am now in the market for an lp of Apple Venus Volume 1. I know almost all of the songs on it. I can only imagine how great this masterpiece must sound on vinyl!
I will also check out the Elvis album! This recommendation of yours has also made me want to re-visit the albums that I do have from him. I enjoy all of Elvis Costello's music (I am still not sure about "The Juliet Letters", though). I will re-visit the albums I do have to check the recording qualities. I may post them as recommendations.
Cheers! |
Have you listened to Band on the Run (Paul McCartney and Wings) lately? Really nicely recorded! Some really interesting arrangements and instrumentation. Very enjoyable experience! |
Hmmm, Mst, I will have to re-visit my lp's of Bauhaus, and Tone on Tail! I don't think it falls under the industrial genre, but Cocteau Twins albums are pretty well recorded, too.
Great input! I think I'll find the Nora Jones lp to purchase.
I listened to XTC -- Murmur tonight. So far, the three albums I have of their's, Black Sea, Murmur, and Skylarking are excellent. Truly enjoyable with complex, interesting music, and very well recorded. I am still looking for Apple Venus Volume 1. I know they have Volume 2 on cd ... must find the record ...
Cheers! |
Cool! Good to know.
Mine are Rickie Lee Jones, self titled album. The first song I play is Easy Money, then other cuts. The next album is Paganiniana, with Ruggiero Ricci, Water Lily Acoustics label. Finally I play Pat Metheny, As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls. September Fifteenth is the first song I'll play from that album. I'll usually follow up with some cuts from Pirates by Rickie Lee Jones.
I'll have to check out Abraxas on vinyl! Thanks for the recommendation!
Three albums worth checking out are from Chick Corea/Return to Forever -- Return to Forever, My Spanish Heart, and Tap Step. I often play them when I make adjustments system or mods to my amp or pre-amp. They feature interesting percussion, vocals, and soundstaging. They are well recorded, and very enjoyable jazz. My first year college roommate who was a jazz and classical guitar major turned me on to Return to Forever, and My Spanish Heart. He also introduced me to Bitches Brew -- Miles Davis, and quite a bit of Coltrane. I am indebted to him greatly! (He hated Pat Metheny, by the way, I could never get him to dig it. He finally appreciated Pat after a girlfriend introduced him to it.)
Cheers. |
You want velvet-smooth vocals, crystal clear? You want him in your room, singing to you? Get Marvin Gaye -- Here My Dear. You won't believe the texture in his voice on this record. It is sublime.
Marvin wrote this album about his ex-wife Anna. His profits from this record went to her as part of their divorce settlement. It is interesting to follow his emotions as they develop through the course of the album. It tells the story of their love from beginning to end.
It is so well recorded, and so beautiful. It is ironic that this album did not do well in sales and ended up in cut-out bins. A true sleeper, and a masterpiece! |
Great contributions! Thanks!
Haven't done it yet, but someday I will compile a list from this post -- when I have the time... |
Thanks All!!!
Old thread, but new entry. I agree with Heart -- Dreamboat Annie.
It is one of my 10 desert island albums. Dream of Blue Turtles is also
in the 10. Joe Walsh -- The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get is also
in the 10. These are for the music and the recording quality; they
stand out. XTC -- Apple Venus vol. 1 is just too expensive. I don't
trust the reissue to sound good. My reissue of Nick Drake's first
release doesn't sound nearly as good as my copy of its original release.
The reissue is on 180g vinyl...A surprise I
got was how good the engineering and sound was of an original pressing
of the B52's album Wild Planet was. Through a good system I discovered
it is really well recorded! It's a fun album, too.
Happy listening!
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