The first few things that come to mind out of so many:
Prestige 1010, Blind Lemon Jefferson's Penitentiary Blues
Szigeti Bach Sonatas and Partitas (first or early pressing).
Milstein Bach Sonatas and Partitas (stereo version)
Rob Wasserman Duets (german pressing).
Heifetz Bruch & Wieniewsky No 2's (mono dog).
Oscar Peterson Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra.
Bill Evans Waltz For Debby (Analogue Prod)
Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy (first).
The first 5-6 Dylan albums (some COL reissues, some Sundazed).
The first 5-6 Joan Baez albums (mostly firsts)
Roland Kirk Bright Moments
A few "talking letters" on instant recording discs sent home by U.S. soldiers. |
I guess "maximum 5" means different things to different people, but here's mine.
MFSL Half Speed Mastered
Al Stewart - Year of the Cat
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Cisco
Steely Dan - Aja
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat
WB/Rhino
Van Morrison - Moondance |
I guess "maximum 5" means different things to different people, but here's mine.
MFSL Half Speed Mastered
Al Stewart - Year of the Cat
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Cisco
Steely Dan - Aja
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat
WB/Rhino
Van Morrison - Moondance |
My copies of 1st pressings of Led Zeppelin's I-IV and Pink Floyds DSOTM. |
Well, I've acquired a few LPs since my first post in this thread.
My sister (she's in her 70's) was cleaning out her shelves and sent me some LPs. There, nestled in the box among the movie soundtracks and swing band collections was the 1965 Mercury Living Presence edition of Janos Starker playing the Bach Cello Suites. Yee hah!
I grew up listening to this version, and it's spoiled me for all others. Unfortunately, the one I grew up listening to got destroyed when my brother's garage and part of his house burnt about a year ago. The stereo versions of this still fetch something north of $1K on eBay. Mine is the mono version, but even those go for amazing money. Besides, with solo cello you aren't losing a whole lot going from stereo to mono.
Anyway, that's got to be at the head of my new short list. |
E. Grieg, Peer Gynt, Oivin Fjeldstad with LSO,
DECCA 2012, Silver Wide Band :-) |
My current "front five" on the stack are:
1) Cootie Williams Sextet & Orchestra "Original Hit Recordings from 1944 featuring Bud Powell, "Cleanhead" Vinson, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Pearl Bailey (Phoenix LP-1)
2) Sonny Rollins' Movin' Out (Prestige 7058 mono)
3) Schubert Piano Sonata in C Minor, Impromptus; Alfred Brendel (Japanese Phillips)
4) Chopin Preludes; Martha Argerich (DG Japan pressing)
5) Zino Francescatti and Robert Casadesus playing Faure Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Japanese pressing; CBS Sony mono SOCU 58)
But what I am really waiting for is the next 30: just bought a stack of (only) saxophone jazz over the weekend - several Coltranes I don't have, a few Sonny Rollins I don't have, more Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Phil Woods, Art Pepper, Coleman Hawkins, Archie Shepp, and a bunch of other artists. Am really looking forward to that! |
Wow! Good stuff!
My mint records japan obi pressings of
1,let it bleed
2, aftermath
3,first stereo pressing of kind of blue
4 a signed tamla 1st pressing of Stevie wonder
the 12 year old genius
5 art Blakey and the jazz messengers Buttercorn Lady,
featuring a young Keith Jarret, and a young Chuck Magnione,
pry it from my cold dead hands
there are so many more, but these were all given to me,
except kind of blue! |
30 year old Paco de Lucia albums aquired from Spain in 70's. Still like new. |
Numbered but not in any particular order:
1. Elgar's Starlight Express-2 records HMV Greensleeves
2. La Fete De Lane - Harmonia Mundi
3. Handel's Organ Concerti - Philips - Concerto Amsterdam w/Jaap Schroder
4. Harry Belafonte @ Carnegie Hall - Classic Reissue
5. Vaughn Williams - The Lark Acending - Marriner w/St Martins in the Field - Philips
I agree with my dear friend Rushton, the list changes depending upon my mood, but these bring me pleasure more often than most others. |
Jazz Party by Claude Bolling. |
Right now,
My OBI JJ Cale records are giving me the most joy.
Grasshopper
8
Shades
I wish I could find some more.
Tim |
I would say the promo label Japan pressing Of John Coltrane's Sun Ship in Mint condition.
Also the Japanese pressing of Miles Davis' Bitche's Brew. My copy of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here on Japan MasterSound half -speed. |
Wow, you made me pull out my copy of Mr Heartbreak. I'd forgotten how good it is. For Nkj; if you like Avoid Freud, remember Blue Peter? "Don't walk on past" is suprisingly good. Maybe not "treasures" but here's what I keep going back too this week( on vinyl of course ) Roxy music - Avalon, Lucinda Williams - West, Souxsie and the Banshees - kalidescope, Bruce Cockburn - Night Train, Bjork - Debut, The The - Dusk, John Coltrane - Blue Train |
Radiohead "OK Computer," Paul Kelly's "Gossip", The Clash's "This is Radio Clash" |
Wow,
I thought I was the only one that appreciated Laurie Anderson's Mr. Heartbreak. We used to play it 20 years ago amongst a group of friends while "testing" our systems. Gravity's Angel and Sharkey's day are favourites. Peter Gabriel's background vocals are haunting on this one. I still play it regularly. Another good one is Bruce Cockburn's Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws .The Candadian True North label had some really good recordings including some of Carol Pope's stuff try: Avoid Freud.... |
23 as new Chet Atkins 50's/60's albums. |
For anyone wanting some fabulous,and almost tongue in cheek,early stereo era "classics",look for many of the COMMAND label discs.Especially Enoch Light series stuff.These discs were recorded by the Mercury LP team of Piros and Fine,with sound that will enthrall many "fun music" lovers(some were recorded in Carnegie Hall)!Very inexpensive,and these would be great to re-issue.
Best of luck,and leave me some. |
I have an import London pressing of The Stones "Let It Bleed". Very nice! Probably far and away the best Stones recording I have in any format. |
Just received well over 100 LPs from my father's collection ranging from vintage mono from around 1950 to pre-digital early 1980s. Very broad range of stuff. I have only a vague idea what treasures are buried in there, but will get back to you on that.
Of my own collection - love drummer Ed Thigpen's "Out of the Storm" and "The David Grisman Quintet". If you're in the mood, the original London pressing of The Rolling Stones "Let it Bleed" is pretty great.
PS - I have Laurie Anderson's Mr. Heartbreak and haven't listened to it for about 20 years. even on my much more rudimentary system of that time, I could tell it was well recorded - have to dig it out. |
Emailists -
What is Quiex vs Nightly relative to the Mr Heartbreak LP?
I just have it on regular release vinyl. The bells at the beginning of "Gravity's Angel" amaze me. The entire LP is very well recorded. |
My "most treasured list" evolves. Currently, I am being relatively flexible with the term and it is the next five in the stack of stuff I pull out from the larger stack. The front five there are currently...
Kenny Dorham - AfroCuban
Thelonius Monk - Brilliant Corners
The Magnificent Thadeus Jones
Jimmy Smith - Open House
Talking Heads - not sure which one
(the next five are ELP and classical albums).
Nothing is particularly mint, and nothing is that rare (they are almost all Japanese pressings but I live in Japan so that comes with the territory), but it sounds nice... |
Intersting that Ghosthouse mentioned Laurie Anderson's Mr. Hearbreak.
I have a Quiex version of that that I have not played in probably years.
A friend recently came over to hear my new Raven One table and asked to hear Mr. Heartbreak. We were shocked at how amazing it sounded. The bass actually caused some hanging lamps to move slightly - I have never seen that before. The distorted guitars (or synths) on SHarkeys has so much texture to them - the last time I listened they had just sounded like distortion.
Incredibly spacious. -
I know everyone always says Nightly is great but to me (I only have a quiex )
I think it sounds very digital. |
I have quite a few rarities but if I have to choose one it'd right now be CREAM Wheels Of Fire original US ATCO in MINT condition (it is next to impossible to find without any cover wear!) and it sounds AMAZING (much better than the UK, Japan, German and other pressings and various regular and audiophile re-issues I've compared with)! |
Bruce Springsteen "Born to Run" SCRIPT promo in MINT conition. |
Grateful Dead / Reckoning
50 Years of Blue Note / BIG box set
King Crimson / Starless & Bible Black / Import
Lambchop / How I Quit Smoking
Brian Eno / Here Come The Warm Jets |
A private release LP of The Beatles. The concert occured on Dec.23,1963 .
This is the only known Beatles recording actually recorded by the Beatles themselves. It was was performed in Manchester , England . The mono-sound is amazying. I have no idea how many exist.
For historical vetting, that concert was discussed as a turning point in the bands career in Barry Miles book "Many Years from Now ". |
Hey - Johnny...might have mis-interpreted your initial post. I have no idea the monetary value of the discs I listed. Probably have some things that are worth more. But these are "treasures" to me. |
1) Laurie Anderson's "Mr Heartbreak"
2) Jeff Beck "Wired" (esp., "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat")
3) Little Feat "Waiting for Columbus" (acapella intro is spooky good)
4) Jean Pierre Rampal & Lilly Laskine "Japanese Melodies for Flute & Harp" (picked up for $2 at an antique shop)
5) Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly"
All just regular issue vinyl that sounds fantastic. |
It is easy for me. I've recanted this story a few times and a few here know that my father lost what would today be a literal small fortune in jazz LP's in a fire at our home in the late-60's. I had alway assumed that all was lost but when I got back into vinyl several years ago, and subsequently found an appreciation for jazz, my dad called to say that he had grabbed a few LP's that day in a stack that was close at hand. Said he'd bring them next visit. Next visit, true to his word, he handed off what immediately became my five favorites (still sealed- never played):
Miles Davis Qunitet - "Steamin'"
Miles Davis Qunitet - "Cookin'"
Miles Davis Qunitet - "Relaxin'"
Miles Davis Qunitet - "Workin'"
Cannonball Adderly - "Somethin' Else" |
Tough One!
Moving Waves - Focus
Tarantula - Chuck Mangione
It's Too Late to Stop Now - Van Morrison
A Dream - The Moody Blues
Electric Nights - Jim Capaldi |
Pink Floyd Wish you were here Nimbus super cut
Roger Waters - Amused to death
David Gilmour - On an Island
Dire Straits Brothers in arms 1/2 speed master
Any of my Maynard Ferguson LP's |
great thread, Hard to stop at 5 but this week, here are my top 5
DSOTM-------pink floyd. THe album is over 30 years old and gets played almost every week and is still perfect (maybe two pops/clicks from my earlier days) I got to get a backup copy!
Buckingham/Nicks first album
Window and Walls----- Dan Fogleberg---great voice and wonders sonics on this album
Eve----Alan Parson Project
AJA--- Steely Dan
Next week would be 4 new ones but these are 5 incredible albums that will showcase any system |
1. soular energy ray brown japan super analogue pressing
2. Ry Cooder Jazz Mfsl
3. Rossini 6 sonates a quattro philips
4. Serenata Maastrichts salon orchestra philips
5. Joan Baez Diamond and rust in the bullring Gold castle label and many many more |
La Boheme Beecham recording with De Los Angeles and Bjorling, way the most important.
Strauss Der Rosankavlier, Karajan Schwarskopf
Lorna Hunt All in one Day
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook
Vaughan Williams The Lark Assending Academy of St Martins in the Fields
Pretty tough reducing it to 5. Another day it might be 5 different ones, except La Boheme |
Well, I've had a few additions since my last post. I now have Japan-EMI pressings of Rubber Soul and Revolver (opened by never played, or played once at most). Damn! It's unbelievable how well even pop/rock music was sometimes recorded over 40 years ago.
I also now have a direct-to-disk recording of Mel Torme accompanied by the Buddy Rich Big Band and a rare (I think it was distributed only in Europe) pressing of Pat Metheny's "Question and Answer" that I got from a UK vendor on eBay.
I recently discovered an antiques pavilion near where I live. A few of the vendors sell LPs, and I picked up the Sheffield D2D of Harry James' band and some Concord Jazz albums of the L.A. Four and the Woody Herman big band (all about $3 ea.). Concord Jazz has some of the most real in-the-room-sounding LPs I've ever heard.
On the same trip, my stepson made what may be the biggest score of all--a Japanese pressing of Pink Floyd's "The Wall," apparently unplayed ($10). Holy shnikes! This has got to be one of the 5 best-sounding LPs in my house, and the best pop/rock studio recording I've ever heard. The dynamic slam on kick drum on this is an order of magnitude better than any other pop studio album I have. |
Willie Nelson : Stardust/ Classic records 200g
Peter Gabriel : Passion/ Classic records 200g
Tom Waits : Mule Variations/ Regular pressing
Jack Johnson : In between dreams/ Regular pressing
White Stripes : Elephant/ Regular pressing
All of these are not only good albums but also sound exceptionally good on vinyl. |
Voyage 34 original (not the reissue!) by Porcupine Tree
'Ear' album by Global Communications
S/T Emerson Lake & Palmer, pink Island original
Vaughan Williams, Symphony #6 w/The Lark Ascending, 'half dog' EMI
Furtwangler, 4 Last Songs w/Kirsten Flagstad (78 rpm transcription) all other versions *SUCK* despite having better sound... |
Hear, hear, when it comes to import pressings.
I have a German pressing of Joni Mitchell's "Blue" and a Japanese pressing of Bowie's "Let's Dance." I remember paying about a buck extra for the Bowie album and it was well worth it. That thing slams!
So does "Blue," for that matter. The dynamics and "in-the-room" sensation are very strong.
OTOH, I just picked up a used Beatles' White album. The store had two: a UK pressing from 1986 and a USA one from 10-15 yrs earlier. It had an embossed title rather than printed, but no serial number on the cover. Anyway, the US pressing I bought really stomped *that* particular UK pressing, which sounded thin and threadbare. |
Beatles - Abbey Road (Original EMI import pressing from ca 1971)
Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother (EMI SQ import from 1973)
Pink Floyd - Meddle (EMI import from 1973)
All of the above purchased at the Harvard Coop, Harvard Sq, MA in the early 70s back when they had a tremendous import section. I was a high school kid with limited budget but knew these were important pressings. These records all rock out with some of the best dynamics of any recordings released by Classic, Acoustic Sounds or others. |
Harry James - "Comin' From a Good Place" - Sheffield '77
Dorati - "Rhapsody" - DSO - Mercury - Ken Wilkinson '77
Tim Buckey - "Greetings from L.A." - Warner Bros. '72
David Bromberg - "How Late Ya Play Till?" - Fantasy '77
Getz,Gilberto,Jobim - Verve '64
Bo-Diddley - "Go Bo-Diddley" Chess '59
Solti - Verdi's Requiem - London '68 |
Here's a couple:
1. "Little Band, Big Jazz" by The Conti Candoli All Stars. Crown Records. The red vinyl sounds better than the black. Its also available on CD. This is West Coast jazz at its very best. Recorded in 1962, this record will have you shaking your head in wonder over both the performance and sound quality.
2. Jazz In The U.S.A. by Dave Brubeck's quartet. Yeppers, Its mono ... but when you hear Paul Desmond's sax on this album, you'll be asking yourself; "who needs stereo?" |
sealed psych treasures from the sixties.....chocolate watchband on tower, lothar and the hand people, all the 'international artist' label stuff, golden earring(s) on capitol....yada yada |
Keith Jarett - "Sun Bear" Set
The Residents - first 13 LPs
The Shaggs - Philosophy of the World
The Beatles - "The World's Best" Rare German import
The Rolling Stones - "Around and Around" German import
Dick Hyman / Ruby Braff - "Fats Waller - Heavenly Jive" |
05-15-07: Daveyf
MSFL Ella and Louis again sealed
You lucky mofo! Congratulations. |
Miles Davis Vol1, Blue Note Lexington Ave press.
Introducing the Beatles.. Vee Jay stereo pressing
Songs Pictures and Stories.. Beatles gatefold
LSC 2446 Scheharazade Shaded Dog 10s 10s press
LSC 1817 Gaite Parisienne 1s 1s shaded dog press
LSC 2436 Pines of Rome 1s 1s shaded dog press
MSFL Ella and Louis again sealed
Casino Royale.. Colgems 3s 3s press
and many more.. |
I remember my nephew had this and I remember enjoying it. A local used record store has a used one. I'll have to check out whether its condition is good enough for me to pick up. If not, I know of another used record store that probably has a few copies.
Thanks for the tip. |
Don Sebesky's "Giant Box". ALL THE CTI folks. Two record set, Recorded in 1973. Almost impossible to find sealed. Paid a pretty penny for my last one. Players include: Herbert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Paul Desmond, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Jackie Can, Roy Kral, Joe Farrell, Grover Washington, Jr., George Benson, Airto, Milt Jackson, this is a record of the Gods. I've owned several copies of this recording dating back to the original purchase in 1977. If you get a chance, listen to it on CD, and then begin the search for the vinyl because you absolutely must possess this. |
horace silver - six pieces of silver deep groove blue note
Miles Davis - someday my prince will come six eye
coltrane - favorite things atlantic
monk - riverside box set
guster - latest one
many japanese pressings from early 80's Eno, Genesis, Bowie, Talking Heads, etc |
The Skatalites "LATIN GOES SKA" on Treasure Isle Records. I paid $0.50 many years ago; it may be "worth" $500, but I love it for its utter charm.
"Korea Blues/Everynight About This Time", Fats Domino on Imperial blue label. One of the Fatman's first single and believed to be his first on 45RPM
The Godz on ESP, my favorite label.
Julius Hemphill DOGAN A.D. on Mbari (original release), a rare classic by one of my favorite under-rated (but then, there are so many . . .) players and composers.
Mazeltov Mis Amigos by Juan Calle and His Latin Landsmen, featuring Doc Cheatem, Ray Barretto, Clark Terry, and Charlie Palmieri playing latinized versions of Yiddish chestnuts. On paper it sounds like a cheesy disaster, but they are playing it for real, and really hitting
The Cramps "Human Fly" Vengeance Records 45 with the glow in the dark cover. |
