What are your top 10 records

Are you looing for top 10 lists for LP’s that are musically the best, or sonically the best?

Sometimes the 2 attributes overlap. But it is often the case, that recordings that are musically the best are not sonically top 10 material.

From a purely musical standpoint, I have many more than 10 recordings in my top 10 list.

Booth but more importantly,  sonically.  Some really good music has been poorly produced and recorded.  With a decent system that becomes very clear.  If a great song or album is poorly done I find myself quickly moving on or looking for a different production

I wrote a detailed post that got hung up here and vanished. @simonmoon is correct in asking if you are looking for sonic spectaculars or good music. Sometimes, they overlap. The better remasters often sell out and are costly; the OGs are often misgraded and overpriced. I could give you a list, but without knowing your musical taste it would be kind of pointless. I used to have a couple shelves of "demo" records but got to a point where I abandoned that- at peak, I had around 17k LPs, but winnowed it down to around 5k records when I moved from NY to Texas and probably acquired another 1k since then. The London Jazz Collector is a good resource for older jazz. I write a blog- not promoting it here- I don’t take ads and it costs me several thousand a year to maintain it.

Give us more info on what you are chasing. I’ve slowed down in purchases because of price and grade inflation. A lot of newer reissues are pulled from a digital source which is one reason why analog buffs try to source OGs. Among them I would include the UK first on EMI/Columbia blue/black label of Jeff Beck’s Truth -it sounds like no other copy I have been through a dozen or more; ditto Alice Cooper’s Love it To Death cut by Randy Kling on Straight (Zappa’s imprint). Hard to find a clean copy partly b/c it is collectible for the cover art. Oliver Nelson’s Blues and the Abstract Truth recut by Chad at 45 is a straight ahead jazz record (not too "out there") but you could pay 175 US plus shipping for a clean copy. Alice Coltrane’s Ptah, the El Daoud is great as an OG. It was not reissued for decades-- the current reissue is pulled from a digital file which I have not heard. The OG is pricey.

So, give us more insight into what you are after and I’m sure you’ll get more meaningful responses. I collected UK Island Pink Labels, UK Vertigo Swirls and among other smaller and now costly label issues, Strata East and Nimbus West. But, that reflects my taste, and it may not be yours.

Props for diving into a market that is pretty tough these days. I don’t have 10 LPs that I constantly play. You can see the warhorses by looking at what Chad reissues- he knows the market and what audiophiles buy. A lot of the offbeat stuff never gets reissued or is taken from a needle drop or digital file.

Happy hunting. Part of the process and joy of this is the learning and the search.

I know there are a TON of factors.  I guess what I was driving at is the old cliche scenario that you are stranded on an island.  Which 10 would you choose?  I'm not looking for suggestions based on my taste, but on anyone who cares to contributes taste.   Im trying to expand both my knowledge and my appreciation for music.  So I encourage suggestions and I'll listen and make my judgement.  I've found that having a decent system makes me appreciate music that I may not have considered other wise. 

Thanks

This might be helpful, but only 1/2 the selection

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/you-can-only-take-5-albums-to-a-deserted-island?highlight=desert%2Bisland

@sandrodg73 - I mentioned a few upthread that are worth owning. I'm not sure I can do the 10 LPs for a desert island. One of the things I enjoy is the change-up; I can go from early heavy rock to spiritual jazz, and throw down a post punk record like Bad Brains I Against I (no sonic wonder). I guess I like the ability to choose from a deep catalog--I'm a huge fan of Cecil McBee, who did a lot of sideman work on major, but obscure jazz records-- his rendition of Patricia (the third release of that recording by Art Pepper on Art Pepper Today) is stunning.  I like the ability to switch up, so consider that a limitation on my part rather than any criticism of your question. 

I would buy Katanga! on Tone Poet- I think they did another run-- killer. And cheapish. 

Good hunting. 

Thanks much.  I will check out the suggestions 

@whart A big plus one on that

his rendition of Patricia (the third release of that recording by Art Pepper on Art Pepper Today) is stunning.

There are no "must have" records. The only records you need to have are the ones YOU like.

I have a weird taste; one of my top album will be considered beyond bad by most: The Ex: Blueprints for a Back Out. It is experimental jazzy punk. I like the band so much that I named a species for them: Depressizona exorum (marine snail from Easter Island).

I also like the one and only record by Rites of Spring (metal-hardcore punk crossover). More recent band is Bedless Bones out of Estonia. EBM/electronica to ambient. One out on vinyl, the rest only on CD/digital.

Razzia's Tag Ohne Schatten is exquisite, IMHO, if you are into hard and rough German punk.

Virgin Prunes "If I die, I die", classic over the top post punk. If you like the heightened theatrical aspect, then Bestial Mouths may be up your alley. Also very much an acquired taste. Similarly, Spear of Destiny's Grapes of Wrath; laster SOD unfortunately cannot come close to the first.

If you like stuff that does not fit into any category, try Snow Ghosts (Neofolk with synth), earlier Swesor Bhrater (Sang lié, Sick Rose: also neofolk) or Mission to the Sun (indescribable gritty lofi sound out of Detroit, on Felte Records). 

Consider spending some time on Bandcamp, listen to various styles, follow links and just explore. That is the fun of it all. Early on (early Y2K), I did some random streaming (pandora) to get a toe-hold into newer music, but now I don't stream anymore as Spotify etc. exploit artists, IMHO. 

Another one I love is Jordi Saval "La Lira d'Esperia II: Galicia". Renaissance Rebec and tambourine music from Spain. Only on CD. Have not found any morsel of the CD on the web to listen in. Just in case you are into Early Music. 

my 2c. 

Easy recommendation...

Ray Brown "Soular Energy"

being repressed by Chad on 45RPM now.

An all time favorite of mine is Simon & Garfunkel "Bookends".

A recent comparison of my copies concluded the Japanese pressing to be more engaging. Yes, I did compare the current MFSL.

IDK if these are exactly my top 10 but here are some:

DSOTM: Japan Quad or UK 1st or 2nd or UK 5th HTM (cheapest)

Black Sabbath, S/T: 1st UK Swirl

London Calling: 1st UK

Blood, Sweat & Tears, S/T Mofi 1 step

Rage Against the Machine, 1st US (is a RL)

Aja, either the UHQR or AB-1006

The Wall - "For Military Sale Only" or US Promo

Abbey Road - 1st UK (some HTMs and a certain Aussie right there)

Garcia/Grisman - Mofi

Alice in Chains - Unplugged - MOV. 

Thanks for the detailed info @laynes  Thats exactly what i was looking for

Sure, here are 10 more, most of these are quite expensive btw, but not all of them:

LZ II RL

Crime of the Century - either Speakers Corner or UHQR

Tea for the Tillerman - either UHQR or AP45

Wish You Were Here - 96918-A2-C / 96918-B2-C (not expensive)

Sea Change - Mofi

Nameless - Dominique Fils-Aime (not too expensive), also Stay Tuned by her.

Fear Inoculum - 5 LP (not too expensive)

Symphonik - Thevery Corporation (not expensive)

Rumours - 2 x 45 (not very expensive)

Speaking in Tounges - 1983 Winchester (not expensive)

Ry Cooder & JM Bhatt "A Meeting by the River"

Waterlily Acoustics 

I don't know if I have the best pressings but these are my best sounding and most enjoyable albums, I added the recording quality as well, 5 being best

1. Let it bleed / Rolling Stones - 4
2. A Day At the Races /Queen- 3
3. Led Zeppelin IV / Led Zeppelin- 4
4. His Band and the Street Choir / Van Morrison- 4
5. A New World Record / E.L.O.- 3
6. New Mornings / Bob Dylan- 5
7. Blood Sweat and Tears, self-titled - 5
8. RAM / Wings - 3
9. Crime of The Century / Supertramp - 4
10. Remain in the Light / Talking Head - 4

Abbey Road is one of my favorite records but it sounds just OK

My plum label/Capitol/US pressing is my reference for "Abbey Road ".

Agree with BS&T.

Chicago Transit Authority