For me its the first or very early LP's of: Allman Brothers - "Allman Joys" "Idyllwild South" Santana - "Santana" 200 g reissue Emerson Lake and Palmer - "Emerson Lake and Palmer" and, Beethoven - "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major" Rudolph Serkin/Ozawa/BSO
Ringo’s got a hoard of fellow musicians on this, Beatles included. Great SQ. Full size booklet in the gatefold nicely done with song lyrics left page, wild art on the facing. This was opposite “You’re Sixteen”.
@bslon: If you think the U.S. pressing (it’s on A&M Records, not Epic) of Tea For The Tillerman sounds great, wait until you hear the Analogue Productions LP!
For years the first pressing on UK Island Records (with a pink center label) was considered the best sounding version, but the AP pressing easily beats even it. One reason for that is that when mastering engineer Bernie Grundman got the master tape to cut a lacquer for the AP reissue, he discovered that the original mastering was done assuming the tape had been Dolby A encoded, Dolby therefore used in playback to the cutting head. Grundman further discovered that the tape had NOT been Dolby encoded, so the replay circuitry had drastically rolled off the high frequencies, thereby robbing Cat’s plastic-bodied Ovation acoustic guitar and drummer Harvey Burns’ cymbals of their harmonic overtones (and the upright bass and kick drum of their fundamentals).
Played back without Dolby engaged the recording sounded much brighter, and Grundman told AP owner Chad Kassem he wasn’t sure audiophiles would like that sound. He made a lacquer with some compromise high frequency roll-off, and sent a copy to Michael Fremer (who had long praised the sound of the UK Island pressing, as did Harry Pearson, who included it in his well known Super Disc list). Fremer advised Kassem to cut the lacquer flat, as that was presumably the sound Cat and producer Paul Samwell-Smith intended.
The Analogue Productions Tea For The Tillerman is available in both a 1-disc/33-1/3RPM pressing, and in a 2-disc/45RPM version. Both versions will cost you less than a pink label Island copy in good condition. The cost of either AP pressing is well worth it, because you're right: TFTT is an unusually good sounding recording.
@bslon: If you think the U.S. pressing (it’s on A&M Records, not Epic) of Tea For The Tillerman sounds great, wait until you hear the Analogue Productions LP!
@bdp24 Yes…sez A&M right on the cover…sheesh, a late night I guess. I’m an AP fan (preferred over all others), if the reissue has better SQ than my copy it must be Stunning! I remember when it came out and I passed, doubtful it could be an improvement.
I’m sure AP’s version is out of print, you’ve no doubt got spares in your LP arsenal…care to part with one? I know…haha! 😊
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers-Damn The Torpedos Side 1 SQ*
The LA 4-Montage(CJ-156) Side 2 SQ Audiophile
Mozart-Murray Perahia(CBS Master Works 37267) Side 1 SQ Audiophile
Laura Branigan-Self Control Side 1 SQ*
Sade-Promise Side 1 SQ Audiophile
Kenny Burrell Quartet-Guiding Spirit Side 1 SQ Audiophile
Gary Morris-Stones Side 1 SQ*
With 4 SQ* near Audiophile status and 4 Audiophile recordings this might be the strongest SQ set list in a long time! No need to talk about content all recordings are 4.5- 5* status. A close call between Burrell/Mozart-Perahia but I will give the SQ crown to Kenny Burrell for such an excellent live recording!
@bslon If you're not familiar with the RL version and you have one, I suggest you research it a little. There are several versions, Discogs would be the place to research that. You may then want to Google "led zeppelin ii rl" or something like that to learn the history of the album.
@jdougs I’ll never stop learning…especially about how much some of these LP’s are worth. That said, for me their monetary value will never exceed their listening value. My kids and the insurance agent would feel differently…😎
I appreciate the enlightenment, thanks for taking the time.
Nice system, btw!
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
