Wow an old album that rocked your world

Just played Pet Sounds and Highway 61 last night on a nostalgia trip.

Took my breath away once again despite having listened to them countless times. Both definitely on my personal top ten of all time list. 

+1 for Genesis and Cat Stevens, but different albums — Selling England by the Pound and Tea for the Tillerman still rock my world!  My taste must be a few years older...

BTW after reading the raves about the DCC version of Pet Sounds on the Steve Hoffman forum (well what would you expect?) I just acquired a copy at great expense. The result: distinctly underwhelmed. Those sycophants have no sense sense of objectivity when it comes to anything mastered by the great one.

Very muffled and flat sounding with a lack of dynamics and micro dynamics. If he had access to, and used the original the original master tapes, as claimed my name‘s Albert Einstein. If he actually did, he totally butchered them.

Several - Beatles' Abbey Road, Santana's Caravanserai, PMG's American Garage and Yes' Close to the Edge reward near field listening on the far superior to the back in the day system I have now. And I really enjoy the depth and clarity of the SACDs of the Jeff Beck Group Rough & Ready and Orange albums, the first ECM Pat Metheny Group album (w San Lorenzo & Phase Dance) and Keith Jarrett's Sunbear concerts - especially Kyoto.

One of the 1st records MY FATHER brought home one night after work.
It finally got re-issued recently on a Japanese CD label. Dave Brubeck- My Favorite Things. So not many people know about it. I like many of his records, but this is just about as good as the others. I played it many many times, and you know-I never get tired of it. If you like DB, then I know you will love it.

Oh what about a "popular record"? Well. I never tire of the 1st Hot Tuna Album. BTW, If you've never attended a coffeehouse concert (as in a small restaurant/bar) overstuffed with people- you can hear and see everything up close,
it's just as great as any big rock concert venue, only different. I also saw Larry Coryell in a somewhat dumpy bar many years later. And John Hammond, too. There's nothing else like it. I'll bet the Beatles had a blast in those early days playing in small clubs even without getting paid the big bucks. 

@french_fries 
I saw Hot Tuna at the Lone Star Cafe NYC, very small venue, was standing at the bar about 6 feet from Jorma, hard to believe all that music is coming from one guitar.

As to rediscovery:
Blood Sweat and Tears/BS&T/God Bless the Child.
David Clayton Thomas fabulous vocals and the arrangement is top shelf.  Give it a spin. 

Wow, this is great.  Reminds me of how much great music I have not listened to in so long.  Time to dig these up.

John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat - "Hooker N Heat"
some of the best harmonica playing - 11 minutes of "Boogie Chillen" great!! 

I believe it was back in the mid 70's when hi-fi shops were plentiful before the big box stores ran them all out, I went in to one of our local shops to audition some JBL L-100's. The salesman put on Heart's Dreamboat Annie album, flipped the loudness switch on the Pioneer receiver and played the Crazy On You cut.  First time I ever felt bass pound me in my chest. From then on out I was hooked on audio.  

I have most of the albums listed above, and I do listen to them.  Some get placed into a more current rotation.  And then, change the rotation, and so on.  I believe a few very important ones were missed.  Try these... Alan Parsons Project (all of them), Emerson Lake and Palmer (Brain Salad Surgery), Steely Dan (Aja), Stevie Wonder (Inner Visions and Talking Book), Led Zeppelin (all of them), Roxy Music (especially Avalon), Super Tramp (especially Crime of the Century), Jethro Tull (especially Stand Up and Aqualung), The Beatles (all of them), and the list can go on.  Bottom line, there is so much wonderful music from the late 60s through the end of the 70s.  Not that I am stuck in that era alone, but the OP did ask about "an old album that rocked your world".  These all rock my world.  To all, be safe & healthy, and do enjoy the music.

Shawn Phillips: Most albumsDead: Have favorite versions of specific songsWho's Next, It's a Beautiful Day, Hard Days Night,
Buddy Guy and Junior Wells  Play the Blues. Best concert I've been to.Buffalo Springfield Double Album.Just found In the Court of the Crimson King and The Bluesbreakers with Clapton at a used music store on cd for $5 each. I listen to CK when I'm walking, pulling weeds, or watering plants.

Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts. UK pressing with the gatefold cover.

William Royal on Tikva T-29  Sings Romantic Music of the Jewish Theater.  Best Yiddish song collection I enjoy listening to (out of 42,000 LPs/CDs/78s).

“Stationary Traveller”. Andrew Latimer  always knows exactly the right notes to play on guitar 

“Canned Wheat” The Guess Who

Humble Pie Smokin’
Kansas Leftoverture 
Genesis And Then There Were Three
Stelar recordings? Not quite. Listen to the soul. 
Oh, and anything Dire Straights. 

The Cars -Self Titled 1978
Cheap Trick at the Budokan
Led Zeppelin - played VERY loud
Procol Harum - Self titled 
Allman Brothers Band - Idlewild South
Blues Breakers John Mayall with Eric Clapton

Heck, I’m going put The Cars on the TT right now!

Boz Scaggs 1969 debut with Duane Allman on the track Loan Me A Dime. 
Joe Cocker 1972

Robin Trower Bridge of Sighs 1974

Chicago: Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago II
Aerosmith: Get Your Wings
But hearing Devo's Freedom of Choice played on the most high end system I'd heard up until then (either Magnepan or KLH Model 9 electrostatics, a Dual 1229 turntable and a Conrad Johnson Premier One amp) really rocked my world.  

Richard Barone - "Cool Blue Halo"
Crack The Sky - "Crack The Sky"
Bruce Cockburn - "Inner City Front"

Crack The Sky was from right down the road. I just can't believe they didn't make it bigger. Very talented bunch of guys  

Blodwyn Pig. A Head Rings Out. Incredible sonics esp Dear Jill.

Blodwyn Pig. A Head Rings Out

Forgot about that one. Great album, great album cover :)

Spooky Tooth - You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw.

I pulled out my original issue The Clash - Combat Rock to look for one song, and I ended up playing the whole album.  This is well-produced audiophile punk!  I had forgotten how huge and energetic this record was.  

Yes - Close to the Edge
Genesis - Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
ELP - Pictures at an Exhibition
Rick Wakeman - Journey to the Centre of the Earth

A somewhat obscure album that is seldom mentioned.  Joe Beck's album titled Beck. I bought this as a cutout in the 70s and it is one of the best finds ever. It was quickly re released as Beck and Sanborn.  The interplay between Beck's guitar and Sanborn's sax is awesome.  This is one of the "tastiest" albums I own.  +1 for Pat Metheny.  Al Dimeola's Elegant gypsy is also awesome.

@nitrobob, I flew to Baltimore last March to catch a Crack The Sky acoustic show at The Baltimore Soundstage. They were backed by a 5 piece string quartet and the show was fantastic. John Palumbo said they were taping the show; but, it has yet to show up on their website for purchase.

However, there is a 2 CD set from a May of 2008 acoustic show that I found on YouTube called "For Catherine." I think I paid $20 for it (including shipping) and I highly recommend it! The guy selling it (Markus Barth) also mastered the CD; so, all indications are this is an officially sanctioned bootleg. 

All awesome examples of music only a few I am unfamiliar with. Shows we all know the music as well as how it should be listened to. 
I forgot about Crack the Sky. Gonna spin that one next. Totally agree on why they were never more popular. 
Happy listening

Muddy Waters Folk Singer

Gong - Flying Teapot
Hawkwind - Warrior On The Edge Of Time
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
The Fall - Live At The Witch Trials

Great thread!! Sometimes we forget it’s the Music that got us to this point. Some really great album suggestions, most  of which I also own and listen to. A couple of “ go to’s” I would recommend... Sting- “Nothing like the sun”And Tracy Chapman’s first record. Both amazing music and sound. BTW also both Bob Ludwig masters. When I find an amazing sounding record, almost always winds up being an RL. 

I've got a few that are still My Favorites. I'll start with the Rolling Stones, "Exile on Main Street" Either Japanese Vinyl or a Japanese Pressed CD. Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Apocalypse", The Who, "Live at Leeds" again, Japanese pressed vinyl or MFSL. The Who, "Quadrophenia, Johnny Winter/And Live, Johnny Winter, Captured Live. If Highway 61 Revisited doesn't cause the gas pedal in Your to get depressed, then I don't know what will, Jeff Beck,'Truth" Blow by Blow and "Wired" That is it for now. I have to get back to work. Sincerely, Apocalypse

I've got a few that are still My Favorites. I'll start with the Rolling Stones, "Exile on Main Street" Either Japanese Vinyl or a Japanese Pressed CD. Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Apocalypse", The Who, "Live at Leeds" again, Japanese pressed vinyl or MFSL. The Who, "Quadrophenia", Johnny Winter/And Live, Johnny Winter, Captured Live. If Highway 61 Revisited doesn't cause the gas pedal in Your  car to get depressed, then I don't know what will, Jeff Beck,'Truth" Blow by Blow and "Wired" That is it for now. I have to get back to work. Sincerely, Apocalypse Report this

Rocked my world? My parents bought me and my sister Meet the Beatles when it first came out. The Beatles changed everything. 
I still have that album, and play it occasionally.

since then, many albums have.

Good Rats

TASTY

RIP Pepi

Alison Krauss & Union Station, So Long So Wrong
Dire Straits, Love Over Gold
John Fogerty, Blue Moon Swamp
Armstrong and Ellington
The B-52s, Cosmic Thing
Eric Clapton, Forever Man

You mean like the time I swear I levitated while listening to Surealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane in 1966!

That was just the acid kicking in!

Ol' dog here growing up with tons of live music in house and nearby relatives/lousy sound unacceptable Note YouTube "samples" ..shooting for "a skosh off the radar" for some of us...Here goes:
Anne-Sophie Mutter - Carmen-Fantasie DG 4D (YT)
AC/DC Live (1992) - Collectors Edition (YT)
Al Green - More Greatest Hits (YT)
Alan Toussaint - Bright Mississippi (YT)
Alison Krauss & Union Station - New Favorite (YT)
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Raising Sand (YT)
Anita O'Day - Finest Hour
Appalachian Stomp - Bluegrass Classics -Rhino 
Aretha Franklin - The Very Best Of (YT)
Arturo Delmoni - Songs My Mother Taught Me - Water Lily 
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo (YT)
Billy Strayhorne - Lush Life (YT)
Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming (YT)
Buddy Holly - From The Original Master Tapes - Hoffman Remaster (YT)
Cantante Domino - Oscars Motettkor - Proprius - (YT vinyl)
Cantus - Let Your Voice Be Heard (some YT)
Chet Atkins - The Master and his Music (YT)
Claude Bolling's - Greatest Hits (YT) 
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Sessions (YT)
Delbert McClinton - Never Been Rocked Enough (YT)
Dire Straits - "self titled" (YT)
Don Juan deMarco - (soundtrack Bob Ludwig remaster) (YT)
Dusty Springfield - Love Songs (YT)
Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie (YT)
Eva Cassidy - NIGHTBIRD Live at Blues Alley (YT)
Fairport Convention - Liege & Lief (YT)
Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n Easy (YT)
Greg Brown - The Poet Game (YT)
Gladiator - (soundtrack) (YT)
Heifetz - Mendelssohn JVC XRCD - Boston SO (YT)
Hank Williams III - Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' (YT)
Hans Theesink - Slow Train (YT)
James Brown - Live at the Opollo (YT)
Janis Ian - Breaking Silence (YT Hi-Res)
Jazz at the Pawn Shop - Proprius - 30th Anniversary (YT)
Joan Armatrading - "self-titled" (YT)
John Hyatt - Bring the Family (YT)
John Prine - Bruised Orange (forever favorite-love John,RIP) (YT)
Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark (YT)
Julie London - Ultra Lounge (YT)
Kate & Anna McGarrigle - "self-titled" (YT)
Keb' Mo' - "self-titled" Red House Label (YT some)
Led Zeppelin II - (cans or near field fun) (YT)
Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man (YT)
Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus "remaster" 
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (YT)
Mahler #2 - TIDAL has tons 'PLAY LOUD'
Melanie - Beautiful People (YT)
Mercury Living Presence - Wilma Cozart Fine (YT-research works)
Michael Jackson - Thriller Special Edition (YT)
Mighty Sam McClain - Give It Up To Love (YT)
Muddy Waters - Folk Singer ..no surprise, but it's that good :) (YT)
Nanci Griffith - Other Voices/Other Rooms (YT)
Natalie Merchant - Motherland (YT)
Nina Simone - The Essential (YT)
Nirvana - Nevermind (YT)
O Brother, Where Art Thou - (soundtrack) (YT)
Oscar Peterson - Oscar in Paris Live at the Salle Pleyel
Patty Loveless - Mountain Soul (YT)
Paul Simon - Graceland 25th Anniversary (YT)
Reference Recordings - "do your homework" (some YT)
Ray Charles - anything..especially the 50's early blues&jazz (YT)
Richard Thompson - Action Packed/The Best of the Capitol Years (YT)
Robert Palmer - Addictions Vol 1 (YT)
Robert Shaw - "choral music, research" (YT)
Rickie Lee Jones - "self-titled" (YT)
Rosanne Cash - The Wheel (YT)
Roy Orbison - Black & White Night (YT)
Ry Cooder - Mambo Sinuendo (YT)
Sheffield Labs "research direct to discs" (YT)
Sony Essentials Label - Beeth 9th Szell w/Cleveland / research others
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Hits (YT)
Tanita Takaram - Ancient Heart (YT)
Tord Gustavson Trio - Changing Places (YT)
Trio - Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt (YT)
Trio De Cologne - La Belle Excentrique
Valerie Carter - The Way It Is (YT)
Weather Report - Heavy Weather (YT vinyl 1 & 2)
Willie Nelson - Phases and Stages (YT)

ABBA - Number 1s - (we all have one like this) (YT)  

More Peace and hang in Friends, Pin

Hello everybody! Good thing that the first album of Tracy Chapman is mentioned here and there. But if you really want to get out of you 're head. Please put the album "The Game" of Queen and start with the second song and play it loud!!!
so much fun!
Greetings from Belgium.

led zeppelin II from Columbia Records on the 10 records for $1.00 program. Man what a deal!

Memorable album was a story in itself. Went to the original Crazy Eddie store on Kings Highway and got a pair of Martin speakers to upgrade my all in one tuner/turntable/amp unit. Picked up ELP’s Tarkus and couldn’t help but get mesmerized. Partly it was the improvement in SQ. Mostly it was this rock group mixing in prog, jazz and classical influences masterfully.  Played that album so many time I can’t understand how the needle didn’t cut through the vinyl to the other side.  Forgot all about that album for years.  Now when I listen to it I actually get chills. 20 minute long opening track that takes you for a ride. 

@pinthrift So far, you're the only one who listed a huge list of recordings that also rock my world.  I have 90% of the Mercury Living Presence series on LP and CD.  You left out RCA Living Stereo, just as good a series.  I have about 80% of Ella's Verve recordings.  So many Contemporary Jazz rock my world as well.  Great list overall!

I got my share of Mercury Living Presence and RCA Living Stereo LPs, as well. Ella on Verve, too. Again, my dad is to blame...except for the Ella, which my mother bought. And a handful of recently purchased RCA SACDs to fill out the collection.

Another stellar LP is a domestic Capitol Records recording featuring Cannonball Adderly and Nancy Wilson. One more prime slab of vinyl abandoned by my cousin.

Love, Forever Changes Album

Yes - close to the edge 

fleshler thanks,

I sort of overdid things, trying to stay a little on the fringe, creating fun for others to explore.  Thanks to those that posted new treats!  I used YouTube as a sampling tool, however, much of the list can be found on streaming services.  TIDAL has a Living Stereo grouping and succulent ECM classical and jazz offerings.  In giving over to digital (cost) in late 90's, I had to dig for great sounding labels and remastering engineers in attempting to rebuild my vinyl collection with good sound.  Again, for those interested, searching the web for remastering engineers and good digital labels is worthwhile indeed. 
Again, I try not to make assumptions.  You guys and gals know what you are doing.  I would be glad to post a short list of labels and engineers that consistently produce great results, if there is interest.  Thanks, Pin