Your Not-So-Obvious Best Fidelity LPs

When I was purchasing vinyl looking for sound I was told names who engineered the record and they always produced top notch sound.  
A few names to look for include;

Glyn John’s - a few albums he engineer were The Who albums Who’s Next and By The Numbers,  Eric Clapton’s Slowhand, Rolling Stones albums Let it Bleed, Exile on Mainstreet and Beggars Banquet; the Bands Stagefright, The Eagles Desperado, On The Border, The Eagles debut album white label Asylum 1972;  Hrahm/Nash’s album Song for Beginners;  Rod Stewart’s Never A Dull Memory and one of Led  Zeppelin’s debut album

 

Rhett Davies engineered Dire Straits debut album 1977;  Roxy Music Avalon, Manifesto, Flesh and Blood, Viva Roxy Music Live 

 

Rudy Van Gelder -  Freddie Hubbard’s Red Clay, Grover Washington’s All The Kings Men 1973, Wes Montgomery’s California Dreaming

 

Stephen Barncard - Brewers & Shipley’s Tariko, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young’s Deja Vu, David Crosby’s only album If Only I Could Remember My Name 

Kenneth Wilkinson’s Citizen Kane Soundtrack 

Bernard Herrmman - The Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmman and his Mysterious Film Woro album 

Jazz in the Pawnshop for sure.  You won’t be disappointed if you can find it. 
Audio Symphony #1 and #2 both albums I use to show off my sound system 

some of my top sonic albums I use to show off my system;

Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s Lucky Man

Led Zeppelin 11

Dire Straits Love Over Gold

Joni Mitchel’s Blue

America’s America 

Neil Young’s Harvest

Alan Parson’s I Robot

Dave Brubeck’s Right Now

Pink Floyd’s The Wall 

Santana’s Abraxas 

Dave Crusin Discovered Again a direct to disc recording 

Bob and Ray’s Comedy (super sounding)

 

any Super Disc recordings

Just a few 🙂

After fairly recent discovery of the band Shpongle, I'm sure I want all of their releases on LP and CDs as well.

IMO, this thread got off of it's intended, stated purpose early on 

@slaw I think you mean just going after the not-so-obvious good pressings.  What’s obvious or less so is certainly subjective.  I know everyone here has good intentions of just passing on the news of great sounding recordings.  
Keep it going!

I recently picked up a 1981 MoFi copy of The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed and it is pretty astounding.

The recent reissue of  Zappa's The Grand Wazoo sounds fantastic, although my OG sounds pretty sweet as well.

Joni has been mentioned, but not For The Roses which has both rich, dark chords but also the silver shimmer that she is known for. 

Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden's Beyond the Missouri Sky is sublime, beautiful music lovingly recorded.

Lorna Hunt's All In One Day is an album I play for guests that always elicits a smile, fun music recorded in a big old church.

Donald Fagen The Nightfly MFSL 1-Step ,

Tears for Fears -Songs from the Big Chair MFSL

Bill Withers - Still Bill  MFSL

Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms MFSL

Super Session Mike Bloomfield MFSL

Natilie Merchant- Tiger Lily  MFSL

 

 

Notting Hillbillies
Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - It'll Shine When it Shines
Supertramp - Brother Where You Bound                                                   

 

 

What a great thread, making notes and planning to pick up several recommended lps.

A couple not much talked about records I love:

1. The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier. I bought the reissue on Amazon a few years ago when I got back into vinyl. Goosebumps from the start, right when his vocals kick in on the first track, 900 Miles. Anyone unfamiliar hearing this on a good system for the first time will certainly raise an eyebrow or two… Gorgeous haunting vocals, spacious sound.
2. Seu Jorge & Roge - Nightdreamer direct-to-disc Sessions: Brazilian music, another sparse acoustic gem with gorgeous male vocals - albeit Terry Callier’s voice can be mistaken for that of a woman.

See Robert Pincus record review posts on Positive Feedback for dozens of extra obscure great sounding recordings (records).  He is known as Mr. Record for his extreme knowledge on LP recordings. Also, best man at my wedding.

@coltrane1 

Couldn't agree more with your soul selections.  I love this period of music and especially what the groups you mentioned mean to me.  I don't have any of these on vinyl, but can't understand why many have not been re-released/remastered as they are utter classics!

@mckinneymike to be honest there are so many soul hits between 1963 and 1979. Between Motown, Stax, and Philadelphia International Music, for those of us who grew up during this period our musical experience was unequivocal. And to top it off we had the best of RR during this same period too. We lived a blessed existence never thinking that it would someday end. The period of the 80’s and 90’s was interesting too, for who could ever forget Whitney. But the days of who is killing who, or the disrespect of women, replaced some of the most positive music ever created. And did I even mention 3 of my favorite groups, Chicago, Tower of Power, and EWF?!

@dorkwad @coltrane1 This weekend I was able to listen to my new copies of Eva Cassidy Live at Blues Alley and Allison Russell The Returner as well as my new-to-me copy of 360 Degrees of Billy Paul.  All fabulous albums that I'm thrilled to have now.  Thank you for the recommendations! 

@paulietunes , I’m happy that you’re experiencing some wonderful albums, and each are very different singers. And it’s a pity that Eva Cassidy didn’t get the notoriety in life as she has after passing. She’s one of the most original and gifted musicians I’ve ever heard. Enjoy my friend!

Recently came across "redundant" maxi single I haven't listened in years asking myself a question why I decided to keep of 12" version Culture Club "Victims"   Culture Club - Victims (Vinyl, UK, 1983) For Sale | Discogs.

The mastering in this version is superior. Perhaps I have it in my collection for that reason, not the music though which is too far away from my habits. One of those weird cases that I very rarely do.