Your Not-So-Obvious Best Fidelity LPs
I’ve spent over three years building up to the system I have now. I’m really happy with it and my wife and I love sitting in our listening room spinning various vinyl most evenings. Rather than researching and testing gear, I want to spend this year adding great recordings to our collection.
So what are the albums you have that every time you play it you're continually amazed at its fidelity? You might have spent $80 on it or just $1 or maybe it was a hand-me-down decades ago. Any genre really.
And if we can please avoid the most obvious choices (which are truly wonderful) such as Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Diana Krall, etc. I’m looking for albums, (vinyl only please) that probably fly under the radar for most folks.
I'll start….
James Taylor - Dad Loves His Work - this was just given to me by a friend a couple of weeks ago as he had an extra copy. I have plenty of JT albums but I didn’t have this one yet. As soon as I put it on I could tell it was special.
Edie Brickell - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars - My wife requested this one so I found a NM copy on Discogs for a reasonable price. This kind of blew my socks off. Sounds really wonderful and present and the music still holds up.
Counting Crows - August and Everything After - I surprised my wife with this one as it’s one of her favorite albums. They really nailed the recording and pressing on this one. It’s quite impressive.
Ben Folds - What Matters Most - He’s one of our favorite songwriters but trying to find a copy of anything of his or Ben Folds Five for under $80 is nearly impossible. This album was released just last year and they obviously paid special attention to the recording quality. Sounds just phenomenal.
Steely Dan - Northeast Corridor - Obviously everyone knows how amazing their studio recordings are but this album might be unknown to some as it came out just a few years ago. I bought it on a whim knowing nothing about it. It’s amazing. As if they would release an album with less than stellar fidelity. If you’re a Dan fan, this album is a no-brainer.
REM - Automatic for the People - Completely hypnotic. Stunning recording.
OK, that’s enough from me.
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. |
@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! |
@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! |
@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?! |
What a great thread, making notes and planning to pick up several recommended lps. A couple not much talked about records I love:
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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. |
@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. |
When I was purchasing vinyl looking for sound I was told names who engineered the record and they always produced top notch sound. 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. 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 🙂 |
About 6 years ago. I was at a Los Angeles Orange County Audio Society club event at a high end store near LA, Sunny's Components. Peter McGrath from Wilson Audio was there, during his talk at the event, he was giving a history of his recording live classical performances. After his talk, I approached him and brought up the contemporary classical Nonesuch recordings mentioned earlier. And his eyes lit up. Turns out, one of his main mentors when he was learning live recording, was one of the recording engineers responsible for several of these Nonesuch modern classical recordings. McGrath said something to the effect of, "those budget recordings are a real condemnation of modern recordings". |
To keep this going, I would add Ry Cooder's soundtrack to the movie "Paris Texas." Beautifully atmospheric sound. His other albums are also well recorded--check out "Meeting by the River " and "Paradise and Lunch" (I have, and like, both the original issue and the MoFi reissue). Many regard Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus" to be one of the best live rock recordings. I do think it is great music and a great sounding album, but, the "live" label is a bit misleading because there was use of extensive studio punch-ins for that recording. I guess it doesn't matter, the album is terrific. |
@laynes and @2channel8 thank you for those thorough lists. I have some of those but I’ll check out some of the others you mentioned. My copy of Morning Phase also sounds incredible. |
Paul Simon - There Goes Rhymin’ Simon , Quadraphonic (I listen on a stereo set up) This is a great idea for a thread, and have gotten some good titles to check out. By way of background, I have been collecting vinyl for almost 15 years and have a collection of 3000+ titles. There are a lot of treasures to be found hiding in the bargain section. |
There are a number very good recordings by Joan Baez,such as “Diamonds and Rust.” I have a particularly good sounding reissue of her “Farewell My Angelina” put out by Cisco Records (an audiophile label that consistently delivers good records. Another super sounding reissue that I have is Ray Browns “Soular Energy” on Pure Audiophile Records. |
My list of Not-So-Obvious: Mad Season: Above - orignal US Columbia pressing -much better than MOV and 2016 (?) reissues. Tool Fear Inoculum - 5 LP - Drums are insane Another vote for the Mofi Garcia/Grisman Framton Comes Alive - Monarch Talking Heads - Speaking in Tounges - Winchester RHCP - One Hot Minute - *320* Kraftwerk - Techno Pop (recent clear reissue is exc) Al Di Meola and company: Friday Night in SF, Impex David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name - mofi Dominque Fils-Aime - anything by her but esp her Red and Blue albums. The new Green also. Propellerheads Decksandrumsandrockandroll. I bought the US orignal BITD. Beck Morning Phase - I have a 2014 Europe which sounds amazing. From Amazon! Thievery Corp - Symphonik. I have most of their others and this one is the best IMO SQ-wise. Kruder and Dorfmeister - the K&D Sessions, 5 LP Bernie G. 2015 Others but that is a good start.
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@czarivey , great list. I just ordered Northern Exposure off Discogs for a relatively decent price. John D is my favorite DJ and has been since I started listening to him in 1999. I have their original Communicate on vinyl and almost every track (12") off his GU Sydney and Hong Kong (used to DJ) but never purchsed Northern Exposure - until now. Thanks! |
@rvpiano Happy to help! One of the great things about this forum is to help each other out. Would love to keep this thread going with some other top notch fidelity albums. Please feel free to chime in with your under the radar favorites! |
Some time ago I bought a SACD player and it had a ripped copy or Mary Chapin Carpenter's Time*Sex*Love That sounds wonderful. I am sure the LP it was ripped from is even better. 10,000 Maniacs Blind Man's Zoo Peter Gabriel So Tim Buckley Happy Sad Jeff Buckley Grace Jackson Brown Late For The Sky Gene Clark Priscilla Ahn A Good Day Lera Lynn Plays Well With Others Cowboy Junkies - Pretty much anything. Whites Off Earth Now and Trinity Sessions Revisited are the best recordings but not my favorites of their songs. Ditto Mark Knopfler Kate Bush The Kick Inside
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@coltrane1 thank you my friend. Much appreciated! |
@paulietunes , Congratulations Paulie! If you dig soul check out anything from the Philadelphia International Records catalog released from 1971-1977. The owners of the company, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, were actually superb songwriters and producers themselves, and produced many if not most of the biggest soul hits released during that timeframe. They operated from Philadelphia, and built a multi million dollar corporation producing the greatest hits. Philadelphia had surpassed Motown by hits and music production by this time as Motown had been sold. Just a bit of musical history my brother. Enjoy! |
Hey @coltrane1 on your word, I just bought a copy of 360 Degrees on Discogs! Can’t wait to give it a listen. Plus I do love soul and funk. And I’ll definitely be looking for some Eva Cassidy as you and so many others have recommended her. Thanks! I’ll let you know how it sounds in a week or so. |
And I don’t know if you’ve heard Eva Cassidy, but if you haven’t check her out on YouTube. First time I heard her sing Somewhere Over The Rainbow it brought me to tears. She’s got a voice from the Angels, and many compelling albums worthy of any collection. You and your wife will truly enjoy her! |
Love your taste in music @coltrane1 and I'll check out those suggestions. I've got a bunch of Stevie Wonder and most of them sound wonderful. |
I'm loving all of these suggestions! Thanks @doyle3433 I'll definitely look those up. @zimwig - love these as well. I was able to see Sarah Jarosz in concert here about a year ago when she toured with Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin. Such an amazing show and loved hearing her play Build Me Up From Bones! |
@paulietunes totally with you on that Dan pick, my record store guy recommended it and it was in my top 5 of last years buys. I’d like to add a couple of my go to’s John Lee Hooker “The Healer” The Secret Sisters debut album The Melvins “Houdini” The Cactus Blossoms “Your Dreaming”
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For reissues, the Japanese company King Records made many terrific records and premium jackets as well. I have pop/rock, jazz and classical reissues by them that I like a lot (e.g., Steely Dan “Aja”, Beethoven “Spring” violin and piano sonata). Even the digital CD player and DAC manufacturer Esoteric made great reissues (e.g., Dvorak Symphony No. 5, Kertesz conducting VPO). |
Telarc- ravels bolero CBS Masterworks - most recordings are phenomenal- a standout is Leonard Bernstein playing Coplands rodeo- dynamic range is crazy jethro tull aqualung Steve Wilson mix herbie Hancock - empyrean isles- blue note reissue Patti smith - dream of life Sinatra at the sands- great live recording neil young- everybody knows this is nowhere creedence - bayou country crowded house - temple of low men enjoy!
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The Stylistics - Album titled by same Curtis Mayfield - Curtis Marvin Gaye - What’s going on, and I want you Issac Hayes - Shaft LP, Hot Buttered Soul, Black Moses, Joy The Spinners - Mighty Love The Ojays - Ship Ahoy Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life, Innervisions, Talking Book Billy Paul - 360 Degrees of Billy Paul Donny Hathaway - Extension of a man, DH Live I’m a jazz musician and man, but Soul was the music of my youth, and the musical root of my existence.
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Any Command Classics recordings produce by Enoch Light from 1959 through 1965. Some of the music is a little hokey but the recordings feature great clarity and accurate instrument tonality. The stereo effects are entertaining and sometimes over produced. You can find these on discogs; the best versions are usually the Gatefold pressed on the grey white and white gold original pressings. The 1970's ABC represses are not quite as good. Hope you try it; great entertainment for $15.00 or less. |
Sealegs, Yes, Rounder did put out some nice sounding records with interesting music. One of my favorites is Michael Hurley's "Have Moicy" --very funny lyrics and quite interesting music This is one of my personal top record in my collection. Sugar Hill is also an amazing label. Your other listings are terrific as well. I like recordings from Athena. Audioquest, the cable company, put out some really well recorded stuff with amazing soundstaging and "reach out and touch" realism. Check out, for example, the Tuxedo Cowboys' "Woman of the Heart" album and Robert Lucas' "Usin' Man Blues." Clarity Records put out only a few albums, but, they were ultra high quality records, some versions had tracks only on one side of the record to maximize pressing quality. I own Mary Stallings "Fine and Mellow" and Claudio Gomez "Salamandra." |
Rounder puts out excellent vinyl. But my favorite label for acoustic music, bluegrass, et al., is Sugar Hill. Everything I own on that label is amazing. Adding a couple notable albums not from Sugar Hill: Edgeland (Kim Richey) Tschaikovsky’s 5th Symphony (Sheffield, Moscow Sessions) Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances (Athena) Time Passages (Al Stewart, Mo-Fi) The last three are more obvious. But the Kim Richey was less expected. Really excellent both music and recording. My copy is autographed. |
I am relatively new to this hobby and only have a very modest set-up. When freinds come over, there are few albums that I like to spin that make my rig sound much better than it actually is. Gene Clark - White Light (Intervention Records) Lee Hazlewood - Requiem For An Almost Lady (LITA) Jerry Garcia / David Grisman - Jerry Garcia / David Grisman (Mo-Fi) Willie Nelson - Stardust (Mo-Fi) DMA's - DMA's (MTV Unplugged Melbourne) K.D. Lang - Ingenue (Nonesuch) Soul Media - Funky Stuff ( Deep Jazz Reality) @paulietunes - Thanks for staring the thread. I hope you get to chase some new vinyl and have hours of great listening with your wife. I know I will (with my wife). Cheers |
The original YHF had a beautiful, textured paper jacket. I liked the recording quality of that album too. This is good reminder for me to pull it out and give it a spin. Thanks for the reminder. Another good sounding album issued during the age of the CD is Lou Reed's "Magic and Loss." I bought the CD when it first came out and took it with me when I went to the Consumer Electric Show in Las Vegas. When I asked one exhibitor if he could play it on his system, he pointed his nose in the air and declared that the LP version was MUCH better than the CD, but that there were only five copies of the LP in the USA and he owned two of them. When I got back from the show, I asked my local used record dealer to keep an eye out for it. Of course, in time, copies became available in this country. A few years later, my dealer found a sealed copy; because he knew I wanted it badly, he just gave it to me, free of charge. |
When it comes to reissues, it is sometimes quite hard to say whether the reissue is better or worse than the original--opinions may vary greatly. When Classic Records reissued some Led Zeppelin albums, I bought them and a friend and I compared them to the original albums. To me, the reissues sounded richer and nicer than the originals, but, my friend thought they were stripped of the rough, raw sound that made the albums great. i could see his point, but, I still liked the reissues. He got rid of his reissue albums. I should have bought them because some of these albums go for crazy money these days. |
