Folk/Rock choices that are well recorded

I'd look for Pentangle and Fairport Convention albums. SQ is variable, but the songwriting and playing (Bert Jansch and John Renbourn in Pentangle, Richard Thompson in Fairport) make any and all of these albums essential guitar folk IMO.

I hadn't thought of The Everly Brothers as Folk-Rock, but their 50's and 60's recordings feature great sound. I have the British Ace label reissue and collection LP's, which sound better than the Rhino LP's. Great, great music. They had the best songwriters and studio musicians of the time, and greatly influenced Lennon & McCartney, whose vocal harmonies were merely exact copies of the Brothers'.

The Church: Blurred Crusade.

Can't vouch for CD versions of these as I only have them on vinyl. But if the sound quality on vinyl is any indication, one of my all-time favorites is Phoebe Snow's self titled album. Recorded and produced by the great Phil Ramone, I love this record when I am in the mood for this sort of thing. Two others that I am surprised haven't been mentioned are Cat Stevens "Tea For The Tillerman" and Tracy Chapman's debut album; both were often cited for good sound qualityp and are considered musical classics. Lastly, if you're going to go down the "folk music/good sound" road, as an audiophile, on principle alone and for better or worse, you should have The Weavers "At Carnegie Hall". I think I'm showing my age 😊

Slaw, I agree with you; it's always a little frustrating when the OP disappears. That's why I am sure you will follow up in your "song structure" thread 😉

I concur w/ the panel;
Tracy Chapman, John Prine, Jack Jackson, Amos Lee,
Bob Dylan are great recordings for openers.

Keep me posted & Happy Listening!