Well recorded records ... what are your picks?


I just finished listening to some records. No surprises, just some usuals. But, I was thinking the whole time about how well some of these records were engineered and recorded. I thought I would write about them and ask for your favorites.

I finished with Thomas Dolby -- Aliens Ate My Buick. It is so well recorded! I am drawn in and must listen to the whole album. I lose myself in this one! Rickie Lee Jones -- Pop Pop. Spin her version of "Up From the Skies" and you will know what I am talking about. Pure recorded bliss. It is magical. I had to listen to the rest of the album and was not disappointed! Dire Straits -- Love Over Gold. Title track -- unbelievable. This album is so well recorded; no wonder I have known more than a few audiophiles who have recommended it. I listened to the whole damned wonderful album! Rickie Lee Jones -- Rickie Lee Jones. How can you miss with this one. If you need to test your set-up, go with this one. It is perfect. Oh, also, I listened to "Sunday in the Park with George" tonight. It is so well recorded with depth and width. I also enjoy the music. I also spun Dire Straits -- Communique. It is not as well recorded as Love Over Gold, but that is only by a "smidgen." It is truly a gem. I love the music, and it is very well recorded.

These are my picks for tonight. More to come, of course. I am wondering what are your favorites and why? This could be a nice exchange of information on well engineered and recorded records for all of us. And, we could all discover albums and their characteristics through each other's information.

Cheers!
bicycle_man
Lou Reed -- A perfect night (live in London) is amazing as Stereotimes.com reported in a 2004 review
Dire Straits "Love Over Gold"
Pink Floyd "The Final Cut"
UK "Danger Money"

Stuff I have on Epic (old Jeff Beck & SRV) sounds good too.

Whole-hearted agreement with Tvad about the ECM label.

Why these? I hear what I always listen for...air, space, dynamics, good imaging. Musical content connects for me on an emotional level.
Nine Inch Nails' studio releases are uniformly excellent. Not sure industrial angst is everyone's cup of tea (it is mine).
Hmmm, Mst, I will have to re-visit my lp's of Bauhaus, and Tone on Tail! I don't think it falls under the industrial genre, but Cocteau Twins albums are pretty well recorded, too.

Great input! I think I'll find the Nora Jones lp to purchase.

I listened to XTC -- Murmur tonight. So far, the three albums I have of their's, Black Sea, Murmur, and Skylarking are excellent. Truly enjoyable with complex, interesting music, and very well recorded. I am still looking for Apple Venus Volume 1. I know they have Volume 2 on cd ... must find the record ...

Cheers!
... By the way ... The album by XTC is "Mummer", not "Murmur." Murmur, is an excellent album by R.E.M. with greats like Radio Free Europe, Laughing, Talk About The Passion,Sitting Still, etc.

Sorry.