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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
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
Santana-- Abraxas is my test record as well as my test CD. The vinyl is limitless; any time I make an improvement in my system, I can hear it on that LP.
bicycle_man OP
100 posts
 
Cool! Good to know.
Mine are Rickie Lee Jones, self titled album. The first song I play is Easy Money, then other cuts. The next album is Paganiniana, with Ruggiero Ricci, Water Lily Acoustics label. Finally I play Pat Metheny, As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls. September Fifteenth is the first song I'll play from that album. I'll usually follow up with some cuts from Pirates by Rickie Lee Jones.
I'll have to check out Abraxas on vinyl! Thanks for the recommendation!
Three albums worth checking out are from Chick Corea/Return to Forever -- Return to Forever, My Spanish Heart, and Tap Step. I often play them when I make adjustments system or mods to my amp or pre-amp. They feature interesting percussion, vocals, and soundstaging. They are well recorded, and very enjoyable jazz. My first year college roommate who was a jazz and classical guitar major turned me on to Return to Forever, and My Spanish Heart. He also introduced me to Bitches Brew -- Miles Davis, and quite a bit of Coltrane. I am indebted to him greatly! (He hated Pat Metheny, by the way, I could never get him to dig it. He finally appreciated Pat after a girlfriend introduced him to it.)
Cheers.
bicycle_man OP
100 posts
 
You want velvet-smooth vocals, crystal clear? You want him in your room, singing to you? Get Marvin Gaye -- Here My Dear. You won't believe the texture in his voice on this record. It is sublime.

Marvin wrote this album about his ex-wife Anna. His profits from this record went to her as part of their divorce settlement. It is interesting to follow his emotions as they develop through the course of the album. It tells the story of their love from beginning to end.

It is so well recorded, and so beautiful. It is ironic that this album did not do well in sales and ended up in cut-out bins. A true sleeper, and a masterpiece!
dividebytube
50 posts
 
David Bowie - 'Man Who Sold the World'. My UK RCA copy from '73 is quite good.

Badfinger - 'Straight Up' on Apple. The U.S. pressing is fine.

Tyrannosaurus Rex - 'Unicorn'. I have a 'Replay' UK re-issue that sounds marvelous. Pre-T. Rex, the record has more of a folk/Tolkien hippie-vibe than the later glam rock.

The Who - 'Sellout'. My Japanese pressing is quiet and sounds great. 'Tommy' is also good, the German pressing being quite remarkable.

Joe Walsh - 'Barnstorm'.

Jackson Browne - 'Running on Empty'. Some great live recordings - check out the cricket on stage.

Blue Nile - 'A Walk Across the Rooftops'. Clear synth music from the Linn label.
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Greatfull Dead: American Beauty, an original or first I believe. Label is darker green. Stevie Wonder:Innervisons, I gave in on this one. It's one of the newer japanese pressings they sell for $50.00. IMO, it was money well spent. Cat Stevens: Teasers & the Firecat. This one is the MFSL Anadisc. May be hard to find, but this one is special IMO. Love this thread BTW.
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