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Best sounding LP nobody else has ever heard of...

I've been off the 'Gon for quite some time due to fatherhood, and was just perusing old threads. I came across "dissapointing audiophile recording" which got me thinking - by far some of the best LP's in my collection (sonically and performance-wise) are NOT the so-called audiophile issues, but just the opposite, they're ones that are never mentioned anywhere. It's often a complete surprise, and sometimes I know within 10 or 20 seconds of dropping the needle that I've got a really special one. So we're not looking for Jennifer Warnes, Pink Floyd, or even Strunz and Farah here... I'm travelling in Asia for 3 weeks, so I can't list mine very accurately by memory, but I will when I return if this thread picks up any steam.
opalchip
prefab
54 posts
 
Just got a .50 copy of Seals and Crofts Summer Breeze. I've heard most of the tunes on the radio and CD over the years and never realized what a beautiful and intricate recording it was till now. I don't know what pressing it was.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
"Without the Fanfare"
Mary Black
Dara 016
Released 1985
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
A few classical music recommendations:

Enescu, Son 3 for Violin & Piano in Romanian Folkstyle, op25, Sherban Lupu -vn, Claude Cymerman -pf, Altarus AIR 2 9012 -- captures the character and flavor of this music superbly in an excellent recording.

Italian Violin Music 1600-1750, Banchini -vn, Darmstadt -vc, Klimo Open Window OW 002 -- one of several baroque chamber music recordings sponsored by the German tube equipment manufacturer, Klimo, all of which are marvelous.

Magnum Opus Vol 1 & Vol 2 -- organ music played on the beautiful Flentrop tracker organ at the Duke University Chapel captured in excellent recordings by Dave Wilson, Wilson Audio, W 8111 & W 8314. Any of the Wilson Audio organ recordings are worth acquiring if you have any interest in the organ. (Don't get me started on the wonderful organ recordings on Callipe and Proprius!)

Charpentier, Les Arts Florissants - Harmonia Mundi HM 1083 - marvelous
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slothman
311 posts
 
Mentioned NOwhere on the 'Gon:

John Martyn - 'Solid Air', Island Records 1973 ISL 9226
opalchip OP
355 posts
 
re: Rushton - I have a sealed copy of the "Italian Violin Music" which I haven't gotten around to opening yet. (I have a strange dysfunctional aversion to unsealing lp's). I guess I'll take a deep breath and slice the shrinkwrap when I get home.

Also - I heartily concur on the Dave Wilson organ lp's. Living in San Francisco where most of these were recorded, I find them pretty frequently at thrift stores, etc. I even have a 7" 33rpm version of Amazing Grace with organ and bagpipe that was some sort of promo at Grace Cathedral, which is un-credited, but I'm absolutely certain Wilson recorded. The bagpipe is first located off to the left side of the soundstage, and towards the end, starts slowly walking away toward the back of the church, fading out into the distance. It's totally amazing!!!!

Here's another couple of relatively unknown killer San Francisco recordings:

"Christmas at St. Mary's" which is contains choir with organ and some solo organ tracks. This is another sleeper, as it is actually a Reference Recordings production (only mentioned in very small print on the back) and it's one of RR's best IMO. There are some other lp's with identical titles - so make sure it's the San Francisco St. Mary's before buying it! I personally don't particularly like choral or Christmas music and yet I highly recommend this one!

They also did another there called "Pierre Cochereau at St. Mary's" which is an organ recital, and is a Keith Johnson recording (mastered by Stan Ricker if I recall correctly). Great sonics that will give your woofers a stress test - but not as musical to me as the Christmas lp.
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