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Best vinyl purchases based on pressing, studio production, sound quality and enjoyment.

As you all know this question has been asked a million times on a million sites BUT each time it’s asked, it can be very helpful to those trying to find great vinyl that is quiet, produced well and touches the heart each time it’s played.

I’ve only been into vinyl for 6 months now and have purchased 250 albums, 99 percent new, recent pressings, reissues. So within the last year, what are 10 of your favorite album purchases based on pressing, studio production, sound quality and pure enjoyment??? Here’s my top 20:

1. The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals. (Various artists, 200 gram QRP)
2. Willie Nelson- To all the Girls (Various artists 180 gram Legacy)
3. Dead Can Dance- Into the Labyrinth (180 gram Mobile Fidelity reissue)
4. Rickie Lee Jones- Rickie Lee Jones (180 HQ Pressing Warner Bros reissue)
5. Stevie Ray Vaughn- The Sky is Cryin (200 gram Analogue productions 45rpm reissue)
6. Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon (2016 reissue)
7. Renee Flemming- The Beautiful Voice (Decca 20th anniversary gatefold)
8. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong- Ella and Louis (Analogue productions Mono reissue)
9. Eva Cassidy- Nightbird (Blix Street Records 180 gram)
10. Doors- All the new reissue 45’s from Analogue Productions, 200 gram
11. Cash- The Man Comes Around (American Records, QRP, 180 gram)
12. Shelby Lynne- Just a Little Lovin (QRP, Analogue Productions, 45 rpm, 200 gram)
13. Vanessa Fernandez- When the Levee Breaks (Groove Note, 45 rpm, 180 gram)
14. Nils Lofgren- Acoustic Live (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram)
15. Neil Young- Live at Massey Hall (Reprise, 180 gram reissue)
16. Tony Bennett- I Wanna Be Around (Mobile Fidelity, 180 gram reissue)
17. Linda Ronstadt- What’s New (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram, reissue)
18. Cat Stevens- Tea for the Tillerman (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram reissue)
19. Muddy Waters- Folk Singer (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram reissue)
20. Fleetwood Mac- Tango in the Night (Rhino, 180 gram, 2017 reissue)

Ps: You can go beyond 1 year if needed.


128x128knollbrent
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,644 posts
 
@2channel8,

I have "Goodnight Rhonda Lee" on it's way. BTW, it's a helluva deal on vinyl (Amazon). "Bleeding Diamonds" isn't available on vinyl that I know of.

@rjamilla,

That MFSL Derek & The Dominos re-master is the only version of that lp I've ever heard that I can enjoy.
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
Chet Atkins in Hollywood - RCA Living Stereo Classic Reissue
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
My bought new back around '81 copy of The Wall - UK EMI! I consider it reference quality - and musically it is a fun listen! And the last best work of the original Pink Floyd!
thepreludeimplicit
27 posts
 
The recent Giles Martin remaster of Sgt Peppers US press (QRP) is just wonderful. Highly recommended. Read several times it is better than the UK/European pressing.

I have purchased many of the Rhino 33rpm Doors records. They sound very nice, have wide range sonics with ultra quiet vinyl. The mono of Strange Days was probably the weakest but still very good. Same can be said of "Kiln House" and several other Rhino reissues of earlier Fleetwood Mac albums. 

Recently picked up a DS "Brothers in Arms" US first press (variant 1 on Discogs) outstanding sonics and in good enough shape that it is very enjoyable. Deep Deep bass.

Happy listening and good luck in your searches.


fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Regarding Pink Floyd: The Wall... I'm not a huge Japanese pressing guy, but I must say, my Japanese pressing of The Wall is oh, so good. Quiet, so analog sounding, dynamic as hell. The Cowboy Junkies: Trinity Sessions is also excellent. I have the Classic 45, which in this case, is worth the extra hassle. 
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