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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
avanti1960
1,480 posts
 
good topic brent!  good source for new music and recordings!  

My best sounding include: 
1) Donald Fagan, The Nightfly"  Literally the absolute best sounding recording I have ever heard..  Clarity, dynamics, bass, imaging.  All others are no. 2 or worse behind this one although it is strictly a studio recording.
2) Joni Mitchell "Blue".  Most transparent, life like vocals I have ever heard in a recording. 
3) Pink Floyd "Division Bell".  Best sounding Pink Floyd recording IMHO with incredible staging and dimensionality.  The guitar on "What do you want from me" is spectacular.  
4) Miles Davis "Sketches of Spain" MoFi.  Most transparent, clear jazz trumpet recording I have ever heard.  
5) Branford Marsalis "Trio Jeepy".  This one has it all- clarity, live you are  presence,  acoustic bass, dynamics and great tunes! The most realistic, natural live timbre and sound I have ever heard in a recording.  
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent OP
526 posts
 
Excellent @avanti1960  I have the Fagan and you are correct. It's a special piece of vinyl no doubt. Which issue of Pink Floyd Division Bell did you get? I'm going to look into it!  Also the Trio Jeepy!
effischer
562 posts
 
Surprised no one has mentioned Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto yet.  Right up there with The Nightfly in sound quality.  Simply superb.
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent OP
526 posts
 
@effischer  I've got it and it is simply superb!
avanti1960
1,480 posts
 
brent,  my division bell is an RPI 180 gram double LP. 
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