Extraordinary recordings on vinyl


You've most likely heard or read of MF's +10 (on his 1-10) scale of rating music, both sonically and for content...

What are your favorite recordings (on vinyl) that tip the scale over 10?

Here's my first one... Steve Phillips "Steel-Rail Blues"

This lp is pure as the driven snow, not an unpure note to be found.
slaw

Showing 3 responses by whart

Anybody here ever listen to Roy Harper's Stormcock? It is an acquired taste, and doesn't "Wow" you on first listen, musically. But it is just superb, musically and sonically. I'm not really sure how rare the early Harvest UK pressings are; mine is sans the EMI indicia on the record label, so it is probably a first pressing. It is the sort of record that just sucks you in on further listening. Be interested to know if others are familiar with it, and what their views are, musically.
What's funny is, I'd hardly name this as a "favorite' album, but it one of the first ones that came to mind when I saw this thread.
Slaw, if you like Black Dub, you should pick up the Trixie Whitley EP cut at 45 from Belgium with one track, "I'd Rather Go Blind" (not to be confused with the famous Etta James' piece). Same band, same tunefulness, even better production quality than the album. Don't confuse this with other EPs she cut which have the same track- the one to get is essentially a 10 inch single. You can buy it online from a shop in Belgium, not sure it is available in the States directly.
Slaw, at the risk of stirring the pot, I just did an extensive shoot-out of Tull's Aqualung, and included first pressings, U.S. and UK, some early U.S. Reprise pressings (the sort of stuff you can find in a bin on the cheap), and most of the "audiophile" reissues, including the Mo-Fi, the DCC, the Classic Records (33, 45 Quiex and 45 Clarity). I also included the Steve Wilson remix, which was taken from the multitrack tapes, dumped to digital and remixed. It is a considerable improvement of a murky, and sonically 'uneven' album. The digital did not get in the way. I'm a dyed in the wool analog guy, I don't use any source but vinyl in my main system and I'm generally inclined--not always- to early pressings rather than remasters. But, the Wilson re-do works. And it does come from a digital master. So, I would not condemn digital as an effective tool. And in the right hands, doesn't necessarily suffer from digititis. I do think that all of this is more art than science and you really have to take it on a case by case basis.