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Good rock LPs not rare?

Recently, there have been a couple of threads concerning the disappointing sound of classic rock LPs. I've been surprised at the amount of agreement on this point and it really doesn't echo my experience. I don't prefess to be an expert. I've been back into vinyl for three years and have had no problem finding many rock Lps that are not only good but often shockingly so. My system is good but nothing special by many of your standards.(VPI SSM reference with Shelter 90x and Benz Ebony LP, Ps Audio GCPH, BAT VK51se, Krell FPB 600, Vandersteen 5A) I got to thinking about all the amazing rock LPs I've found in just the past 2 years, most on just one or two trys. I felt compelled to compile a list of the ones I could think of. Please feel free to disagree or especially add any you know of. No particular order. I can't be this lucky or good. Are good rock LPs really that hard to find?

Lou Reed-Transformer
Dave Mason-It's like You Never Left, Let It Flow
Brewer and Shipely-Tarkio
Grateful Dead-American Beauty, Working Man's Dead
Traffic- John Barleycorn Must Die
Neil Young-After the Goldrush, Everyone Knows This is
Nowhere, On a Beach
Yes-Fragile, Close to the Edge
Cat Stevens-Teaser and the Firecat, Tea for the Tillerman
Trex-Electric Warrior
Fleetwood Mac-Rumors
Talking Heads-Little Creatures
Roxy Music-Avalon,Sirens
Steve Miller Band-Fly Like an Eagle
Bob Marley-Natty Dread, Uprising
Little Feat-Waiting for Columbus
Jimmy Buffet-Changes in Latitudes...
Beck-Sea Change
Son Volt-Staightaways
Beatles for Sale
Jennifer Warnes-Famous Blue Raincoat
Eddie Money-Eddie Money
Micheal Jackson-Thriller(I know, I know)
Prince- Purple Rain
Hall and Oates-Abandoned Luncheonette,Voices
Eagles-Eagles
America-Homecoming
Ambrosia-Ambrosia
Doors-LA Woman, Morrison Hotel
Dire Straits-Dire Straits, Communique
James Gang-Rides Again
Van Morrison-Moondance,His Band and Street Choir
Mott the Hoople- All the Young Dudes
Linda Ronstadt-Heart Like a Wheel
Queen-The Game, Jazz
Steely Dan-Can't Buy a Thrill, Aja, Gaucho
Joe Walsh-The Smoker You Drink
Roger Waters-Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
Andrew Gold-What's Wrong with this Picture?
Jackson Browne-Jackson Browne, The Pretender
James Taylor- JT, Mudslide Slim
Molly Hatchet-Flirtin with Disaster
Lynyrd Skynyrd-Street Survivors
Rush-Moving Pictures
Heart-Dreamboat Annie, Little Queen
Humble Pie-Humble Pie
Bread-Baby I'm a Want You, Best of Bread
Eric Clapton-Slowhand(original and MOFI) 461 Ocean Ave
Jefferson Airplane-Surrealistic Pillow
Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here
INXS-Kick
Traveling Wulburys-Vol 1
Harry Nilsson-Nilsson Schmilson,Nilsson Sings Newman,A Little Touch of Schmilson in the Night
Elton John-Honky Chateau, Don't Shoot the Piano Player
Clash-London Calling
Elvis Costello- My Aim is True, Armed Forces, This Year's Model
Bob Dylan-Blood on the Tracks
Harry Belafonte-At Carnegie Hall
Joni Mitchell-Clouds,Blue

This doesn't even include all the great ones I've found right here in Des Moines. Just the ones I Can think of. I could play any of them as demos. Sorry for the long list. Please add or comment if so inclined.
sonofjim
mordante
511 posts
 
I think I must weird, every time I see a "rock" topic I go. Yes bring on AC/DC, Motorhead, Guns 'n Roses etc. When I glance your list I think I would not put them all in the rock category.
czapp's avatar
czapp
126 posts
 
Hi
While I think that there are many good recordings on your list, quite a few of them would not sound very good in a more revealing system. One of the strengths of the Vanderstein 5A's is their ability to make poor recordings more listenable. A speaker with more "accuracy" and "resolution" would reveal the flaws in many of these albums.
plato
1,543 posts
 
Czapp, at the risk of being labeled a heretic, I'd much prefer a slightly forgiving but MUSICAL system to a hyper-detailed system that makes many of my favorite recordings sound flawed...

In my view, if a system is dialed in properly, then the bulk of recordings should sound pleasing and musical. If that is not the case, then I would suspect that something is wrong with my system or its set up.

In this hobby, you often hear the logic that "this or that system is of such high resolution that it makes many recordings sound poor or even unlistenable." In my view, that logic is flawed.

The purpose of a high-res system is to reveal a more transparent sound and delicate musical nuances... as opposed to highlighting and exposing warts and defects.

I applaud Sonofjim for sharing his musical joy with the group and agree with many of his choices.
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