top Mahler on vinyl

Here's a list of my favorites of most of the symphonies - I skipped the 8th because I don't know it well enough to make any recommendations. I also included a couple of disks of my favorite songs.

Symphonies
1 Kubelik DGG 139331

2 Bernstein (NY) Columbia M2S 695
Klemperer Angel 3634B
Mehta Decca SXL 6744-5

3 Bernstein Columbia M2S 675
Tennstedt EMI SLS 5195

4 To Avoid - Bernstein
Kletzki EMI SAX 2345
Klemperer EMI SAX 2441 (Testament reissue)
Van Beinum London LL618

5 Tennstedt Angel SZB 3883
Leinsdorf RCA LSC 7031
Levine RCA ARL2 2905

6 Barbirolli Angel S 3725

7 Bernstein Columbia M2S 739
Solti London CSA 2331

8 No recommendations

9 Barbirolli Angel SB 3652
Karajan DGG 2707125
Giulini DGG 2707097

Songs

Five Ruckert Songs Barbirolli / Baker EMI SLS 785 or ASD 2518-9. Also has the 5th symphony

Kindertotenlieder Barbirolli / Baker EMI ASD 2338

Das Lied von Der Erde Klemperer / Lugwig / Wunderlick EMI SAN 179

Here's a list of my favorites for most of the symphonies and the songs. One note of disagreement, I don't find that the US Angels are any different than any other label. Some are good, some are not. No label made all good recordings and not label made all bad recordings. I don't find most Angels to be that bad.

Symphonies
1 Kubelik DGG 139331

2 Bernstein (NY) Columbia M2S 695
Klemperer Angle 3634B
Mehta Decca SXL 6744-5

3 Bernstein Columba M2S 675
Tennstedt EMI SLS 5195

4 To Avoid - Bernstein
Kletzki EMI SAX 2345
Klemperer EMI SAX 2441 (Testament reissue)
Van Beinum London LL618

5 Tennstedt Angle SZB 3883
Leinsdorf RCA LSC 7031
Levine RCA ARL2 2905

6 Barbirolli Angle S 3725

7 Bernstein Columbia M2S 739
Solti London CSA 2331

8 No recommendations

9 Barbirolli Angle SB 3652
Karajan DGG 2707125
Giulini DGG 2707097

Songs

Five Ruckert Songs Barbirolli / Baker EMI SLS 785 or ASD 2518-9. Also has the 5th symphony

Kindertotenlieder Barbirolli / Baker EMI ASD 2338

Das Lied von Der Erde Klemperer / Lugwig / Wunderlick EMI SAN 179

Set: Kubelik--came 20 years late to this cycle, but have fallen in love with Mahler all over again, very good with the music in between the "big moments." Sound is good but not demonstration quality.

1: Kubelik/Walter/Muti
2: Bernstein's DGG but $$$$ (we need a re-press) The entrance of the Organ pedal!
3: Kubelik, much like Barbirolli but better, more concentrated and rapt Finale
4: Walter but painful mono sound
5: don't know it enough
6: don't know it enough
7: Kubelik except for "moonlit" stretch of music in 1st mov't, which is far more magical under Levine
8: Tennstedt for sound and performance, a one-off by Wynn Morris (warning: warts) and the Kubelik again for "knocking the dust off."
9: Kubelik would be my hands-down favorite except for ever so slightly "flowing" Finale, though not as fast as Walter! The limo Mahler choice: Giulini, but what a plodding Scherzo!
DLVDE: two scandalously overlooked: Reiner, with the wonderful Forrester, (who's only downfall was *not* dying while the tapes were rolling), and the concertante playing of the Orchestra's first chairs is glorious. Blows the stereotype that Reiner was "cold." The other underdog is Jochum on DGG with the Concertgebouw: Why couldn't DGG always record like this? Merriman (sp?) has a tight vibrato, but all involved are competent and apposite in the best of ways.