Truly Stunning Vinyl Album
Hey friends, I'm relatively new here, first topic post but I read Audiogon topics daily. I'm a total neophyte with a not-inexpensive mid-fi system (Rogue Cronus iii Dark amp, Michel Gyro SE TT, Maggie 3.7i speakers, and a single Perlisten D15s sub, and an Eversolo DMP A8 streamer), and a growing vinyl collection that I'm partial to over streaming (unless I'm working and can't bother to flip the record). I love classic rock, Neil Young, the Stones, and the Grateful Dead, but really I like almost all genres (not into rap or thrasher metal) and since setting up my system I routinely play jazz and classical albums, and artists I never paid much attention to but now listen to quite frequently because their albums sound great on my system (e.g. Jethro Tull, Santana). So with all of that context, what I'm interested in is any TRULY STUNNING vinyl albums you can recommend, in any genre. I'm not asking for a desert island list, or any list of your favorite albums. I have those lists too, but they're dominated by musicians/groups I love and aren't necessarily "stunning" beyond my own subjective tastes. I'm interested in hearing about the one or two albums in your collection that just blow you away for whatever reason (and please explain). I'll kick it off with the Impex reissue of chamber music by Jascha Heifetz in mono, called The Lark. If you had told me that one of the top 3 records in my collection would be a mono chamber music album, I'd have laughed you out of my house. But it just blows me away. I listen to it daily. Why does it blow me away? Mostly it's the opening piece, Heifetz and an organist playing Vitali's Chaconne. It starts off with somber organ tones that I feel in my soul thanks to the Perlisten D15s sub, and then all of a sudden Heifetz comes crashing in with his piercing violin, and it is so darn stunning and beautiful I could listen to it daily until they plant me. And I don't even have a mono cartridge! So that's the type of album I'm looking for, in any genre. Something younwould play for anyone, and regardless of what genre they prefer, they would likely agree this album is truly stunning. Can you recommend anything like that? And in case you're interested, here's a great review of the Heifetz album:
https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/music-reviews/jascha-heifetz-the-lark/
Thanks for any recommendations!
"Not an "audiophile" sounding recording, but "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder (on his Talking Book album) is a track that is very "punchy" sounding. One of the best drum sounds I've ever heard- " bdp24- You probably know the story-that intro was Jeff Beck noodling on the kit and Stevie walks into the studio? https://nypost.com/2023/01/11/how-jeff-back-made-stevie-wonder-go-no-1-with-superstition
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i’m not a huge Black Sabbath fan, but the Rhino Numbered remaster of their self titled debut that came out a few months ago might be the best sounding vinyl record I’ve ever heard. The Doors - Analogue Productions 45 RPM from a few years back (still available and better than the more recent UHQR) 2009 Pressing of Hotel California Shelby Lynne - Just a Little Lovin’ 45 RPM Analogue Productions Steely Dan - all of the Analogue Productions UHQR The Beatles - 2014 mono reissues
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The "Tea for the Tillerman" that I have is on an original Island release, not the Analogue Productions version and it is a very good sounding record (much better sounding than the original US release (A&M?)). I was surprised how much more dynamic and explosive the Island record was compared to the US version. I have not heard the Analogue Productions version, but I would bet it is good because that label is very consistently good. I mentioned a few Ella Fitzgerald albums but forgot to mention her soundtrack for the movie "Let No Man Write My Epitaph." The 45 rpm reissue on Analogue Pro-ductions sounds very good for a 1960 mono recording. |
@larryi: Yeah, UK Island LP’s are known for their good sound, particularly the ones with a pink center label. I have only one, the second Traffic album. I had a UK Island copy of TFTT, but it was a later "sunray" label Island. There is a YouTube video in which Bernie Grundman, Chad Kassem, and Michael Fremer discuss the whole TFTT story, which started when Bernie Grundman got the master tapes to do a reissue for Classic Records. Well worth your time searching for. By the way, the Analogue productions TFTT is available in both 1-LP/33-1/3 RPM and 2-LP/45 RPM versions.
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