are digital recordings on vinyl any better than CD

You are discussing early 1980's digital mastering in the production of vinyl records. The quality of digital recording and mastering has advanced since the 1980's, and today you can find current production digitally recorded and mastered music on vinyl (think Diana Krall etc).
Though I scrupulously avoid these albums, I am sure that there are those that can comment about the virtues of modern digital released on modern vinyl with less compression than the comparable cd.
To me vinyl makes more sense when you start with an analog recording, analog mastering etc, and hence preserve the essence of 50's, 60's, and 70's recordings that were conceived and produced to be played on TT.

"To me vinyl makes more sense when you start with an analog recording, analog mastering etc, and hence preserve the essence of 50's, 60's, and 70's recordings that were conceived and produced to be played on TT. "

Agree 100%.

Those are the vinyl recordings that are "magical" to me.

Most can be found used for a pittance, if in good condition.

I'll by old vinyl recordings I've never heard of from the "golden age" by the dozens on the cheap just for the distinctive sonic thrills many can deliver on a good modern rig.

It's the combo of the analog recording and mastering techniques used in record production back in those days along with the format itself that can deliver the kinds of distinctive sonic thrills audiophiles seek. Format alone assures nothing.

"Digital recording on vinyl is better" is voodoo. It usually sounds better though :)

@harold-not-the-barrel   +1 ;-)
Totally voodoo (or placebo?) but it works on me! As I said before, maybe its time to stop self-medicating (with alcohol) while relaxing and listening to music and relapse back into my second-favorite hobby/condition of "upgraditis". The first one is spending all my "allowance" on music, of course, but this one is incurable! ;-)
A few months ago, when testing the results of me restoring Nakamichi cassette deck I was listening to a cassette recorded from a CD played thru a cheap Discman. I liked the cassette much better than the "original", and thats when I realized that I need medical attention. It just did not make any sense to me!!! When the same thing was mentioned by Mike Fremer in one of his YouTube ramblings, I realized that I am not alone!?!
Whats wrong with me/us? I can tell the difference between lo-mid and hi-end sound but it looks like I like analog wow and flutter distortions. Art Dudley of Stereophile mag also had a post about him loving distortions and, like myself, also got confused about what he was trying to say. 
Anyhow, its an interesting question, thank you @harold-not-the-barrel for digging it up!

Analogue tape is the best medium there is. If the deck is up to the task and you use better tape, talking reel to reel, except for extra noise the recording will overall sound better, with more natural flow and drive.
To paraphrase the immortal expression - it's the tape stupid.