@meiatflask I think you're obsessing about recording quality a bit too much -- the true measure of a system should be how well it presents the musical event irrespective of the recording (i.e. it finds all that can be found even in a mediocre recording)
Having said that to address your specific questions
- "Stones in the Road" is an OK recording, nothing special -- personally I actually prefer the live versions of many of these tracks on "Party Doll and Other Favorites" -- this is an honest live recording
- "Between Here and Gone" is an impeccable pop record, highly produced but very well done
- Regarding Nanci -- I agree on Storms (you need to get the Alto Analog LP btw) -- of her more recent stuff I picked out "Other Voices" as it is a very intimate and real sounding recording, if again you prefer a pop production then chose "Flyer"
- "Airs and Graces" is a true vocal master disc, but recognize that this is acapella solo british folk voicing, so may not be to your taste - I never owned a CD of this so cannot goide you to which to choose
- "Against the Streams" is again very nice, realistic recording
- "The Elizabethan Sessions" is a stellar recording throughout -- beware it has men singing on it as well!
- Finally Sandy and Mandy -- the recordings are of their time (early 70s though 80s) -- personally things like "Fotheringay" are my all out reference and the 3CD Hannibal set is as nice a CD as you can hope to find, only bettered by paying through the nose for an Island pink label -- but this is all in the context of your liking Joe Boyd's production style
ps Speaking of Joe Boyd go and
dig this out - you'll like it (Songhai 2) -- And frankly you won't go much wrong by buying everything on
this list of his work, especially
this (The Hank Dogs, Half Smile, which has some more lovely female vocal)pps Thanks for making me look that last one up, I never even knew the video existed!
