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Best vinyl purchases based on pressing, studio production, sound quality and enjoyment.

As you all know this question has been asked a million times on a million sites BUT each time it’s asked, it can be very helpful to those trying to find great vinyl that is quiet, produced well and touches the heart each time it’s played.

I’ve only been into vinyl for 6 months now and have purchased 250 albums, 99 percent new, recent pressings, reissues. So within the last year, what are 10 of your favorite album purchases based on pressing, studio production, sound quality and pure enjoyment??? Here’s my top 20:

1. The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals. (Various artists, 200 gram QRP)
2. Willie Nelson- To all the Girls (Various artists 180 gram Legacy)
3. Dead Can Dance- Into the Labyrinth (180 gram Mobile Fidelity reissue)
4. Rickie Lee Jones- Rickie Lee Jones (180 HQ Pressing Warner Bros reissue)
5. Stevie Ray Vaughn- The Sky is Cryin (200 gram Analogue productions 45rpm reissue)
6. Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon (2016 reissue)
7. Renee Flemming- The Beautiful Voice (Decca 20th anniversary gatefold)
8. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong- Ella and Louis (Analogue productions Mono reissue)
9. Eva Cassidy- Nightbird (Blix Street Records 180 gram)
10. Doors- All the new reissue 45’s from Analogue Productions, 200 gram
11. Cash- The Man Comes Around (American Records, QRP, 180 gram)
12. Shelby Lynne- Just a Little Lovin (QRP, Analogue Productions, 45 rpm, 200 gram)
13. Vanessa Fernandez- When the Levee Breaks (Groove Note, 45 rpm, 180 gram)
14. Nils Lofgren- Acoustic Live (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram)
15. Neil Young- Live at Massey Hall (Reprise, 180 gram reissue)
16. Tony Bennett- I Wanna Be Around (Mobile Fidelity, 180 gram reissue)
17. Linda Ronstadt- What’s New (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram, reissue)
18. Cat Stevens- Tea for the Tillerman (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram reissue)
19. Muddy Waters- Folk Singer (Analogue Productions, QRP, 200 gram reissue)
20. Fleetwood Mac- Tango in the Night (Rhino, 180 gram, 2017 reissue)

Ps: You can go beyond 1 year if needed.


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aardbear's avatar
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aardbear
4 posts
 
I will try to give you a honest view to your question,I know that I've not wasted my and time in my search for the very best available pressing to which I have purchased in the past for my analog world .For years, my quest to find the holy grail has slipped by me while I was watching, But not completely...Well here are some in my collection....Al Stewart 1976 MFSL Lp Vinyl Mobile Fidelity Pressing of the Year of the Cat,  A Tchaikovsky Spectacular - Vinyl- Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1 502 , Days of future past by the Moody Blues MFSL . Aja MFSL   Dark side MFSL  Led  Zepplin II  to Poco  all  MFSL Pressing by JVC from Japan and later in the States . I  really can say for me ,that the sound is the best Ear Candy Ever ! Bar None in my limited opinion...  Yet MFSL Lp.s,are the Best if your looking for the Best !!!! Yes they all are very pricey and more over, Super Hard to find in Mint Condition, or any Near Mint Condition due to the age of these pressings for that matter !. I do have more to mention but these are the one's off the top of my head... Besides the Box sets MFSL limited runs...  The Beatles ,The Doors .The Rolling Stones To Frank Sinatra ! Yes if you venture into this world  be patient and wise and if you see it get it.... It will not come easy, they are very hard to find...So Good Luck in your quest to find your Holy Grail  ! ! !
whart's avatar
whart
3,033 posts
 
@knollbrent -- at the risk of sounding snarky (i'm not), try to venture beyond the audiophile approved stuff.  Sure, it sounds good, but there's a lot more to music than the stuff that gets released by the small handful of labels that release (and re-release) the warhorses. Much interesting music never gets reissued or is reissued by non-audiophile labels because it doesn't have a guaranteed market. 
I hit a point some years ago where I realized that I had thousands of records that I bought over the years that were sonically impressive, but left me unmoved, musically. Once I started to search out music beyond the "safe" choices covered by the audiophile press, I learned much more about my taste and the music itself. Then you can dig down for the best sonic examples of the particular recordings you like-- in many cases, it won't be an all analog remaster done by Bernie or Kevin, but there's an awful lot of music beyond the tried and true audiophile approved playlists. 
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent OP
521 posts
 
@whart So why did you risk being snarky? This thread is NOT about new, reissued music released by a warhorse (not exactly sure what a horse has to do with this thread )  As stated in the opening post, this thread is outlet for people to share/recommend some music that's well produced, fun, alive and well pressed. For someone like me that's new to vinyl, recent releases and reissues are what makes up the bulk of my collection.  These records have great reviews and when played 95% of the time, are wonderful, a real joy to listen to. 

You probably missed my earlier comment:


My collection so far is composted of really great sounding records but there’s a lot of vinyl I just haven’t been able to get decent pressings or good masterings of? I don’t own hardly any originals pressings. I’ve got nice Floyd The Wall Japanese and Us first press, 89 Madonna Like a Prayer, 84 Prince Purple Rain, 1991 Stevie Ray Vaughan Sky is Cryin, 1982 Michael Jackson Thriller, 2005 Led Zeppelin S/T, and a few others, but mostly new or reissues.

I bought some real stinkers early that were 1st pressings and just weren’t good, but I know that’s not the case with a lot of the older stuff, just the ones I picked. Blonde, Bruce Springsteen, John Cougar, to name a few. If If I can get a recommendation or see a review, I’m more apt to buy it so it doesn’t sit and collect dust like the Eagles Greatest Hits reissue I just bought. I know, reviews weren’t good or nonexistant, just wanted it and for $20 bucks, thought what the hell. It’s terrible.

So I appreciate any lists that people recommend as it helps me a newbee to vinyl, collect records that not only sound great but are very enjoyable and bring a smile to my face each time I hear them.

Whart I don't care if it's brand new or old as hell, it just needs to play well and be fun to listen too. You made some great recommendations above. Got any more???

Keep those lists comin! We've got quite a thread here!!!

Ps: Great listings @aardbear 


knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent OP
521 posts
 
@slaw  Just ordered  Chris Whitley "Living With the Law" MOV 

@bdp24  looking for this one as well   John Hiatt: Bring The Family

@fjn04  just received a fresh copy of Strange Days, the reissue. Sounds great too! Great suggestion by u. Thanks!
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,284 posts
 
@knollbrent ,

I posted that particular lp/pressing (it is the only pressing I own) because of it's content. It also has very good sonics. I happened to find a sealed copy at slightly under $15.00 shipped which helped. I'm sure @whart  opinion that the original Columbia may be better. My experience tells me probably not by too much.

"Bring The Family" MFSL is an excellent record! You will not be disappointed. I've owned mine for years which precluded it from consideration based upon your post.
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