2. analog
  3. 138086-11220

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.


knollbrent
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
If you're speaking of the QRP 45, the Strange Days sounds great to my ears. I haven't heard the Rhino 33 rpm. I reach for my early Gold label more often then the 45, but that's also because I prefer not dealing with 45's sometimes. Let me think of a few more....

Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left: 1st US Antilles from 76'.... Have not heard the new remaster, because it's not all analog, and I avoided it. 

Jennifer Warnes: The Well...Cisco label- 33 wonderful 45 even better

ZZ Top: Tres Hombres: Mine is early press, but I heard the new reissue is also very well done. 

Neil Young: Comes a Time... Early US Reprise

Last but not least... If you don't have Allman Brothers: Live @ Fillmore, you really should. There is The Classic, or STERLING stamped US. I enjoy both, but prefer the latter, Not audiophile good, but easily good enough to enjoy this timeless classic. 

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,170 posts
 
David Lindley’s (Jackson Browne’s original guitarist, a pal of Ry Cooder’s) first couple of albums contain great music in good sound. I don’t know if they have received an audiophile reissue, but the original Asylum’s are fine. Wait until you hear his "Mercury Blues" !
leotis
183 posts
 
Hey Knollbrent, So I got "The Wonderful Sound of Female Vocals" per your recommendation and you weren't exaggerating. It is freaking spectacular IMHO. So thanks again. It will end up costing me a pretty penny because now I'm gonna have to pick up a number of albums that these selections represent. Which is a good thing! (I hope) BTW Amazon took 2 days to get it here free shipping and it was packaged better than expected with the regular cardboard LP pack they use inside of another box. This is a very welcome thread you started, so thank you!
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
Norah Jones - The Fall original release sounds great
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent OP
528 posts
 
@leotis  So glad you like it! It's in my regular rotation due to the large number of singers on the album. I love it!!!!  Btw, if you haven't checked out Acoustic Sounds or Elusive disc, that's where I get most of my new material. Free shipping with $80 or more ( I think) and it's packed and shipped quick. Return it if it's noisy or defective and they'll pay for return postage too!


More to discover