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.


128x128knollbrent
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent OP
526 posts
 
@tzh21y  I'll look into that Zep. 

@slaw  I appreciate you chiming in from time to time as I know you have a vast collection. Goodnight Rhonda Lee is wonderful!

@tomic601  Eva Cassidy Nightbird is fantastic isn't it! I've played that album at least 5 times this past month. I've always loved her. 

Cracking knuckles. Here's what I'm listening to now:

1. Dead Can Dance's Serpent's Egg is playing while I post this. Extraordinary!!! 1984 issue from 4AD. OMG I love this band, always have. Never heard anything besides Into the Labyrinth which is phenom. I got this M- and it's a perfect copy. 

2. I agree with slaw, Goodnight Rhonda Lee is a great find and cheap on Amazon. Single Lock, 33 rpm, release date 2017. 

3. Bryan Ferry- Avonmore (BMG 2015 release, 33rpm)   very nice album. Great character, quiet, well mastered, inexpensive on Amazon. 

Later on I'll be listening to some Roxy Music original releases that just came in along with Creedance Clearwater and Melody Gardot. 


fourwnds's avatar
fourwnds
277 posts
 
I’m gonna come at this just a bit different in my suggestions based on my digging around like folkfreak suggested as a methodology. 
I have found anything by these guys to be excellent music and top fkn shelf sound. These are not rare birds but I gottem cheap and were unknown by me. 

Gentle Giant
Dan Hicks
Tony Rice
Brand X
Brazil Classics any vol. compiled by D. Byrne(Tom Ze in particular)



I also found some really cool used  stuff I wouldn’t normally had considered (chamber music)but when I started really paying attention to names like Ludwig, Kipper whom I’ve come to realize  are household names but anyway  things really went some fun directions. 

New releases, many but I do not tire of John Abercrombie’s last. I’m blown away by it. Like seriously. May just be me but I think the mucisianship is absolutely crazy there’s just something special about the way they play together and off each other. The whole record ebbs seamlessly like a concert playing feelings less songs with so much depth and touch ECM label, so ya know sound does not suffer that’s for sure. 

Have fun!!
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
Dead Can Dance - SpiritChaser  MOFI reissue
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Picked up a NM copy of the David Gilmour S/T solo LP. Sound is extremely good. I believe it has Sterling stamp in dead wax, but I have to double check. Always loved this record, and very happy to have this great sounding vinyl, to go along with my See-Dee. (-: 
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,644 posts
 
@knollbrent ,

I have that same copy of "Serpent’s Egg" I found at a book sale for $1.00.

Hallelua!

@fln04,

If you can find a UK/Harvest/ David Gilmore "S/T", you’ll be good, my brother.
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