Great sounding/recorded albums

Steely Dan's music is always technically perfect, often loved by musos but that's about it. Kind of the opposite to Springsteen which despite often dubious recording quality usually manages to connect on an emotional level.

His current album 'Western Stars' is a career highlight, even by sonic standards.
'Nebraska' is another, a real lo-fi back to basics classic.

As for 'Born to Run', one of the seminal 70s records, nothing will ever remove the endlessly overdubbed 'mud'.

The "Born To Run" mud was created via electronic reverb, intentionally. Bruce said he wanted the album to sound like Roy Orbison as produced by Phil Spector. He failed on both accounts. Ironically, Roy’s Monument label recordings possess incredible sound quality!

+1 on the Bright Mississippi. Forgot I had it!

I would have to throw this one out there even though I am sure it will lead to some head scratching......

Blind Melon S/T.

Just perfect in every way imho, nothing was forward or over bearing, everything was just "right".

A new reference recording for myself.

Just get into the early stereo symphonic and jazz recordings from 1957 to 1965. Mono recordings, both classical and jazz, prior to the stereo age can sound great too. Try recordings from Westminister, RCA, London. For jazz try Pacific Jazz, Contemporary, Riverside ...and plenty more.

Frank