Truly Stunning Vinyl Album


Hey friends, I'm relatively new here, first topic post but I read Audiogon topics daily. I'm a total neophyte with a not-inexpensive mid-fi system (Rogue Cronus iii Dark amp, Michel Gyro SE TT, Maggie 3.7i speakers, and a single Perlisten D15s sub, and an Eversolo DMP A8 streamer), and a growing vinyl collection that I'm partial to over streaming (unless I'm working and can't bother to flip the record). I love classic rock, Neil Young, the Stones, and the Grateful Dead, but really I like almost all genres (not into rap or thrasher metal) and since setting up my system I routinely play jazz and classical albums, and artists I never paid much attention to but now listen to quite frequently because their albums sound great on my system (e.g. Jethro Tull, Santana). So with all of that context, what I'm interested in is any TRULY STUNNING vinyl albums you can recommend, in any genre. I'm not asking for a desert island list, or any list of your favorite albums. I have those lists too, but they're dominated by musicians/groups I love and aren't necessarily "stunning" beyond my own subjective tastes. I'm interested in hearing about the one or two albums in your collection that just blow you away for whatever reason (and please explain). I'll kick it off with the Impex reissue of chamber music by Jascha Heifetz in mono, called The Lark. If you had told me that one of the top 3 records in my collection would be a mono chamber music album, I'd have laughed you out of my house. But it just blows me away. I listen to it daily. Why does it blow me away? Mostly it's the opening piece, Heifetz and an organist playing Vitali's Chaconne. It starts off with somber organ tones that I feel in my soul thanks to the Perlisten D15s sub, and then all of a sudden Heifetz comes crashing in with his piercing violin, and it is so darn stunning and beautiful I could listen to it daily until they plant me. And I don't even have a mono cartridge!  So that's the type of album I'm looking for, in any genre. Something younwould play for anyone, and regardless of what genre they prefer, they would likely agree this album is truly stunning. Can you recommend anything like that? And in case you're interested, here's a great review of the Heifetz album: 

https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/music-reviews/jascha-heifetz-the-lark/

Thanks for any recommendations!

phillyspecial

How about a real classic: Elgar Cello Concerto and Sea Pictures, Barbirolli, duPré, Baker, LSO, HMV ASD 655, 1965.

Perhaps the best recording of the cello concerto ever, and Dame Janet Baker was in fine form too. Shivers down the spine quality of sound. There are lots of issues available, and if buying through Discogs it might take a few tries to get a clean copy. There are recent re-issues too, but I find they don't move me as much. There's even a mono 1965 issue (HMV ALP2106) but I haven't heard it - yet.

Great thread idea, thank you. I'll submit for your consideration this one that surprised me out of nowhere -- I picked it up as part of a collection that I bought. Like you, this is one that I'd have never considered for myself but now listen to regularly. Stunningly recorded, it just transports you.

Nils Frahm: Spaces
https://www.nilsfrahm.com/works/spaces/

You should try Walt Disney's Fantasia, conducted by Irwin Kostal based on the original soundtrack by Leopold Stokowski. I have the original Stokowski LP too which is great. But Kostal's LP is something else. It completely fills up my listening room withe a sound stage from outside of the left speaker spanning all the way to the outside of the right speaker. Incredible sound-stage depth. Then there is music simply blow you away.