best classical LP labels

Some of this is a matter of taste. The reason I say this is that different labels have a different characteristic sound. I personally like some of the older Decca recordings because the recordings capture the ambience of the venue. The resulting sound is a little more "confused" than say a Mercury, or a DG, but in my opinion it sounds more "live" as a result.

I have some older Decca "ffrr" recordings that I think sound terrific, but others may find them a little too romantic sounding.

There are also the RCA "Shaded Dogs" from the '50s. This catalog contains some amazing performances that were captured by two amazing recording engineers.

It's funny, for a couple of pieces my reference for a LIVE performance is how it compares to the arrangement and pacing of the recorded performance of Reiner with the CSO or Munch with the BSO.

RCA Living Stereo - shaded dog pressings; Mercury Living Presence - FR/RFR pressings; Decca/London/Argo - blue back covers; Columbia - 6 eye pressings; London Phase 4 Stereo; EMI original pressings engineered by Christopher Parker + EMI Speakers Corner reissues; Lyrita (19/20th century British classical music - not to everyone's taste); pre-digital Hyperion; French Harmonia Mundi.

If you want good sound, excellent surfaces, and a good base of artists to draw from, don't overlook the LP's from Phillips. They may not be audiophile 'demo' records but the sound is well balanced, never bright or thin, and have used good recording practices. London/Decca/EMI/Phillips are the big four for me. DG has great performers, some great performances, and some poor pressings, poor recording techniques, thin and uninvolving sound. They are a crap shoot sonically speaking. RCA Living Stereo have some great sound and great performances, the originals that is. I have not been near as satisfied with the re-issues and would not pay the going prices for them. Mercury Living Presence are plain and simple great, fun, recordings. Up front, lively, quiet pressings, and some are 'demo' quality as well. Arguably many are not the greatest performances, but thats picking a nit and its not always so. FWIW.

If you want good sound, excellent surfaces, and a good base of artists to draw from, don't overlook the LP's from Phillips. They may not be audiophile 'demo' records but the sound is well balanced, never bright or thin, and have used good recording practices.

London/Decca/EMI/Phillips are the big four for me. DG has great performers, some great performances, and some poor pressings, poor recording techniques, thin and uninvolving sound. They are a crap shoot sonically speaking.

RCA Living Stereo have some great sound and great performances, the originals that is. I have not been near as satisfied with the re-issues and would not pay the going prices for them. Mercury Living Presence are plain and simply great fun recordings. Up front, lively, quiet pressings, and some are 'demo' quality as well. Arguably many are not the greatest performances, but thats picking a nit and its not always so. FWIW.