Quality music labels

I agree with Sdcampbell and in addition, you can checkout certain Japan Import CDs (these offer a wider variety of music). XRCD's are generally well done.

Most people w/ our disease generally can agree on whether or not a given recording provides good resolution, tonal quality and dynamic range, but opinions are like .... and nearly everyone dislikes some great artistic achievments that are beautifully recorded. Gotta agree w/ the above, (especially w/ ECM and Soul Note). Here are a few other labels that send a jolt of electricity though the fingers and brain when I get to hit the record stores:
IDA(France), Justin Time(U.S.,CAN.), CMP(Germany),9Winds,(U.S.),Creativeman(Jap.),Red,(Italy)Arabesque(U.S.)Intakt(Switz.), Ramboy(Neth.), Buzz(U.S./Neth.), Intuition(U.S.), Tone Center(U.S.), Cryptogramophone(U.S.), Koch(Int.), Ambiences Magnetiques(Can.), Songlines(Can), Hat(Switz), Cuneiform(U.S.),New World Records/Crosscurrents(U.S.), Tzadik(U.S.), Day Eight Music(Swed.), Enja/Tutu(U.S.), Jazz Haus(Ger.), Avant(Jap.), Carbon7(Bel.), GM(U.S.), NaxosJazz(Int.), Altri Suoni(Italy), Brain(Ger.).
You probably have found a few landmines if you're purchasing by the label. The artist and instrumentation info(if available) on the back can also provide good clues when you're on the hunt for new audio intoxicants. Good luck, save some for the rest of us!

some great information, guys! i'd add 4ad, tomato, red house and ryko. BTW, sad news from the most recent TAS: nimbus has gone under. buy what you can while there's still some stock on the shelves. -cfb

Here are a few other labels that I should have included on my first post: Teldec (German); Lyrita (small British label); and two labels that I think are now defunct, Supraphon and Hungaraton. These two latter labels were Czech/Hungarian, and they issued some excellent classical LP's during the 1970's and 1980's. Some of their catalog may have been re-issued on CD.

A Japanese label that issued a limited number of D-to-D LP's in the late 1970's and early 1980's was East Wind. And, staying with the D-to-D LP theme, there were also some good recordings from M&K, Crystal Clear, and Century Records.

The other jazz label which also deserved mention is Concord Records, founded and operated by Carl Jefferson (he also started the Concord Jazz Festival). Concord has consistently released some of the best sounding jazz recordings which, happily, also contain some first-rate mainstream jazz. I've also been impressed by the sound quality of the releases on Premonition Records (Patricia Barber's label.)

Last: Sundazed Records has been getting some great write-ups about the quality of their re-issue catalog (such as the mono LP's done by Bob Dylan). I have not heard any of their stuff, and thus will have to let others comment from direct experience.

I agree with the above suggestions of the XRCD offerings.

I have heard that MFSL is to be making a comeback...any truth to this?

I may be crazy,,..but I have never had any of the Telarc's that I buy capture my inner brain/ear thing that get's you into the music? Can't say as to why.