What are the "Must have" LP's?

Rickie Lee Jones first album
Bassie Jam
Jessie Colin Young "Soul Of A City Boy"
Leon Russell "Will O' The Wisp"
Any Dire Straights
Joni Mitchell "Miles Of Isles"
Paul Simon "Still Crazy After All These Years"
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "Will The Circle Be Unbroken"
Nancy Wilson "The Best Of Nancy Wilson"
Beatles "Revolver"
Willie Nelson "Stardust"
Heart "Dreamboat Annie"
Any Steely Dan
Neil Young "Sleeps With Angels"
Most Duke Ellington
U2 "The Unforgettable Fire"

The above are great generic recordings and are available used for not much money. Of course, most of the expensive audiophile pressings are great performances and music. You generally can't go wrong with these but the cost....

I second the Janis Ian's "Breaking Silence" as one of the best ever recorded albums. Also, it's been my experience that jazz (in general) is the best recorded of any genre. German and Japanese pressings are usually really good.

Don't overlook the old Frank Sinatra recordings. Some of these are real gems and there are so many to choose from.

Have fun,
Patrick

Breaking Silence, Janice Ian (Analog Productions)
Autumn Leaves, Jancita (Groove Note)
Belafonte sings the Blues, Harry Belafonte (Classic Records)
At the Renaissance, Ben Webster (Test Pressing--Analog Productions I believe)
Play River Music, the Rhythm Devils (Mickey Hart--Wilson Recording)
Neon Angel, Nancy Bryan (analog productions)

For Classical
Sheharazade (Classic Records 45 RPM reissue)

Rives, i would have also recommended the 45rpm Sheharazade but it is over $150.....if you can find a copy. in fact, by far my favorite records and the most sonically spectacular, are the 45rpm Classic Records reissues.

i have 3 test pressings of the new 45rpm series by Analog Productions and they are equally as good;

Ben Webster, Live at the Rennesiance
Bill Evans, Waltz For Debbie
Count Basie, 88 Basie Street

Lima, if you can afford any of the 45's by all means do it!

One of my all time favourites is Talk Talk, "The Colour of Spring. Pick up a copy of this second hand and see if you enjoy the music. Seasons' best

In addition to the wonderful suggestions above:

Hank Mobley "Soul Station"
Lee Morgan "Candy"
Louis Smith "Smithville"
Sonny Rollins Blue Note 1542
Mobley Blue Note 1560
Fred Jackson "Hootin' and Tootin'"
Clifford Brown Memorial Blue Note 1526
Kenny Burrell Blue Note 1543
Any Ben Webster
Any Don Lanphere on Hep Records

Just a few, time is short, Happy Holidays!