Extraordinary recordings on vinyl

..an encouraging statistic is that since this threads' inception, it has produced over 3200 hits!

Slaw, at the risk of stirring the pot, I just did an extensive shoot-out of Tull's Aqualung, and included first pressings, U.S. and UK, some early U.S. Reprise pressings (the sort of stuff you can find in a bin on the cheap), and most of the "audiophile" reissues, including the Mo-Fi, the DCC, the Classic Records (33, 45 Quiex and 45 Clarity). I also included the Steve Wilson remix, which was taken from the multitrack tapes, dumped to digital and remixed. It is a considerable improvement of a murky, and sonically 'uneven' album. The digital did not get in the way. I'm a dyed in the wool analog guy, I don't use any source but vinyl in my main system and I'm generally inclined--not always- to early pressings rather than remasters. But, the Wilson re-do works. And it does come from a digital master. So, I would not condemn digital as an effective tool. And in the right hands, doesn't necessarily suffer from digititis. I do think that all of this is more art than science and you really have to take it on a case by case basis.

Whart: Point taken! And I'd have to agree with you on this criteria:
(1) (The lp you referenced is not the norm!) ( I admit I haven't heard it, but I did start a thread on this particular lp because I felt that given the person (Steven Wilson) sought out by the original artist, as their choice for taking over such a seminal lp (and he's been asked to do King Crimson's as well, I was VERY interested in it!
(2) I think you'd agree that there are always instances in which digital done smartly will be enjoyable but these instances are rare and far between.

Another thorny issue:. Porcupine Tree... while these lps are very well recorded and very consistently recorded, I can tell they are not analog in analog's true sense. There, I said it! (I own all of them except for the "live" lp).

...my last statement brings up another important point for those new to analog. Be thoughtful regarding (your own insight) when reading posts made here. Also, be willing to do your due diligence in (your) task in making an effort to reach your own conclusions! There is nothing more important than your own, first hand, experience.

Whart: The artists I referenced earlier in this thread are representative of the point you just made. These are lps made in the digital era. While they are enjoyable, they still don't pass "my ultimate test" that I referenced earlier. I've said in a different post, last year, that Beck consistently makes analog sounding records. They still don't pass my simple test.