Next on the list for Mahler....

Which Mahler symphony is his most famous? And what is the best vinyl recording of it...both sonics and performance.
Thanks to all.

The Mahler Symphony No. 3 that Slipknot mentions would be my recommendation for your next experience with Mahler. After that, I'd recommend you listen to the Sym No. 8 and then the No. 6. Recommendations for these are:

Sym No. 3: Horenstein/LSO, Nonesuch (originally issued on Unicorn)

Sym No. 8: Solti/CSO, Decca/London

Sym No. 6: Horentstein/StockholmSO, Nonesuch | or Solti/CSO Decca/London.

Each of the recommendations above are excellent performances with very good sonics.

The most famous Mahler Symphonies are probably Nos. 2 and 8. The most accessible are probably Nos. 1 and 3. For the Symphony No. 2, it's hard to go wrong with Solti/LPO on Decca/London (which I find preferable to the Mehta and several others).

Good luck in your explorations!
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Tennstadt on EMI in the 5th would be a good next step. Many consider this to be Mahlers' greatest (I don't) but its certainly easy to make a connection with it. I have also enjoyed the 7th by Levine on RCA. This Symphony is way different than the 5th but is also very assessible.

Great vinyl sound and Mahler is a tough task, especially when you add in performance as well. Drop the great sonics part and you'll get a lot more recommendations, such as Bernstein and the NYPO, etc.

If you really get the bug, open your mind to some digital....there is some great Mahler in the little pits.

Re other Mahler Symphonies for the newbie, Save 3, 6, and 9 for later. 3 will likely lose your attention - its long and beautiful but not overly dramatic. The 4th is OK but the heavens just don't part. For many its an easy introduction to Mahler, beautiful vocals though. 6 is in my estimation his greatest, but its a tough listen 'til Mahler gets in your blood. #9 is probably best after you have at least digested #5. All IMHO of course.

I agree with Newbee that 3 might be a little difficult to digest for starters. 4 is very pretty and easy to follow, the EMI re-issue from Testament with Klemperer is excellent. My personal Mahler odyssey took me from 1 to 2 to 5, then 6, so I'd suggest either the 5th or 6th for your next symphony. The 5th is a very accessible symphony with the famous and beautiful adagietto movement in it and very dramatic. On vinyl I like the Solti interpretation on London/Decca, but don't get the Super Analog Disc re-issue, it's far too bass heavy (and if you still have the Betas it'll drive you nuts). I'll defer to others on the other symphonies on vinyl, but I would save 9 for last, and remember when you listen to it that it was written by a man who knew his end was near, makes it that much more moving.

And I agree with Newbee, particularly on SACD with the Tilson-Thomas/SFO and Zander/Philharmonia cycles, there is a lot of Mahler on digital that is superb, both sonically and interpretively.

My favorite Mahlers (on vinyl) but listed numerically, not in the order of listening preference.:

Sym. #1: Carlo Maria Giulini / Chicago Symphony / Angel
Performance ***** Sonics ***** I always use this
this recording to introduce people to Mahler ;~)

Erich Leinsdorf / BSO / RCA Red Seal Dynagroove
Excellent, not boring, but not the Giulini!

Sym. #2: "Ressurection"
O. Klemperer / E. Schwarzkopf / Philharmonia /
Angel -- Great sonics, and Elizabeth Schwarzkopf
makes it worth listening to the end.

Sym. #3. Leonard Bernstein / NYPO / Lipton / Colombia
An excellent recording, frenzied with lots of
dynamics. Bernstein's kind of music, so he's
able to keep it from falling apart ;~)

Sym. #4 James Levine / Chicago Symphony / Judith Blegen
RCA Red Seal. -- Coming from opera (ie a drama
queen like Erich Leinsdorf ;~) Levine is
perfectly suited to this piece, and the singing
is excellent and excellently recorded.

George Szell / Judith Raskin / Cleveland Sym Orch
Columbia. This one is a tough call compared to
the Levine. The Levine is modest perfection,
the Szell is grand spectacle. Take your pick.

Sym. #5 Rafael Kubelik / Bayerischen Sym Orch / DGG
Excellent, but the "bonus" on the second record
is Songs of a Wayfarer sung by D. Fischer-Dieskau
which is worth the ticket.

Erich Leinsdorf / BSO / RCA Red Seal Dynagroove
IMO, Leinsdorf, like Ormandy, is soooooo very
competant, and like Ormandy, has such a great
orchestra behind him. One can sometimes imagine
their performances are artful and passionate.
Usually I can snap out of it. Phyllis Curtin's
bonus side, Excerpts from Wozzeck, is great for
Alban Berg fans.

Sym. #9 Rafael Kubelik / Bayerischen Sym Orch / DGG
Excellent recording. Good performance (ie it
won't put you to sleep,) but I didn't get it.
There must be better.