Best sounding LP nobody else has ever heard of...

A few classical music recommendations:

Enescu, Son 3 for Violin & Piano in Romanian Folkstyle, op25, Sherban Lupu -vn, Claude Cymerman -pf, Altarus AIR 2 9012 -- captures the character and flavor of this music superbly in an excellent recording.

Italian Violin Music 1600-1750, Banchini -vn, Darmstadt -vc, Klimo Open Window OW 002 -- one of several baroque chamber music recordings sponsored by the German tube equipment manufacturer, Klimo, all of which are marvelous.

Magnum Opus Vol 1 & Vol 2 -- organ music played on the beautiful Flentrop tracker organ at the Duke University Chapel captured in excellent recordings by Dave Wilson, Wilson Audio, W 8111 & W 8314. Any of the Wilson Audio organ recordings are worth acquiring if you have any interest in the organ. (Don't get me started on the wonderful organ recordings on Callipe and Proprius!)

Charpentier, Les Arts Florissants - Harmonia Mundi HM 1083 - marvelous
.

Mentioned NOwhere on the 'Gon:

John Martyn - 'Solid Air', Island Records 1973 ISL 9226

re: Rushton - I have a sealed copy of the "Italian Violin Music" which I haven't gotten around to opening yet. (I have a strange dysfunctional aversion to unsealing lp's). I guess I'll take a deep breath and slice the shrinkwrap when I get home.

Also - I heartily concur on the Dave Wilson organ lp's. Living in San Francisco where most of these were recorded, I find them pretty frequently at thrift stores, etc. I even have a 7" 33rpm version of Amazing Grace with organ and bagpipe that was some sort of promo at Grace Cathedral, which is un-credited, but I'm absolutely certain Wilson recorded. The bagpipe is first located off to the left side of the soundstage, and towards the end, starts slowly walking away toward the back of the church, fading out into the distance. It's totally amazing!!!!

Here's another couple of relatively unknown killer San Francisco recordings:

"Christmas at St. Mary's" which is contains choir with organ and some solo organ tracks. This is another sleeper, as it is actually a Reference Recordings production (only mentioned in very small print on the back) and it's one of RR's best IMO. There are some other lp's with identical titles - so make sure it's the San Francisco St. Mary's before buying it! I personally don't particularly like choral or Christmas music and yet I highly recommend this one!

They also did another there called "Pierre Cochereau at St. Mary's" which is an organ recital, and is a Keith Johnson recording (mastered by Stan Ricker if I recall correctly). Great sonics that will give your woofers a stress test - but not as musical to me as the Christmas lp.

Also agree on Solid Air, especially love "May You Never" on that one. Great sonics and great songwriting. (Trivia- title track written for/about Nick Drakes' mental issues at the time)

American Fool/John Mellencamp
Misquitos/Stan Ridgway
Lost in Sound/Yusef Latef