Superb sounding Vinyl?

I tend to agree that most vinyl sounds poor nowdays but one of the best record I have heard for a while was Eric Claptons "reptile".

The record was the heaviest I had held for a while and production was fantastic. There was very little surface noise and the music could be heard perfectly.

Regards

NB

I strongly recommend this two test discs of mine:

a. Bad Company - Bad Company (UK press) it is a typical 70s recording with close miking. The first track 'Can't Get enough' has this killer drums entry that will show off your new SL2.

b. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (US press) Again 70s recording. This LP is very well recorded, with very good dynamics, and the songs are great too.

Usually by the end of the 2nd disc, my friend's jaws would have touch the floor.

david

Silly Wizard - Golden, Golden live in America

Bothy Band - After Hours live in Paris has the best opening track ever.

cheers

Nigel

"Strange Angels" - Laurie Anderson.

I just recently 're-discovered' how good some LP's can sound. Most of my listening is CD these days but I'm having second thoughts after playing some old vinyl.

I am using a Linn Sondek LP12 ('84 vintage). The fretless bass on 'Monkey's Paw' literally jumps out at you. The musicians seem to occupy a solid 3-dimensional space within the soundstage, unlike most CD recordings. Also, I get the feeling I am listening to real people making music. There just seems to be more going on, more involving if you like. I forgot how good LP records can sound (if the wind is blowing in the right direction).

Sadly, this is not always the case. I think some of my discs need a good clean on one of those expensive machines. At least I know the Linn is not ready to lay down and die, just yet. In fact, in many ways, it still gives more enjoyment than my CD player.

Dave

My wife had friend working for PYE and he gave us 3 "demo" records Visionary,Perilous Journey and Fear of the Dark. They are quite heavy (weight) discs, clean well mastered and sound superb.

Regards

Howard

The other day I dug out an old and scratchy "Willi and the poor boys" by Creadens I once bought second hand and then forgot about. Sounds superb! My current LP12 setup handles the scratches and noices very well.
It's an origianl vinyl, but a Swedish made one (!), it was obviously quite common in those days.

JohanR

I recently picked up Captain Adventure by the Stan Tracey Quartet. Recorded live at the 100 Club in Nov.'75 and released on Stan's own Steam label this album captures what must have been an unforgettable night. The recording itself is an absolute knockout capturing Art Themen, Dave Green and Bryan Spring [ as well as Stan ] at the top of their game. Superb.

Dave

Good thread, good to find out what else sounds cool ( or hot, as you wish...)

My faves include Ziggy; just got a 180g "Simply Vinyl" remaster - brings back the goosebumps I had when I heard this first, way back er 30 years ago, first thing I had ever heard in stereo: also, Tears for Fears "sowing the seeds of Love".
This I strongly recommend as a test album - complex arrangements, superb production ( over a year to mix )fab tunes. As a rule of thumb it does seem IMHO the heavier the vinyl, the better the sound

Mike

Gentle Giant 'Octopus'-original issue, nice heavy vinyl and wide dynamic range. Loud recording. Coin Spin at start of second side especially good.
Focus 'Moving Waves also really well recorded, some of the bass is really low.Hocus Pocus being a good test track if you can stomach the yodelling.

Steve

Steve Miller Band Fly Like An Eagle, Supertramp Crime of the Century, MOFI Muddy Waters Folk Singer, KD Lang All you can Eat, Curtis Counce You get more bounce w/ Curtis Counce, Art Pepper meets the Rhythm Section....to naim a few

Romantic Organ Music vol 1, Decca recording with Peter Hurford on Ratzburg Cathedral Organ. Still blows my friends through the wall (specially track three, Litanies by Jean Alain - despite one wrong note).

Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat.

No self-respecting demo of the late 80's was complete without this one. It's the songs of Leonard Cohen, so it's not just the sound quality thats good.

Ar Pepper's Living Legend is a great example of the studio engineers art. Recorded by Ray DuNann at the Contemporary studios L.A. in '75 it catches Pepper on his first album date in fifteen years. Supported by Hampton Hawes piano, Charlie Haden bass and Shelley Manne drums Art returns to alto after gigging around on tenor since his release from San Quinten in '66.

"... I've gone back to alto because that's my horn, the one I dig most of all, and when I play, I just play the way I feel - like I did on this album. If I get outside, it's because I feel outside, and if I feel funky that's the way I'm going to play. The main thing is to swing and be honest."

Dave

NB,

Thanks for the Reptile recommendation.

This lp sounds superb.

"Thanks for the Reptile recommendation"

I was very disappointed with this one as the Guitar rags gave it glowing reports. The CD recording is excellent quality, shame about the music

Deep cuts on heavy vinyl usually turn up trumps. A problem with many of today's pressings is not the vinyl but the packaging. It looks great but the heavy cardboard inners knacker the vinyl even before you buy it and fit a Nagaoka or whatever. Also, it seems the very low production runs can sometimes cause problems. Nonetheless, only about 1 disc in a thousand sounds better on CD.

Alex

SRV couldn't stand the weather on 180g vinyl, serious good recording, except I scratched tin pan ally. Not happy at all.

• Opus3 - All vinyl by that label is superbly recorded and pressed. They print very little vinyl anymore (they've done a few of Eric Bibb's later releases), but you can get their older works used for a bargain. Recommendations: Bibb's River Road and Golden Apples of the Sun. Stunning music, stunning sound.
• Billy Holiday Songs for Distingue Lovers on Verve heavy vinyl. One of the finest jazz albums ever on an excellent pressing.
• Matthew Sweet 100% Fun - Great power pop on a great pressing. The title fits here!
• Earth 5 on the Good Looking label. A box set with 5-6 disks, one song on each side (33 rpm though). Great music, and again well pressed.
• My old mono copy of Revolver I picked up at a collector show many many years ago. This always throws friends off - how can one get more music out of an old mono pressing of a favorite? Yet they shake their heads after the first few bars of "Taxman".
• George Cromarty's Wind in the Heather on Dancing Cat records (a Windham Hill spinoff) - Superbly recorded solo acoustic guitar that will never ever appear on CD. Scour eBay for this one - it's worth getting.

Cheers

Keith.