What is Your Best Recording - Either LP or CD

Mr Content · « **Reply #40 on:** 21 Mar 2009, 10:59 pm »

Quote from: JCC on 21 Mar 2009, 05:07 pm

Quote from: Mr Content on 21 Mar 2009, 06:45 am
Hey JCC, I would love to hear this..............
Vinyl - Sheffield Lab-5 - Dave Grusin - Discovered Again

I will have to try and find this.

Mr C

There are two Sheffield Versions for Dave Grusin - Discovered Again. One is D2D and the other is from the tape. The Black cover is D2D. The Black with Red Border is from the tape. The D2D version is a great recording, and I still think that it is the best that I own.

Thanks JCC, I will make some enquiries about them.

Mr C

twitch54 · « **Reply #41 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 01:05 am »

man...many, many great choices here !

I can't pick but one, it's all 'mood dependent' for me.

I'll throw in one LP just 'cause .......Chuck Mangione..."Children of Sanchez"

Miney · « **Reply #42 on:** 22 Mar 2009, 08:04 pm »

My best? Wow there are many, some already stated. And there are always new discoveries - stuff previously unheard, or that I never really listened to.

For example, came upon a mint LP of Joni Mitchell's Ladies of the Canyon a few weeks back. Was relatively unfamiliar with much of this 1970 release. Dropped the needle on her rendition of Woodstock, and suddenly I'm transported to a dark, smoky nightclub and she's right in front of me... utterly captivating.

dragonwhip · « **Reply #43 on:** 29 Mar 2009, 04:29 am »

I have two that stand out above all the others, both D2D. Bill Berry and His Ellington All Stars, M & K 101 "for Duke" and Sara K, Water Falls on Stockfish records.

Bill · « **Reply #44 on:** 29 Mar 2009, 03:34 pm »

Another LP I can think of is a German import of The Greatest Hits by Gene Pitney. The track The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance in particular is one of the most dynamic and natural recordings I have ever heard. The last time I heard it was with my old Quad ESL's, Quad II amps, NYAL Super-It phono stage and a Roksan Xerxes - Artemiz - Grado MCZ set-up. The drums were spooky real sounding. I never heard this track sound as good on any other system, but of course I haven't heard every system.

James Romeyn · « **Reply #45 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 04:23 am »

Henry Mancini:
Moon River (way too short)
Elephant Walk
Peter Gunn Theme

The experience of these recordings on vinyl is ephemeral; makes the best digital sound like a toy. Among my favorites; hard to pick a single best.

low.pfile · « **Reply #46 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 04:47 am »

ro (Jimbo), which HMancini album are those on?

James Romeyn · « **Reply #47 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 05:12 am »

Mancini's best movie themes; some albums including those are temporarily misplaced while I'm painting & moving the cabinets. Will get exact title, label & numbers shortly. Your eyes will bug out when you hear those recordings on vinyl. Mancini is an American treasure. Charade is another winner.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #48 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 11:46 am »

I am a digital only guy, and as long as that automatically does not get me tarred and feathered...

I am biased towards this one - Rebecca Pidgeon The Raven, Chesky.

I love her voice, and it is also of historical meaningfulness for me - it was the album playing when I had the revelation that high end audio exists. It was playing in a local audio store I visited one day (large Maggie's driven by tubed VTL amps, with Cary cd front end) and it absolutely stopped me in my tracks, and I sat and listened for 30 minutes. Mark, the owner was generous with his time (not many would have let some university student sit in their 2nd nicest room for that long). I bought the cd on the spot. I went home, listened on my system. I then sold off my Yamaha HT setup, and reinvested in a Sugden integrated, and Totem Rokk speakers, with Atlantis Reference stands.

That system lasted 10 years until I found this place online... I spent 2 years playing with Tripath amps, DAC's, tubed pre's...

But, with the advent of tube amp, OB speakers, and Bolder modded SB3, I have found stability again (3+ years with no gear changes other than updated mods for the SB3 recently) thanks to this place!

BobM · « **Reply #49 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 01:19 pm »

Just got this recently on vinyl (180g audiophile reference recording) as a 50th birthday present from a fellow audiophile. If you really want to see that your cartridge can track amazing bass, then this is the record for you. Awesome sonics and awesome music - a hard combination to beat. Available here: http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=11375

Here's a review of the album on TNT Audio also: http://www.tnt-audio.com/topics/raybrownsoularenergy_e.html

Bob

Scott F. · « **Reply #50 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 04:25 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 1 Apr 2009, 01:19 pm

Here's a review of the album on TNT Audio also: http://www.tnt-audio.com/topics/raybrownsoularenergy_e.html

Wow, that was a while ago

GREAT album BTW

Don_S · « **Reply #51 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 04:55 pm »

Quote from: mcgsxr on 1 Apr 2009, 11:46 am

EDIT I bought the cd on the spot. I went home, listened on my system. I then sold off my Yamaha HT setup, and reinvested in a Sugden integrated, and Totem Rokk speakers, with Atlantis Reference stands.

That system lasted 10 years until I found this place online... I spent 2 years playing with Tripath amps, DAC's, tubed pre's...

But, with the advent of tube amp, OB speakers, and Bolder modded SB3, I have found stability again (3+ years with no gear changes other than updated mods for the SB3 recently) thanks to this place!

Hello, My name is Mark and I am an audiophile. It has been three years since my last equipment change.

Keep the faith Mark. One day at a time.

mgalusha · « **Reply #52 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 08:05 pm »

Quote from: Scott F. on 1 Apr 2009, 04:25 pm

Quote from: BobM on 1 Apr 2009, 01:19 pm

Here's a review of the album on TNT Audio also: http://www.tnt-audio.com/topics/raybrownsoularenergy_e.html

Wow, that was a while ago GREAT album BTW

And it's all Scott's fault that I had to buy this.. He brought to Wayne's room at the last Midwest Audio Fest and I was bowled over and had to order it up.

As good as the Ray Brown is the best recording I own is the Classic Records 45rpm, single sided pressing of Billie Holiday Songs for Distingue Lovers. I somehow never really "got" her until I heard this. It was expensive but the music and the recording are both exceptional.

Tyson · « **Reply #53 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 08:20 pm »

Quote from: mgalusha on 1 Apr 2009, 08:05 pm

And it's all Scott's fault that I had to buy this.. He brought to Wayne's room at the last Midwest Audio Fest and I was bowled over and had to order it up.

As good as the Ray Brown is the best recording I own is the Classic Records 45rpm, single sided pressing of Billie Holiday Songs for Distingue Lovers. I somehow never really "got" her until I heard this. It was expensive but the music and the recording are both exceptional.

Yeah, that Billie Holiday recording was a turning point for me as well. After that I became a big fan, which also pushed me into Ella as well as Louis Armstrong. It also pushed me more toward a mainly tube based system, as these recordings really benefit from those glass bottles

Scott F. · « **Reply #54 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 11:31 pm »

If you think the Billy Holiday recording something, you should try the Classic Records Satchmo Plays King Oliver, St James Infirmary 45rpm. Oh my...big time

I've got a few Classic 45s but that one is stellar.

That one may top the list but here are a few other really good ones;

Premium Vinyl $$$
Classic Records - Peter Gabriel, UP
Classic Records - Muddy Waters, Folk Singer
Classic Records - Count Basie, Chairman of the Board
Classic Records - Miles Davis , Kind of Blue
MoFi - none (sorry)
Pure Audiophile - Ray Brown, Soular Energy
Pure Audiophile - Art Blakey, Keystone 3
Sheffield Lab - Harry James, Still Harry after all these years

Normal Records

Cream Reunion, Royal Albert Hall '05
Mark Knopfler, Shangri La
Hudson Ford, Free Spirit
Massive Attack, Collected
David Bowie, Heathen
Nine Inch Nails, Downward Spiral
Eric Clapton, Comple Clapton
Eric Clapton, Reptile
nearly any Impusle, Verve or Blue Note album you pick up including reissues (all jazz)
anything on the Pablo label PRIOR to the full color album covers (the black and white ones were the best sounding)
Pat Metheny Group, Still Life Talking

...and some true obscura
Trio San Jose, self titled

Scott F. · « **Reply #55 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 11:39 pm »

....oh, those are all on vinyl BTW

zybar · « **Reply #56 on:** 1 Apr 2009, 11:59 pm »

Here are a few of my best recordings (not necessarily my favorite or even reference recordings):

Muddy Waters - Folk Singer (24/96 download)
Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven (24/96 download)
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (EA Remaster)
Natalie Merchant - Tigerliliy (DVD-A)
Steely Dan - Aja (MFSL)
Peggy Lee - Black Coffee

George

Lyndon · « **Reply #57 on:** 2 Apr 2009, 12:36 am »

Scott F. said:

Quote

anything on the Pablo label PRIOR to the full color album covers (the black and white ones were the best sounding)

Scott, I think that is true. Why is that? Did they change managment, or studios or engineers?

Curious Lyndon

Scott F. · « **Reply #58 on:** 2 Apr 2009, 01:18 am »

Quote from: Lyndon on 2 Apr 2009, 12:36 am

Quote
anything on the Pablo label PRIOR to the full color album covers (the black and white ones were the best sounding)

Scott, I think that is true. Why is that? Did they change managment, or studios or engineers?

Curious Lyndon

Hiya Lyndon,

Well (and this is only supposition), just about the time the full color covers came out they reduced the weight of the vinyl. Guessing, they went from 160 gram (give or take) to about 120 gram. There seems to be more surface noise too for some reason. Not sure if they were using reground vinyl pellets like so many pressing plants were in that same time frame.

Overall (again just a guess), the sound quality went down because of cost savings measures in the vinyl production. Just a sign of the times (early 80's time that is).

Speaking of really old articles, here is another one I did when Norman Granz passed back in 2001. Norman was the founder of the Pablo label, Verve, Clef and a few other major jazz labels.

Norman Granz

WGH · « **Reply #59 on:** 2 Apr 2009, 01:30 am »

Back in '92 & '93 I ordered a bunch of albums from Jazz Heritage Society
http://www.jazzheritage.com/

These vinyl re-issues are excellent with great dynamics and are better than the originals unless (maybe) you can find a pristine never played 1956 record.

Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
Miles - The New Miles Davis Quintet
Miles Davis - Dig
Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet
Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else

All the albums come with the original liner notes so if you see any Jazz Heritage albums in the record bin snatch them up.

Wayne