Albums on vinyl

[aragorn723]

I have a list of about 30 albums I would like on vinyl, one of them is The Look of Love by Diana Krall.  Been hesitating on buying it as I usually buy used records, but how do you decide whether to get an album on vinyl or not?  It would be ideal if all the pressings came from analog masters, but that isn't the case.  Any suggestions on how to make this decision?

Dave

 

[kcleveland]

For me it all comes down to labels. There are a few I trust and have had great luck with pressing quality and sound quality. Short list below.
New LPs:
* Blue Note Tone Poet Series
* Mobile Fidelity (esp. 45 rpm 2 LP versions)
* New West
* Sub Pop

Used LPs:
* Warner Bros.
* Sire
* Asylum

 

[aragorn723]

Asylum is a great one, Jackson Browne is on Asylum.  One of my best recordings is the Running on Empty album.  How about the Columbia label?  Are they pretty consistent too?  Billy Joel is on Columbia, have had a lot of luck with pretty good recordings from him. 

Liking this idea of looking for labels, makes this process a bit easier

 

[Tubegopher]

I have always found Verve label to be great recording quality.

 

[Doc B]

I think the only time this becomes somewhat of an issue is when the LP was cut from a CD rather than a digital file. That is not too common these days but it was done fairly often in the 90s and 2000s when the demand for vinyl was almost zero. The LP versions from that era can sound pretty bad compared to the original CD if the vinyl version was an afterthought. Other than that it's kind of the point that you buy something released in a couple of different media and determine for yourself which you like best. If your vinyl rig is modest and your digital rig is super satisfying to you, it might be you will like a digital version of an album better. There is no set rule. You just have to smoke it and see.

 

[aragorn723]

Doc,

Your comment about just having to smoke it is very apropos for this purchase.  I bought The Doobie Brothers re-union album Cycles (they are very famous for their love of weed lol).  The album was released in 1989, so I'm thinking it might be a marginal recording based on your post, but hoping it will be good since I like the album a lot. 

Also got Diana Krall-the Look of Love.  Can't wait to hear these albums, though I need to get my new phone cartridge installed first. 

The vinyl journey has been an interesting one.  I grew up in the 80s listening to my parents vinyl from the 60s and 70s, and went over to digital in the 90s.  Went back to vinyl 3 years ago, and havent looked back.  I listen to digital, but given the choice, vinyl is my fav.  Nothing like cranking up some vinyl when the wife isn't home

 

[mcandmar]

I tend to avoid modern pressings as much as possible, if an album was released pre digital era, then go buy an original vinyl.  I learnt the hard way buying albums like Pink Floyds - Wish you were here "remastered" copies.  They have no life to them vs an original pressing from the late 70's.

I also have a few recent releases on vinyl that are just awful pressings, Michael Kiwanukas - Love & Hate is one example, there is a nasty distortion to the entire recording that isn't there on the digital version.  Spotify sounds better!

 

[aragorn723]

Wish You Were Here is a great album!  There's a guy who has a vinyl recording of the UK pressing on YouTube which is pretty amazing:

https://youtu.be/TAUdfj_fWFs

It's digitized, but sounds pretty good with decent headphones.  I've seen the UK pressing for $55-$60 US.  If you're really serious about it that seems to be the price for originals.  Saw an original of The Beatles album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band for $60 at a local shop the other day. 

Dave

 

[debk]

David Gilmour live in Gdansk is another great album

 

[mcandmar]

That's another one for the collection, thanks Deb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DlMF9iOP84

 

[Mucker]

I think the only time this becomes somewhat of an issue is when the LP was cut from a CD rather than a digital file. That is not too common these days but it was done fairly often in the 90s and 2000s when the demand for vinyl was almost zero. The LP versions from that era can sound pretty bad compared to the original CD if the vinyl version was an afterthought. Other than that it's kind of the point that you buy something released in a couple of different media and determine for yourself which you like best. If your vinyl rig is modest and your digital rig is super satisfying to you, it might be you will like a digital version of an album better. There is no set rule. You just have to smoke it and see.

That's well put Doc. There is no question the awe of experiencing a well mastered, all analog transfer to vinyl. Can be jaw dropping. I've had some really shoddy new vinyl over the past few years, 180 grammers that are warped or noisy. Some of the best vinyl I've heard is old paper thin, flimsy stuff. You certainly can't judge an LP by its' cover.

I have scored some real gems recently from a very unpopular place, Walmart. I've had three good ones in a row all from Capitol records. Best of Doobies on cola green vinyl, Bob Seger Live, 2 LP set of red vinyl, and Quuensryche new release of Empire black vinyl. Beck Sea Change (newest black vinyl on Amazon) is incredible too but don't remember if it's Capitol. All flat and very quit, most likely from digital masters, but all of them sound outstanding. Smooth analog sound rivaling some MoFi releases I have. I sure hope they are getting better as they go along. It seems like a lot of the art was lost when the CD era dominated. Could there be a comeback? For quality sake let us hope so.

 

[aragorn723]

That's a pretty sweet turntable, how does it sound?

Dave

 

[mcandmar]

Wish You Were Here is a great album!  There's a guy who has a vinyl recording of the UK pressing on YouTube which is pretty amazing:

It's digitized, but sounds pretty good with decent headphones.  I've seen the UK pressing for $55-$60 US.  If you're really serious about it that seems to be the price for originals.  Saw an original of The Beatles album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band for $60 at a local shop the other day. 

Dave

Supply and demand.  I have been collecting all original Floyd, Waters, and Gilmore albums that i can find, for some reason the standard of recording and mastering on them is exceptionally good.  It easier for us to find originals for sensible money this side of the pond, but for American bands its the other way around

 

[Chris H]

I'm loving the vinyl revival - only downside is a lot less chance of picking up bargains in charity shops as compared to 10 years ago.
I managed to pick up an original of Ringo (love the Harrison penned track "Photograph") in excellent condition with inner booklet mint for £2 in a charity shop about 8 years ago.
Much wider choice of new now but I have found myself reverting to old habits and trying to get original pressings when I can.
Smoke it and see is right - for new and old (especially if taking your chances on certain auction sites)

 

[Doc B]

I'm loving the vinyl revival - only downside is a lot less chance of picking up bargains in charity shops as compared to 10 years ago.

When vinyl was really at its lowest point in the early 90s I used to buy albums for 35 cents each. And people used to give me cartons full of reel to reel tapes for free. We definitely lost our way for a while back then. The question now is whether CDs will have a bounce back - if people will think it's worth it. There's not much ritual in throwing a CD in a player compared to cueing up an LP or threading a tape.

 

[Chris H]

It's difficult to see CDs making a comeback.  For digital, streaming is even more convenient than CD.
Analogue is different, both in sound and ritual.
Have to admit though, I've never heard R2R tape - feel like I may be missing out!

 

[mcandmar]

I agree, the difference with CD is you can make a 100% identical copy of it, so the physical medium just doesn't have the same value.  I store all mine on a hard drive as lossless FLAC files for convenience.

Like your self, i would love to hear a proper R2R setup.  I recently restored a vintage cassette deck and was blown away with how good it sounds, way better than i thought possible from a little cassette.  A good R2R setup must be pretty special.

 

[aragorn723]

I have had good luck at goodwill with vinyl.  It is very much hit or miss, but sometimes I get an album or two for a dollar each.  More often than not they need cleaning, which isn't bad.  Found a couple of neat Tchaikovsky records recently.  That's half the fun of buying records at local places, you usually don't find what you want exactly, but there is something interesting you never expected. 

I Dave

 

[johnsonad]

CD's still make me happy and if you play them through vintage players with interesting DAC set ups you have a lot of difference in sound for the good and bad. Most of them I rip and play through the computer.  A CD still has a case with inserts and though not the same as vinyl, there is some ritual to it.

I still shop for cheap vinyl.  A new well mastered pressing is nice but vinyl will always have noise and quirks.  The used stuff has more of those quirks but you can find some cheap jems.  When looking through bins of records you never know what you'll find!