Our Desert Island LPs
Long ago, we selected and posted our “desert island digital” (CDs).
Now let’s take a crack at vinyl!
Add a comment containing your 10-20 most cherished LPs. Try to include enough info that members can reach out and buy a copy.
I’m newly “reborn” to vinyl, but I’ll begin anyway:
- Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run
- S&G, Concert in Central Park
- G. Harrison & Friends, Concert for Bangladesh
- Joni Mitchell, Court & Spark
- The Who, Who’s Next
- N. Young, Harvest
- Chicago, Chicago II
- J. Hendrix, Are You Experienced?
- John Klemmer, Straight From the Heart (Nautilus)
- Iron Butterfly, In-a-gadda-da-vida
- CCR, Cosmo’s Factory
- CSN&Y, Deja Vu
- Jackson Browne, Saturate Before Using
- Traffic, Low Spark…
- Etc.
Can you guess when I last bought LP’s? ;^)
Enter yours now – comment….
Bob
10 Comments to Our Desert Island LPs
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10 Good albums from the decade past 99-09:
Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of The Bewilderbeast, About a Boy Soundtrack, and some of the others
Lucinda Williams – World Without Tears, Essence
The Bird and Bee – The Bird and Bee
Art in Manila – Set the Woods on Fire
Espers III
Bruce Springsteen – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1975 (released a few years ago)
Dengue Fever – Venus on Earth (one should have them all)
Dr. Dog – Fate
Jolie Holland – Escondida
Neil Young – Greendale
The Notwist – The Devil, You and Me (deluxe artwork is very nice)
Outkast – Speakerbox – Love Below
Pavement – Terror Twilight (1999)
PLAP (Pedro Luis e A Parede) – Zona E Progresso (maybe the best band, at least that few in the US have heard of)
allmusic ((( Pedro Luis > Overview )))
PSAPP – The only thing I ever wanted
Sleater-Kinney One Beat and the Woods
Worthy of mention, but perhaps not as good as the above:
Deerhoff – Friend Opportunity
Liberty Seeds – New sound of numbers
David Shrigley’s Worried Noodles
Seu Jorge – America – Brasil (still listening)
XX – XX (still listening to this one)
Silversun Pickups – Pikul (perhaps the best album art of the decade especially artwork for Carnavas and the new one looks good as well)
From Wayne S:
Many of these will be available only in used record stores or used online sources. My listening bias is for live performances as they often are more inspiring than studio recordings, even though the studio recordings often have better sonics. I think this is true especially on jazz and rock recordings.
JAZZ
Enja ENJ-80781, Ltd. Ed. German pressing
Dave Brubeck Quartet: The Great Concerts…Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Carnegie Hall Columbia 44215
Miles Davis: Nefertiti Columbia 9594 and Sketches of Spain Columbia 8271
Chico Freeman: The Outside Within India Navigation 1042
Erroll Garner: Concert by the Sea Columbia CL883 (wonderful live recording, get the original Mono “6 eye”, the later digitally re-mastered pressing is a sonic tragedy)
Hawkins! Alive! At the Village Gate: Verve V6-8509 – Classic Records
Dick Hyman: From the Age of Swing Reference RR-59
Ramsey Lewis Trio: At the Bohemian Caverns in Washington DC Cadet 741 and Hang on Ramsey! Cadet 761 (These are early 1960’s live recordings of Ramsey Lewis at his creative best IMHO. Especially memorable is the cut “Billy Boy” on side 2 of Cadet 761…9+ minutes of marvelous improvisation)
Herbie Mann: Impressions of the Middle East Atlantic 1475 and Memphis Underground Atlantic 1522 (these are some of Mann’s best work, I think. I own a lot of his albums)
Incognito. Acid jazz at its best. I own 3 albums, all excellent and I suspect all of Incognito (a British group) releases are comparable.
Oliver Nelson: The Blues and the Abstract Truth Impulse IMP-154 (find the analogue re-mastered release 180 gram)
George Otsuko: “You are my Sunshine” Three Blind Mice TBM-35 (all the Three Blind Mice jazz recordings that I have heard are wonderful Japanese 180 gram pressings) I also have Isao Suzuki: Black Orpheus TBM-63 and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio: Midnight Sugar TBM-23. I think these were also released in CD.
CLASSICAL
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra; Reiner/Chicago Symphony RCA Classic LSC-1934
Dvorak: Symphony No, 9 in E minor “From the New World” Kertesz/Vienna Phil. Super Analogue KIJC 9114
Grainger: Country Gardens & Other Favorites Mercury SRI 75102
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Rhapsodies) Stowkowski RCA Classic LSC-2471 (Stowkowski on steroids!)
Massenet: Le Cid-ballet Music; Scenes Pittoresquei; The Last Sleep of the Virgin Klavier Patrician KS 522
The Moscow Sessions Sheffield Lab TLP25,26,27 (wonderful live performances recorded in Moscow)
Mozart: Horn Concerti VOX STPL 512.630
Orff: Carmina Burana Telarc DG 10056/57 (I know, the bass drum is somewhat hokey, but I’m such a sucker for the Telarc sound. If it is a mint Telarc pressing, I’ll buy it)
Respighi: Church Windows 45rpm Reference RR-15 (I have a weakness for Respighi and have just about all his significant work)
The Royal Ballet Ansermet/Royal Opera House Orchestra Classic RCA LDS-6065 (absolutely marvelous recording and music)
Stravinsky: Firebird and Borodin: Overture & Dances from Prince Igor Telarc DG 10039 (Works by Russian composers are my favorite, particularly Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky)
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor Leinsdorf/Rubinstein/Boston Symphony RCA LSC-2681 (This old warhorse is a favorite, when I play it I’ll hum the theme/melody for days))
ROCK
Jackson Brown: Running on Empty Asylum 6E-113
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River Fantasy 8393
Dire Straits: Love Over Gold Warner 23728
Eagles: Hotel California Asylum 6E-103
Grateful Dead: Live Dead Warner Bros 1830 and Blues for Allah United Artists GD-LA494-G
Kraftwerk: The Mix Electra 9 66501 German pressing
Led Zeppelin 200 gram Atlantic Classic SD8216
Metallica Electra 9 61119
Pink Floyd: The Wall EMI/Harvest SHDW411 UK pressing (this is hard to find but worth the effort, I found my copy in a used record store in London) and Delicate Sound of Thunder EMI7 91480 German pressing (a 2 record album. Record 1 is an excellent live performance and Record 2 is a studio recording with excellent sonics, but not as inspiring) All of Pink Floyd is at least very good IMHO and am such a fan I have 16 albums (all that I have found in mint condition) also check out Ummagumma and Meddle
Simon & Garfunkle: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Columbia PC9363
The Who: Who’s Next 180 gram Decca/MCA 11164 (I have a number of albums by The Who, all are great. As you might discern, I have an affinity for Irish and British bands)
Yello all of them, I have 10, especially the 45rpm 12” singles. (I have been looking for the album Yello: Baby for 20 years. If you know of a copy for sale please let me know.)
OTHER (difficult to classify)
Enya: Enya Atlantic 81842 and Watermark and Shepard Moon. All are great. (also check out Clannad, especially Magical Ring RCA 000317 German pressing, all my Clannad albums are excellent. Clannad is Enya’s siblings and uncles – Enya collaborated with Clannad in its earlier years)
Dead Can Dance – all are excellent I have all that were pressed in vinyl. Check out “Into the Labyrinth”.
“Whoopie” John Wilfahrt: Best of… MCA2-4015 (Real Minnesota music at its best, a fun album – yes, there is a tuba in the band)
Ali Akbar Khan: Indian Architecture Water Lily WLA ES-20 (marvelous Indian classical music)
Ravi Shankar at the Monterey International Pop Festival Liberty WP-1442
Twenty-Five Miles to Barstow – Part One Cardas CR 5816 (fabulous recording and music)
Burl Ives: The Best of Burl Ives, Volume !! MCA2 4089 (I had to play this album every time my Dad visited from Iowa. Wonderful folk music, sonics okay)
Technotronic: Pump up the Jam L1-93422
Sons of the Pioneers: Cool Water RCA LSP-2118
Up, Bustle and Out I have 3 albums released on Ninja Tune Zen label, all excellent (this is acid jazz/jungle at its best)
From Miguel:
Brandenburg Concertos by Andres Segovia – Columbia
Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd – Capitol
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman – Impulse
In My Life by Judy Collins – Elektra
Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis – Columbia
Concert by the Sea by Errol Garner – Columbia
Sunshower by Thelma Houston – Motown
Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris by Jacques Brel – Philips
Only the Lonely – Frank Sinatra – Capitol
Motzart Piano Concertos Nos. 6, 17 & 21 by Geza Anda – DGG
Time passes. Technology and tastes change. My favorite lists of CDs:
Motzart Piano Concertos Nos. 6, 17 & 21 by Geza Anda – DGG
Brandenburg Concertos by Richard Goebel – Archiv
Ballads by John Coltrane – Impulse
The Awakening by Ahmad Jamal – Impulse
Jazz at the Pawnshop by Arne Domnerus etc. – FIM
Collaboration by The Great Jazz Trio – 441
Temptation by Holly Cole – Metro Blue
Songs in A Minor by Alicia Keys – J Records
Jazz Party in Stereo by Duke Ellington – MFSL
Breaking Silence by Janis Ian – Morgan Creek Records
Send in the Clowns by Sarah Vaughn – Pablo
These from Frank W:
MIDNIGHT SUGAR – Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio – Three Blind Mice TBM-23 (45 RPM)
DUETS – Rob Wasserman – Alto AA 011
CASH – Johnny Cash – American Recordings – 1-45520
ELLA and LOUIS – Verve – MG V-4003 (high fidelity)
BACH – Unaccompanied Cello – Janos Starker – Mercury SR3-9016
ROSEMARY CLOONEY sings Ballads – Concord CJ-282
DAS MIKROFON – Tacet – L-17
NEIL DIAMOND – Hot August Night – Original Master Recording – MFSL 2-024
ERICK FRIEDMAN – Violin Showpieces – Virtuose Violinmuskik – Pezzi di Barvura – RCA Red Seal
PATRICIA BARBER – Night Club – Original Master Recording – MFSL 2-45004 (45 RPM)
Diabolus in Musica: Accardo Interpreta Paganini on Deutwche Grammophon 477 6492, a reissue compilation 2 disc set from 1996;
The Best of Muddy Waters; his early singles collected on Chess LP 1427; while the original still sounds best, the Speakers Corner reissue is not bad at all;
Sonny Rollins: Way Out West on Stereo Records (Contemporary subsidiary) S7017; if you can find an out of print Acoustic Sounds 45 RPM, its sheer heaven, but their 33 rpm is probably still available;
John Coltrane: Crescent on Impulse 66; ORG has a nice 45 RPM reissue, which is well done and available;
Ornette Coleman: Change of the Century on Atlantic 1327; best of the best is still the black label original;
Billie Holiday: Velvet Mood on Clef MG C-713; the original is still the best but Verve issues can be picked up on eBay for a fair price;
Neil Young: Harvest–an original or the 180 gram from the 4 box set is quite nice; the 180 gram version is probably all you can find;
Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster on Verve V6-8534 reissued on ORG — outstanding sound and great remastering;
Frank Sinatra: Nice ‘N Easy on Mobile Fidelity (the recent version not the one from way back); a great Sinatra album in fantastic sound;
Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane: Rough Mix: If you want to find out how good a rock album can sound, seek out the UK pressing or better luck spend a few years searching out the 45 RPM UK 12″ single;
Champion Jack Dupree: Blues From the Gutter on Atlantic 8019; and
What would a desert island list be without John Lee Hooker; so get The Hot Spot soundtrack and through in Miles Davis. The original is getting impossible to find, so go with the Acoustic Sounds 45 RPM set.
Trout Mask Replica – Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Dark Side Of the Moon – Pink Floyd
Grand Wazoo – Frank Zappa
London Calling – The Clash
My Aim Is True – Elvis Costello
Greatest Hits – Randy Newman
1 and 2 – Soft Machine
Abbey Road – Beatles
Ole – John Coltrane
Kinda Blue – Miles Davis
Abraxas – Santana
Oh Yeah,
Fresh Cream – Cream
Dennis mentioned the Acoustic Sound 45rpm version of Sonny Rollin’s Way Out West. I just happened to compare it a couple weekends ago to a test pressing of the RTI 33rpm 180g version that I found up in Seattle. The panel of judges all thought the test pressing sounded better than the 45rpm, more transparent, open, and airy. The 45rpm, in comparison, had more authority in the bass region and had more bloom in the mid section. We’ve not had a chance to compare the 45rpm against the regular issue RTI, which coincidentally, I had purchased from Dennis many, many years ago.
Not to ding on these 45rpm reissues as I have many copies. But we were just surprised of the results.
FrankC
My 10 desert island LPs:
- The Doors (1st LP) in mono
- Pink Floyd-Dark Side Of The Moon
- The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators
- Country Joe and the Fish – Electric Music
- Mercury Living Presence- Paray/Dupree – Saint Saens – Symphony #3 (Organ)
- Barbara Keith – Warner/Reprise 1972
- Jefferson Airplane – After Bathing At Baxters
- Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
- Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
- Beatles – Revolver
David H’s (anomaly7) 10 desert island LP’s
-John Mayal: The Turning Point. 1969 recorded live at the Fillmore East
-Trio (Dolly Parton, Linda Rondstat, Emmy Lou Harris)
-Fleetwood Mac: Tango In The Night
-Hendrix: Band of Gypsy’s Live New Years Eve ’69/70
-Joe Jackson: Will Power
-The Rankin Family: self titled Import 1989 EMI/Capital
-Michael Hedges: Breakast in The Field
and if you’re still hungry
-Ray Lynch: Deep Breakfast
-John Renbourn: The Lady and The Unicorn
-Santana: Abraxas
-Holly Cole: It Happened One Night (Live !)who’s counting?
-Tony Rice: Unit of Measure
which issue you pick up matters less to me than that I love the music contained on these discs, if you find a better cutting, that’s a bonus.