Definitive Audiophile pressings

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Recent grabs worthy of this thread for me....

The Otis is the AP 45rpm 2LP in stereo. It sounds very nice, but as I've learned the hard way, most Otis Mono to Stereo conversions were not very well done. Vocals are slammed into the left channel, and the music seems to favor the left channel as well. Otis in Mono is the only way to go. Just need his remastered Mono Box to be repressed and I'll be set.

The Masterpieces is also AP 45rpm 2LP in Mono, and this one is special, and I have this thread to thank for turning me on to it. Sounds the most "live in my living room with me" of any album I own. The music is fantastic and worth picking up if the music strikes you as well.

The next two are the recent AP 33rpm Jazz releases. Listening to Ballads now. Dead quiet and very intimate. Jazz benefits so much from a great pressing like these. All the subtle emotion is captured and laid out on a pristine canvas. Obvs there are higher end pressings of Getz/Gilberto, but this quality and price point is the best fit for this album for me. Sounds stupendous as has every pressing I've ever heard, tbh.

Then there's VMP Serve You Right. I've gotten into blues a bit more of late, and Hooker is who I've connected with the most. He has this austere edge to his music that I love, and hearing it so cleanly makes it even more heavy.

Lastly is one that might surprise, but most (all?) Jack Johnson pressings have an amazing pedigree. Really well recorded, mastered by Grundman and pressed at RTI - and AAA all the way. Arguably the finest pressings of breakfast making music out there.
 
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Splunders said:
View attachment 73874View attachment 73873View attachment 73872

Recent grabs worthy of this thread for me....

The Otis is the AP 45rpm 2LP in stereo. It sounds very nice, but as I've learned the hard way, most Otis Mono to Stereo conversions were not very well done. Vocals are slammed into the left channel, and the music seems to favor the left channel as well. Otis in Mono is the only way to go. Just need his remastered Mono Box to be repressed and I'll be set.

The Masterpieces is also AP 45rpm 2LP in stereo, and this one is special, and I have this thread to thank for turning me on to it. Sounds the most "live in my living room with me" of any album I own. The music is fantastic and worth picking up if the music strikes you as well.

The next two are the recent AP 33rpm Jazz releases. Listening to Ballads now. Dead quiet and very intimate. Jazz benefits so much from a great pressing like these. All the subtle emotion is captured and laid out on a pristine canvas. Obvs there are higher end pressings of Getz/Gilberto, but this quality and price point is the best fit for this album for me. Sounds stupendous as has every pressing I've ever heard, tbh.

Then there's VMP Serve You Right. I've gotten into blues a bit more of late, and Hooker is who I've connected with the most. He has this austere edge to his music that I love, and hearing it so cleanly makes it even more heavy.

Lastly is one that might surprise, but most (all?) Jack Johnson pressings have an amazing pedigree. Really well recorded, mastered by Grundman and pressed at RTI - and AAA all the way. Arguably the finest pressings of breakfast making music out there.
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I recently got the John Lee Hooker and am curious to give it a spin. A lot of people have said it sounds great and I believe it's a digital source!
 
Splunders said:
View attachment 73874View attachment 73873View attachment 73872

Recent grabs worthy of this thread for me....

The Otis is the AP 45rpm 2LP in stereo. It sounds very nice, but as I've learned the hard way, most Otis Mono to Stereo conversions were not very well done. Vocals are slammed into the left channel, and the music seems to favor the left channel as well. Otis in Mono is the only way to go. Just need his remastered Mono Box to be repressed and I'll be set.

The Masterpieces is also AP 45rpm 2LP in stereo, and this one is special, and I have this thread to thank for turning me on to it. Sounds the most "live in my living room with me" of any album I own. The music is fantastic and worth picking up if the music strikes you as well.

The next two are the recent AP 33rpm Jazz releases. Listening to Ballads now. Dead quiet and very intimate. Jazz benefits so much from a great pressing like these. All the subtle emotion is captured and laid out on a pristine canvas. Obvs there are higher end pressings of Getz/Gilberto, but this quality and price point is the best fit for this album for me. Sounds stupendous as has every pressing I've ever heard, tbh.

Then there's VMP Serve You Right. I've gotten into blues a bit more of late, and Hooker is who I've connected with the most. He has this austere edge to his music that I love, and hearing it so cleanly makes it even more heavy.

Lastly is one that might surprise, but most (all?) Jack Johnson pressings have an amazing pedigree. Really well recorded, mastered by Grundman and pressed at RTI - and AAA all the way. Arguably the finest pressings of breakfast making music out there.
Click to expand...
This may blow your mind, as it did mine, but Masterpieces by Ellington is not stereo. Mono all the way, from what - 1951?

Crazy. I thought it was stereo when I first listened to it. It has such a whopping big, realistic sound I couldnt believe it was mono, but it is.
 
RHANDMJ said:
This may blow your mind, as it did mine, but Masterpieces by Ellington is not stereo. Mono all the way, from what - 1951?

Crazy. I thought it was stereo when I first listened to it. It has such a whopping big, realistic sound I couldnt believe it was mono, but it is.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you are right! I think I just assumed it was stereo. Thanks for pointing that out. Are there any recordings as good as that, but even older? I wonder if that album is the earliest example of music captured that well.
 
Splunders said:
Yeah, you are right! I think I just assumed it was stereo. Thanks for pointing that out. Are there any recordings as good as that, but even older? I wonder if that album is the earliest example of music captured that well.
Click to expand...
I think I remember reading it was the first time the LP format was available for Ellington to be recorded, which allowed him and his orchestra to record the kinds of things they were playing live (longer than what they'd previously been able to capture). That leads me to think it's at least one of the earliest. I have the Pure Pleasure (33 1/3) pressing of this album and it too sounds fantastic.

EDIT: Yeah, just checked and the essay on the back of the album jacket mentions that the LP format allowed for this being the first time Ellington could record his full arrangements as played in live settings.
 
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Ghost said:
Actually only $80, found a dude on eBay with the last sealed copy under $100 with a Buy It Now option. It was destiny, phew. Now need to keep my eyes out for MoFi Blues for Allah and Workingmans Dead and I'll be content for now lol.

My god, how desensitized have I become to where I can say "Only $80" for a record lmfaooooooo, fuck.
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Music Direct has Blues for Allah and WMD as preorders/awaiting repress. If you place an order, you will receive them eventually!

Also just saw someone post Freewheelin Dylan on ebay for $35 with make an offer. Seems to have seam splits but...

www.ebay.com

Bob Dylan Freewheelin Bob Dylan MOFI MFSL 2x45 RPM MONO LP NM OOP | eBay

<p>Bob Dylan Freewheelin Bob Dylan MOFI MFSL 2x45 RPM MONO LP</p><p>Vinyl is NM</p><p>Jacket is VG. There are seam splits and corner damage (see pics) Includes original baggy, inserts and sleeves</p><p>Shipped with USPS Media Mail</p><p>Grading: NM, VG++, VG+, VG</p>
www.ebay.com
 
MikeH said:
Music Direct has Blues for Allah and WMD as preorders/awaiting repress. If you place an order, you will receive them eventually!

Also just saw someone post Freewheelin Dylan on ebay for $35 with make an offer. Seems to have seam splits but...

www.ebay.com

Bob Dylan Freewheelin Bob Dylan MOFI MFSL 2x45 RPM MONO LP NM OOP | eBay

<p>Bob Dylan Freewheelin Bob Dylan MOFI MFSL 2x45 RPM MONO LP</p><p>Vinyl is NM</p><p>Jacket is VG. There are seam splits and corner damage (see pics) Includes original baggy, inserts and sleeves</p><p>Shipped with USPS Media Mail</p><p>Grading: NM, VG++, VG+, VG</p>
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
Good to know! Will have to snag those GD MoFis ASAP then! Already bit the bullet on a sealed copy last night I’m afraid which I’m happy with! Thanks for the link though, somebody else should jump on this if you don’t have it already!
 
Ghost said:
Good to know! Will have to snag those GD MoFis ASAP then! Already bit the bullet on a sealed copy last night I’m afraid which I’m happy with! Thanks for the link though, somebody else should jump on this if you don’t have it already!
Click to expand...
Yea--their CS told me that as long as Music Direct has them on their site, those albums are NOT out of print. But don't do what I did and look at all the titles that fit that description....I now have way too many things on order through them...they don't charge until it ships at least! They do seem to somewhat regularly add more titles though which is interesting...

I have Blues For Allah, Mars Hotel, and Blonde on Blonde on backorder. It is crazy to see how much some of these other albums have gone up in price on the MD site. I grabbed The Band self-titled and Dylan's New Morning about 3 months ago for $35 each and now they are both in stock for $80 each at MD.
 
Splunders said:
View attachment 73874View attachment 73873View attachment 73872

Recent grabs worthy of this thread for me....

The Otis is the AP 45rpm 2LP in stereo. It sounds very nice, but as I've learned the hard way, most Otis Mono to Stereo conversions were not very well done. Vocals are slammed into the left channel, and the music seems to favor the left channel as well. Otis in Mono is the only way to go. Just need his remastered Mono Box to be repressed and I'll be set.

The Masterpieces is also AP 45rpm 2LP in Mono, and this one is special, and I have this thread to thank for turning me on to it. Sounds the most "live in my living room with me" of any album I own. The music is fantastic and worth picking up if the music strikes you as well.

The next two are the recent AP 33rpm Jazz releases. Listening to Ballads now. Dead quiet and very intimate. Jazz benefits so much from a great pressing like these. All the subtle emotion is captured and laid out on a pristine canvas. Obvs there are higher end pressings of Getz/Gilberto, but this quality and price point is the best fit for this album for me. Sounds stupendous as has every pressing I've ever heard, tbh.

Then there's VMP Serve You Right. I've gotten into blues a bit more of late, and Hooker is who I've connected with the most. He has this austere edge to his music that I love, and hearing it so cleanly makes it even more heavy.

Lastly is one that might surprise, but most (all?) Jack Johnson pressings have an amazing pedigree. Really well recorded, mastered by Grundman and pressed at RTI - and AAA all the way. Arguably the finest pressings of breakfast making music out there.
Click to expand...
That Jack Johnson sounds incredible!
 
Aaaaand of course my side B of it had a scratch that causes the record to skip. Luckily enough CS got back to me within 2 minutes on chat and scheduled a new copy to be sent out...
 
keylime_5 said:
I'm in the same boat. Wondering if it is worth it to pay the extra $$$ for the UHQ 45 instead of the Mofi 45 box (both of which have unknown release dates)
Click to expand...
I cancelled to go for the UHQ. I had heard mixed things about the regular MoFi version and I know the UHQ have been rated really well by most people (moreso than the MoFi).
 
Hey audiophile people's... quick question, do you guys have a preferred record vacuum brush? For applying RCM fluid? I have one I like right now but it's velvet over a foam pad, and I worry sometimes about what's going on in that foam pad, with all the liquid and dirt that's gotten in there there's a lot of room for duty an contaminants to hang around. Wonder if maybe a simple brush might be a better idea. Any suggestions?
 
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