BEST sounding recording EVER! What is it?

[Hoddy 3,164]

Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes" (the album)...I love David Bowie's production on it.

[bildo 1,263]

One I really like for its raw sound right there sound. Good Time Tonight by Big Bill Broonzy. I really like those old raw recordings better than all the production glitter.   

[Tom Hicks 3,930]

For rock I like the Rodger Nichols work with Steely Dan.

For classical music probably the RCA living stereo series.

Edited October 5, 2019 by Tom Hicks

[nedezero1 3,827]

Kiss Alive II

 

[SteinbergerHack 7,671]

I agree with the obvious Aja, DSotM, Turn of a Friendly Card, etc. as complete works. 

That said, I tend to find specific instrument sounds that hit a chord with me, even if the rest of the production isn't as good.  Examples:

Bass track on the live "You're My Home" from Billy Joel's "Songs in the Attic".  It's probably the worst vocal track BJ has ever released, but the bass/kick sound is spot-on.

The intro guitar sound in John Mayer's "Something Like Olivia"

The guitar sound on Bryan Adams' "When You Love a Woman" (Paco De Lucia).

The guitar sound on George Benson's "Masquerade" - IMO, the definitive jazz guitar sound.

The vocal tracks on the Operation Mindcrime album - Queensryche.

The drum track on "Rosanna" by Toto.

The guitar sound on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" (Strat perfection, IMO).

[Telecruiser 2,991]

"On any Street" Dire Straits. Chuck Ainlay, Bob Clearmountain and Neil Dorfaman get it on this one.

 

[erok123 2,485]

I like the sound of this:

 

[arcadesonfire 5,654]

In Rainbows

And I’d vote for Back in Black and Aja too. 

Other personal faves: Nevermind, Graceland, and Illinois, which is also know as Come on Feel the Illinoise, by Sufjan Stevens. 

[flemtone 2,373]

My shot is for 'Swingin' the Blues' by the Count Basie Orchestra.  The subtlety of the mix on " Li'l Darlin' " is phenomenal to me.

 

After that, I'd go for Sinatra's "In The Wee Small Hours" as a recording masterpiece.

 

[Yakburger 1,097]

I know folks diss Coldplay a lot but they have some great sounding recordings.  Give a listen to Rush of Blood to the Head and you'll see what I mean.

[Opposite Day 4,734]

10 hours ago, Red Ant said:

Haha digital xfer? What luxury!

My studio nickname used to be Dr. Blade, cause I would edit 2'' tape like a madman, I'd splice together a master take from 4-5 different takes, all with just a razor blade and an edit block

 

 

 

[Opposite Day 4,734]

I was playing along with some stuff from VH's Fair Warning the other day and realized I had been playing part of the solo to "Mean Streets" wrong for the past twenty five years. As I was fixing it I was once again blown away by how great that record sounds.

[Zig al-din 2,655]

14 hours ago, Red Ant said:

What does song have to do with it? You asked about the best SOUNDING records, no?

I dont care for the Tears for Fears album AT ALL, but it's on my list because of the question you asked. And So is far from my favorite Gabriel as well, but it's his best SOUNDING records, and a milestone in the recording art. 

 

Agreed. So is a mediocre Gabriel record IMO as far as the music goes, but it sounds great. Maybe because there's no Robert Fripp involved? Or Gabriel was mentally healthier while writing it? Who knows...

Edited October 5, 2019 by Zig al-din

[Red Ant 10,421]

Just now, Zig al-din said:

 

Agreed. So is a mediocre Gabriel record IMO as far as the music goes, but it sounds great. Maybe because there's no Robert Fripp involved? Or Gabriel was mentally healthier while writing it? Who knows...

He'd finally gotten laid

[Zig al-din 2,655]

2 minutes ago, Red Ant said:

He'd finally gotten laid

 

Haha you mean chicks didn't dig the fox mask and red dress or the reverse mohawk... 

 

[Red Ant 10,421]

2 hours ago, flemtone said:

My shot is for 'Swingin' the Blues' by the Count Basie Orchestra.  The subtlety of the mix on " Li'l Darlin' " is phenomenal to me.

 

After that, I'd go for Sinatra's "In The Wee Small Hours" as a recording masterpiece.

 

Both great recordings, but there is no mixing involved, per se - these pre-date mixing. The balance was achieved by careful placing of musicians around the microphone, or a few mics at best - then cut straight to either vinyl acetate or a single-track tape machine. 

[Red Ant 10,421]

3 minutes ago, Zig al-din said:

 

Haha you mean chicks didn't dig the fox mask and red dress or the reverse mohawk... 

 

I was about to post a clip of Moribund The Burghermeister, but shockingly, YouTube is down!

Edit: Youtube's back!

Mike Patton owes Peter a LOT. 

[Zig al-din 2,655]

14 minutes ago, Red Ant said:

I was about to post a clip of Moribund The Burghermeister, but shockingly, YouTube is down!

Edit: Youtube's back!

Mike Patton owes Peter a LOT. 

 

Yeah that's a great point which I'd never thought about! This tune has about 80% of Patton playbook - it only lacks the psychotic screams and all that animal noise crap he does with Zorn. 

I know a lot of people who consider themselves Gabriel fans because of the So album and then they hear something like this or Intruder or Family and the Fishing Net, and they want to throw the record across the room. That's the stuff I like though. YMMV. 

 

Edited October 5, 2019 by Zig al-din

[Red Ant 10,421]

12 minutes ago, Zig al-din said:

 

Yeah that's a great point which I'd never thought about! This tune has about 80% of Patton playbook - it only lacks the psychotic screams and all that animal noise crap he does with Zorn. 

I know a lot of people who consider themselves Gabriel fans because of the So album and then they hear something like this or Intruder or Family and the Fishing Net, and they want to throw the record across the room. That's the stuff I like though. YMMV. 

 

After IV, Gabriel is basically dead to me

And you know I'm not a fan of his Genesis output. For me, I through IV are essentially one continuously evolving experiment, and a masterpiece taken as a whole. 

I especially like I lately, for the same thing I used to dislike it for - the Bob Ezrin bombast

And speaking of the Patton playbook: 

 

[Zig al-din 2,655]

11 minutes ago, Red Ant said:

After IV, Gabriel is basically dead to me

And you know I'm not a fan of his Genesis output. For me, I through IV are essentially one continuously evolving experiment, and a masterpiece taken as a whole. 

I especially like I lately, for the same think I used to dislike it for - the Bob Ezrin bombast

100%.

I'm especially fond of III and IV. because of how sinister and atmospheric they are. They're some of the most idiosyncratic records out there. They link in my mind with Bowie's Berlin records with Fripp and some of Crimson's work. In fact, there are some moments on III and IV that are almost King Crimson with Gabriel on vocals because of Fripp and Levin. lol

About Genesis - Gabriel's twisted, dark, comic sensibility was sorely needed in Genesis to offset Tony Bank's twee pretentiousness. (And I like the early stuff.)  

Edited October 5, 2019 by Zig al-din

[Grumpy_Polecat 2,329]

ZZ Top's First Album: No studio tricks.

Or Dave Van Ronk's 'No Dirty Names'.  I think you can hear a small plane flying in the background on one of the tracks.  That effect was NOT planned; it was purely organic.  Like bathroom reverb.

[Grumpy_Polecat 2,329]

2 hours ago, Opposite Day said:

I was playing along with some stuff from VH's Fair Warning the other day and realized I had been playing part of the solo to "Mean Streets" wrong for the past twenty five years. As I was fixing it I was once again blown away by how great that record sounds.

Have you heard Van Halen's new album yet?

(Don't feel bad.  Neither has anyone else...)

[Red Ant 10,421]

11 minutes ago, Grumpy_Polecat said:

ZZ Top's First Album: No studio tricks.

Or Dave Van Ronk's 'No Dirty Names'.  I think you can hear a small plane flying in the background on one of the tracks.  That effect was NOT planned; it was purely organic.  Like bathroom reverb.

I LOVE ZZ Top's First Album. In fact I love all their output all the way to Deguello. But I fail to see what those records are doing in this thread. I mean they by no means sound bad, and Billy's guitar tones are ALWAYS stellar, but they're hardly a recording milestone. 

[Red Ant 10,421]

1 hour ago, Zig al-din said:

100%.

I'm especially fond of III and IV. because of how sinister and atmospheric they are. They're some of the most idiosyncratic records out there. They link in my mind with Bowie's Berlin records with Fripp and some of Crimson's work. In fact, there are some moments on III and IV that are almost King Crimson with Gabriel on vocals because of Fripp and Levin. lol

About Genesis - Gabriel's twisted, dark, comic sensibility was sorely needed in Genesis to offset Tony Bank's twee pretentiousness. (And I like the early stuff.)  

There is one album that brings all those twisted and related skeins together in one sublime album - Robert Fripp's "Exposure".

[Etienne Rambert 330]

It would be in the Lieber and Stoller or early Atlantic catalogue — definitely in mono. 

 

This one always got my vote. 

This is my Abby Road.

 

There is so damned much happening here. You year every Note, every voice, every beat  and it’s all perfect. 

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by Etienne Rambert