The best sounding (produced/mastered) tracks/albums

The best sounding (produced/mastered) tracks/albums

Author
Discussion

NDA

Original Poster:

22,187 posts

231 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
I wondered if there might be interest in putting in a list of tracks (or albums) that we've heard and thought 'wow' that sounds superb?

Here are a couple that are stand-outs for me in terms of really great production and mastering....

Nightshift - Commodores

I'm On Fire - Springsteen

Trouble's What You're In - Fink

Interestingly (well, to me anyway) the last track is 'only' 44.1/16 bit, but sounds just as good as 96/24 bit. I have a long list of other artists - Steely Dan, Zappa etc, but would be interested to see some music I don't know.

Deranged Rover

3,726 posts

80 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
These should get you going...

Chris Jones - No Sanctuary

Jennifer Warnes - Bird on a Wire (in fact, pretty much all of her "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "The Hunter" albums!)

Donald Fagen - Morph The Cat

Marian Hill - Differently

Malia & Boris Blank - Raising Venus

Loreena McKennitt - Gates of Istanbul

Stimela (The Coal Train) - Hugh Masekela

Aaron Neville - Everybody plays the fool

Nickel Creek - Reasons Why

Simply Red - Sad Old Red

Jazzanova - Takes you Back (Unexpected Dub)

Cathy Dennis - Too many walls (acapella version)

Tori Amos - Pretty Good Year




Miserablegit

4,139 posts

115 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Man in the long black coat - Dylan
It’s only a 44khz Flac on Tidal but is superb in headphones and very good on speakers

thebraketester

14,624 posts

144 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Great thread idea. I am getting increasingly more intolerant of poorly recorded music.

Jimmy Webb -Ten Easy Pieces. A masterclass in how recorded piano should sound.

Tony1963

5,223 posts

168 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
This isn’t my bible, but it helps me choose if there are a couple of versions of the same disc etc.


https://dr.loudness-war.info/

juice

8,767 posts

288 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Break My Soul (and Original Sin) as songs from 'Disappear Here' - Hybrid

oldaudi

1,385 posts

164 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Nils Lofgrens live album.
Annette Askvik - Liberty
London Grammer - all albums
Melody Gardot - Live in Europe
Cigarettes after Sex - Cry
Taylor Swift - Folklore
Ane Brun songs are normally well recorded
Sigrid Acoustic versions I enjoy too
Club for five - you’re the voice. Particularly like their cover of Brothers in Arms

I listen using Tidal MQA masters and although not all “MQA” those albums sound great to my ears on my kit.



Edited by oldaudi on Monday 20th February 19:45

Dragster

41 posts

20 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
All of Michael Hedges' albums are pretty special.......Aerial Boundaries is stunning.
https://dr.loudness-war.info/?artist=michael+hedge...

S100HP

12,938 posts

173 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all

InductionRoar

2,022 posts

138 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
If we're talking non audiophile labels, then you're somewhat limited. Most music is not produced for critical listening and it shows with boosted highs and lows.

These are amongst the best I've heard from mainstream labels.

Sabina Sciubba - Force Majeure
John Williams - The Berlin Concert
Alison Krauss/Union Station - Live
Habib Koite and Eric Bibb - Brothers in Bamako
Cara Dillon - After the morning
Melody Gardot - My one and only thrill
Jeff Wayne - War of the worlds
Pavarotti/Ghiaurov - Au fond du temple saint
Anything by Diana Krall

thebraketester

14,624 posts

144 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
InductionRoar said:
John Williams - The Berlin Concert
Thanks for that one.... sounds fab!

NDA

Original Poster:

22,187 posts

231 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Some interesting tracks... thanks. Have listened to all I didn't know. Enjoying 'Liberty'.

For jazz lovers try:

Silent World by Wolfgang Haffner. I discovered this recently - superbly recorded drums, no surprise, he is a drummer.


Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa is worth a try... it's like a speaker demo!

NMNeil

5,860 posts

56 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Most of Def Leppard tracks that were produced by Mutt Lange, and Bat Out Of Hell, by Meatloaf.

thebraketester

14,624 posts

144 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
NDA said:
Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa is worth a try... it's like a speaker demo!
That is incredible.... just listened to it with my eyes closed and I swear those ping pong balls were bouncing on my desk

egomeister

6,841 posts

269 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Deranged Rover said:
Malia & Boris Blank - Raising Venus
I'm a big fan of the Boris Blank / Yello sound - the complete antithesis to mess that so much music is. I find myself increasingly tired by muddy production so when you hear something clean it reminds me to enjoy music rather than listening to podcasts all the time.

Another electronic suggestion from me (although very different in style): Silent Shout by The Knife

belleair302

6,908 posts

213 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
License to ill Beastie Boys but this has to be turned up for it to come alive…..and I mean loud.

belleair302

6,908 posts

213 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Rumors Fleetwood Mac
Hot Buttered Soul Issac Hayes
Slave to the rhythm Grace Jones
Private Dancer Tina Turner the single is an epic production played on the right system.

Digger

15,106 posts

197 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms - Original CD I found stunning. Also the vinyl LP was great too. smile

Floyd DSOTM SACD also.

peterperkins

3,201 posts

248 months

Tuesday 21st February 2023
quotequote all
Solti Decca Wagner Ring Cycle..

Digger

15,106 posts

197 months

Tuesday 21st February 2023
quotequote all
belleair302 said:
Rumors Fleetwood Mac
Hot Buttered Soul Issac Hayes
Slave to the rhythm Grace Jones
Private Dancer Tina Turner the single is an epic production played on the right system.
Yes - stunning.