The best sounding (produced/mastered) tracks/albums

[Oberheim]

Yes, that Patti Smith cover of When Doves Cry sounds damn fine.

The Beck album Morning Phase sounds really good - standout tracks include Heart is a Drum, Say Goodbye and Blackbird Chain but the whole album is a very nice listen. Surprisingly, this one wasn t produced by Nigel Godrich (producer of most Radiohead albums and a few of Beck s). Beck produced it himself but clearly learned plenty from the master.

Edited by Oberheim on Saturday 18th October 15:14

[The Hypno-Toad]

I picked up the re-mastered version of one of my favourite albums recently Deacon Blue - Raintown.

It actually came out a few years ago but its outstanding.

[InductionRoar]

A rare escapee from the 'Loudness Wars'.

I challenge anybody to find a better produced 1990s pop record.

[robbiekhan]

InductionRoar said:

A rare escapee from the 'Loudness Wars'.

I challenge anybody to find a better produced 1990s pop record.

Rather good!

This is good too:

https://open.spotify.com/track/5HE7BiOdenndfut0WK3...

[NDA]

Pete Josef - Colour is a nice sounding track.... he's also got a great voice, hints of Stevie. 'Many Signs' is another good track from the same album ('Colour').

[Funk]

Carolin No - Still Waters Run Deep: https://open.spotify.com/track/00509BnEEovEeI68u2X...

George Duke - It's On: https://open.spotify.com/track/37y1QZW0uSeMjTztnjj...

[toasty]

[robbiekhan]

This rendition of six blade knife is awesome:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2miIOgni3EEut8pvYcx...

Oh and this:

https://open.spotify.com/track/4zuHizF9ydEXDaAtwU2...

Edited by robbiekhan on Thursday 6th November 20:01

[Funk]

Mike Dawes - Cloud Catcher: https://open.spotify.com/track/0cgbUjc8ACjf18wMZnm...

Utterly sublime and a fantastic test track for your hifi...

And one to show off vocals... Home Free - Brothers In Arms.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5N4K9j1LdfdfgEWkhcx...

Everything you hear on that track is entirely acapella.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 6th November 21:18

[thebraketester]

Funk said:

Mike Dawes - Cloud Catcher: https://open.spotify.com/track/0cgbUjc8ACjf18wMZnm...

Utterly sublime and a fantastic test track for your hifi...

And one to show off vocals... Home Free - Brothers In Arms.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5N4K9j1LdfdfgEWkhcx...

Everything you hear on that track is entirely acapella.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 6th November 21:18

Mike Dawes is incredible isn’t he. I bought his latest album on vinyl.

[NDA]

Thanks for Mike Dawes - I'd not heard of him before.... very reminiscent of Michael Hedges.

Ah yes, Six Blade Knife, I remember when that album came out, it was so different to anything else at the time.

[rjfp1962]

InductionRoar said:

A rare escapee from the 'Loudness Wars'.

I challenge anybody to find a better produced 1990s pop record.

I've always known the song "What's Up", and thought it was great - never owned the album until today when I got a mint used copy through Discogs. Can't agree with you more, it's production is just superb and the album is so much more than just that one song! Thank you!

[InductionRoar]

rjfp1962 said:

InductionRoar said:

A rare escapee from the 'Loudness Wars'.

I challenge anybody to find a better produced 1990s pop record.

I've always known the song "What's Up", and thought it was great - never owned the album until today when I got a mint used copy through Discogs. Can't agree with you more, it's production is just superb and the album is so much more than just that one song! Thank you!

Glad you enjoyed it. Here is another recommendation in the same vein. You have to respect an artist who prioritizes production quality.

[VSKeith]

Tuck in folks:



https://open.spotify.com/album/0pOL9eM3BPolgD5jjQI...

https://music.apple.com/gb/album/talking-timbuktu-...

Edited by VSKeith on Tuesday 11th November 00:02

[NDA]

'That Wasn't A Dream' by Pino Palladino and Blake Mills is worth a listen on a decent system.... very nicely recorded and produced.

[Custerdome]

Great shout on the Farka Toure/Ry Cooder album. I only have the vinyl version but it still sounds pretty damn good.

As for 80's pop albums, not really my thing tbh, but I remember being stuck with this one on a long continental drive around 1989. By the end I was hooked, a quick look at the producing credits explained a lot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaunt_the_Imperfect...

[VSKeith]

Custerdome said:

Great shout on the Farka Toure/Ry Cooder album. I only have the vinyl version but it still sounds pretty damn good.

As for 80's pop albums, not really my thing tbh, but I remember being stuck with this one on a long continental drive around 1989. By the end I was hooked, a quick look at the producing credits explained a lot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaunt_the_Imperfect...

Absolutely - sometimes things that you wouldn't normally listen to get under your skin on repeat listens, especially when you're a captive audience.

There really was something about 80's recordings that could be so 'thin'.

I love Prince, but Sign of the Times for me isn't the greatest recording, on any medium.

Parade was well recorded IMO though, and had a couple of great pop tunes too:

https://music.apple.com/gb/album/girls-boys/260336...

https://music.apple.com/gb/album/kiss/260336005?i=...

https://open.spotify.com/track/1MkfvXtx2S7cSs9aqLn...

https://open.spotify.com/track/62LJFaYihsdVrrkgUOJ...

As for the Farka Touré/Ry Cooder album - I wish I had that and my old vinyl set up but that's an off-topic discussion

Edited by VSKeith on Tuesday 11th November 20:44

[oddman]

Much as I love the Purple One, perhaps as a multiinstrumentalist and producer, he did have a bit have a bit of 'more is more' attitude in the studio.

If you stream a random playlist the variation in 'busyness' is quite significant

[M138]

Custerdome said:

Great shout on the Farka Toure/Ry Cooder album. I only have the vinyl version but it still sounds pretty damn good.

As for 80's pop albums, not really my thing tbh, but I remember being stuck with this one on a long continental drive around 1989. By the end I was hooked, a quick look at the producing credits explained a lot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaunt_the_Imperfect...

Great record, Walter Becker produced. I hear You Did Cut Me regularly on Yacht Rock Miami.
Like yourself I’m no fan of most 80s pop albums especially post-82 but another well produced record they play on Yacht Rock Miami is by the Dream Academy and the track is Moving On.

[Funk]

A surprisingly low and melodic bassline on this R&B track - great for testing a sub's musicality, ie. does it articulate each different note cleanly and precisely:

Muni Long - Made For Me: https://open.spotify.com/track/0WIv5qV41y6YjjB9V1b...

And another good one for bass-testing by Phaeleh:

Phaeleh - Afterglow: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Wz07vZfYX1JXlhAErU...

And when the bass kicks in around 1:27 on this track it's borderline seismic:

Benny L - Vanta Black: https://open.spotify.com/track/7MYBdEnL5hGkwpCouIT...

Edited by Funk on Sunday 23 November 15:04