Ever tossed a record aside as poorly engineered and produced only to think otherwise later

Exactly millercarbon !  That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Millercarbon ...


Thanks for reminding me of the Nelson Riddle/Linda Ronstadt albums. I have them all, including a French-pressed three-box set. I haven’t listened to it in a few years. I’ll get it out for tonight’s listening session.

I have a lot of early mono jazz recordings from the 50s that continue to surprise as the system improves. It is just amazing how much information is hidden in those grooves. I dug deep into the Charlie Parker section the other night and pulled out the early Verve recording of "Swedish Schnapps." Its one of the better sounding Parker recordings and it sounded exceptional this time ... for a Charlie Parker album, that is. The playing, as usual, was superb. 

Did Charlie Parker ever play the same idea twice?

Frank

You are correct, Frank, Charlie Parker never played a motif twice.  Endless ideas. Endless.  

Two come to mind. First, Madman Across the Water (SACD). Sounded very muddy when I first got it, but an upgrade to my spinner changed my mind quickly (Marantz SA 11s2). Second is still a mystery - the Stones "Stripped" cd. No change in equipment but it really grew on me - especially the last cut, Little Baby, which sounded horrible upon first listen and over time I have come to love it. Folks don't even know it's the Stones sometimes!

Hands up, all those offended by the words 'limp wristed as used in the contextual description used by the OP in his first paragraph.