The finest technically recorded album. LP or CD

"Technically recorded", what does that mean? If I have it right "Charlie Byrd" on Crystal Clear 45RPM direct-to-disc LP would trump all of those mentioned. Being direct-to-disc it has never been subjected to any storage media before cutting, ie digital or analog tape. The 45 rpm speed means that more data is being read by the stylus and the minimal miking tecnique used assures a solid, three dimensional image. Technically, as close as you can get to live with the exeption of live FM broadcasts which are not subject to the violence done to the music by any storage media at all.

I agree with Viridian. Because the direct to disc recordings are made in "realtime", some "clams" are heard also. That's the charm of some of these LPs. I don't listen much to Big Band, but the "King James Version" by the Harry James Band is astounding. Talk about "presence". It will transform your speakers into a pair of horns. And if you own horns, it would be "off the chain"!

I'm so surprised anyone else would know about Lindsay Buckingham's "Out of the Cradle"! Great catch Kira.

I also agree with Lugnut about Rickie Lee Jones debut album. The original vinyl, the mofi vinyl, and the cd versions are all excellent.

But most of all, my original West German pressing of Joni Mitchell's "Court In Spark" really blows everything away. I've recently purchased the DCC gold version but haven't opened it. I truly can't image it getting any better.

Side note: Most records by Ladysmith Black Manbazo sound great. Especially soundstage.

Viridian is "dead on" with his comment about the Charlie Byrd D-to-D recording on Crystal Clear. When I was a high school student in suburban Maryland in the late 1950's, I took some guitar lessons from Charlie Byrd, and heard him perform live many times at his regular gig at the Showboat Lounge in Washington, DC. I know the sound of Charlie's guitar very well, and the Crystal Clear LP is so realistic that it is startling.

There are some other D-to-D recordings that also have amazing fidelity: some of the big band recordings on Century Records; the recordings of the L.A. 4 on the EastWind label (owned by Yasohachi Itoh, who is now producing jazz LP's on the "EightyEights" label); many of the Sheffield Records titles (although not all have great music); and the limited edition D-to-D LP's on Concord Jazz of the "Great Guitars" trio (Charlie Byrd; Herb Ellis; and Barney Kessel).

My Opinions:
Best Live Rock LP - Hands down - "Paul McCartney Unplugged: The Official Bootleg"
Best Studio Rock LP - Again, no contest - Roger Waters's "Amused To Death"
Best Studio Folk/Rock CD - Tie between John Hall's "Recovered" & The Roadbirds "From The Wilde"
Best Remastered CD - By THE master, Steve Hoffman - Phoebe Snow's first album "Phoebe Snow"

Honorable mentions to LPs "Stardust", Steve Milller's "Born 2 Be Blue", Willy Deville's "Miracle" and Dire Straits's "On Every Street"

Wow, there are lots of really well done albums to choose from. I'll stop now. :-)

Firin' up the old LP 12 as we speak,
Ed