What in the world is going on.....

fjn- if it is the MoFi re-do of Big Pink, try turning up the volume. That record was cut with really low gain. There are a few threads on this on the Hoffman board. I have a copy, but haven't played it in some time. 

It's Paul Simon, of course it's going to sound crap.

"Songs from the Capeman", is the last great album by Paul, however, it was and one that flopped as a Broadway show.  The song writing is excellent, the album has a fantastic flow to it and the sound is very good. 

I'm also a very big fan of "One Trick Pony".

One problem with his recent album is that it was recorded too hot, which can cause all kind of issues with the cutter head. 

I own Stereophile Class-A equipments. The Stereophile recommended disks sound great, but most of my other favorite music sound OK, or sound horrible with my B&W 800D... A friend of mine told me it's nothing unusual.

I don't mean to be insulting in asking have you checked your cartridge alignment? I think even cuts on the same album by Simon sound different.