I have a couple of thousand albums on vinyl and I rate each one after listening. There are so many extraordinary recordings, that trying to list the all best ones is like trying to list the best wines. But I have noticed that many of the best are those rare direct-to-disc. I believe that these best exemplify the best qualities of vinyl as a medium. Be prepared, though, to search long and hard to find some of these and then pay dearly when you do ... but if you have the coin, they are worthy! I have also found that in general the remastered pressings from Analogue Productions are superb and often far better than the originals.
Direct to Disc must-haves:
> Bill Berry: For Duke; M&K Realtime RT-101
> Thelma Huston: I've Got the Music in Me; Sheffield Labs LAB-2
> LA 4: Just Friends; Concord Jazz CJD-1001
Remastered Must-Haves:
> Dead Can Dance: Into the Labyrinth; Mobile Fidelity MOFI 2-001
> Donald Fagen: The Night Fly; Mobile Fidelity UD1S 2-003
> Ray Brown Trio: Soular Energy; Analogue Productions APJ 268-45
Special Mention:
> Herbie Hancock: Future Shock; Columbia FC 38814
Direct to Disc must-haves:
> Bill Berry: For Duke; M&K Realtime RT-101
> Thelma Huston: I've Got the Music in Me; Sheffield Labs LAB-2
> LA 4: Just Friends; Concord Jazz CJD-1001
Remastered Must-Haves:
> Dead Can Dance: Into the Labyrinth; Mobile Fidelity MOFI 2-001
> Donald Fagen: The Night Fly; Mobile Fidelity UD1S 2-003
> Ray Brown Trio: Soular Energy; Analogue Productions APJ 268-45
Special Mention:
> Herbie Hancock: Future Shock; Columbia FC 38814