The best sounding (produced/mastered) tracks/albums

[NDA]

I wondered if there might be interest in putting in a list of tracks (or albums) that we've heard and thought 'wow' that sounds superb?

Here are a couple that are stand-outs for me in terms of really great production and mastering....

Nightshift - Commodores

I'm On Fire - Springsteen

Trouble's What You're In - Fink

Interestingly (well, to me anyway) the last track is 'only' 44.1/16 bit, but sounds just as good as 96/24 bit. I have a long list of other artists - Steely Dan, Zappa etc, but would be interested to see some music I don't know.

[Deranged Rover]

These should get you going...

Chris Jones - No Sanctuary

Jennifer Warnes - Bird on a Wire (in fact, pretty much all of her "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "The Hunter" albums!)

Donald Fagen - Morph The Cat

Marian Hill - Differently

Malia & Boris Blank - Raising Venus

Loreena McKennitt - Gates of Istanbul

Stimela (The Coal Train) - Hugh Masekela

Aaron Neville - Everybody plays the fool

Nickel Creek - Reasons Why

Simply Red - Sad Old Red

Jazzanova - Takes you Back (Unexpected Dub)

Cathy Dennis - Too many walls (acapella version)

Tori Amos - Pretty Good Year

[Miserablegit]

Man in the long black coat - Dylan
It’s only a 44khz Flac on Tidal but is superb in headphones and very good on speakers

[thebraketester]

Great thread idea. I am getting increasingly more intolerant of poorly recorded music.

Jimmy Webb -Ten Easy Pieces. A masterclass in how recorded piano should sound.

[Tony1963]

This isn’t my bible, but it helps me choose if there are a couple of versions of the same disc etc.


https://dr.loudness-war.info/

[juice]

Break My Soul (and Original Sin) as songs from 'Disappear Here' - Hybrid

[oldaudi]

Nils Lofgrens live album.
Annette Askvik - Liberty
London Grammer - all albums
Melody Gardot - Live in Europe
Cigarettes after Sex - Cry
Taylor Swift - Folklore
Ane Brun songs are normally well recorded
Sigrid Acoustic versions I enjoy too
Club for five - you’re the voice. Particularly like their cover of Brothers in Arms

I listen using Tidal MQA masters and although not all “MQA” those albums sound great to my ears on my kit.

Edited by oldaudi on Monday 20th February 19:45

[Dragster]

All of Michael Hedges' albums are pretty special.......Aerial Boundaries is stunning.
https://dr.loudness-war.info/?artist=michael+hedge...

[S100HP]

Deadmau5 - Let Go

https://open.spotify.com/track/0pYNZztpRdMzciMigY7...

[InductionRoar]

If we're talking non audiophile labels, then you're somewhat limited. Most music is not produced for critical listening and it shows with boosted highs and lows.

These are amongst the best I've heard from mainstream labels.

Sabina Sciubba - Force Majeure
John Williams - The Berlin Concert
Alison Krauss/Union Station - Live
Habib Koite and Eric Bibb - Brothers in Bamako
Cara Dillon - After the morning
Melody Gardot - My one and only thrill
Jeff Wayne - War of the worlds
Pavarotti/Ghiaurov - Au fond du temple saint
Anything by Diana Krall

[thebraketester]

InductionRoar said:

John Williams - The Berlin Concert

Thanks for that one.... sounds fab!

[NDA]

Some interesting tracks... thanks. Have listened to all I didn't know. Enjoying 'Liberty'.

For jazz lovers try:

Silent World by Wolfgang Haffner. I discovered this recently - superbly recorded drums, no surprise, he is a drummer.


Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa is worth a try... it's like a speaker demo!

[NMNeil]

Most of Def Leppard tracks that were produced by Mutt Lange, and Bat Out Of Hell, by Meatloaf.

[thebraketester]

NDA said:

Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa is worth a try... it's like a speaker demo!

That is incredible.... just listened to it with my eyes closed and I swear those ping pong balls were bouncing on my desk

[egomeister]

Deranged Rover said:

Malia & Boris Blank - Raising Venus

I'm a big fan of the Boris Blank / Yello sound - the complete antithesis to mess that so much music is. I find myself increasingly tired by muddy production so when you hear something clean it reminds me to enjoy music rather than listening to podcasts all the time.

Another electronic suggestion from me (although very different in style): Silent Shout by The Knife

[belleair302]

License to ill Beastie Boys but this has to be turned up for it to come alive…..and I mean loud.

[belleair302]

Rumors Fleetwood Mac
Hot Buttered Soul Issac Hayes
Slave to the rhythm Grace Jones
Private Dancer Tina Turner the single is an epic production played on the right system.

[Digger]

Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms - Original CD I found stunning. Also the vinyl LP was great too.

Floyd DSOTM SACD also.

[peterperkins]

Solti Decca Wagner Ring Cycle..

[Digger]

belleair302 said:

Rumors Fleetwood Mac
Hot Buttered Soul Issac Hayes
Slave to the rhythm Grace Jones
Private Dancer Tina Turner the single is an epic production played on the right system.

Yes - stunning.