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100 AUDIOPHILE PRESSINGS WORTH A LISTEN

The beauty and joy of collecting vinyl records lives within the experience that can be had. There are few listening experiences that can rival those moments when you hear a record you love in a way that you've never heard it before. No matter the genre, having an immersive experience with your favorite classic rock, jazz, country or blues album is undeniably magical and revealing. 

 

While there are millions of records pressed daily, few can truly carry the music to your ear the way the artist intended and with the sound that was present in the studio. However, there are a few that come really close to achieving both. Below is our list of 100 records that do just that: deliver a magical experience. Granted, most are above average cost, out of print, and can be hard to find. Where possible, we provide links to those referenced or provide a close alternative. However, those listed are out there to be found in used record bins or on sites like Discogs. You simply need to know what you are looking for.

 

If you are serious about hearing your favorite record in a way you may have never heard it before, or you are quite simply into trying something new, below are some of our suggestions. These titles represent what we think are some, not all, of the best "audiophile" level record pressings. These merely represent what we've had the opportunity to experience to date. Note that this is an organic list, ever changing and always being updated with more suggestions as we discover the best of what's out there from Analogue Productions, Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, Audio Fidelity, Impex, Rhino, Craft Recordings, Fidelio, Sam Records, Blue Note, ORG, AudioNautes, Fidelio, the mass production labels, and more. NOTE: Even thought the list is numbered, the numbers DO NOT represent a ranking. The list is presented in alphabetical order. 

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If you like what you read and find yourself interested in acquiring a specific vinyl pressing or have interest in trying other artists from one of our "Greatest" review pages such as The 200 Greatest Albums of All Time, The 100 Greatest Jazz Albums of All Time, The 50 Greatest Blues Albums of All Time, The 50 Greatest Live Albums of All Time, or  The 50 Greatest Country Albums of All Time, please click the "Buy Now" button next to each vinyl record review. It is there that you can complete your journey. That is until you discover your next vinyl record treasure or our list of the 100 Albums Everyone Should Own On Vinyl​.

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​At the Warped Vinyl Aficionado, we believe that music is God's gift to humanity, and great artists are stewards of divine talent. We are here to help you invest your hard-earned money wisely in pressings that honor both. After all, excellence matters as much in the medium chosen to communicate the gift as does the talent that creates it.

 The Essential 100

 

  1. ​Al di Meola, McLaughlin, de Lucia | Friday Night In San Francisco | Impex | 45 RPM

  2. Al Green | Call Me | Speakers Corner | 33 RPM

  3. Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan | In Session | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  4. Alice in Chains | MTV Unplugged | Music On Vinyl | 33 RPM

  5. Alison Krauss + Union Station | Live | Craft Recordings | 33 RPM

  6. Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers | Moanin' | Music Matters SRX | 33 RPM

  7. Bill Evans Trio | Portrait In Jazz | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  8. Bill Evans Trio | Sunday At The Village Vanguard | Analogue Productions UHQR | 45 RPM

  9. Blood Sweat And Tears | Blood Sweat And Tears | Original Recordings Group | 45 RPM

  10. Bob Dylan | Blood On The Tracks | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UltraDisc One-Step | 45 RPM

  11. Boz Scaggs | Speak Low | Decca | 33 RPM

  12. Cannonball Adderley | Somethin' Else | Classic Records | 33 RPM

  13. Carole King | Tapestry | Original Recordings Group | 45 RPM

  14. Cat Stevens | Tea For The Tillerman | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  15. Charles Mingus | Blues & Roots | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  16. Charles Mingus | Mingus Ah Um | Original Recordings Group | 45 RPM

  17. Chet Baker | Sings | Blue Note Tone Poet | 33 RPM

  18. Daft Punk | Random Access Memories | Sony (2013) | 33 RPM

  19. Dave Brubeck Quartet | Time Out | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  20. Dean Martin | Dream With Dean | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  21. Dexter Gordon | Go! | Music Matters | 33 RPM

  22. Diana Krall | Live In Paris | Original Recordings Group | 45 RPM

  23. Dire Straits | Dire Straits | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs | 45 RPM

  24. Donald Fagen | The Nightfly | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UltraDisc One-Step | 45 RPM

  25. Duke Ellington | Ellington Indigo | Impex | 45 RPM

  26. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane | Duke Ellington & John Coltrane | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  27. Dusty Springfield | Dusty in Memphis | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  28. Eagles | Hotel California | Warner Bros. (2009 RTI) | 33 RPM

  29. Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong | Ella & Louis | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  30. Elvis Presley | From Elvis In Memphis | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Ultradisc One-Step | 45 RPM

  31. Eric Dolphy | Out to Lunch | Music Matters | 33 RPM

  32. Fleetwood Mac | Rumours | Pallas Pressing | 45 RPM

  33. Frank Sinatra | Sinatra At The Sands | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs | 33 RPM

  34. Grant Green | Street Of Dreams | Music Matters | 45 RPM

  35. Herbie Hancock | Head Hunters | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  36. Herbie Hancock | Maiden Voyage | Music Matters SRX | 33 RPM

  37. Holly Cole | Temptation | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  38. Hugh Masekela | Hope | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  39. Jeff Buckley | Grace | Original Recordings Group | 45 RPM

  40. Jefferson Airplane | Surrealistic Pillow | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs | 45 RPM

  41. Jimi Hendrix Experience | Axis: Bold As Love | Analogue Productions UHQR | 33 RPM

  42. John Coltrane | A Love Supreme | Analogue Productions UHQR | 45 RPM

  43. John Coltrane | Blue Train | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  44. John Coltrane | Lush Life | Craft Recordings Small Batch 1-Step | 33 RPM

  45. John Lee Hooker | It Serves You Right To Suffer | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  46. Johnny Cash | American IV: The Man Comes Around | American Recordings/Lost Highway | 33 RPM

  47. Joni Mitchell | Blue | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Ultradisc One-Step | 45 RPM

  48. Junior Wells | Hoodoo Man Blues | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  49. Kenny Burrell | Midnight Blue | Music Matters | 33 RPM

  50. Larry Young | Unity | Music Matters | 45 RPM

  51. Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin II | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs | 33 RPM

  52. Lee Morgan | Search For The New Land | Music Matters SRX | 33 RPM

  53. Lee Morgan | The Sidewinder | Music Matters SRX | 33 RPM

  54. Marvin Gaye | What's Going On? | TAMLA UMe 50th Anniversary | 33 RPM

  55. Melody Gardot | My One And Only | Original Recordings Group | 45 RPM

  56. Miles Davis | Bitches Brew | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs | 45 RPM

  57. Miles Davis | Kind Of Blue | Analogue Productions UHQR | 45 RPM

  58. Miles Davis | Round About Midnight | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (Super Vinyl) | 33 RPM

  59. Muddy Waters | Folk Singer | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  60. Nat King Cole | After Midnight | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  61. Neil Young | Harvest | Reprise (Neil Young Archives) | 33 RPM

  62. Neil Young | Massey Hall | Reprise (Neil Young Archives) | 33 RPM

  63. Nirvana | MTV Unplugged | Original Recordings Group | 45 RPM

  64. Nirvana | Nevermind | Original Recordings Group | 33 RPM

  65. Patricia Barber | Companion | Impex One-Step | 45 RPM

  66. Paul Simon | Graceland | Sony Legacy 25th Anniversary (RTI) | 33 RPM

  67. Prince | Purple Rain | Warner Bros. Because Sound Matters One-Step | 33 RPM

  68. R.E.M. | Automatic | Warner (1992) | 33 RPM

  69. Sade | Diamond Life | Audio Fidelity | 33 RPM

  70. Sam Cooke | Night Beat | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  71. Santana | Abraxas | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UltraDisc One-Step | 45 RPM

  72. Shelby Lynne | Just A Little Lovin' | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  73. Son House | The Legendary Son House Father of Folk Blues | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  74. Sonny Rollins | Saxophone Colossus | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  75. Stan Getz and João Gilberto | Getz/Gilberto | Impex 1-Step | 45 RPM

  76. Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd | Jazz Samba | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  77. Steely Dan | Aja | Analogue Productions UHQR | 45 RPM

  78. Stevie Ray Vaughan | The Sky Is Crying | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  79. Supertramp | Breakfast in America | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs | 33 RPM

  80. The Alan Parsons Project | I Robot | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs | 45 RPM

  81. The Beatles | Magical Mystery Tour | Apple (2014) | 33 RPM

  82. The Cars | The Cars | Rhino Hi-Fi | 33 RPM

  83. The Doors | L.A. Woman | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  84. The Doors | Morrison Hotel | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  85. The Doors | The Doors | DCC Compact Classics | 33 RPM

  86. The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Electric Ladyland | Legacy | 33 RPM

  87. The Thelonious Monk Quartet | Monk's Dream | Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UltraDisc One-Step | 45 RPM

  88. The White Stripes | Elephant | Analogue Productions UHQR | 45 RPM

  89. Tom Petty | Wildflowers | Warner Bros. Because Sound Matters One-Step | 33 RPM

  90. Toto | IV | Speakers Corner | 33 RPM

  91. Tracy Chapman | Tracy Chapman | Elektra (1988) | 33 RPM

  92. Van Halen | Van Halen | DCC Compact Classics | 33 RPM

  93. Van Morrison | Moondance | Warner (2008 RTI) | 33 RPM

  94. Vince Guaraldi Trio | Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus | Craft Recordings Small Batch 1-Step | 33 RPM

  95. Willie Nelson | Stardust | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  96. Wynton Kelly Trio | Smokin' At The Half Note | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  97. Yamamoto Tsuyoshi Trio | Midnight Sugar | Impex | 45 RPM

  98. Yamamoto Tsuyoshi Trio | Misty | Impex | 45 RPM

  99. Yes | The Yes Album | Analogue Productions | 45 RPM

  100. Yusef Lateef | Eastern Sounds | Craft Recordings Small Batch 1-Step | 33 RPM

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At the Warped Vinyl Aficionado, we believe that music is God's gift to humanity, and great artists are stewards of divine talent. We are here to help you invest your hard-earned money wisely in pressings that honor both. After all, excellence matters as much in the medium chosen to communicate the gift as does the talent that creates it.

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©2022 by The Warped Vinyl Slant

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