Analogue Vinyl Recommendations

[AudioGremlin]

Vinyl thats wholly analogue, definitely no digital transfer from analogue tapes. What are your favorites?

[AndyPandy]

Are there any?

[AudioGremlin]

Not many left now

[AndyPandy]

I've got a whole heap from the 60's & early 70's I'm fond of...mainly on Decca - you lucky bugger living in Scotland - lots of Decca to be had...

[Whart]

OP- any specific genre? Do you have the capability to effectively clean records, especially since many of the bargains and gems are old? Are you looking for sonic spectaculars or just great music that has been well recorded? I could certainly give you a list of some of the stuff that I think sounds terrific that i find engaging, musically, but without more specifics from you on what you are after musically and whether you are willing to deal with old records or only want brand new records, I'd probably miss the target.

[Myles B. Astor]

This is something that I've been working on and is far from complete.

99% are analog based, a few are digital-->analog and others are digital mixed on analog consoles and tape.

Reference Disc List, V.2, 5-10-14

Classical:

Albeniz: Suite Espanola, Burgos, Decca SXL 6355
Bach: Quodlibet, Telefunken SAWT 9457-A (Black/Gold is the pressing to get)
Britten: Young Person’s Guide to Orchestra, Decca SXL 6450
Britten: Cello Concerto, Rostropovich, Decca SXL 6138
Britten: Cello Sonata, Rostropovich, Decca SXL SXL 2298
Britten: Noye’s Fludde, Argo ZNF-1
Brittten: Piano Concerto/Violin Concerto, Decca SXL 6512
Britten: Suites for Cello, Rostropovich, SXL 6393
Dukas: Symphony in C; Sorcerer’s Apprentice, SXL 6770 (make sure UK, not Dutch pressing)
Espana, Argenta, Decca SXL 2020
Gerhard: Astrological Series, Decca Head 11
Gerhard: The Plague, Decca Head 6
Grieg: Peer Gynt, Fjeldstad, Decca SXL 2012 (also ORG 110)
Hanson: Composer and His Orchestra, Vol. 1, Mercury SR 90175
Herold-Lanchbery: La Fille mal Gardee, Decca SXL 2413
Kodaly: Psalmus Hungaricus, Decca SXL 6497
Mahler: Symphony #3, Solti, Decca SET 385-6
Hindemith: Violin Concerto #1/Bruch: Scottish Fantasies, Decca SXL 6035
Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night’s Dream, Maag, Decca SXL 2001
Messiaen: Des Canyons Aux Etoiles, Erato 7094/975
Messiaen: 3 Petites liturges, Erato STU 70200
Messiaen: 8 Preludes/4 Etudes de Rhythme, Erato STU 70433
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Decca SET 514-17
Messiaen: La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ, Decca Head 1&2
Orff: Carmina Burana, Deutsche Grammaphon DG 139362
Paniagua: La Folia, either Harmonia Mundia HM 1050 or ATR 013
Picaflor: Latin American Music for Guitar and Mandolin, Titanic Records Mn-5
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, Henderson, Beatrice Lilly, Decca SXL 2218 (also see EMI/Farrow and Vanguard/Karloff)
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Decca DXL 6620-2
Prokofiev: Symphony #6, Weller, Decca SXL 6777
Ravel: Complete Orchestral Works, Vol.1-4, Cluytens, Columbia/EMI SAX 2478-79 (also Testament SMS 1017)
Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe, Monteaux, Decca SXL 2164
Respighi: Pini di Roma, Feste Romaine, Maazel, Decca SXL 6822
Rennaissance Music for Two Lutes, Titanic Records Ti-15
Romantic Russia, Solti, Decca SXL 6263
Royal Ballet: Gala Performance, RCA LDS-6065 (also Classic Records)
Schuller: 7 Studies on Themes of Paul Klee, Mercury SR90282
Stravinsky: The Firebird, Ansermet, Decca SXL 2017
Stravinsky: Petrushka, Ansermet, Decca SXL 2011
The New Bass Colophonium Bassquartet, Musica Viva, MV30-1076
Trompette & Orgue, Hardy/Houbart, Harmonia Mundi HM 1029
Varese: Arcana, Integrales, Ionisation, Decca SXL 6550

Choral:

Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb, Argo ZRG 5440
Cantate Domino, Proprius 7702 (white label)
Daquin: Noels, Harmonia Mundi HM531
Great Anthems and Hymns of the American Church, Wilson Records, W 8110
Holst: Savitri, Argo ZNF 6 (ovals always preferred w/Argo)
Holst: Six Medieval Lyrics for Mens’s Voices and Strings, Argo ZRG 5495
Holst: Songs and Part Songs, Argo ZRG 512
Holst: Vocal and Instrumental Music, Argo ZRG 5497
Kor, Proprius 7770
Laudate, Proprius 7800
Maria Music, Proprius 7758
Noels a L’Orgue, R. Sorgin, Harmonia Mundi HM 486-88
Psalms of Consolation and Hope, Argo ZRG 892
Songs from the Fayrfax Manuscript, Musical Heritage Society, MHS 4649
Star of Wonder, Reference Recordings RR-21
Verdi: Four Sacred Pieces, Decca SET 464

Opera:

Bartok: Bluebird’s Castle, Decca Stereo Set 211
Britten: Billy Budd, Decca Stereo Set 379-81
Britten: Peter Grimes, Decca SXL 2150-2
Britten: Prince of the Pagodas, Decca Ace of Diamonds GOS 558-9
Britten: The Golden Vanity, Decca Stereo Set 445
Britten: The Burning, Fiery Furnace, Decca Stereo Set 356
Britten: Curlew River, Decca Stereo Set 301
Britten: War Requiem, Decca Stereo Set 252-3
Puccini: La Boheme, Decca Stereo Set 565-6
Puccini: Madame Butterfly, Karajan, Decca Stereo Set 584-6
Puccini: Tosca, Decca Stereo Set 5BB 123-4
Verdi: Aida, Decca SXL 2167/9
Verdi: La Traviata, Decca Stereo Set 249-51

Solo Instrument:

(Clavichord) Bach: French Suites, Dart, L’Oiseau-Lyre SOL 60039
(Clavichord) Froeberger: Clavichord Music, Dart, L’Oiseau-Lyre SOL 60038
(Guitar) Manitas de Plata: Juergo, Connoisseur Society CS 2003
(Guitar) Manitas de Plata: Manitas de Plata, Connoisseur Society CS 263
(Guitar) Manitas de Plata: Recital, Connoisseur Society CS 2006
(Guitar) Manitas de Plata: The World’s Greatest Living Flamenco Guitarist, Connoisseur Society CS 965
(Guitar) Manitas de Plata: Viva Manitas de Plata, Connoisseur Society CS 2013
(Harp) Robles: Harp with Variations, Argo ZRG 522
(Harp) Robles: Harp Music of France, Argo 5459
(Harp) Robles: Harp Music of Spain, Argo ZRG 5497
(Harpsichord) Bach: Harpsichord Concerto, Malcolm, London CS 6197
(Lute) Bach and Weiss: German Lute Music of the 18th Century, Junghanel, Accent ACC 7801
(Lute) Bittner: Pieces de Luth-1682, Accent ACC 8227
(Lute) Italian Lute Music, Junghanel, Accent ACC 8016
(Lute) Junghanel: Merry Melancholy, Accent ACC 8121
(Lute) Weiss: Suite C Minor, Junghanel, Accent 7910
(Piano) Film Music of Ingmar Bergman, Proprius 7829
(Piano) Kabi Laretei: Mot Krallen, Proprius 7793
(Piano) Ragtime Razzmatazz, Vol. 1, Wilson Records W808
(Piano) Beethoven: Sonatas, Moonlight, Pathetique, Ivan Moravec, Connoisseur Society CS 1566
(Piano) Beethoven: Sonata No. 23 in F-Minor/Appassionata, Ivan Moravec, Connoisseur Society CS 562
(Piano) Chopin: Ballades/Complete, Ivan Moravec, Connoisseur Society CS 1266
(Piano) Chopin: Preludes, Ivan Moravec, Connoisseur Records CS 1366
(Piano) Debussy: Clair de Lune, Ivan Moravec, Connoisseur Society CS 1866
(Piano) Debussy: Jardins sous la Pluie, Ivan Moravec, Connoisseur Society CS 2010 (45/33 rpm)
(Piano) Franck: Prelude, Choral et Fugue, Ivan Moravec, Connoisseur Society CS 662 (45/33 rpm)
(Pianoforte) Clementi: Sonatas for the Pianoforte, Accent ACC 7911
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: Evening and Morning Ragas, Connoisseur Society CS 1766
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: 40 minute Raga, Connoisseur Society CS 2008
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: Indian Drums, Connoisseur Society CS 1466 (rarest of the rare)
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: Master Musician of India, Connoisseur Society CS 462 (45/33 rpm)
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: Misra The Transcendental Tal, Connoisseur Society CS 200
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: Ragas of India, Connoisseur Society CS-2020
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: Ragmala, Connoisseur Society CS 2011
(Sarod) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan: Yvete Mimeux/Flowers of Evil, Connoisseur Society CS 2007

Jazz & Blues:

Bill Henderson: Live at the Times, Discovery Records DS-779 (also Classic Records)
Cassandra Wilson: New Moon Daughter, Blue Note 24383 71831
Cassandra Wilson: Traveling Miles, Blue Note 724385412318
Doc Evans at the Gas Light, Audiophile AP-95
Doc Evans: Muskrat Ramble, Audiophile AP 56
Doc Evans/Knocky Parker: Reminiscing in Dixieland, Audiophile AP-5068
Doc Evans: The Sweetest Since Gabriel, Audiophile AP 57
Don Ewell: Yellow Dog Blues, Audiophile AP-66 (also Analogue Productions reissue)
Eric Bibb: April Fools, Opus 3 79-14
Eric Bibb and Friends, Opus 3 80-12
Ella Sings Jobim, Pablo Today 2630-201
Hampton Hawes: All Night Session 1-3, Contemporary S7545-47
Isao Suzuki: Blow Up, Three Blind Mice, TBM-15
Isao Suzuki Trio: Orpheus, Three Blind Mice TBM-63
Jazz at the Pawnshop, Proprius 7778-79
Manne and Marshall: Sounds Unheard Of!, Contemporary S9006
Mel Torme: I Dig The Duke/I Dig The Count, Verve V6849
Osted-Pedersen and Sam Jones: Double Bass, Alto/Steeplechase SCS 1055
Shelly Manne and His Men at the Blackhawk, Vol. 1-4, Contemporary S7576-7580
Salt City Six Plays the Classics in Dixieland, Athena Records ALSS 100055
Sonny Terry: Coffee House Blues, Vee Jay Records VJS-1138
The Great Kai and JJ, Impulse A-1
The Music of Bob Cooper: Coop, Contemporary/OJC-138
Wada Sunao: Blues World, Three Blind Mice TBM-25

Rock/Pop:

Andreas Vollenweider: White Winds, CBS FM 39963
Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall, RCA LSP-6006 (also Classic Records)
Harry Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall, RCA LSP-6007
Jonas Hellborg: Elegant Punk, Eight Day Music DEM LP 004

Soundtrack:

Bacharach: Casino Royale, Colgems COSO 5005
Carpenter: They Live, Enigma Records 73367-1
Flight of the Condor, BBC 22440
Herrmann: Four Faces of Jazz, either Decca Phase 4 PFS 4280 or MFSL 1-256
Herrmann: The Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmann, MOFI MFSL 1-240
Herrmann: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Film Music Collection, FMC-4
Holmrich: Emerald Forrest, Varese Sarabande STV 81244
Horner: Glory, Classic Records, VL 3087
Jarre: Equinox, Polydor 5007 or MFSL-1-227
Jarre: Oxygene, Polydor PD1-6112 or MFSL 1-212
Moroder: Cat People, Backstreet Records BSR 6107
Morricone: Duck You Sucker, United Artists UAS-5221
Music from the Film Cal, Mercury 822 769 1-M-1
Phantasm, Varese Sarabande, VC 81105
Ralph Hunter Choir: Wild, Wild West, RCA LSP-1968
Rashomon, Carlton Records STLPX 5000
Rozsa: Ben Hur, Decca Phase 4 PFS 4394
Rozsa: Quo Vadis, Decca Phase 4 PFS 4430
Scott: Cousteau/Amazon, Varese Sarabande STV 81220
Vangelis: Opera Sauvage, Polygram VAN04
Vangelis: Blade Runner, Audio Fidelity AFZLP 154 (it ticks me off this is digital)
Williams: Missouri Breaks, United Artists, UAS 29971

Percussion:

Ameniya: Summer Prayer, RCA RVC-2159
Dafos: Reference Recordings RR-12
Double Music: Works for Percussion and Strings, New World 330
Goodman: Mallets, Melody and Mayhem, Columbia CS 8333
Mickey Hart/Rhythm Devils: the Apocalypse Now Sessions, Passport Records 9844
Music For Percussion, Vol. 1, Gale Records GMFD 1-76-004 (never have seen a vol. 2)
Pulse: Works for Percussion and Strings, New World 319
Percussion Museum, Super Analogue Disc KIJC 9207
Professor Johnson’s Astounding Sound Show, Reference Recordings RR-7
Schory: Bang, Baroom and Harp, RCA LSP-1866 (or Classic Records)
Super Percussion, Super Analogue Disc SSY 19
Temianki: Percussion Spectacular, Columbia MS 6447
The O-Zone Percussion Group: Percussion Record, Clearaudio LP 83058

World:

Autumn Yearning Fantasia, First Impression Music FIM LP 003
Eto: Art of the Koto, Elektra EKS-7234
Favorite Chinese Instrumentals, First Impression Music FIM LP001
Hamza el Din: Eclipse, Pacific Arts PACR7-119
Jose Serrano: Flamenco, Flamenco, Elektra EKS 7235
Jose Serrano: Bravo Serrano, Elektra EKS 7275
Jose Serrano: Ole, La Mano, Elektra EKS 7227
Koto Handel, EMI/Angel S-37620
Koto Mozart, EMI/Angel S-37553
Koto Resphigi, EMI/Angel SZ-37830 (or Toshiba TA-72042)
Koto Vivaldi, EMI/Toshiba Studio TWOX 1062/TA 60060
Sabicas: Festival Gitana, Elektra EKS-7149
Sabicas: The Greatest Flamenco Guitarist, Elektra EKS 121
Sasha Polinoff: Balalaika, Elektra EKS 7194
Sasha Polinoff: Fastest Balalaika in the West, Elektra EKS 7212
Saradamani, Water Lily, WLA-ES-23

Direct to Disc:

Bill Berry: For Duke, M&K Realtime RT 101
Carlos Montoya, Vol. 1 and 2: Crystal Clear CCS 6004/5
Charlie Byrd: Charlie Byrd, Crystal Clear CCS8002
Ed Graham: Hot Stix, M&K Realtime RT 106
Hines: Fatha, M&K Realtime RT 105
Laurindo Almeida: Virtuoso Guitar, Crystal Clear CCS 8001
Kip Dobler: Reaching out from the inside, Cardas Records CR5813
McNeely: Confederation, Sheffield Labs-9
Roger Wagner Chorale: Encore, M&K Realtime, RT 110
Sheffield Drum Record, Sheffield Labs-14

Reissues:

Alan Parsons: I Robot, Classic Records/Arista AL7002
Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Slatkin, Cisco/Capitol SP 8373
Cowboy Junkies: Whites Off, MOFI MFSL 1-292
Casandra Wilson: Light ‘Til Dawn, Blue Note/Pure Pleasure PPAN BST-81357
Clark Terry: Color Changes, Candid/Pure Pleasure Records PPAN 9009
Ellington: Indigos, Impex Records/Columbia 6010
George Benson: The Other Side of Abbey Road, A&M/CTI SP3018/Speakers Corner
Grant Green: His Majesty King Funk, Verve/Speakers Corner V6-8627
Grateful Dead: Blues for Allah, Audio Fidelity AFZLP 121
Grateful Dead: History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Dick’s picks) AFZPL 124
Grateful Dead: Shakedown Street, Audio Fidelity AFZLP 120
Imeda: Now, Three Blind Mice, TBM-2
J.J. Cale: Troubador, Analogue Productions AAP 050
Kenny Burrell: Blue Lights, Vol. 1/2, Classic Records/Blue Note 1596/7
Kenny Burrell: Guitar Forms, Verve V6-8612/Speakers Corner (or original)
Lightnin’ Hopkins in New York, Candid 9010/Pure Pleasure
Lou Reed: Transformer, RCA/Speakers Corner LSP-4807
Miles Davis: Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Columbia/Impex Records 6009
Otis Span: Good Morning Mr. Blues, Analogue Productions APP 3016
Patricia Barber: Café Blue, Premonition Records, 907801-1 (also Premonition Records 734)
Patricia Barber: Companion, Premonition Records 907631
Patricia Barber: Nightclub, Premonition Records 9762-1
Peggy Lee: Latin ala Lee, Capitol/S&P Records S-504
Peggy Lee: Sings Her Greatest Hits, Capitol/S&P Records S-502
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Athena Records/Vox Turnabout 10001
Sade: Promise, Audio Fidelity AFZLP 139
Sonny Boy Williamson, Analogue Productions AAP 036
Sonny Rollins: Alfie, Impulse A-9111
Sonny Meets the Hawk, Classic Records/RCA LSP-2710
Sonny Rollins: Now’s the Time, Classic Records/RCA LSP-2927
Wes Montgomery: California Dreaming, Cisco/Verve CLP 8692
Yes: Fragile, Analogue Productions AAPP 7211

45 rpm Reissues:

Ben Webster: See You at the Fair, Analogue Productions/Impulse A-65
Ben Webster and Sweets Edison: ORG 117/Columbia 8691
Bill Evans Trio: Trio ’65, ORG 142/Verve V6-8613
Bob Dylan: Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, MOFI MFSL 2-378
Blow Up/Misty/Midnight Sugar, Box Star Records, TBM 45 rpm box
Dimeola, McLaughlin and Delucia: Friday Night in San Fancisco, Columbia/ORG 125 (or original)
Essential Elvis ’57, Analogue Productions APP 057-45
Gerry Mulligan meets Ben Webster, ORG 013/Verve; also MFSL 1-234
Gil Evans: Out of the Cool, Analog Productions Impulse A-4 (or Alto Edition)
Girl Talk: Yama and Jiro’s Wave, Three Blind Music, TMB 2559-45
Grant Green: Idle Moment, Blue Note ST-84154/Music Matters (or 33 rpm)
Herbie Hancock: Maiden Voyage, Analogue Productions/Blue Note 84195
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartmann, ORG 17/Verve A-40
John Coltrane: Ballads, Analogue Productions/Impulse AS-32
Johnny Hartman: I Just Dropped By to Say Hello, ORG 027/Impulse AS-57
John Lee Hooker: It Serve You Right to Suffer, Analogue Productions/Impulse A-9103
Joni Mitchell: Wild things run fast, ORG 056/Geffen Records
Kenny Burrell: Midnight Blue, Blue Note ST-84123/Music Matters
Mari Nakamoto: Mari, Cisco/Three Blind Music 3005-45
Mulligan: What Is There To Say?, Columbia/ORG 111
Ornette Coleman: The Shape of Jazz to Come, ORG/Atlantic 1317
Oscar Peterson: West Side Story, Verve/Analogue Productions 8454 or DCC LPZ 2021
Poll Winners Three, Contemporary Records/Analogue Productions S7576 (also B/G original)
Rickie Lee Jones: Rickie Lee Jones, MOFI MFSL 2-4501 (or WB KJ 6628)
Rickie Lee Jones: It’s Like This, Analogue Productions APP 51056
Rickie Lee Jones: Pop Pop, ORG 007 (Also original and Alto Edition AA008)
Rickie Lee Jones: Traffic from Paradise, Analogue Productions APP 24602
Roy Haynes: Out on the Afternoon, Analogue Productions/Impulse AS-23
The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Analogue Productions/Impulse AS-5
Weather Report: Weather Report, ORG 2004/Columbia
Weather Report: Heavy Weather, ORG 113/Columbia
Weavers at Carnegie Hall, Analogue Productions/Vanguard VSD 2150
Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi Trio: Misty, Three Blind Music, Three Blind Music TBM-30-45
Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi Quartet: Midnight Sugar, Three Blind Music TBM-23-45

Miscellaneous:

Bob and Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular: RCA LSP-1773
Billy Jackson: The Wellpark Suite, Mill Records MR001
Chet Atkins: Mister Guitar, RCA LSP-2103
Guckenheimer Sour Kraut Band: Music for Non-Thinkers, RCA LSP-1721
Johnny Cash: American Recordings, American Recordings 9362-45520-1
Johnny Cash: American III, Solitary Man, American Recordings 7464-69691-1
Johnny Cash: American IV: The Man Comes Around, Lost Highway 440 063-361
Johnny Cash: Unchained, American Recordings 9362-43097-1

[Whart]

Glad you didn't do that one off the top of your head, Myles. Cool list!

[AudioGremlin]

Thank you Myles, I'm delighted. My main search is for well recorded analogue classical, your list is a perfect start in my quest.
I'd admit I'm tired of audiophile audio spectaculars/demonstration records and now prefer the more naturally recorded analogue recordings that I can escape into without hopefully other factors getting in the way like poor digital transfers, gain riding, undue compression etc.

[Whart]

OK, I'll add a few that I don't think Myles listed. There is a Barbriolli, English Music for Strings (Elgar and other stuff) that's on EMI, pretty nice record; in fact a lot of the EMIs from the 70's era UK are great, Jacquelyn Du Pre recorded a bunch of stuff; since you are on the other (and some might say the right) side of the pond, recordwise, you might also look for a couple of Lyritas, I particularly like the Elizabeth Maconchy Symphony and Walter Leigh, which has a harpsichord/string piece. (Lyrita was pressed either by Decca or Nimbus and was most famous for that Malcolm Arnold record, Scottish, English Dances, whatever- I think most people bought that for the big deep drum sound, but it was a cool label of 20th Century composers/recordings). I'm a big cello fan, so really like Starker, there's some stuff on Mercury that's crazy expensive as original pressings, but I think Speaker's Corner did a reissue that's not bad; the other Starker that is just take your breath away, at least as a performance, is an old mono of Kodaly, Unaccompanied Cello, it was originally released on Period records here, but there are various reissues of it (I really recommend this because of the performance, not because it is a particularly great recording). If you like Sibelius, there was a complete cycle conducted by Maazel on London - I don't think these are collector's records, so you should be able to find them pretty cheaply. I'm sure there's lot's more, but Myles gave you a great list, and I've been spending far more time in the last several years at the cusp of 60's-70's in the rock, folk, psych, and blues vein. I printed out Myle's list, though, since I have a bunch of those records, and it is a good reminder of some great ones.
PS: Soundtrack-wise, I never even considered the digital analog mastering issue, but The Mission was a go-to back in the day. Ennio Morricone, famous for so many of those great spaghetti western soundtracks and the Ave Maria choral track is pretty amazing! I'll have to pull that one out too!

Myles- what about the old RR Nojima Plays Liszt? I know it's a bit on the 'audiophile' side but it is a pretty good record.

[Myles B. Astor]

Originally Posted by Whart

OK, I'll add a few that I don't think Myles listed. There is a Barbriolli, English Music for Strings (Elgar and other stuff) that's on EMI, pretty nice record; in fact a lot of the EMIs from the 70's era UK are great, Jacquelyn Du Pre recorded a bunch of stuff; since you are on the other (and some might say the right) side of the pond, recordwise, you might also look for a couple of Lyritas, I particularly like the Elizabeth Maconchy Symphony and Walter Leigh, which has a harpsichord/string piece. (Lyrita was pressed either by Decca or Nimbus and was most famous for that Malcolm Arnold record, Scottish, English Dances, whatever- I think most people bought that for the big deep drum sound, but it was a cool label of 20th Century composers/recordings). I'm a big cello fan, so really like Starker, there's some stuff on Mercury that's crazy expensive as original pressings, but I think Speaker's Corner did a reissue that's not bad; the other Starker that is just take your breath away, at least as a performance, is an old mono of Kodaly, Unaccompanied Cello, it was originally released on Period records here, but there are various reissues of it (I really recommend this because of the performance, not because it is a particularly great recording). If you like Sibelius, there was a complete cycle conducted by Maazel on London - I don't think these are collector's records, so you should be able to find them pretty cheaply. I'm sure there's lot's more, but Myles gave you a great list, and I've been spending far more time in the last several years at the cusp of 60's-70's in the rock, folk, psych, and blues vein. I printed out Myle's list, though, since I have a bunch of those records, and it is a good reminder of some great ones.
PS: Soundtrack-wise, I never even considered the digital analog mastering issue, but The Mission was a go-to back in the day. Ennio Morricone, famous for so many of those great spaghetti western soundtracks and the Ave Maria choral track is pretty amazing! I'll have to pull that one out too!

Myles- what about the old RR Nojima Plays Liszt? I know it's a bit on the 'audiophile' side but it is a pretty good record.

The sound of the RR recordings LPs never did much for me except for Prof. Johnson's Amazing Sound Show and Dafos. Their music on 15 ips tape is a totally different story though.