Vitalogy appears on the site for only the second time ever, here with incredible Nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++) sound throughout this original Epic pressing, just shy of our Shootout Winner – remarkably quiet vinyl too
Both of these sides are tonally balanced from top to bottom, with more vocal presence and rock and roll energy than practically any other copy we played in our shootout
This is not a hard title to find on vinyl, but it is hard to find without pressing defects, which caused us to return a high percentage of the copies we bought, even some sealed ones!
4 1/2 stars: “Thanks to its stripped-down, lean production, Vitalogy stands as Pearl Jam’s most original and uncompromising album.”
The Hot Stamper debut of Burn, here with STUNNING Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) grades or close to them on sides of this early import pressing – exceptionally quiet vinyl too
Turn it up and you will hear sound that is incredibly powerful and natural with amazing presence, energy and weight down low
Forget the dubby domestic pressings and whatever crappy Heavy Vinyl record they’re making these days – the UK LPs are the only way to fly on this album
4 1/2 stars: “The phenomenal title track started things off at full throttle, actually challenging the seminal ‘Highway Star’ for the honor of best opener to any Deep Purple album, while showcasing the always impressive drumming of Ian Paice. Up next, the intro to the equally timeless ‘Might Just Take Your Life,’ however simple from a technical perspective, remains one of organist Jon Lord’s signature moments; and the downright nasty ‘Lay Down, Stay Down’ roared behind wildly careening starts and stops and a fantastic Ritchie Blackmore guitar solo which left no doubt as to who was the band’s primal force, regardless of lineup.”
An amazing copy of Tosh’s debut album with KILLER Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) sound from start to finish
You won’t believe how big, rich and full this album can sound on a copy this good
A rough shootout — no other copy earned a 3+ grade on any side, and only one other was 2+ or better on both sides
Forget whatever dead-as-a-doornail Heavy Vinyl they’re making – the Tubey Magic, size and Reggae Roots energy of this very special vintage pressing could not be beat
4 1/2 stars: “The album’s highlight is ‘Why Must I Cry,’ a multi-layered song (co-written with Bob Marley) that conveys a sense of personal failure when fighting an uphill battle, whether it be against injustices of the world or within the confines of a relationship. Legalize It cemented Tosh’s position as a giant in reggae, and the album is one of the best albums of the genre.”
A Vienna like you’ve rarely heard, with very good Hot Stamper grades throughout this early UK Chrysalis pressing – exceptionally quiet vinyl too
We guarantee there is more space, richness, presence, and performance energy on this copy than others you’ve heard or you get your money back – it’s as simple as that
4 1/2 stars: “…Vienna kicked off Ultravox’s second phase with former Rich Kids vocalist Midge Ure at the helm. Trading [departed vocalist] John Foxx’s glam rock stance for Ure’s aristocratic delivery, Vienna recasts the band as a melodramatic synth pop chamber ensemble with most of the group doubling on traditional string quartet instruments and the synthesizers often serving to emulate an orchestra. It was a bold move that took awhile to pay off, but when the monolithic title track was released, the Ure lineup became the band’s most identifiable one almost overnight.”
A killer pressing of Carmen McRae’s superb live double album from 1972 with Nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++) grades or close to them on all FOUR sides – just shy of our Shootout Winner
Everything sounds immediate and unprocessed – this is the kind of natural, analog sound, that puts a living, breathing Carmen McRae right between your speakers
Recorded at Donte’s Jazz Club right here in Los Angeles, the lively banter between songs reveals the lady’s charm and wit
We may never do this shootout again — our two best sounding copies were too noisy to sell, and it’s hard to justify playing a pile of copies of a double album only to find out that the best pressings are a bust
5 stars: “Joined by pianist Rowles, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Chuck Domanico, and drummer Chuck Flores, McRae had what was at the time a rare opportunity to record a live, spontaneous, jazz-oriented set. She sounds quite enthusiastic about both her accompaniment and the strong repertoire…'”
An early 6-Eye MONO copy of this wonderful musical allegory with INCREDIBLE Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) grades or close to them throughout
The sound is rich and Tubey Magical, yet transparent and spacious in the way that only the best vintage pressings ever are
It’s hard to imagine an original pressing playing any quieter than this one does
And may I point out for all of your record collectors out there that the worst sounding copy in our shootout was a White Label Promo, which did not even earned Hot Stamper grades on both sides
“It was powerful, rhythmic and kaleidoscopic, with a strong vocal anchor at Friday’s performance in Claudia Hamilton, a commanding presence as Madam Zajj.”
This early UK Island pressing boasts two solid Double Plus (A++) sides or close to them – exceptionally quiet vinyl too
Guaranteed to be a huge improvement over anything you’ve heard, this Brit is big, punchy, and full-bodied – Winwood’s leads really soar (particularly on side one)
Forget the dubby domestic pressings and whatever crappy Heavy Vinyl record they’re making these days – the UK LPs are the only way to fly on Arc of a Diver
4 1/2 stars: “Utterly unencumbered by the baggage of his long years in the music business, Winwood reinvents himself as a completely contemporary artist on this outstanding album, leading off with his best solo song, ‘While You See a Chance.'”
A Whiteback second label London pressing with rich, textured, and dynamic Double Plus (A++) sound from start to finish
It’s also impossibly quiet at Mint Minus to Mint Minus Minus, a grade that practically none of our vintage classical titles – even the most well-cared-for ones – ever play at
This copy showed that it had the balance of clarity and sweetness we were looking for in the tone of the violin – it is so rich, natural and real, you will forget you’re listening to a record at all
These works are performed with skill and passion by the incomparable Ruggiero Ricci, one of our favorite violinists
These are practice pieces – if you want real music written for the violin, we have plenty of albums to choose from that should fit the bill
This New Jazz recording pressed on fairly quiet OJC vinyl boasts incredible Nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++) grades from top to bottom – just shy of our Shootout Winner
These sides are rich and full, from the extended top end all the way down to the deepest bass — thanks, RVG!
Marks in the vinyl are sometimes the nature of the beast with these vintage LPs – there simply is no way around them if the superior sound of vintage analog is important to you
4 1/2 stars: “The seven selections in this set, wildly divergent in character though they are, are notable for their fresh thinking and rhythmic and harmonic daring.” -Down Beat
Glory debuts on the site with STUNNING Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) grades or close to them from first note to last
This one is doing practically everything right – it’s bigger, bolder, richer and more clean, clear and open than nearly all others we played
As one might expect, the sound absolutely jumps out of the speakers on this recording
There are some bad marks (as is sometimes the nature of the beast with these vintage LPs) on “The Year Of Jubilee” and “Preparations For Battle,” but once you hear just how incredible sounding this copy is, you might be inclined, as we were, to stop counting ticks and just be swept away by the music
“The score met with critical acclaim, being assessed as…among Horner’s best works[;] it received a nomination for [the] Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and won [the] Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television…” -Wikipedia
