Desert Island (vinyl) Disks
May 25, 2022 8:37 AM Subscribe
In the vein of Desert Island Disks, if you had to select only 8 vinyl LP's to listen to for eternity -- what would they be?
After a lifetime of migrating from vinyl to cassette to CD to MP3 to streaming subscription... I recently bought a turntable and am trying out vinyl again. Because this is my 3rd go around -- in that had 3 major moves where I had to give away a combined total of ~5 melon crates (remember them?) full of LP's... I'm looking to start with on a select few (8).
I'm looking for a diverse range of classic recordings with a deep, rich sound...
Super eager to hear your thoughts!
After a lifetime of migrating from vinyl to cassette to CD to MP3 to streaming subscription... I recently bought a turntable and am trying out vinyl again. Because this is my 3rd go around -- in that had 3 major moves where I had to give away a combined total of ~5 melon crates (remember them?) full of LP's... I'm looking to start with on a select few (8).
I'm looking for a diverse range of classic recordings with a deep, rich sound...
Super eager to hear your thoughts!
I don't know that your definition of "classics" is the same as mine, but:
David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Prince - Sign O' The Times
The Jam - All Mod Cons
Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True
The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide In Black
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Let Love In
Steve Martin - Comedy Is Not Pretty
posted by pdb at 8:49 AM on May 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Prince - Sign O' The Times
The Jam - All Mod Cons
Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True
The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide In Black
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Let Love In
Steve Martin - Comedy Is Not Pretty
posted by pdb at 8:49 AM on May 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Mort Garson- Plantasia
Shigeo Sekito- special sounds 1
Jorge Ben-forca bruta
Ray lynch- Deep Breakfast
Funkadelic- Maggot Brain
Nils Frahm- Tripping with Nils Frahm
The KLF- Chill Out
Santo and Johnny- s/t
posted by furnace.heart at 8:49 AM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Shigeo Sekito- special sounds 1
Jorge Ben-forca bruta
Ray lynch- Deep Breakfast
Funkadelic- Maggot Brain
Nils Frahm- Tripping with Nils Frahm
The KLF- Chill Out
Santo and Johnny- s/t
posted by furnace.heart at 8:49 AM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
Grateful Dead, Europe '72
Allman Brothers, Eat a Peach
Average White Band, AWB
Simon and Garfunkel, Greatest Hits
Grateful Dead, Skull and Roses
Bob Marley, LIVE!
The Outlaws, Outlaws
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:50 AM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Grateful Dead, Europe '72
Allman Brothers, Eat a Peach
Average White Band, AWB
Simon and Garfunkel, Greatest Hits
Grateful Dead, Skull and Roses
Bob Marley, LIVE!
The Outlaws, Outlaws
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:50 AM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
That's six, and I accidentally pressed post, so I have to think of the other two...
I'd probably go with Bowie's Heroes and agree with Sign O' the Times.
It kind of dates me, as I'm not familiar with a lot of recent stuff on vinyl, though I'm looking forward to reinstalling my turntable and listening to Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool, Anna Meredith's Varmints, albums by Juniore and Sequoya Tiger, and the album by Lekhfa which are all waiting patiently for me to get round to it and which I think will be perfect for it.
posted by Grangousier at 8:54 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'd probably go with Bowie's Heroes and agree with Sign O' the Times.
It kind of dates me, as I'm not familiar with a lot of recent stuff on vinyl, though I'm looking forward to reinstalling my turntable and listening to Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool, Anna Meredith's Varmints, albums by Juniore and Sequoya Tiger, and the album by Lekhfa which are all waiting patiently for me to get round to it and which I think will be perfect for it.
posted by Grangousier at 8:54 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Hmmm. . . I might have a different answer tomorrow. And not much of this really lines up with your request if I understand it. But:
Ella and Loius
Solo Monk (or maybe Alone in San Francisco)
Kind of Blue
The Köln Concert
Bach's cello sonnata no 5 (which version is the good one is beyond me)
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (I'd actually destroyed many tens of copies of that particular record - for art - in a loving way.)
Chumbwawamba's Showbusiness!
Gheorghe Zamfir's Flute De Pan et Orgue
(Silly 9th bonus addition: anything by the Portsmouth Sinfonia.)
[Edit: I see we're all fans of kind of blue!]
posted by eotvos at 9:24 AM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ella and Loius
Solo Monk (or maybe Alone in San Francisco)
Kind of Blue
The Köln Concert
Bach's cello sonnata no 5 (which version is the good one is beyond me)
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (I'd actually destroyed many tens of copies of that particular record - for art - in a loving way.)
Chumbwawamba's Showbusiness!
Gheorghe Zamfir's Flute De Pan et Orgue
(Silly 9th bonus addition: anything by the Portsmouth Sinfonia.)
[Edit: I see we're all fans of kind of blue!]
posted by eotvos at 9:24 AM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Bob Marley LP's produced by Island records are outstanding, so, any of them
Rudy Van Gelder had a distinctive sound that is legendary in Jazz recordings
XTC -- either Black Sea or English Settlement . Steve Lillywhite and Hugh Padgham made lovely LP's
Special Beat Service by the English Beat was produced by Bob Sargeant and is excellent
Disintegration is my favorite The Cure album
Purple Rain
Anything recorded at Sound City
Close to the Edge
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:33 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Rudy Van Gelder had a distinctive sound that is legendary in Jazz recordings
XTC -- either Black Sea or English Settlement . Steve Lillywhite and Hugh Padgham made lovely LP's
Special Beat Service by the English Beat was produced by Bob Sargeant and is excellent
Disintegration is my favorite The Cure album
Purple Rain
Anything recorded at Sound City
Close to the Edge
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:33 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Prince - Sign O' the Times
Richard Davis - The Philosophy of the Spiritual
Laurie Anderson - Big Science
Love - Forever Changes
David Bowie - Low
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
XTC - Skylarking
Zombies - Odessey and Oracle
posted by goatdog at 10:01 AM on May 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Richard Davis - The Philosophy of the Spiritual
Laurie Anderson - Big Science
Love - Forever Changes
David Bowie - Low
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
XTC - Skylarking
Zombies - Odessey and Oracle
posted by goatdog at 10:01 AM on May 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Julianna Barwick - Healing is a Miracle (2020 Ltd Ed)
Miles Davis - The Complete In a Silent WaySessions (2001 5LP, Mosaic)
Bob Dylan and The Band - The Basement Tapes Raw (2014 3LP 180g)
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (2016 180g Reissue)
Joni Mitchell - Blue (2020 180g Reissue)
Sade - This Far (2020 6LP 180g Remaster/Reissue)
Songs: Ohia - The Magnolia Electric Co. (2013 Deluxe Reissue)
Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid
Stevie Wonder - Original Musiquarium Vol. 1 (2017 180g Reissue)
posted by box at 10:38 AM on May 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Miles Davis - The Complete In a Silent WaySessions (2001 5LP, Mosaic)
Bob Dylan and The Band - The Basement Tapes Raw (2014 3LP 180g)
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (2016 180g Reissue)
Joni Mitchell - Blue (2020 180g Reissue)
Sade - This Far (2020 6LP 180g Remaster/Reissue)
Songs: Ohia - The Magnolia Electric Co. (2013 Deluxe Reissue)
Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid
Stevie Wonder - Original Musiquarium Vol. 1 (2017 180g Reissue)
posted by box at 10:38 AM on May 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Make sure you get something with a locked groove! Look it up, there are many different examples in genres you may like.
posted by dobi at 10:54 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by dobi at 10:54 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Springsteen: The River
David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name
Joni Mitchell: Blue
Nick Drake: Bryter Layter
Nic Jones: Penguin Eggs
Clive Gregson And Christine Collister: Home And Away
Cowboy Junkies: Caution Horses
Lucinda Williams: Lucinda Williams
posted by MinPin at 12:19 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name
Joni Mitchell: Blue
Nick Drake: Bryter Layter
Nic Jones: Penguin Eggs
Clive Gregson And Christine Collister: Home And Away
Cowboy Junkies: Caution Horses
Lucinda Williams: Lucinda Williams
posted by MinPin at 12:19 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Procol Harum - A Salty Dog
Jacques Loussier - Play Bach
Vangelis - Albedo 0.39
Ossian - St. Kilda Wedding
ELO - A New World Record
Flanders and Swann - At The Drop Of A Hat (mono version)
Green Day - American Idiot
posted by offog at 5:15 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Procol Harum - A Salty Dog
Jacques Loussier - Play Bach
Vangelis - Albedo 0.39
Ossian - St. Kilda Wedding
ELO - A New World Record
Flanders and Swann - At The Drop Of A Hat (mono version)
Green Day - American Idiot
posted by offog at 5:15 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good
Bob Marley - Rastaman Vibration
Joni Mitchell - Mingus
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper
The Mamas & the Papas - Deliver
Phoebe Snow - self titled
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Frank Zappa - Apostrophe
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:25 PM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Bob Marley - Rastaman Vibration
Joni Mitchell - Mingus
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper
The Mamas & the Papas - Deliver
Phoebe Snow - self titled
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Frank Zappa - Apostrophe
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:25 PM on May 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
Meddle - Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin III
Low Symphony - bowie/glass
Lateralus - tool
The Clash - Sandinista
Reckoning - Grateful Dead
Abbey Road - Beatles
I'm an old for sure, but I'm not wrong about the universality and quality of these vinyl experiences.
posted by j_curiouser at 9:21 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Meddle - Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin III
Low Symphony - bowie/glass
Lateralus - tool
The Clash - Sandinista
Reckoning - Grateful Dead
Abbey Road - Beatles
I'm an old for sure, but I'm not wrong about the universality and quality of these vinyl experiences.
posted by j_curiouser at 9:21 PM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
runners up:
Big Calm- Morcheeba
Salad Days - Mac Demarco
Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
Second Set - Allman Brothers
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
Dummy - Portishead
Mezzanine - Massive Attack
Slide Guitar: Streamline Special - various
posted by j_curiouser at 9:35 PM on May 25, 2022
Big Calm- Morcheeba
Salad Days - Mac Demarco
Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
Second Set - Allman Brothers
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
Dummy - Portishead
Mezzanine - Massive Attack
Slide Guitar: Streamline Special - various
posted by j_curiouser at 9:35 PM on May 25, 2022
Joan Baez - Diamonds and Rust
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
Chief Xcel/Fela Kuti - The Underground Spiritual Game
Aretha Franklin - Spirit in the Dark
Massive Attack - Protection
Steely Dan - Aja
Cecil Taylor - The Complete Candid Recordings of Cecil Taylor and Buell Neidlinger
The Weather Station - Ignorance
posted by box at 5:25 AM on May 26, 2022
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow
Chief Xcel/Fela Kuti - The Underground Spiritual Game
Aretha Franklin - Spirit in the Dark
Massive Attack - Protection
Steely Dan - Aja
Cecil Taylor - The Complete Candid Recordings of Cecil Taylor and Buell Neidlinger
The Weather Station - Ignorance
posted by box at 5:25 AM on May 26, 2022
Beatles - Revolver (mono remaster)
La Monte Young - The Well Tuned Piano (might be cheating as this is like a 5 disc set!)
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Beethoven - Missa Solemnis
David Byrne + Brian Eno - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove
posted by cubeb at 11:08 AM on May 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
La Monte Young - The Well Tuned Piano (might be cheating as this is like a 5 disc set!)
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Beethoven - Missa Solemnis
David Byrne + Brian Eno - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove
posted by cubeb at 11:08 AM on May 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cornershop - When I was born for the 7th time
Godspeed you! Black Emperor - F#A#∞
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
David Bowie - Hunky Dory
Ezra Furman - Perpetual Motion People
Ween - 12 Golden Country Greats
Sinead O'Connor - i do not want what i haven't got
Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
posted by schyler523 at 5:23 AM on May 27, 2022
Godspeed you! Black Emperor - F#A#∞
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
David Bowie - Hunky Dory
Ezra Furman - Perpetual Motion People
Ween - 12 Golden Country Greats
Sinead O'Connor - i do not want what i haven't got
Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
posted by schyler523 at 5:23 AM on May 27, 2022
Obviously nothing current, since I stopped buying vinyl long ago, but these 8 are coming with me to the assisted living facility, and have certain sonic and/or visual qualities that speak vinyl to me:
Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St [get the original, murky mix, for me a big part of the mysterious allure of this album]
Roxy Music - [pick one of their first four albums; all are brilliant in their own way. Plus, pin-ups!]
Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)
Lou Reed - Street Hassle [Lou was newly obsessed with something called Binaural Stereo; this album was his attempt to make a record with the technology. Interesting 'making of' blog post.]
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night or Time Fades Away [couple shambolic, druggy country rockers, take your pick]
James Gang - Yer' Album [get a manual turntable & discover hidden messages!]
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson
posted by Bron at 7:55 AM on May 27, 2022
Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St [get the original, murky mix, for me a big part of the mysterious allure of this album]
Roxy Music - [pick one of their first four albums; all are brilliant in their own way. Plus, pin-ups!]
Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)
Lou Reed - Street Hassle [Lou was newly obsessed with something called Binaural Stereo; this album was his attempt to make a record with the technology. Interesting 'making of' blog post.]
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night or Time Fades Away [couple shambolic, druggy country rockers, take your pick]
James Gang - Yer' Album [get a manual turntable & discover hidden messages!]
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson
posted by Bron at 7:55 AM on May 27, 2022
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Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
The White Album - The Beatles
Solid Air - John Martyn
Five Leaves Left - Nick Drake
The Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
posted by Grangousier at 8:46 AM on May 25, 2022 [4 favorites]