The following records were selected based on my personal music appreciation and also in some cases for their superior sound quality; the latter rated by a [G] for good, [E] for excellent, [O] for outstanding and [P] for as close to perfection as can be. In other words, if there is none of these four ratings preceding the title, the recording is either sonically compromised in some aspects to my tastes or I have not had the opportunity to seriously evaluate it. A [? ] preceding the aforementioned letters indicates the probable rating, given general reviews and past experience when I have not had the actual pressing in hand to evaluate. The equivalent numerical range ratings are given below.
Many of these sound recommendations may reflect only a specific pressing, such as an original copy or a superior audiophile remastering; as such one should not automatically construe that a different pressing than stated below will be as sonically impressive nor will it be necessarily awful either.
'RE' indicates Remastered/Reissue along with the year in question following the original release date. When not specified, pressings can be considered 'original US' while the other 'imports' are indicated by country abbreviation.
Lists are compiled foremost by broad musical genres; followed by the artists/groups placed along a historic line; with their selective creative output ranked in chronological release order. All are subject to timely revisions and constant evolution.
Global ratings:
[G] = 7.5-8.2
[E] = 8.3-8.9
[O] = 9.0-9.5
[P] = 9.6-10
TOP ROCK ALBUMS
Bill Haley & His Comets:(1952)
[G] Rock with Bill Haley and the Comets (1954) - Essex
Shake, Rattle and Roll (1955) - Decca
Rock Around the Clock (1955) - Decca
Elvis Presley:(1954-07)
Elvis Presley (1956) - RCA
[O] Elvis Is Back! (1960) (1997 RE) - DCC or 2nd choice: (2010) - A. Prod. (2x45rpm)
[E] Elvis 24 Karat Hits! [recordings: 1956 to 1969] (1997) - DCC
2nd choice (2010) - Anal. Prod. (3x45rpm)
Buddy Holly:(1956-04)
[G] Buddy Holly (1958) (1995 RE) - MCA
The Ventures:(1960-02)
[G] Walk, Don't Run (1960) - Dolton
[G] The Ventures Play Telstar and the Lonely Bull (1963) - Dolton
[G] Surfing (1963) - Dolton
[G] The Ventures in Space (1964) - Dolton
[G] Wild Things! (1966) - Dolton
[G] Play the Batman Theme (1966) - Dolton
[G] Hawaii Five-O (1969) - Liberty
The Beach Boys:(1961-11)
[?E] Pet Sounds (1966) (2015 RE mono) - Analogue Productions
Wild Honey (1967) - Capitol
[G] The Smile Sessions [recorded: 1965 to 1971] (2011 RE) - Capitol
The Beatles:(1962-10)
[?E] Please Please Me (1963 mono) - Parlophone UK
[E] With the Beatles (1963 mono) - Parlophone UK
[?E] A Hard Day's Night (1964 mono) - Parlophone UK
[?E] Beatles for Sale (1964 mono) - Parlophone UK
[?E] Help! (1965) - Parlophone UK
[?E] Rubber Soul (1965) - Parlophone UK
[O] Revolver (1966) - Parlophone UK
[E] Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) (1983 RE) - MoFi
[?E] Magical Mystery Tour (1967) - (1981 RE) - MoFi
The Hollies:(1963-05)
Bus Stop (1966) - Imperial UK
Distant Light (1971) - Parlophone UK
The Rolling Stones:(1963-06)
[G] The Rolling Stones (1964) - Decca UK
Aftermath (1966) - London US
Beggars Banquet (1968) - Decca UK
Let It Bleed (1969) - Decca UK
Sticky Fingers (1971) - Decca UK
The Kinks:(1964-02)
Kinks (1964) - Pye UK
Kinks-Size (1965) - Reprise US
The Yardbirds:(1964-05)
For Your Love (1965) - Epic US
The Spencer Davis Group:(1964-05)
Gimme Some Lovin' (1967) - United Artists
I'm a Man (1967) - United Artists
David Bowie:(1964-06)
David Bowie (also released as Space Oddity) (1969) - Philips UK
The Man Who Sold the World (1970) - Mercury UK
Hunky Dory (1971) - RCA UK
[?G] The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders... (1972) - (1981 RE) MoFi
Aladdin Sane (1973) - RCA UK
Diamond Dogs (1974) - RCA UK
Young Americans (1975) - RCA UK
Station to Station (1976) - RCA UK
"Heroes" (1977) - RCA UK
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980) - RCA UK
[E] Blackstar (2016) - ISO, Columbia, Sony Music UK
The Who:(1964-07)
My Generation (1965) - Brunswick UK
The Who Sell Out (1967) - Track Record UK or (2005 RE) - Classic Records
Tommy (1969) - Track Record UK or (2006 RE) - Classic Records
Live at Leeds (1970) - Track Record UK or (2005 RE) - Classic Records
Who's Next (1971) - Track Record UK or (2005 RE) - Classic Records
The Zombies:(1964-08)
[G] Begin Here (1965) - Decca UK
[G] The Zombies (1965) - Parrott US
[?G] Odessey and Oracle (1968) - CBS UK
The Moody Blues:(1964-09)
[O] Days of Future Passed (1967) - Deram UK or (1981 RE) MoFi
[?E] In Search of the Lost Chord (1968) - Deram UK
[?E] On the Threshold of a Dream (1969) - Deram UK
[?E] To Our Children's Children's Children (1969) - Threshold Records UK
[?E] A Question of Balance (1970) - Threshold Records UK
[?E] Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1971) - Threshold Records UK
The Byrds:(1964-10)
Mr. Tambourine Man (1965) - Columbia
Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965) - Columbia
Fifth Dimension (1966) - Columbia
Younger Than Yesterday (1967) - Columbia
The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968) - Columbia
Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) - Columbia
Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde (1969) - Columbia
The Seeds:(1965-03)
The Seeds (1966) - GNP Crescendo
A Web of Sound (1966) - GNP Crescendo
Future (1967) - GNP Crescendo
Raw & Alive: The Seeds in Concert at Merlin's Music ... (1968) - GNP Crescendo
The Lovin' Spoonful:(1965-08)
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful (1966) - Kama Sutra
Country Joe and the Fish:(1965-10)
[G] Electric Music for the Mind and Body (1967) - Vanguard
I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die (1967) - Vanguard
The Troggs:(1966-02)
From Nowhere (1966) - Fontana UK
Jefferson Airplane:(1966-02)
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (1966) - RCA
[O] Surrealistic Pillow (1967) (2015 RE mono) - MoFi (2x45rpm)
After Bathing at Baxter's (1967) - RCA
Crown of Creation (1968) - RCA
| Bless Its Pointed Little Head (1969) - RCA |
Love:(1966-03)
[G] Love (1966) - Elektra
Da Capo (1966) - Elektra
[O] Forever Changes (1967) (2016 RE) - MoFi (2x45rpm)
Four Sail (1969) - Elektra
Out Here (1969) - Blue Thumb Records
False Start (1970) - Blue Thumb Records
Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band:(1966-03)
[G] Trout Mask Replica (1969) - Straight
The Mothers of Invention/Frank Zappa:(1966-06)
Freak Out! (1966) - Verve
Absolutely Free (1967) - Verve
Lumpy Gravy (1967) - Verve
We're Only in It for the Money (1968) - Verve
Uncle Meat (1969) - Bizarre
Hot Rats (1969) - Bizarre or ?(2009 RE) Barking Pumpkin - Classic Records
Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1970) - Bizarre
Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970) - Bizarre
Grateful Dead:(1966-06)
[?E] The Grateful Dead (1967) - Warner Bros. or (2011 RE) Rhino
[?E] Anthem of the Sun (1968) - Warner Bros. Seven Arts or (2011 RE) Rhino
[?E] Aoxomoxoa (1969) - Warner Bros. Seven Arts or (2011 RE) Rhino
[?E] Live/Dead (1969) - W. Bros. Seven Arts or (2003 RE) Rhino or (2011 RE) - MoFi
[O] Workingman's Dead (1970) Warner Bros. or (2014 RE) MoFi (2x45rpm)
[O] American Beauty (1970) - Warner Bros. or (2014 RE) MoFi (2x45rpm)
[?E] Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) (1971) - Warner Bros. or (2012 RE) - MoFi
[E] Wake of the Flood (1973) (2011 RE) - MoFi
The Velvet Underground:(1966-07)
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) - Verve
White Light/White Heat (1968) - Verve
The Velvet Underground (1969) - MGM
[G] Loaded (1970) - Cotillion
? and The Mysterians:(1966-08)
96 Tears (1966) - Cameo Parkway
Action (1967) - Cameo Parkway
The Monkees:(1966-08)
More of The Monkees (1967) - Colgems
Cream:(1966-10)
[E] Fresh Cream (1966) - (1996 RE) - DCC
[G] Disraeli Gears (1967) - Reaction UK
Wheels of Fire (1968) - Polydor UK
Blues Magoos:(1966-11)
Psychedelic Lollipop (1966) - Mercury
Electric Comic Book (1967) - Mercury
Basic Blues Magoos (1968) - Mercury
The Jimi Hendrix Experience:(1966-12)
[E] Are You Experienced (1967) (2010 RE) - Experience Hendrix Legacy
[O] Axis: Bold as Love (1967) (2010 RE) - Experience Hendrix Legacy
[?E] Electric Ladyland (1968) (2010 RE) - Experience Hendrix Legacy
Jimi Hendrix:
[?E] Band of Gypsys (1970) (1997 RE) - Classic Records
Posthumous albums
[E] First Rays of the New Rising Sun (1997) (2010 RE) - Experience Hendrix Legacy
[?E] South Saturn Delta (1997) (2011 RE) - Experience Hendrix Legacy
[E] Valleys of Neptune (2010) (2010 RE) - Experience Hendrix Legacy
[G] People, Hell and Angels (2013) - Experience Hendrix Legacy
The Doors:(1967-01)
[G] The Doors (1967) (1992 RE) - DCC
[O] Strange Days (1967) (1992 RE) - DCC
[O] Waiting for the Sun (1968) (1998 RE) - DCC
[?E] The Soft Parade (1969) (2012 RE) - Elektra Analogue Productions (2x45rpm)
[?E] Morrison Hotel (1970) (2012 RE) - Elektra Analogue Productions (2x45rpm)
[O] L.A. Woman (1971) (1998 RE) - DCC or ? (2012 RE) A. Productions (2x45rpm)
Soft Machine:(1967-02)
The Soft Machine (1968) - Probe UK
Volume Two (1969) - Probe UK
Third (1970) - CBS UK
Fourth (1971) - CBS UK
Fifth (1972) - CBS UK
Six (1973) - CBS UK
Seven (1973) - CBS UK
Bundles (1975) - Harvest UK
Softs (1976) - Harvest UK
| Pink Floyd:(1967-03) [?G] The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) - Columbia UK or (2016 RE) P.F. Rec. [?G] A Saucerful of Secrets (1968) - Columbia UK or (2016 RE) Pink Floyd Records More (1969) - Columbia UK or (2016 RE) Pink Floyd Records UK Ummagumma (1969) - Harvest UK or ? (2016 RE) Pink Floyd Records UK [E] Meddle (1971) - Harvest UK or (1984 RE) MoFi Obscured by Clouds (1972) - Harvest UK [O] The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) - Harvest UK or (1981 RE) MoFi UHQR or (2003 RE) EMI Harvest 30th anniv. Euro [E] Wish You Were Here (1975) - Harvest UK [G] Animals (1977) - Harvest UK [G] The Wall (1979) - Harvest UK or ? (2012 RE) Harvest US Procol Harum:(1967-05) A Whiter Shade of Pale -12" 45rpm - (1967) - Cube UK [P] A Whiter Shade of Pale -12" 45rpm - (1967) (200?) Regal Zonoph. Classic Rec. Iron Butterfly:(1967-12?)
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