TAS List of Vinyl LP

This is so call the best TAS selected LP

Harry Pearson's Super LP List
Since I was in swaddling clothes (well, maybe not quite that far back) there has been just one "bible" for the LP collector interested in great music and great sound: Harry Pearson's Super Disk List. Those of us who grew up reading the absolute sound carried it with us to used (and new) record stores, garage sales, swap meets, library sales, the houses of widows looking to unload their late husbands' vinyl collections You name a place where "black gold" could be discovered and, odds are, you'd find a copy of Harry's Super Disk List in a bargain-hunter's back pocket. Many of us have committed the thing to memory, and, some of us have been so inspired by HP's list that we've become serious record collectors, too. (The Lord only knows how many audiophiles got their introduction to classical music via Harry's efforts.) So, here it is in its latest and most updatest edition. Those of you who know the musical and sonic treasures in store will doubtlessly start with the many new entries. And those few of you who don't know HP's list are in for a gen-u-ine treat. Herein are true marvels of the analog arts, arranged with the pick of the litter at the start. Enjoy! ---Jonathan Valin
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Classical
· Arnold: English, Scottish, & Cornish Dances Lyrita SRCS-109
· Gerhard: The Plague Decca Head 6
· Gershwin: Porgy & Bess complete/Maazel Decca SET 609-11¯†
· Herold/Lanchbery: La Fille Mal Gardée Decca SXL-2313¯
· Hi-Fi a la Española Mercury SR-90144¯ (Also Classic)
· Holst: The Planets/Mehta, LA London CS-6734¯
· Prokofiev: Scythian Suite Mercury SR-90006¯ (Also Classic)
· Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 Mercury SR-90283¯
· Respighi: Feste Romanae Decca SXL-6822
· Ravel: La Valse/Paray Classic/Mercury SR-90313¯†‡
· Stravinsky: The Firebird/Dorati Classic/Mercury SR-90226¯†‡
· Widor: Symphony No. 6 Allegro Mercury SR-90169
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Popular
· Bachrach: Casino Royale Colgems COSO-5005
· Balaika Favorites Mercury SR-90310 (Also Classic)
· Belafonte At Carnegie Hall Classic Records LSC-6006
· Ellington: For Duke M & K Realtime 101
· Ralph Hunter Choir: The Wild, Wild West RCA LSP-l968¯†
· Music for Bang, Ba-room and Harp RCA LSP-1866
· Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon EMI Harvest SHVL-804
· The Sheffield Track Record Sheffield Lab-20¯‡
· Don Shirley: Water Boy Columbia CS-9196¯†
· The Weavers Reunion at Carnegie Hall, 1963 Vanguard VSD-2150¯
SPECIAL MERIT: Classical
· Alain: Organ Works (complete) Erato EDO-250/2
· Antill: Corroboree (Australian) EMI OASD-7603
· Anderson: Music of Leroy Anderson (Vol. II) Mercury SR-90043
· Arnold: Guitar Concerto/Bream RCA LSC-2487¯
· Arnold: Overtures Reference Recordings RR-48‡
· Arnold: Peterloo Overture: Symphony No. 5 EMI ASD-2878
· Bach-Elgar: Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor EMI ASD-2970
· Bach-Stokowski: Symphonic Transcriptions Chandos ABRD-1055
· Balbastre: Harpsichord Works Afka SK-298
· Bart?k: Concerto For Orchestra/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-1934¯†‡
· Bart?k: Strings, Percussion, Celesta/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2374¯†‡
· Bax: Symphony No. 6 Musical Heritage Soc MHS 1198†
· Beethoven: Appassionata Sonata RCA/JVC RDC-4
· Beethoven: Symphony No. 6/Walter Columbia MS-6012
· Beethoven: Symphony No. 9/Solti, Chicago Decca GBB-121/2
· Berg: Lulu & Wozzeck (suites) Mercury SR-90278
· Berlioz: Requiem/Fremaux, et. al. EMI SLS-982
· Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique/Munch, BSO Classic/RCA LSC-1900¯†‡
· Bizet: Carmen (Suite)/Gibson Classic/RCA LSC-2449¯†‡
· Bliss: Music for Strings Lyrita SRCS-33¯
· Bloch: Concerto Grosso No. 1 Mercury SR-90223¯
· Borodin: Symphony No. 2 London CS-6126
· Brahms: Alto Rhapsody/Walter Columbia MS-6488
· Brian: Symphony No. 9 EMI ASD-3486
· Britten: Four Sea Interludes EMI ASD-3154
· Britten: The Prince of the Pagodas Decca Ace-of-Dmds GOS-558-9
· Busoni: Piano Concerto EMI ASD-2336/7
· Cage: Third Construction Classic/New World NW-319¯†
· Chabrier: Espana!/Argenta Speakers Corn/Decca SXL-2020¯†‡
· Copland: Appalachian Spring Can. Broadcast SM-5000
· Copland: Rodeo Mercury SR-90172
· Crumb: Makrokosmos I Nonesuch H-71293
· Crumb: Music for a Summer Eve: Makrokosmos IIINonesuch H-71311
· Debussy: Iberia Mercury SR-90010
· Debussy: Iberia/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2222¯†‡
· Debussy: Sonata for Violin & Piano Wilson W-8722
· Delius: North Country Sketches EMI ASD-3139¯
· Dorati: Symphony Mercury SR-90248
· Durufle: Requiem Epic BC-1256
· Dvorak: Cello Concerto/Starker Mercury SR-90303¯
· Dvorak: Symphony No. 8/Walter CBS/Sony 20 AC 1822
· Elgar: Caratacus EMI SLS-998¯†
· Elgar: Coronation Ode EMI ASD 3345
· Elgar: Engima Variations/Mehta, LA London CS-6816
· Elgar: Symphony No. 2 EMI ASD-3266
· Elgar: The Kingdom EMI SAN 244-5
· Finzi: Dies Natalis World Record Club SCM-50¯
· Finzi: Intimations of Immortality Lyrita SRCS-75
· Franck: Pieces Heroique Mercury SR-90168
· Gerhard: Symphony No. 4 Argo ZRG-701
· Gershwin: An American in Paris RCA LSC-2367¯
· Gershwin: Collected Works Vox Box QSVBX-5132
· Gould: Latin American Symphonette Vanguard SRV-275 SD†‡ (Also Analogue Productions)
· Grainger: Country GardensMercury SR-90219 (Also Mercury Wing SRW-18060)
· Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy Mercury SR-90173
· Grieg: Peer Gynt/Fjeldstad Speakers Corn/Decca SXL-2012¯†‡
· Grieg: Piano Concerto/Lupu, Previn London CS-6840
· Grieg: Piano Concerto/Rubinstein, Wallenstein RCA LSC-2566
· Hanson: Symphony No. 2 Mercury SR-90192
· Hanson: The Composer & His Orchestra Mercury SR-90175¯
· Holst: The Planets/Previn, LSO EMI ASD-3002
· Honneger: Pacific 231 EMI ASD-2989
· Howells: Hymnus Paradisi EMI ASD-2600
· Kabalevsky: The Comedians Classic/RCA LSC-2398†
· Khachaturian: Gayaneh & Spartacus Decca SXL-6000
· Khachaturian: Symphony No. 2 London CS-6323
· Kod·ly: H·ry J·nos (Suite) Mercury SR-90132¯
· Leigh: Concertino/Harpsichord & Strings Lyrita SRCS-126¯
· Lizst: Mephisto Waltz/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2241¯†‡
· Lloyd: Symphony No. 5 Lyrita SRCS-124
· Maconchy: Symphony Dble String Orchestra Lyrita SRCS-116
· Mahler: Symphony No. 1/Slatkin Telarc DG-10066
· Mahler: Symphony No. 3/Mehta London CSA-2249
· Massenet: Le Cid EMI TWO-350 (Also ESD-7040)
· Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Nights Dream EMI ASD-3377
· Messiaen: La Trans de Notre Sgnr. Jesus Christ Decca Head 1 & 2
· Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony EMI SLS-5117
· Moeran: Symphony EMI ASD-2913
· Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos (K. 365) Nonesuch H-71028
· Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2201†‡
· Offenbach: Gaote Parisienne/Fiedler, BSO Classic/RCA LSC-1817¯†‡
· Orff: Carmina Burana/Stokowski, Houston Capitol SPAR-8470¯
· Partch: The Delusion of the Fury Columbia M2-30576
· Praetorius: Dances from TerpsichoreArchiv 198166
· Prokofiev: Lt. Kije (Suite)/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2150¯†‡
· Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2/FragerClassic/RCA LSC-2465
· Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3/Janis Mercury SR-90300†
· Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet/Maazel Decca SXL-6620-2
· Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6/Weller Decca SXL-6777¯
· Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1/Ricci/AnsermetDecca/Eclipse ECS-746
· Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2/Heifetz RCA LSC-2314
· Rachmaninoff: The Romantic Rachmaninoff Readers Digest RDA-29
· Rachmaninoff: Paganini Variations/Rubinstein Classic/RCA LSC-2430
· Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 1 Classic/RCA LSC-2541†
· Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances Athena Productions ALSW-10001†
· Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 EMI ASD-3137
· Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 EMI ASD-2889
· Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 (British) RCA LSB-4090
· Rachmaninoff: The Bells EMI ASD-3284
· Rachmaninoff-Respighi: 5 Etudes Tableaux EMI ASD-3013¯
· Ravel: Concerto in G Major Linn Recut 01
· Ravel: Daphnis & Chloe/Ansermet Decca SXL-6204¯
· Ravel: Daphnis & Chloe/Munch, BSO Chesky RC-30
· Ravel: Collected Works Vox Box QSVBX-5133 (Also Ref. Mastercuts RM-1004†‡)
· Rawsthorne: Piano Concerto No. 1 Lyrita SRCS-101
· Respighi: Ancient Dances and Airs/Lute Mercury SR-90199¯
· Respighi: Brazilian Impressions Mercury SR-90153
· Respighi: Pines of Rome/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2436¯†‡
· Reubke: The 94th Psalm Orion ORS-78282
· Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Reiner Classic/RCA LSC-2446¯†‡
· Rodrigo: Concierto Andaluz Mercury SR-90488¯
· Rodrigo: Concierto Aranjuez/Yepes, Argenta London CS-6046¯
· The Royal Ballet Gala Performances Classic/RCA LSC-6065¯†‡
· Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals EMI ASD-299¯
· Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2/Rubinstein LSC-2234¯†‡
· Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3/Dupre Mercury SR-90012
· Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3/Fremaux EMI TWO-404¯
· Schmitt: Psalm 47 EMI ASD-2892
· Schubert: Death and the Maiden Quartet/Juilliard RCA LSC-2378¯
· Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 EMI ASD-2924
· Shostakovitch: Symphony No. 1/Martinon Classic/RCA LSC-2322† ‡
· Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 EMI ASD SLS-897
· Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8/Previn EMI ASD-2917
· Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 Alto/ASD-3911¯†‡ (Also EMI)
· Sibelius: En Saga EMI ASD-2486¯
· Sibelius: Four Legends EMI ASD-3092
· Sibelius: Symphony No. 2/Paray, Detroit Mercury SR-90204¯
· Sibelius: Symphony No. 5/Gibson RCA LSC-2405
· (Also Decca SPA-122)
· Sibelius: The Tempest EMI ASD-2961¯
· Sibelius: Violin Concerto/Heifetz, Reiner, CSO RCA LSC-2435
· J. Strauss: Waltzes/Reiner, CSO RCA LSC-2500¯
· R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-1806¯†
· Stravinsky: Ballets/AnsermetLondon CSA-2308
· Stravinsky: Ebony Concerto Reference Recordings RR-55¯†
· Stravinsky: Firebird (Suite)/Stokowski, Berlin Capitol SP-8407
· Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps/Solti, CSO Decca SXL-6691
· Stravinsky: Petrouchka (solo piano) Wilson W-8313¯
· Stravinsky: Petrouchka/Ansermet London CS-6009
· Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2150†
· Sullivan-Mackerras: Pineapple Poll EMI CSD-1399 (Also ESD-7028)
· Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4/Monteux, BSO RCA LSC-2369
· Tchaikovksy: Manfred/Previn Alto/EMI ASD-3018¯†‡
· Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker/Previn, LSO EMI SLS-832
· Thomson: The Plow That Broke The Plain Analogue/Vanguard AP001†
· Toch: Symphony No. 5 Capitol SP-8364†
· Vaughan Williams: Choral Music EMI SLS-5082
· Vaughan Williams: Job EMI ASD-2673
· Vaughan Williams: Sancta Civitas EMI ASD-2422
· Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies EMI SLS-822
· Vivaldi: Lute Concertos & Trios Hungarton SLPX-11978¯
· Wagner for Band Mercury SR-90276
· Walton: Crown Imperial/Fennell, Eastman Mercury SR-90197
· Grace Williams: Fantasy/Welsh Nursery Tunes EMI ASD-3006¯
· Wiren: Serenade for Strings EMI ESD-7001
SPECIAL MERIT: Operas
· Bizet: Carmen/Bernstein, et. al. Deutsche Gramm. 2709 043
· Bizet: Carmen/Karajan RCA LDS-6164†
· Britten: Noye's Fludde Argo ZK-1
· Menotti: Amahl & the Night Visitors RCA LSC-2762
· Mussorgsky: Boris Godonov Decca SET-514/7
· Puccini: La Boheme/Karajan Decca SET-565/6
· Puccini: Tosca RCA LDS-7022†
· Puccini: Turandot/Mehta Decca SET 561-3
· Verdi: Aida/Karajan London OSA-1313
· Wagner: Das Rheingold London OSA-1309
· Wagner: Gotterdammerung London OSA-1604
SPECIAL MERIT: Collections
· André Previn's Music Night EMI ASD-3131
· Ballet for Band Mercury SR-90256
· Danses Ancienne de Hongrie Harmonia Mundi HM-1003
· Evensong for Ash Wednesday Argo ZRG-5365
· Festival/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2423¯†‡
· For My True Love / Terri, Almeida Capitol SP-8461†
· Kronos Quartet: In Formation Reference Recordings RR-9
· La Fete de la Ane Harmonia Mundi HM-1036
· Fiesta in Hi-Fi Mercury SR-90134
· Magnum Opus Wilson W-8111
· The Moscow Sessions Sheffield TLP-1000
· Musique de la Grace Antique Harmonia Mundi HM-1015
· Overtures Fantaises Mercury SR-90191
· Percussion Music Nonesuch H-71291
· The Power of the Orchestra/Leibowitz, RPO Chesky RC-30
· Rhapsodies / Stowkowski Classic/RCA LSC-2471¯†‡
· Sing We Noel: Christmas Music Nonesuch H-71354
· La Spagna BIS 163/164
· Vienna: 1908-1914 Mercury SR-90316
· Witches Brew / Gibson, NSOL Classic/RCA LSC-2225†‡
SPECIAL MERIT: Informal
· Chet Atkins in Hollywood RCA LSP-1993
· Chet Atkins: Caribbean Guitar RCA LSP-2549
· The Other Chet Atkins RCA LSP-2175
· Joan Baez: Diamonds & Rust Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-238†‡
· Joan Baez: Farewell Angelina Vanguard VSD 79200
· Joan Baez: In Concert Vanguard VSD 2122
· Belafonte at Carnegie Hall RCA LSO-6006
· Belafonte Sings the Blues Classic/RCA LSP-1972†‡
· Bob and Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular RCA LSP-1773 (Also Classic)
· Dave Brubeck: Time Out Classic/Columbia CS-8192†‡
· The Civil War (Vol. 1) Mercury LPSD-2-901
· Judy Collins: Judith Elektra 6E-111
· David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name Atlantic SD-7203
· Dafos Reference Recordings RR-12
· Jim Dawson: Songman Kama Sutra KSBS-2035
· Davis: Kind of Blue Classic/Columbia CS-8163†‡
· (Also Columbia CS-8163†)
· Davis-Evans: Sketches of Spain Columbia CS-8271
· Eagles: Desperado (British) Asylum SYL-9011
· Eileen Farrell: Torch Songs Reference Recordings RR-34¯†‡
· Electric Love Mercury Limelight LS-86072
· Enya Atlantic 81842-1
· Fresh Aire II American Gramaphone 359
· Fresh Aire III American Gramaphone 365
· Art Garfunkel: Breakaway CBS/Sony 25AP 1373
· S. Goodman: Mallets, Melody & MayhemColumbia CS-8333†
· Ed Graham: Hot Stix M & K Realtime RT-106
· Earl "Fatha"Hines: Fatha! M & K Realtime RT-105
· Jarre: OxygËnePolydor 2473-10
· Bruce Katz: Crescent Crawl Audioquest AQ-1012¯†‡
· Klaatu EMI EST-11542
· Kraftwerk: Autobahn Parlophone EJ24 00701
· Gordon Lightfoot: Summer Side of Life Reprise MS-2037
· Bob Marley & The Wailers: Natty Dread Island ILPS-9281
· McBroom: Growing Up in Hollywood Town Sheffield Lab-13
· Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah-Um Classic/Columbia CS 8171†‡
· (Also Columbia CS-8171†)
· Joni Mitchell: Blue Reprise MS-2038
· Joni Mitchell: Court & Spark Asylum 7E-1007
· Joni Mitchell: Wild Things Run Fast Geffen GHS-2019
· Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle Warner Bros. 1727
· Peter, Paul, & Mary Warner Bros. 1449
· Pig's Eye Jazz (Vol. II) Insight Records Vol. 2
· Pink Floyd: The Wall (Japanese) CBS/Sony 40AP 1750
· Professor Johnson's Astounding Sound Show Reference Recordings RR-7¯‡
· Reflections Reference Recordings RR-18¯‡
· Renaissance: Novella Sire SA-2576
· Rough Trade: Avoid Freud True North TN-43
· Rough Trade: For Those Who Think Young True North TN-48
· Rough Trade: Shaking The Foundations True North TN-50
· Salt City Six: Dixieland Audiophile AP-80
· Seals & Crofts: Greatest Hits Warner Bros. BS-2886
· The Sheffield Drum Record Sheffield Lab-14¯
· Star of Wonder Reference Recordings RR-21¯‡
· Cat Stevens: Tea for the Tillerman (British) Island ILPS-9135
· Cat Stevens: Teaser & The Firecat Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-244†‡
· The Strayaway Child Song of the Wood 7811
· The Wilson Band Recordings Wilson W-8823/24¯†
· Dionne Warwick: Soulful Scepter SPS-573
SPECIAL MERIT: Singles:
· Aha: Take Me On (British) Warner Brothers W-9006
· China Crisis: in a Catholic Style(British) Virgin VS-765112
· Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Relax(British) Virgin/ZTT-1ZZTAS1
· Freez: I.O.U.Streetwise SWRL-2210
· Bill Henderson: Send in the Clowns (45rpm) Classic/Discovery JP-0779.12†
· Greg Kihn: JeopardyBeserkley 0-67932
· Human League: Don't You Want Me(British) Virgin 466-12B
· Propaganda: Machinery(British) Virgin/ZTT 12xZ TAS 12
· Lionel Richie: All Night LongMotown 4514-MG
· Gerry Woo: Help YourselfPolydor 887-529-1
· Yaz: Don't GoMute Yaz-001
· Yello: Lost Again Elektra 966790
· Yello & Shirley Bassey: The Rhythm DivineMercury 888-746-1
SPECIAL MERIT: Film and Broadway Score
· Bliss: Things To Come EMI ASD-3416¯
· The Flight of the Condor BBC Records REB-440
· Herrmann: Citizen Kane (British) RCA GL-43441
· Herrmann: The Fantasy Film World Decca PFS-4309
· Herrmann: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir Filmmusic Collection FMC-4¯
· Herrmann: The Three Worlds of Gulliver Decca PFS-4337
· Homrich/Gascoigne: The Emerald Forest Varese Sarabande STV-81244
· Horner: Glory Virgin 1-91329
· Jarre: The Professionals Colgems COSO-5001
· Mancini: Hatari! RCA LSC-2559
· Moroder: Cat People Backstreet BSR-6107
· Myrow/Seagrave: Phantasm Varese VC-81105
· Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible EMI SLS-5110
· Rosza: Ben Hur Decca PFS-4394
· Rosza: Quo Vadis Decca PFS-4430
· Sondheim: Pacific Overtures RCA ARL-1-1367†
· Sondheim: Sweeney Todd RCA CBL2-3379†
· Tiomkin: Lost Horizons (British) RCA GL-43445
· Tiomkin: The Thing (British) RCA RL-42005
· Vangelis: Antartica (Japanese) Polydor 2MM-0290 † New entries on list‡ Still in print¯ Exceptionally natural and musical sound, as opposed to the merely hi-fi spectacular