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
- Balalaika 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
- Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-1934¯†‡
- Bartok: 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 III Nonesuch 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 Gardens Mercury 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-2341¯†‡
- 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 Terpsichore Archiv 198166
- Prokofiev: Lt. Kije (Suite)/Reiner, CSO Classic/RCA LSC-2150¯†‡
- Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2/Frager Classic/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/Ansermet Decca/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-1001†
- 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/Ansermet London 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 & Mayhem Columbia CS-8333†
- Ed Graham: Hot Stix M & K Realtime RT-106
- Earl “Fatha”Hines: Fatha! M & K Realtime RT-105
- Jarre: OxygËne Polydor 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: Jeopardy Beserkley 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 Long Motown 4514-MG
- Gerry Woo: Help Yourself Polydor 887-529-1
- Yaz: Don’t Go Mute Yaz-001
- Yello: Lost Again Elektra 966790
- Yello & Shirley Bassey: The Rhythm Divine Mercury 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
- Rózsa: Ben Hur Decca PFS-4394
- Rózsa: 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
By Harry Pearson
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