Editor’s Note: This list only contains new entries for the 2018 list update. Watch for the full list here coming soon, or pick up a print issue of TAS 283, where the list appears in full.
Of the many articles and reviews that Harry Pearson wrote for The Absolute Sound, his annual Super LP List (aka SuperDisc List) may have been the most eagerly anticipated. The issue in which it was published was the one that everyone had to buy, borrow, or copy. Why? Because whether you were rich or poor, active in the high-end audio market or just kicking tires, it was the one issue of TAS you could make daily practical use of—it was your road map to the absolute sound.
It is our aim here to preserve and expand upon what Harry created. Below are new entries to the Super LP list that JV and the TAS staff have deemed worthy of adding.
In keeping with Harry’s practice, each entry new to this latest version of the list is bolded and marked with a red diamond symbol (◊), and those recordings that are still available new or re-issued are marked with a double dagger (‡). LPs with particularly natural, as opposed to hi-fi spectacular sound have been awarded an asterisk (*).
This probably goes without saying, but be aware that a scant few of the most recent pop entries have “adult” lyrics. JV
SPECIAL MERIT: Classical
• Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21/Knight. Wilson Audiophile/Analogue Productions AAPC 8313◊‡
• Bennett: Piano Concerto/Stephen Bishop, Gibson, London SO. Philips 6500301◊
• Bizet: L’arlesienne Suites 1 and 2/ROHO, Morel. Decca/RCA/Analogue Productions AAPC 2237◊‡
• Chopin: Chopin’s Last Waltz/Silverman. IsoMike 5606*◊‡
• Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man, Third Symphony/Oue. Reference Recordings◊‡
• Geissler: Chamber Symphony 1970/Leipzig Chamber Orchestra, Pommer. Nova 885152◊
• Grieg: Finlandia/London Proms, Mackerras. Decca/RCA/Analogue Productions AAPC 2336◊‡
• R. Linn: Vino/Goldman-Brown Duo. Orion 76212◊
• Pickard: The Flight of Icarus/Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. BIS 1578◊
• Respighi: The Pines of Rome, Belkis, Queen of Sheba Suite/Oue. Reference Recordings◊‡
• Schubert: Piano Sonata in A d.959/Serkin. Columbia MS 6849◊
• R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel/Reiner. RCA/Analogue Productions AAPC 2077◊‡
• Walton: Facade/ROHO, Fistoulari. Decca/RCA/Analogue Productions AAPC 2285◊‡
• Webern: Movement for String Trio/Ensemble HD. S&W V001◊‡
SPECIAL MERIT: Collections
• Ballet Music From The Opera/PCO, Fistoulari. Decca/RCA/Analogue Productions AAPC 2400◊‡
• Masterpieces For Violin And Orchestra/Milstein, Susskind. Analogue Productions AAPC 8528◊‡
• Sea Shanties/The Men of the Robert Shaw Chorale. RCA LSC-2552◊
• Tangos Among Friends/Barenboim, et al. TELDEC Classics 0630-13474-2◊
SPECIAL MERIT: Informal
• Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavillion. Domino WIGLP 216◊‡
• Applewood Road: Applewood Road. Gearbox GB 1531US◊‡
• Louis Armstrong: Satchmo Plays King Oliver. Audio Fidelity/Analogue Productions AAPJ 5930◊‡
• Chet Atkins, Les Paul: Chester & Lester. RCA/Exhibit XLP 44061◊
• Chet Baker: Chet Baker Sings. Pan Am Records 9152236 (mono)◊‡
• !!! (Click-Click-Click): Louden Up Now. Touch & Go TG234◊
• Count Basie: Count Basie and the Kansas City 7. Impulse! Stereo A-15◊
• Count Basie: Kansas City 7. Pablo Records 2310-908◊
• Count Basie Big Band: Farmers Market Barbecue. Pablo Records 2310-874◊
• The Beatles: Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Parlophone PCS 7027◊‡
• Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique. Capitol Records 509996 93300 18◊‡
• Tony Bennett: At Carnegie Hall. Columbia/Analogue Productions AAPP 823◊‡
• Eleonora Bianchini/Enzo Pietropaoli: Dos. Fonè 5028917◊‡
• Andrew Bird: Are You Serious. Loma Vista 39052◊‡
• Blondie: Parallel Lines. Chrysalis CHE 1192◊
• Daft Punk: Random Access Memories. Columbia 88883716861◊‡
• Anouar Brahem: Blue Maqams. ECM 5789542◊‡
• Jeff Buckley: Grace. Columbia/ORG ORGLP 019445◊
• Kenny Burrell with Coleman Hawkins: Bluesy Burrell. Analogue Productions APRJ 29◊‡
• Alex Chilton: High Priest. Big Time Records (America) 6047-1-B◊‡
• Holly Cole Trio: Don’t Smoke In Bed. Analogue Productions AAPP 049◊‡
• Stephan Crump: Rhombal. Papillon 5638885650◊‡
• deadmau5: 4×4=12. Ultra Records UL 2518-2◊
• Jack DeJohnette: Return. Newvelle NV002LP◊‡
• Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: To Bonnie from Delaney. ATCO/Speakers Corner 33341◊‡
• Derek and the Dominoes: Layla. Mobile Fidelity LMF470◊‡
• The Doors: The Doors. Elektra/Analogue Productions AAPP 74007-45 (45rpm)◊‡
• The Doors: Infinite. Elektra/ Analogue Productions AAPP DOORS 45 (45rpm)◊‡
• Bob Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan. Columbia/Mobile Fidelity MFSL 2-279◊‡
• Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde. Columbia/MoFi MFSL 3-45009 (45rpm)◊‡
• Bob Dylan: The Free Wheelim’ Bob Dylan. Columbia/Mobile Fidelity MFSL 2-378◊‡
• Kat Edmonson: Way Down Low. Spinnerete SR-1202◊
• Roy Eldridge: Happy Times. Pablo 2310-746◊
• Duke Ellington and Ray Brown: This One’s For Blanton. Pablo Records 2310 721◊
• Bill Evans: The Paris Concert (Edition One). Elektra/ORG 070 (45rpm)◊‡
• Bill Evans Trio: Sunday at the Village Vanguard. Riverside/Mobile Fidelity UD1S 2-002 (45rpm)◊‡
• Donald Fagen: The Nightfly. Warner Bros./Mobile Fidelity UD451S-003 (45rpm)◊‡
• Fine Young Cannibals: The Raw & The Cooked. I.R.S. Records IRS-6273◊
• Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass: Speak Love. Pablo Records D2310888◊
• The Flaming Lips: The Soft Bulletin. Warner Bros. CLP 7433LP◊‡
• Aretha Franklin: Aretha Gold. Atlantic/Mobile Fidelity LMF479 (45rpm)◊‡
• Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel 3. Geffen Records GHSP 2035◊‡
• Jerry Garcia & Dave Grisman: Shady Grove. Mobile Fidelity MF478◊‡
• Melody Gardot: Live in Europe. Verve Jazz 5765500◊‡
• Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On. Island 5370306◊‡
• Charlie Haden: Quartet West. Verve 831 673-1◊
• The Gene Harris Quartet: Listen Here! Concord Jazz CJ-385◊
• Interpol: Turn on the Bright Lights. Matador 448861 05450◊‡
• Jason Isbell: Southeastern. Southeastern Records 25473◊‡
• Jacintha: Here’s To Ben. Groove Note GRV 1001-1 (45rpm)◊‡
• Michael Jackson: Thriller. Epic 88875143731◊‡
• Jay-Z: The Black Album. Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella AAB000152801◊‡
• Yusef Lateef: Eastern Sounds. Fantasy Records OJC-612◊‡
• LCD Soundsystem: American Dream. Columbia/DFA/Sony Music 88985456111◊‡
• LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening. DFA DFA 2250-2◊‡
• Michel Legrand: Legrand Jazz. Columbia/Impex 6028◊‡
• Julie London: Julie Is Her Name. Liberty/Analogue Productions AAPP 7100-45 (45rpm)◊‡
• London Grammar: If You Wait. Ministry of Sound MADART1LP◊‡
• Malia, Boris Blank: Convergence. EmArcy 374 593-2◊‡
• Zara McFarlane: Arise. Brownswood BWOOD 162LP◊‡
• Nicole Mitchell: Mandoria Awakening It: Emerging Worlds. FPE LPFPE 012◊‡
• The Modern Jazz Quartet: For Ellington. East-West Records 90926-1◊
• Thelonious Monk: Les Liasons Dangereuses 1960. Sam Records/Saga/Universal Music 1◊‡
• Thelonious Monk: Monk’s Music. Riverside/Analogue Productions RLP-242 (45rpm)◊
• The Mothers of Invention: The Grand Wazoo. Bizarre Records MS 2093◊
• My Bloody Valentine: Loveless. mybloodyvalentine.org◊‡
• The National: Sleep Well Beast. 4AD 4AD0020LP◊‡
• Willie Nelson: Stardust. Analogue Productions AAPP 116-45 (45pm)◊‡
• Randy Newman: Dark Matter. Nonesuch 7559794034◊‡
• Nine Inch Nails: With Teeth. Nothing Records B0004553-01◊
• Roy Orbison: Crying. Analogue Productions AAPP 14007-45 (45rpm)◊‡
• Rosa Passos & Ron Carter: Entre Amigos. Chesky 229◊‡
• Allison Pierce: Year of the Rabbit. Masterworks/Analog Spark 00038◊‡
• The Pixies: Doolittle. 4AD/Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-309◊‡
• The Pixies: Surfer Rosa. 4AD/Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-296◊‡
• Robert Plant: Carry Fire. Nonesuch 563057◊‡
• The Police: Synchronicity. A&M Records SP-3725◊
• Procul Harum: A Salty Dog. A&M/Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-474◊‡
• Radiohead: OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017. XL XLMX868◊‡
• Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine. Sony Music 88875111751◊‡
• David Rawlings: Poor David’s Almanac. Acony 1713-LP◊‡
• R.E.M.: Automatic for the People. Concord Craft Recordings CONC 0046◊‡
• The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones in Mono. ABKCO 018771834519◊‡
• The Rolling Stones: Tattoo You. Rolling Stones Records COC 16052◊
• Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus. Prestige/Analogue Productions 7079 (mono)◊‡
• Linda Ronstadt: Heart Like A Wheel. Mobile Fidelity LMF472◊‡
• Linda Ronstadt: Simple Dreams. Analogue Productions AAPP 074-45 (45pm)◊‡
• Linda Ronstadt: What’s New. Analogue Productions AAPP 0730-45 (45pm)◊‡
• St. Vincent: Masseduction. Loma Vista 225◊‡
• Sampha: Process. Young Turks TTLP 158◊‡
• DJ Shadow: Endtroducing. Island/Mercury 4795720◊‡
• Sherwood & Pinch: Man vs. Sofa. On-U Sound ONULP 135◊‡
• Simon and Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water. Columbia/Mobile Fidelity UD1S (45rpm)◊‡
• Nina Simone: Little Girl Blue. Analogue Productions AAPJ 083-45 (45rpm)◊‡
• Sylvan Esso: What Now. Loma Vista LVR00137◊‡
• Richard Thompson: Rumor and Sigh. Mobile Fidelity LMF476◊‡
• Trentemoller: The Last Resort. Poker Flat Recordings PFRLP18◊‡
• A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory. Jive 41418◊‡
• Sarah Vaughan: How Long Has This Been Going On◊ Pablo Records 2310-821◊
• Stevie Ray Vaughan: Couldn’t Stand the Weather. Epic/Analogue Productions AAPB 097-45 (45rpm)◊‡
• Rob Wasserman: Duets. Analogue Productions AAPB 118◊‡
• Gillian Welch: The Harrow & The Harvest. Acony ACNY-1109LP◊‡
• The Who: Live at Leeds. Geffen/Polydor 5774830◊‡
• Wilco: A Ghost is Born. Nonesuch/Rhino 8122764921◊‡
• Sonny Boy Williamson: Keep It To Ourselves. Analogue Productions AAPB 036-45 (45rrpm)◊‡
• Frank Zappa: Waka/Jawaka. Bizarre Records MS 2094
SPECIAL MERIT: Singles & EPs
• Andrew Bird: Useless Creatures. Fat Possum Records FP1219-1◊‡
• DJ Shadow: The Mountain Has Fallen. Mass Appeal. MSAP0046EP◊‡
• Sylvan Esso: Kick Jump Twist. Loma Vista 88072 01438 (45 rpm)◊‡
SPECIAL MERIT: Film and Broadway Score
• Badalamenti: Lost Highway. Nothing/Polydor 5741133◊‡
• The Beatles: Help! Capitol 3782574 (mono)◊‡
• The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night. Capitol 3782572 (mono)◊‡
• Bennett: Murder on the Orient Express. Capitol Records ST-11361◊
• E. Bernstein: The Grifters. Varese Sarabande VS-5290◊
• L. Bernstein: Symphonic Suite From On the Waterfront. Columbia MS6251◊
• Byrne, et al.: Something Wild. MCA Records MCA-6194◊
• Cooder: Paris, Texas. Real Gone Music RLGM 05431PMI◊‡
• Desplat and Mothersbaugh: Moonrise Kingdom. ABKCO (45rpm)◊‡
• Goldsmith: Chinatown. ABC Records ABDP-848◊
• Goldsmith: The Boys from Brazil. A&M Records SP-4731◊
• Herrmann: Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. Soundtrack Factory SF 579421◊‡
• Mancini: Hatari! RCA/Analogue Productions AAPP 2559-45 (45rpm)◊‡
• Morricone: The Mission. Virgin 90567-1◊
• Rota: Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. Capitol Records SW-11866◊
• Rota: The Godfather. Geffen Records B0022409-01◊‡
• Various: Goodfellas. Atlantic 670.9313◊
• Various: Pulp Fiction. Universal 5345461◊‡
• Zimmer: Dunkirk. Music on Vinyl MOVATM171◊‡
◊ New entries on list
‡ Still in print
* Exceptionally natural and musical sound
Tags: FEATURED
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