TAS Super Vinyl List
A
Sample Article from The Absolute Sound, Issue 114
Best of the Bunch
Classical
Informal
Special Merit
Classical
Informal
Operas
Singles
Collections
Film & Broadway Scores
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¯
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 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
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
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
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
Rusza: Ben Hur Decca PFS-4394
Rusza: 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