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