Various Artists - The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals

Please note: The song "Show Biz Kids" contained within this product does include profanity that may be offensive to some. Please be aware before purchasing this product and playing this song.

Hi-Fi News "Album Choice" for October 2019!

An Audiophile Go-To!

The Record You Grab When You Want To Show Off Your System!

All-Time Classic Performances And Recordings By All-Time Great Female Singers

Each Track Selected By Acoustic Sounds Owner Chad Kassem

Lacquers Cut By Kevin Gray

Pressed At Quality Record Pressings On 180-gram vinyl

Packaged In A Gatefold, Deluxe, Stoughton Tip-On Jacket

Liner Notes By Michael Fremer

"I've just treated myself to The Wonderful Sounds Of Female Vocals. It's a creatively curated compilation and does, indeed, sound wonderful from first side to last. I'm really looking forward to hearing how the gems on the companion album of male vocals will sparkle on vinyl." — Kevin Howlett

Kevin Howlett is an award-winning UK-based radio producer and writer. He's been closely associated with The Beatles throughout his long career, having written numerous books about the group as well as making radio documentaries about them for the BBC and Apple Corps. He was deeply involved in the recent super-deluxe editions of Sgt. Pepper, "The White Album" and Abbey Road, both writing the books and researching the original session tapes. Other artists and companies Howlett has documented for radio or in books include David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, Frank Zappa, Elektra Records and Ortofon.

"At first, you might think this is simply a compilation promoting Analogue Productions' catalogue, which it does. But they packed it with 22 exalted distaff classics such as Patsy Cline's original 'Crazy,' Julie London's 'Cry Me A River,' and others of that calibre — no fillers. AP's artists also include Joan Baez, Shelby Lynne, Phoebe Snow, Rickie Lee Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Bryan, Jennifer Warnes, Diana Krall, Janis Ian, Joan Armatrading, Judy Collins and Holly Cole, so this really is A-list stuff. Best of all? You get two of the greatest performances ever: Dusty Springfield's 'Son Of A Preacher Man' and yes, 'The Look Of Love.' This isn't just a taster for AP: it's a phenomenal package by any standards." — Sound Quality = 90% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News Album Choice for October 2019

"(Kevin) Gray has few peers and the two-LP set is as sharp a calling card as exists for experiencing how good older recordings can be made to sound when the care and skill of an exceptional mastering engineer is at the helm. If this album doesn't make your stereo sound fantastic, don't blame it on the LPs!" — Music = 4.5/5; Sound = 5/5; Pressing = 5/5; Jacket = 3/5 — Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com, August 2018

"Humungous conflict of interest alert! I wrote this compilation's liner notes and created the 22 song track order. ... The sources all were high-resolution files, some DSD, some PCM, depending upon what (Chad) Kassem was originally given in the digital domain, or in most cases what Gus Skinas produced in DSD using the original analog tapes. ... This double LP set works well as entertainment and as a great sampler of the LPs mostly released by Analogue Productions and mostly AAA (where there's tape to begin with). You can't go wrong." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the whole review here.

I've been doing this (cherry picking great recordings for reissue) for a long time, and I think I've got a good idea of what audiophiles like to hear. This is all of your female vocal demo cuts in one place." — Chad Kassem, Acoustic Sounds owner

Female vocalists have forever been celebrated by audiophiles and music lovers alike. Whether the delivery is delicate or bombastic, a great female vocal well-recorded is just so sensuous. It's the genre that most often typifies the potential of hi-fi and what it can do to engage our emotions. It's no wonder the hallways of any hi-fi show will be resonating with the sounds of sparsely-arranged recordings of great women singers. It's the genre that best shows off the systems that manufacturers and dealers are trying to sell.

Now, you can have all of those best demo tracks on one record. Show stoppers by Julie London, Diana Krall, Rickie Lee Jones, Nina Simone, Janis Ian, Phoebe Snow, Jennifer Warnes, Dusty Springfield, Shelby Lynne and many more. Every single track is an audiophile demo classic. Drop the needle and drop your friend's jaw!

Michael Fremer, of AnalogPlanet.com and Stereophile Magazine, walks you through each track and its historic place with very thorough and entertaining liners.

Plating and pressing was done at Quality Record Pressings.

Ever have that moment where you want to really light up your system — either for a late-night session by yourself or for when you've got company — and you don't want to keep changing records to keep the hit parade going? This record ends that issue. You've only got to make one selection.

Music

Sound

Ratings from Michael Fremer @ AnalogPlanet.com

Side 1

1. Cry Me A River - Julie London

2. Black Coffee - Ella Fitzgerald

3. Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow

4. Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield

5. Just A Little Lovin' - Shelby Lynne

6. Show Biz Kids - Rickie Lee Jones

Side 2

1. Crazy – Patsy Cline

2. Tennessee Waltz – Holly Cole

3. Breaking Silence – Janis Ian

4. Hey There – Myra Taylor

5. What a Shame – Patricia Barber

6. Plain Gold Ring - Nina Simone

Side 3

1. The Moon Is Made Of Gold - Rickie Lee Jones

2. Blue Moon - Julie London

3. Blame It on the Moon - Nancy Bryan

4. Diamonds and Rust - Joan Baez

5. Somebody Who Loves You - Joan Armatrading

6. Send In the Clowns - Judy Collins

Side 4

1. Ballad Of The Runaway Horse - Jennifer Warnes

2. A Case of You - Diana Krall

3. The Look of Love - Dusty Springfield

4. Brothers In Arms - Joan Baez

Customer Reviews (4.94 Stars) 18 person(s) rated this product.

I just keep shaking my head posted on 09/03/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Nrchy I have a few lps in my collection, but if I have something that sounds as good as The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals it isn't coming to mind now. I grew up with some of these recording and have a few of the originals, but I just keep shaking my head because they don't sound like this. No system will sound better than the source, so this is going to put any system to the test. Are the tones right, is the decay right, is the soundstage right? People are not going to be able to hide behind their electronics. If something is lacking, this album will reveal the shortcoming. Sometimes audiophiles spend too much time listening to the equipment and not the music, but this set my toes tapping, and just maybe I sang along with a couple of tracks. It's about the music, thanks Chad for putting this together. When can we expect volume II?

So good posted on 03/17/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Scott Exceptional album, its a bargain for the quality of music and the quality of the pressing. I have no regrets with this purchase and I suspect most people wouldn't either.

Just Buy It posted on 04/29/2021 5 Stars I was on the fence about purchasing this album due to the high price, but it is worth every penny. It's an absolute pleasure to listen to. Feels like the artists are right in front of you. Perfect production quality and pressing.

Very Satisfying posted on 12/11/2020 5 Stars Reviewer: Froilan Duclayan, Toronto Wow! To put those velvet voices in an audiophile compilation is just satisfying. This record is a must to an audiophile collection. After playing the two LPs, you would want to start all over again, that's how good this compilation is. Make sure to have a glass of wine and a rocking chair. Cheers!

Speaker Test posted on 06/26/2020 5 Stars Reviewer: Mark Oh my, my.... if you have any flaws in your mid range on your speakers, be prepared to find them on this amazing album. My wife, who doesn’t normally pay attention to what I have on the platter was walking through the room and dead stopped and said ‘that album is amazing, sounds like they are in the room with us....’ Incredible - if you have even the slightest thought about this one, do it - you will not be sorry....

Beautiful new vinyl. posted on 11/16/2019 5 Stars Reviewer: John Another great analog offering from Chad Kassem. But with the excellent graphics abilities of QRP, why not pictures of these female singers inside the gatefold instead of (sorry Michael) MF liner notes?

Excellent in All Ways! posted on 05/06/2019 5 Stars Reviewer: Mark First copy was full of distortion but the friendly folks at Acoustic Sounds sent out a second set of vinyl. This copy is one of the best records I have ever experienced. My thanks for the great service and an excellent recording.

Much better than first batch posted on 02/11/2019 4 Stars This is my second copy of the album after experiencing terrible distortion with the first. This copy is MUCH cleaner and with less distortion. The only track that still has it, is Nina Simone's Plain Gold Ring. The piano crescendos still include the scratchy "ssshhhh" noises. Otherwise, all the other tracks are clear and what is expected of such a great compilation of voices. I can certainly live with one bad track.

Amazing posted on 01/18/2019 5 Stars Reviewer: RobCos Not much I can say that others haven’t covered. An audiophiles dream. Wonderful curation of artists and song choices. I hope there’s a second volume someday. Or an altogether different “Wonderful Sounds” to add to the series. Or both!

Stunning By Any Measure posted on 01/16/2019 5 Stars Reviewer: Mills Well, if you are on the fence, just jump off. I'll push ya. That's what friends do. Stunning audio quality, and great selections that will appeal to literally everyone. Quiet surface noise. Dynamics where I didn't think possible. There ya go. Get it. Or don't, and cry when they are gone....

Why face outrageous cover charges and 3-drink minimums?... posted on 12/19/2018 5 Stars Reviewer: Reilly Hamer Let's face it- those smoky nightclubs are harmful to your health anyway. Just throw (no, wait- you just paid fifty-five bucks for this vinyl, so gently place) this amazing album on the turntable, sit back, and relax. Now close your eyes- you'll swear these wonderful singers are in the room with you. Yes, this one-of- a-kind collection really is that good (but then again I have yet to hear a QRP release that ISN'T superior). Just one minor quibble: I wish 'Diamonds and Rust' by Joan Baez was the studio version, not the live rendition featured on this album. But that's just my take on it, so don't mind me. Just buy it!

Awesome, Worth the wait posted on 12/13/2018 5 Stars Reviewer: Greg I had to wait over 2 months as it was on back order. But was it ever worth it. Damn right it was. This LP set is hands down the best sounding vinyl I own. And I own some good ones. I am sitting here in a dim lit room sipping a fine Rum while I listen to this album. Such an intimate experience. Each song is so well recorded that is feels like they are right here playing their songs just for me. This is an outstanding collection of songs, near perfection. Highly recommend it. No audiophile should be without it.

Superb collection posted on 08/24/2018 5 Stars Reviewer: Eric Wonderful sound on this collection. Every track is special. Pressings flat, centered and quiet. You will not regret your purchase.

Ummmmm..... posted on 08/22/2018 5 Stars Ok, let's make this as short as possible. 1. Artist list is incredible. 2. Studio/Mastering unbelievable. 3. Pressing is a holy bleep! U don't have to believe this review. U don't know me from Adam. This record is so freaking good. I'm out!

Wow! posted on 08/14/2018 5 Stars This is my new demo record for sure. Just sounds so good. There are many great familiar songs here but there are many I have never heard. I'll be seeking out records by these new discoveries. Just a wonderful compilation with absolute perfect sequencing.

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