CDs that Have No Equal (Recommendations please)

Another great album is "Fabrique" by Fashion (1982)
This album is only available on the (rare) CD "The Height Of Fashion" and it isn't on streaming services.
That's my favorite new wave album and the production of Zeus B. Held is great, one of the best sounding records from the 80s (apart from Michael Jackson's Thriller).
My favorite track is Do You Wanna Make Love?

 

Super intriguing! Do you know if the represses from the 2000s on Cherry Red are the same as the original Arista pressing?

 

Bowie’s Aladdin Sane, the original RCA CD (Made in Japan). Smokes the original vinyl!

 

Midnight Oil-Diesel and Dust, US DADC, cheap as a Whopper, audiophile broiled in.

 

Oh dear, I’ll need to start saving for that one.

 

I never found an original 1990 press of this CD, the only one I could find is the 2001 Cherry Red CD, and it sounds excellent.
I believe they use the same master, but from the waveforms I can tell the 2001 has a bit of compression applied, but this doesn't compromise the sound.

 

Hi JMAC,

We have an ongoing thread with 16 pages of recommendations here: Your 25 Best Sounding CDs
Feel free to join us!

 

Thanks @George P — I began on that one, and quickly got overwhelmed...

I’ll dip in and out, I’m sure, but I thought my question (not just ‘best sounding’, but better than other formats) was different enough to warrant a separate post.

 

Here's a file from the 2001 CD:
Fashion - Do You Wanna Make Love (2001 Cherry Red CD).flac

 

Oop's, sorry Jon, missed the other formats part. Still prefer that ELO over the US lp, Midnight Oil is awash, both formats sound great.
Mid 80's and later US Sire and Atlantic titles I prefer the compact discs over the LP's. By the time simultaneous format releases started rolling out I didn't think they held any advantage, the one's I own anyways. The Cult-Love, while not the greatest sounding recording I found the Canadian Cinram CD (which uses the UK mastering) favorable over the stock US Sire CD and Vinyl.

 

Just wondering if this is really noticeably superior to the US version? If so, how?
Sade - Diamond Life

 

Steely Dan "Aja" SH MCA.

 

Ok, one last, then I'll quit

Fausto Leali - Amore Dolce, Amore Amaro, Amore Mio (1975)

It's an Italian record but the music it's absolutely beautiful! One of the most underrated and almost unknown Italian prog album!
And even this one is not present on streaming services (of course).
The Arcàngelo 2005 CD is superb in sound quality, but it's very rare! (and pretty expensive)

 

To be honest, I couldn't really comment on this particular CD, in fact I have only heard the US version of the album online. However, the different mixes used on the US version of the album make it a no-no for me - I much prefer Smooth Operator with the spoken intro and all that. Sonic-wise, this is also supposed to sound excellent according to older threads, so the difference in sound quality shouldn't be noticeable, if even existing.

 

Phoebe Snow (S/T) DCC (gold disc) Mastered by Steve Hoffman.

 

I wasn't aware there were different mixes used. "Smooth Operator" on this cd does indeed have the spoken intro.

 

Brain Eno 2004 remasters. Excellent. Almost sound like analog. Almost...

 

Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues" - Collector's Edition 2-Disc set [2006] - EMI 0946 3 57673 2 2

( Mine is EU/UK pressing from Holland. US copies are also said to be VG.)

 

Venus and Mars - DCC

 

Ah yes, I checked - for some reason I thought the US edition used the same cut as the single edit. Nonetheless, the mix of Smooth Operator is not the same at all - her vocals sound completely different to the version of the album we got in Europe, plus there's percussion not found on my copy of the album, etc. They're both good versions, but I much prefer the one on my CD - it's the one I grew up with, after all

Not sure which songs else differ between US and EU/Japan versions of the album, I didn't do direct comparisons.

If you (or anybody else) are interested, this is the version found on US copies of Diamond Life thus also on the disc you linked:



and this is the one we got in Europe and which is also my go-to version:

Smooth Operator

 

Two actually from the Pink Floyd camp.

Dark Side Of The Moon Japan 1st pressing Black Triangle catalog #CP35-3017 with no TO in the matrix. Just stunning imaging in both width and depth and a strong believable presence.

Meddle Japan 1st pressing Black Triangle catalog #CP32-5032 with no CDP 7-46034 2 or TO in the matrix. Same reasons as the above.

 

Is there any way to click “like” on a thread?

 

Mind blown. It's a totally different performance! Going to get this asap.

 

Right? Meanwhile, I'm looking for a US disc which luckily shouldn't set me back too much

 

I’m not sure if the following recommendation fits directly within the stated topic, but it’s one of the best sounding discs I’ve heard, and I don’t think it’s been issued on vinyl.

The Acoustic Blues and Roots of Duke Robillard.