The Direct to Disc thread

DaveyF

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Jul 31, 2010
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A lot of us have heard some of the very best Direct to Disc LP's. IMHO, they can be some of the best sounding LP's that one can own. However, I also believe that a lot of them were sub-par in their music content. Tonight, I was listening to several good Direct to Disc LP's...a few of them exceptional...and a few, well let's just say less than stellar.

So, to add to our knowledge base, i thought I would start this thread, wherein we can discuss the merits and pitfalls of the various Direct to Disk(c) LP's that we have heard or currently own. I am hoping that a few of the more stellar titles, some of which are a little esoteric and unknown, will come to our attention.

I will start with the few that I heard tonight..
1) This LP is now on MF's hot list and in some ways deservedly so... th.jpeg A great recording in most ways, although i feel the alto sax is recorded a little too hot and therefore comes off in places as a tad bright....overall a great recording with IMO fairly good music.Highly Recommended--but ONLY if one can source a Mint or Mint minus copy!
2) I have the white vinyl version of this: th-1.jpeg It's not as good as a lot of other D to D's BUT it has some good drum sounds and and is worth picking up IF you are interested in the sound of a good drum part. Music is second rate IMO.
Perhaps the black vinyl version would sound better, but the music is lacking IMHO.

3) I had great hopes for this LP... th-2.jpeg BUT the sound is only fair...compared to the LA 4 above and numerous other D to D's. Music is also a little underwhelming. I would skip this one.

4) The old war horse: th-3.jpeg on Sheffield Lab. Probably we all have a copy of this LP...If not I do suggest finding a copy, although the condition is critical, several copies that I have are somewhat noisy in places...and most used copies one can find are the same. However, a sealed copy would be well worth seeking out. Highly recommended.

Shall we continue:
 
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Blizzard

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I bet those sound awesome Davey! Thanks for sharing.
 

DaveyF

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Christian, thanks, that is on my radar. I think it was on HP's list for a while and then fell out of popularity...I have no idea as to why.
Others?
 

rockitman

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Christian, thanks, that is on my radar. I think it was on HP's list for a while and then fell out of popularity...I have no idea as to why.
Others?

of course you know about For Duke. If you like piano...this is killer.
 

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jadis

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This was one of my very first Direct to Disc that was not a Sheffield Lab LP and the opening of the first cut Arabesque always dropped jaws when I play it to my friends. Dynamics and clarity are tops here.

100_3558.jpg
 

jadis

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DonH50

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Many Sheffield discs, plus Truth (a Christian group), few others... My LPs are in storage so not sure the list. I must say the Sheffield CDs are among the better remasters; much of the pop stuff I have sounds terrible on CD and it's clearly just a mastering/transfer problem.
 

DaveyF

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This was one of my very first Direct to Disc that was not a Sheffield Lab LP and the opening of the first cut Arabesque always dropped jaws when I play it to my friends. Dynamics and clarity are tops here.

View attachment 25539

Yes, of course I know about 'For Duke'...but let's add the special M&K Lp's here:

1) For Duke th.jpeg Superb on all counts. Music and sound.

2) Fatha..Earl 'Fatha' Hines. th-1.jpeg Great piano sound. Not quite as great as 'For Duke' above...

3) Flamenco Fever.. th-2.jpeg Great sound, music is superb ( IF you like Flamenco). Hard to source today.

Others....
 
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Ron Resnick

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I think the Sheffield Lab discs of Amanda McBroom's "Growing Up in Hollywood Town" and Thelma Houston's "I've Got the Music in Me" have the most transparent female vocals I have ever heard on vinyl.
 

audio.bill

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Another one of the best - "The Three", a masterful jazz trio with Joe Sample, Ray Brown and Shelly Manne. Make sure you get the East Wind Direct Cut version from 1976, as it was also later re-issued as a standard LP. :D


TracklistHide Credits

A1Yearnin'
Composed By – Oliver Nelson
5:04
A2On Green Dolphin Street
Composed By – B. Kaper*, N. Washington*​
5:17
A3Satin Doll
Composed By – B. Strayhorn*, D. Ellington*, J. Mercer*​
5:38
B1Manha Do Carnaval
Composed By – A. Maria*, F. Llenas*, L. Bonfa*​
5:59
B2Round About Midnight
Composed By – B. D. Hanighen*, C. Williams*, T. Monk*​
4:34
B3Funky Blues
Composed By – J. Sample*, R. Brown*, S. Manne*​
5:10
 

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DaveyF

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I have a few of these based on everyone's recommendations. How about a list of the top 10 must have D2D albums

I just got a new unopened For Duke that I found in Germany

That is kind of what I was hoping for in my OP. There are some real gems to be had and heard in the D2D library. Many of them are fairly unknown.

As an example, I just learned about the LP that audio.bill posted above. Looks like a real winner.
 

MadFloyd

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Another one of the best - "The Three", a masterful jazz trio with Joe Sample, Ray Brown and Shelly Manne. Make sure you get the East Wind Direct Cut version from 1976, as it was also later re-issued as a standard LP. :D


TracklistHide Credits

A1Yearnin'
Composed By – Oliver Nelson
5:04
A2On Green Dolphin Street
Composed By – B. Kaper*, N. Washington*​
5:17
A3Satin Doll
Composed By – B. Strayhorn*, D. Ellington*, J. Mercer*​
5:38
B1Manha Do Carnaval
Composed By – A. Maria*, F. Llenas*, L. Bonfa*​
5:59
B2Round About Midnight
Composed By – B. D. Hanighen*, C. Williams*, T. Monk*​
4:34
B3Funky Blues
Composed By – J. Sample*, R. Brown*, S. Manne*​
5:10

Coincidentally I am spinning this now. I don't find anything special about the sonics.
 

jadis

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Apr 28, 2010
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Commonly regarded as Sheffield Labs first direct to disc LP, Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues, often often called S-9, this one has good dynamics and good cuts, among which the instrumental rendition of Up Up and Away and All The Things You Are.

130860194825.jpg
 

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