Here at Audio Affair we are great lovers of vinyl records and music in general. Our philosophy is that without great music, having a great hi-fi system, tweaking, upgrading and improving it would be pointless.
Hot off the heels of Record Store Day 2014, and in the midst of a vinyl revival, we thought that it made sense to ensure we offered a great varied selection of vinyl records along with the turntables and kit to play them on, which is why we now stock a much greater and more varied range of vinyl records from Music on Vinyl.
Music On Vinyl
Music On Vinyl is a vinyl only record label that releases high quality 180g LP and 7″ vinyl pressings of titles licensed from a wide range of record companies and artists who control their own repertoire. These are both re-issues of classic titles, or a simultaneous vinyl release to compliment a CD/DVD release, all marketed under the Music On Vinyl brand, which vinyl lovers worldwide recognize as a trusted name providing a superb LP vinyl product.
Music on Vinyl seek to always use the best quality source possible from which to press their records, making them ideal for the audiophile or vinyl enthusiast. This approach greatly extends the range of records which are available, where some brands only release those pressed from analogue master tapes, and ensures that a wide and varied catalogue can be offered.
We have come up with a list of albums we believe that every music lover should own (or at least listen to), without which no record collection would be complete.
Choosing just 5 records from Music On Vinyl’s impressive catalogue was tough, and this list could quite easily have been 5 completely different records. However, we think it offers a varied and well-rounded view of some of the best and most iconic albums Music On Vinyl has to offer.
1. Michael Jackson – Thriller
Michael Jacskon – Thriller
Of all Michael Jackson’s memorable albums and releases, 1982 release Thriller remains the most quintessential Michael Jackson record, and one that no record collection is complete without. Created in unison with legendary producer Quincy Jones, Thriller remains the best selling album of all time, and looks set to stay that way for the foreseeable future considering the decline of physical record sales.
It is a testament to the quality of the album that 7 out of 9 of its tracks were released as singles, many of which have become iconic in their own right and have influenced a generation of R & B musicians. Culture critic Nelson George stated Thriller ‘has educated R. Kelly, Usher, Justin Timberlake and countless others with Thriller as a textbook’.
Featuring iconic tracks such as ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Human Nature’, ‘P.Y.T.’, ‘Thriller’ and collaboration with Paul McCartney ‘The Girl Is Mine’, Thriller should be in everyone’s music collection!
2. Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde
Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde
Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde is his seventh studio album, and is included in virtually every critic’s list of seminal albums, and widely regarded as one of the finest albums of all time. Ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine as the 9th best album of all time, Blonde on Blonde presents Dylan at his prime, as well as encapsulating the music of an iconic era and generation.
Combining the sensibilities and lyrical ingenuity of the 1960s New York hipster with the unadulterated freedom and musicality of Southern rock and Blues influences, Blonde on Blonde becomes something truly unique.
Featuring tracks such as ‘Rainy Day Women #12 & 35’, ‘I Want You’, ‘Just Like A Woman’ and ‘Visions of Johanna’, Blonde on Blonde combines southern blues and rock influences, clearly imbued from its recording in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Strokes – Is This It
New York Indie Rock outfit The Stokes debut album Is This It is not just remembered for its memorable cover, but also its lasting musical influences and legacy. The album’s low-fi garage rock style spawned a generation of
Critics have lauded Is This It as a defining moment in a mainstream musical shift to more experimental forms of what Rolling Stone magazine called ‘Ragged Rock’ and undoubtedly paved the way for acts such as The Kings of Leon, The Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand etc.
Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe stated that Is This It changed the status quo from DJs and popular music to ‘skinny jeans and guitars’ and cited the album as ‘the template for rock ‘n’ roll in the modern day’.
Legacy and influences aside, Is This It is a stellar album in its own right and one that defines the sound of the early 2000s. Featuring tracks such as ‘Is This It’, ‘New York City Cops’, ‘Last Nite’, ‘Someday’ and ‘Hard To Explain’, this album deserves a place on your shelf!
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
If you own just one jazz album, Miles Davis’ 1959 album Kind of Blue should certainly be top of your list for consideration. Featuring Davis’s assembly of some of the best musicians, such as John Coltrane and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Kind of Blue was sure to succeed artistically from its formation.
Ranked as the 12th best album of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, and most likely the best selling jazz record of all time, Kind of Blue’s influences have exceeded the jazz genre, spreading into classical and rock realms, as far afield as artists such as Pink Floyd.
A true example of modal jazz improvisation and impromptu genius, Davis’ band were given little outline as to what they would be playing and only passed down brief instruction on each piece before recording. Such a loose modal jazz structure results in a record which is both wholly experimental and innovative, while retaining its musicality, artistry and accessibility. For that reason, Kind of Blue is ideal for the jazz novice or those looking to get into jazz music.
5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced?
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced?
Jimi Hendrix’s 1967 release Are You Experienced is the debut release from The Jimi Hendrix Experience and was met with instant critical and commercial success, and unleashed a new musical icon onto the world. Are You Experienced changed the musical landscape for guitar-driven music, and Hendrix’s unique distortion and feedback-driven tone represents an innovation in rock and guitar-based music, showing a new approach to the guitar as an instrument as well as opening a world of new possibilities in the sound that can be made with a guitar.
It is almost impossible to imagine the waste of talent in the years preceding the release of Are You Experienced, as Hendrix struggled to make a daily living as an R & B backing guitarist and sought recognition and an opportunity from the music industry.
Considering it was his first release, Are You Experienced is widely regarded as one of the best debut albums, and features a number of tracks which encapsulate Hendrix’s sound throughout his short yet illustrious career. Tracks such as ‘Hey Joe’, ‘Purple Haze’, ‘Foxy Lady’ and ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ have not only come to represent Hendrix’s unique style of experimental psychedelic rock, but also evoke the soundtrack of a generation.
Despite being his debut release, Are You Experienced is an example of Hendrix’s mastery of his craft, and serves as a piece of musical and socio cultural history. Its influences on a whole generation, both musically and otherwise, are unquestionable and without question should be included in every well-rounded music collection!
Staff Picks
Music is a very personal thing, we know from the office that trying to find music that everyone likes can be difficult, and everyone’s tastes are different. This top 5 list may appeal to many, while others may not be so enthused. To add a bit of variety, we thought we’d share some staff favourites from the Music on Vinyl catalogue which some of our staff have shared!
Chris: The Fugees – The Score
“The Score is a special kind of record. It crosses a number of boundaries and genres, and I can’t imagine who it wouldn’t appeal to. Musically diverse and generically unique, The Score is one fmy favourite albums. ‘No Woman No Cry’ has something for the reggae fan, ‘Killing Me Softly’ something for the R & B and soul fan while ‘Ready or Not’ caters for the rest! Classic Album.”
Fugees – The Score
Zak: John Mayer – Where The Light Is
John Mayer – Where The Light Is
“John Mayer’s Where The Light Is is a feat of modern recording and mastering. Despite being a live album, it is produced incredibly, and a real treat on vinyl. Transitioning from an acoustic section, through blues and to his more contemporary and popular tracks this 4LP box set is an education in John Mayer.
Combining a range of covers such as Tom Petty’s ‘Free Falling’ and Hendrix’s ‘Bold As Love’, Mayer is able to apply his own unique spin and musicianship, and his own tracks are played with an interpretation that only a live performance could offer. Mayer is given a chance to flex his muscles as a guitarist, and shows why he is up there with the best out there’