Audiophile Discs Archives - Page 44 of 47

The Beach Boys – Surfin’ U.S.A. / Surfer Girl (1963) {1989, MFSL, Remastered}

The Beach Boys - Surfin' U.S.A. / Surfer Girl (1963) {1989, MFSL, Remastered}

The Beach Boys – Surfin’ U.S.A. / Surfer Girl (1963) {1989, MFSL, Remastered}
EAC Rip | FLAC Tracks + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 316 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: MFSL UltraDisc | Japan | Cat#: UDCD 521 | Genre: Rock & Roll, Surf Rock

The real breakthrough, as Brian Wilson asserts himself in the studio as both songwriter and arranger on a set of material that was much stronger than Surfin’ Safari. Besides the hit title track and its popular drag-racing flip side (“Shut Down”), this has a lovely, heartbreaking ballad (“Lonely Sea”) and a couple of strong Brian Wilson originals (“The Noble Surfer” and “Farmer’s Daughter”). Continue reading “The Beach Boys – Surfin’ U.S.A. / Surfer Girl (1963) {1989, MFSL, Remastered}”

Nat King Cole – The Very Thought Of You (1958) {1997, DCC, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Nat King Cole - The Very Thought Of You (1958) {1997, DCC, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Nat King Cole – The Very Thought Of You (1958) {1997, DCC, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}
EAC Rip | FLAC Tracks + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 279 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: DCC Compact Classics | USA | Cat#: GZS-1119 | Genre: Vocal Jazz

Nat King Cole possessed one of the most accessible and appealing voices of any singer in the 1950s. This ballad-oriented set puts the emphasis completely on his voice (there is no piano playing or any hint of his jazz-oriented past) and features Cole accompanied by Gordon Jenkins’ sweet arrangements for a string orchestra. Continue reading “Nat King Cole – The Very Thought Of You (1958) {1997, DCC, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}”

Pat Benatar – In the Heat Of The Night (1979) {1994, DCC, 24-karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Pat Benatar - In the Heat Of The Night (1979) {1994, DCC, 24-karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Pat Benatar – In the Heat Of The Night (1979) {1994, DCC, 24-karat Gold Disc Remastered}
EAC Rip | WavPack Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 263 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: DCC Compact Classics | USA | Cat#: GZS-1056 | Genre: Hard Rock, Pop Rock

With her debut recording In the Heat of the Night, Pat Benatar wasted no time starting out of the gate with the furious leadoff track “Heartbreaker,” which solidified her place in a class of women who were taking the rock world by storm in the late ’70s. Continue reading “Pat Benatar – In the Heat Of The Night (1979) {1994, DCC, 24-karat Gold Disc Remastered}”

The Band – The Band (1969) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}

The Band - The Band (1969) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}

The Band – The Band (1969) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}
EAC Rip | WavPack (.wv) Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 275 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: Audio Fidelity | USA | Cat#: AFZ 032 | Genre: Southern Rock, Country Rock

The Band’s first album, Music from Big Pink, seemed to come out of nowhere, with its ramshackle musical blend and songs of rural tragedy. The Band, the group’s second album, was a more deliberate and even more accomplished effort, partially because the players had become a more cohesive unit, and partially because guitarist Robbie Robertson had taken over the songwriting, writing or co-writing all 12 songs. Continue reading “The Band – The Band (1969) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}”

Billy Idol – Rebel Yell (1983) [2010, Audio Fidelity, Remastered]

Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (1983) [2010, Audio Fidelity, Remastered]

A slick, carefully crafted follow-up to his debut, Rebel Yell was Billy Idol’s catchiest, most consistent fusion of synth-driven new wave pop and hard rock guitar pyrotechnics (courtesy of Steve Stevens). The eerie ballad “Eyes Without a Face” gave Idol his first U.S. Top Ten hit, while “Flesh for Fantasy” and the title track became MTV staples. Like much of Idol’s solo output, it’s all calculated for maximum appeal, but Rebel Yell also works too well not to be an infectiously guilty pleasure. Continue reading “Billy Idol – Rebel Yell (1983) [2010, Audio Fidelity, Remastered]”

Queen – 4 Albums (MFSL, Remastered, 24-Karat Gold CD) UPDATE

Queen - 4 Albums (MFSL, Remastered, 24-Karat Gold CD)

Queen – 4 Albums (MFSL, Remastered, 24-Karat Gold CD)
EAC Rip | 4xCD | FLAC Tracks & Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans @300 dpi, JPG, PNG, Included
Total Size: 1.41 GB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: MFSL (UltraDisc II) | Cat#: UDCD 558, 588, 610, 668 | Genre: Hard Rock

Original Limited Edition 24-karat Gold Audiophile CD
A Night At The Opera (1975), A Day At The Races (1976), News Of The World (1977) & The Game (1980)

Continue reading “Queen – 4 Albums (MFSL, Remastered, 24-Karat Gold CD) UPDATE”

U2 – 3 Albums (1983-1987) {MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

U2 - 3 Albums (1983-1987) {MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

U2 – 3 Albums (1983-1987) {MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}
EAC Rip | 3xCD | FLAC Tracks + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 966 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: MFSL UltradDisc II | USA | Genre: Pop Rock

War (1983), The Unforgettable Fire (1984), The Joshua Tree (1987) Continue reading “U2 – 3 Albums (1983-1987) {MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}”

The Cars – Candy-O (1979) {2011, MFSL, Remastered}

The Cars - Candy-O (1979) {2011, MFSL, Remastered}

The Cars – Candy-O (1979) {2011, MFSL, Remastered}
EAC Rip | WavPack (.wv) Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 236 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: MFSL UltraDisc II | USA | Cat#: UDCD 782 | Genre: New Wave

Since the Cars had created a perfect album with their 1978 self-titled debut, it would be nearly impossible to top it. Instead of laboring long and hard over a follow-up like many ’70s bands did after a huge commercial success, the band cranked out their sophomore effort, Candy-O, almost exactly one year later from the first LP. Continue reading “The Cars – Candy-O (1979) {2011, MFSL, Remastered}”

The Pretenders – Pretenders (1980) {2009, Audio Fidelity, Remastered}

The Pretenders - Pretenders (1980) {2009, Audio Fidelity, Remastered}

The Pretenders – Pretenders (1980) {2009, Audio Fidelity, Remastered}
EAC Rip | FLAC Tracks + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 322 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: Audio Fidelity | USA | Cat#: AFZ 052 | Genre: Pop Rock, New Wave

Few rock & roll records rock as hard or with as much originality as the Pretenders’ eponymous debut album. A sleek, stylish fusion of Stonesy rock & roll, new wave pop, and pure punk aggression, Pretenders is teeming with sharp hooks and a viciously cool attitude. Continue reading “The Pretenders – Pretenders (1980) {2009, Audio Fidelity, Remastered}”

The Cars – Heartbeat City (1984) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}

The Cars - Heartbeat City (1984) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}

The Cars – Heartbeat City (1984) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}
EAC Rip | FLAC Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 257 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: Audio Fidelity | USA | Cat#: AFZ 033 | Genre: Pop Rock, New Wave

MTV had become a major marketing tool by 1984, and the Cars were one of the first bands to use the new video medium to their advantage. The band’s fifth album, Heartbeat City (Elektra), spawned several imaginative and memorable videos, which translated into massive chart and commercial success, making it one of the biggest releases of the year. Continue reading “The Cars – Heartbeat City (1984) {2009, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}”

Carly Simon – No Secrets (1972) {2011, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}

Carly Simon - No Secrets (1972) {2011, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}

Carly Simon – No Secrets (1972) {2011, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}
EAC Rip | FLAC Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 236 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: Audio Fidelity | USA | Cat#: AFZ 114 | Genre: Pop Rock

Carly Simon’s best album, No Secrets was also her commercial breakthrough, topping the charts and going gold, along with its leadoff single, “You’re So Vain.” That song set the album’s saucy tone, with its air of sexually frank autobiography (“You had me several years ago/When I was still quite naïve”) and its reflections on the jet-set lifestyle. Continue reading “Carly Simon – No Secrets (1972) {2011, Audio Fidelity, HDCD Remastered}”

Steppenwolf – Steppenwolf (1968) {1997, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Steppenwolf - Steppenwolf (1968) {1997, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Steppenwolf – Steppenwolf (1968) {1997, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}
EAC Rip | FLAC Tracks + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 336 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: MFSL UltraDisc II | USA | Cat#: UDCD 714 | Genre: Hard Rock, Blues Rock

Steppenwolf entered the studio for their recording debut with a lot of confidence — based on a heavy rehearsal schedule before they ever got signed — and it shows on this album, a surprisingly strong debut album from a tight hard rock outfit who was obviously searching for a hook to hang their sound on. Continue reading “Steppenwolf – Steppenwolf (1968) {1997, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}”

Billie Holiday – Body And Soul (1957) {1996, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Billie Holiday - Body And Soul (1957) {1996, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Billie Holiday – Body And Soul (1957) {1996, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}
EAC Rip | FLAC Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 139 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: MFSL UltraDisc II | USA | Cat#: UDCD 658 | Genre: Vocal Jazz

This session comes from close to the end of the line (1959) in the erstwhile swinging company of Barney Kessel on guitar, Ben Webster on tenor, and naysayers will be quick to point out that Lady Day wasn’t in peak form here. But Billie Holiday with some of the platinum chipped off the pipes is still way better than a buncha finger-snappin’ wannabes anyday. Continue reading “Billie Holiday – Body And Soul (1957) {1996, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}”

Joan Baez – Diamonds & Rust (1975) {1995, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust (1975) {1995, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Joan Baez – Diamonds & Rust (1975) {1995, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}
EAC Rip | APE Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 270 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: MFSL UltraDisc II | USA | Cat#: UDCD 646 | Genre: Folk

With the Vietnam War winding down, Joan Baez, who had devoted one side of her last album to her trip to Hanoi, delivered the kind of commercial album A&M Records must have wanted when it signed her three years earlier. But she did it on her own terms, putting together a session band of contemporary jazz veterans like Larry Carlton, Wilton Felder, and Joe Sample, and mixing a wise selection from the work of current singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne and John Prine with pop covers of Stevie Wonder and the Allman Brothers Band, and an unusually high complement of her own writing. Continue reading “Joan Baez – Diamonds & Rust (1975) {1995, MFSL, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}”

Ten Years After – 2 Albums (1971-1972) {Audio Fidelity, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Ten Years After - 2 Albums (1971-1972) {Audio Fidelity, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}

Ten Years After – 2 Albums (1971-1972) {Audio Fidelity, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}
EAC Rip | 2xCD | FLAC Image + Cue + Log | Full Scans Included
Total Size: 588 MB | 3% RAR Recovery
Label: Audio Fidelity | USA | Genre: Blues Rock, Hard Rock

A Space in Time (1971) & Rock & Roll Music to the World (1972)

Continue reading “Ten Years After – 2 Albums (1971-1972) {Audio Fidelity, 24-Karat Gold Disc Remastered}”