Brian Williams said:

I recently setup my LP playback system after a long break, and I have
really been enjoying listening to it. I notice a VAST difference in
the sound quality of various LP's, and I am interested in suggestions
for some good sounding LP's. I may end up trying to buy some of these
from Ebay, and I would really appreciate input. FWIW, I am mostly
interested in popular vocal music with a strong emotional quality.

My own nomination for the best sounding LP is Heart's first album.
WOW! Everytime I listen to it, I end up somewhere a million miles
away. Not sure how they did it, but the band, producer, and engineers
really deserve a pat on the back.

That Heart album does really sound good, doesn't it?

My best sounding LPs are as follows:

Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances/Vocalise, recorded by Donald Johanson and the
Dallas S.O., on the Athena label. This is by far the best sounding LP I've
heard. Incredible dynamics.

Sonny Rollins' Way Out West. Shelly Manne's drum kit sounds absolutely real to
me, especially the ride cymbal.

Tsuyushi Yamamoto's Midnight Sugar, on the Three Blind Mice label. Most
realistic piano I've heard on a recording.

Thomas Dolby's The Flat Earth. I know it's mostly synthesizers, but the detail
is incredible, and it sounds clean and punchy.

The Minutemen's Double Nickels On The Dime. One of the greatest rock albums of
all time. The recording is minimalist, as it should be for a rock trio, but it
sounds very, very realistic.

I also have an original Parlophone UK pressing of Sgt. Pepper (not the mono,
unfortunately), and I continue to be amazed at how good it sounds, especially
when compared to other Beatles LPs.

There are many, many more.

Boon