Folksinger Art Thieme recorded an album back in the 1980s called "Songs from
the Heartland", released on Kicking Mule and now out-of-print. The sound was
superb, and so was the performance.

He booked four hours at the studio, but wound up doing the whole thing in two
-- got almost everything on the first take. I have no idea what gear they used,
although it was obviously analog (in that place in that time), but the sound is
clean and ungimmicked and remarkably natural. Oh, doesn't sound like they used
much compression either. Wish the guys who bought up Kicking Mule would reissue
it; Art has been disabled for the last dozen years and could use the income.

Peace,
Paul