Includes favorite new releases, reissues and compilations

Reissues that make this list are usually of good pressing/mastering quality

Purchased LP or EP unless otherwise stated BD, SACD, DVD-A or CD (*don't own)

2024 List (So Far)

Favorite New Releases

• Bevis Frond - Focus On Nature (2024, Purple Opaque 2xLP)
• Black Crowes - Happiness Bastards (2024,Amazon Exclusive Opaque Orange LP)
• Black Country Communion - V (2024,Blue Splatter 2xLP)
• Collective Soul - Here to Eternity (2024,Gold 2xLP)
• David Gilmour - Luck and Strange (2024,"Sea Blue" Translucent LP)
• Dead Daisies - Light 'Em Up (2024, Orange/Red Marble LP)
• Fleetwood Mac - Best of 1969-1974 (2024,2xLP)
• Fu Manchu - The Return of Tomorrow (2024,Blue + Grey Splatter 2xLP)
• Grandaddy - Blu Wav (2024, Opaque Light Blue LP)
• Jack White - No Name (2024, Translucent/Smokey Blue LP)**
• Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (2024, EU iMusic LEx1000 "Hot Pink" 2xLP)
• Louis Armstrong - Wonderful World (2024,Amazon Translucent Orange LP)
• Mdou Moctar - Funeral For Justice (2024,LP)
• Phish - Evolve (2024,"Prismatic Velvet Tones Edition" Multicolor Swirl 2xLP)
• Robert Jon & The Wreck - Red Moon Rising (2024,Red/Black Splatter LP)*see note below
• Rolling Stones - Live at The Wiltern (2024, Amazon Exclusive Bronze/Black 3xLP)
• Sean Ono Lennon - Asterisms (2024,LP)
• Widespread Panic - Snake Oil King (2024, Opaque Turquoise LP)

Favorite Reissues

• 10,000 Maniacs - Unplugged (1993,2024 2xLP)
• Abba - Waterloo (1974,2024 ARS Half-Speed Master 2xLP)
• AC/DC - For Those About to Rock... (1981,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Highway to Hell (1979,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Back in Black (1980,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Live (1992,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Powerage (1978,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - High Voltage (1976,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Who Made Who (1986,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - The Razors Edge (1990,2024 50th Walmart Exclusive Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Ballbreaker (1995,2024 50th Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - '74 Jailbreak (1984,2024 50th Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Rock or Bust (2014,2024 50th Metallic Gold 2xLP)
• AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip (2000,2024 50th Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - If You Want Blood, You've Got It (1978,2024 50th Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Let There Be Rock (1977,2024 50th Metallic Gold LP)
• AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip (2000,2024 50th Metallic Gold LP)
• Atomic Rooster - Atomic Rooster (1970, 2024 Green Translucent MOV LP)
• Blackfield - Blackfield [20th Anniv.Edition] (2004,2024 Orange Marble LP)
• Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970,2024 RSD Red/Black Splatter LEx2000 LP)
• Black Sabbath - Anno Domino 1989-1995 (2024 Toni Iommi Remixed 4xLP Box Set)
• Booker Ervin - Tex Book Tenor (1976,2024 BN Tone Poet LP)
• Built to Spill - There's Nothing Wrong With Love (1994,2024 Blue LP)
• Clutch - Transnational Speedway League... (1994,2024 Gold LP + Autographed Insert)
• Def Leppard - Pyromania (1983,2024 Orange/Black Splatter Walmart Exclusive LP)
• Dinosaur Jr. - Farm (2009,2024 Neon Green 2xLP)
• Eric Clapton - Unplugged (1992,2024 Amazon Purple/Orange Swirl 2xLP)
• Failure - Magnified (1994,2024 Clear + Red 2xLP)
• Failure - Fantastic Planet (1996,2024 Red + Blue 2xLP)
• Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975, 2024 Black/White Split VMP Exclusive LP)
• Fleetwood Mac - Mirage (1982, 2024 Translucent Purple Swirl VMP Exclusive LP)
• Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night (1987, 2024 Green Swirl VMP Exclusive LP)
• Fu Manchu - Go For It...Live! (2003,2024 Neon Orange + Neon Yellow 2xLP)
• Gentle Giant - The Missing Piece (1977,2024 Opaque Green LP Steven Wilson Remix)
• Heart - Little Queen (1977,2024 Cream/Red Split Color VMP Gatefold LP)
• Herbie Hancock - Speak Like a Child (1968,2024 BN Classic Vinyl Series LP)
• Jackie McLean - Action (1967,2024 BN Tone Poet LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean (1973,2024 Orange Opaque RM LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Living and Dying in 3/4 Time (1974,2024 "Sea Breeze" Blue RM LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Havana Daydreamin' (1976,2024 Red Opaque Translucent RM LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Changes in Latitudes... (1977,2024 "Tiger Eye" Brown RM LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Son of a Son of a Sailor (1978,2024 "Smoke Swirl" Grey RM LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Volcano (1979,2024 "Cotton Candy" Pink RM LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - One Particular Harbour (1983,2024 Lavender RM LP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Fruitcakes (1994,2024 Peach + Yellow Opaque RM 2xLP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Barometer Soup (1995,2024 Vintage Bottle + Emerald Green RM 2xLP)
• Jimmy Buffett - Banana Wind (1996,2024 Blue Marble + White RM 2xLP)
• Kenny Dorham & Jackie McLean - Inta Somethin' (1962,2024 BN Tone Poet LP)
• Martin Denny - Exotic Percussion (1961,2024 "Sea Glass" Blue LP)
• Martin Denny - The Enchanted Sea (1959,2024 "Tiki" Green LP)
• Martin Denny - Forbidden Island (1958,2024 "Dark Lava" Red LP)
• The Monoxides - Galaxy of Stooges (1997,2024 LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - The YumYum Tree (2009, 2024 RM LP)
• Ozric Tentacles - Spirals in Hyperspace (2004, 2024 RM Purple Marble 2xLP)
• Paul McCartney & Wings - One Hand Clapping (2024,Archival 2xLP)
• Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973,2024 50th Anniversary Pic/Clear 2xLP)
• Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006,2024 "Crocodile Green" Swirl Deluxe 2xLP)
• Rolling Stones - Voodoo Lounge [30th Anniv.Edition] (1994,2024 Opaque Yellow + Red 2xLP)
• Rolling Stones - Live at the Wiltern (2024,Bronze/Black Swirl Amazon 3xLP + DVD)
• Santana - Caravanserai (1972,2024 MFSL LP)
• Steely Dan - Guacho (1980,2024 MFSL UHQR AP 45rpm Clear 2xLP)
• Stoned Jesus - Seven Thunders Roar (2012, 2024 Reissue 2xLP)
• Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak (1976,2024 VMP Exclusive Orange Marble LP)
• Turbo A.C.'s - Automatic (2003,2024 Silver Opaque LP)
• UFO - Lights Out (1977, 2024 RM LP + Live at The Roundhouse, London, April 1977 2xLP)
• UFO - The Visitor (2009,2024 Red Splatter LP)

Not sure yet...

• Airbag - The Century of the Self (2024,Red Splatter LP)
• Blackberry Smoke - Be Right Here (2024,"Monarch Edition" Red/Orange Marble LP)
• Deep Purple - =1 (2024,Purple 2xLP)
• Les Claypool - Adverse Yaw: The Prawn Song Years (2024, Color 7xLP Box Set)
• Orange Goblin - Science, Not Fiction (2024,45rpm 2xLP)
• Pineapple Thief - It Leads to This (2024,LP)
• The Quill - Wheel of Illusion (2024, Opaque Red LP)
• Strfkr - Parallel Realms (2024,"Kelly Green & Cobalt Blue Cornetto w/Pink Splatter" 2xLP)

Top 10 2024 Favorite New Releases TBD

Top 10 2024 Favorite Reissues TBD

Best Sound (Nice Pressing + Great Mastering = Sublime Sound)

• Black Sabbath - Anno Domino 1989-1995 (2024 Toni Iommi Remixed 4xLP Box Set)
• Fu Manchu - Go For It...Live! (2003,2024 Neon Orange + Neon Yellow 2xLP)
• Strfkr - Parallel Realms (2024,"Kelly Green & Cobalt Blue Cornetto w/Pink Splatter" 2xLP)

Special note: 2024 Blue Note Tone Poet and Classic Vinyl series of vintage jazz recordings mastered by Kevin Gray. These all-analog pressings are manufactured at RTI and are reliably flat and quiet.

Favorite 4.0 / 5.1 Multichannel

Favorite Color Vinyl

• AC/DC - All 50th Anniversary RM Series on Metallic Gold LP's
• Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970,2024 Red/Black Splatter LEx2000 RSD LP)
• Blackberry Smoke - Be Right Here (2024,"Monarch Edition" Red/Orange Marble LP)
• Dinosaur Jr. - Farm (2009,2024 Neon Green 2xLP)
• Phish - Evolve [Prismatic Velvet Tones Edition] (2024, Multicolor Swirl 2xLP)
• Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973,2024 50th Anniversary Pic/Clear 2xLP)
• Primus - The Desaturating Seven (2017,2024 "Midnight Rainbow" Splatter LP)
• Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006,2024 "Crocodile Green" Swirl Deluxe 2xLP)
• Strfkr - Parallel Realms (2024,"Kelly Green & Cobalt Blue Cornetto w/Pink Splatter" 2xLP)
• Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak (1976,2024 VMP Exclusive Orange Marble LP)

Favorite Cover Art

• Caleb Caudle - Sweet Dreams (2024,Green LP)
• Richard Thompson - Ship to Shore (2024,LP)*

Worst Cover Art

• Black Crowes - Happiness Bastards (2024,Amazon Exclusive Opaque Orange LP)
• Deep Purple - =1 (2024,Purple 2xLP)

Presentation Standouts

• Black Sabbath - Anno Domino 1989-1995 (2024 Toni Iommi Remixed 4xLP Box Set)

Special note: All of the 2024 Blue Note Tone Poet Series of vintage jazz recordings.

Presented on high-quality laminated Stoughton "Tip-On" gatefold jackets printed on heavy card stock.

Disappointments

• Blackberry Smoke - Be Right Here (2024,"Monarch Edition" Red/Orange Marble LP) - big Smoke fan and this was a disappointment for me. My wife liked it. The orange vinyl is pretty.
• Black Crowes - Happiness Bastards (2024,Amazon Exclusive Opaque Orange LP) - The music is great for the most part, but wow shameful horrible production on this one. Wall of obnoxious sound! Sounds like a brickwalled CD of yesteryear. Let it breath a little and this gets 4 or 4.5 stars from me.
• Caleb Caudle - Sweet Dreams (2024,Green LP) - unlike a lot of bluegrass, this elpee is not musically exciting and most of the songs are on the slow side and leave me wanting more. Great cover art with all the Arizona critters though!
• Jack White - No Name (2024, Translucent/Smokey Blue LP)** - this is a great album that, for me, was somewhat cheapened by its low-fi garage sound production. For others I realize that is its strength, but I have never been a fan of the garage band sound and can't help but wonder how great this elpee would have been with less production, clearer separation and a driving bass.
• Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well (2024,Amazon Exclusive Translucent Green Splatter LP) - not bad, but a bit mediocre. Not willing to shell out $35 for this ugly Amazon exclusive, so returned it.
• Slift - Illion (2024, Red Marble Translucent 2xLP) - liked it on Spotify, but not on vinyl. Hate when this happens.

Bad Pressings and Other Annoyances

• Robert Jon & The Wreck - Red Moon Rising (2024,Red/Black Splatter LP) - elpee pressing reviews are terrible, so avoiding. Love the music, but won't own a physical copy due to poor quality control from their record label, Journeyman Records. So frustrating!

Best Sale of the Year

In Memorium 2024

• Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
• Chris Cross (Ultravox)
• Dave Loggins
• David Soul (Actor and Singer)
• Dennis Thompson (MC5)
• Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
• Douglas Ingle (Iron Butterfly)
• Duane Eddy
• Eric Carmen (The Raspberries)
• Françoise Hardy
• Jim Beard (Keyboardist, Steely Dan)
• Jimmy Van Eaton
• Joe Eagan (Stealers Wheel)
• John Barbata (Drummer)
• John Mayall
• Martin Mull (Actor and Musician)
• Mary Weiss (The Shangri-La's)
• Melanie
• Mike Pinder (Moody Blues)
• Mojo Nixon
• Quincy Jones
• "Spider" John Koerner
• Steve Lawrence
• Toby Keith
• Tom Fowler (Bass guitarist for It's a Beautify Day, Mothers of Invention)
• Wayne Kramer (MC5)