What year in music sounds the best to you?

[henryrobinett]

I think nothing has sounded as good as it does now. That said I would love to have heard Charlie Parker recorded, mixed and mastered with today's technology.

But there have been some great sounding recordings from the 60s, 80s, 90s and on.

[Mark Gifford]

2 periods for me:

1980-81: TP Hard Promises, Dire Straits Making Movies, Springsteen The River.

1992-4: Lyle Lovett Joshua Judges Ruth, TP Wildflowers, Emmylou Wrecking Ball.

[iRupertNeve]

This may come off sarcastic, but I'm a big fan of the dance movement of 2010.

[Joe Porto]

Summer of 66 to 67, London England. But I'm gonna need a Tape Op.

[blackmajik2021]

I hate this thread but I want to be a punk so...

1998

XO, Aeroplane over the sea, The boy with the arab strap, Letting off the happiness, good morning spider, mutations, storms of early summer, got no shadow, Media.

anything recorded before 1980 with the exception of leonard cohen and bob dylan hurts my ears...no sarcasm, no irony, straight serious.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

Summer of 66 to 67, London England. But I'm gonna need a Tape Op.

Actually, I think I agree with this - there was something magic about that year, I thought it at the time as well.


Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[skybluerental]

1971 - 1973.

i know thats 2 years, but i just cant decide, so.................

2" 16 track machines, discrete consoles, no automation except for what the people in the room could do with their hands.............. it wasnt just the gear itself that made the recordings better. it was the mentality and level of musicianship that went along with the limitations that the gear imposed.

best sounding recordings ever by elton, led zep, the stones, stevie, marvin gaye, pink floyd, neil young, jim croce, carly simon, nilsson, bowie, godfather soundtrack.........

timeless.

so many hits that still sound better than almost anything being done today.

[unitymusic]

1966

or

1967

[The Buddha Rats]

Definitely 1966 to 1970. Warm analog sound, thanks to tube-driven gear.

[Steab]

2011.



Anti Retro. That's how the world and music go forward.

[namsabnek]

For jazz and a lot of other acoustic music it just keeps getting better. 2010 was amazing and can't wait to hear what 2011 has to offer. With monsters like Joe Ferla around, the bar keeps getting higher and higher. My .02

[Hollywoods]

Originally Posted by skybluerental

1971 - 1973.

i know thats 2 years, but i just cant decide, so.................

2" 16 track machines, discrete consoles, no automation except for what the people in the room could do with their hands.............. it wasnt just the gear itself that made the recordings better. it was the mentality and level of musicianship that went along with the limitations that the gear imposed.

best sounding recordings ever by elton, led zep, the stones, stevie, marvin gaye, pink floyd, neil young, jim croce, carly simon, nilsson, bowie, godfather soundtrack.........

timeless.

so many hits that still sound better than almost anything being done today.

I have to agree. I find alot of stuff from 1973 is really good and really lasting.

[Jim Williams]

2023

By then the loudness wars will have ended, trashy productions lose their fashion, and all those deaf gen whatevers are too old to put any more crap out.

[skybluerental]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

2023

By then the loudness wars will have ended, trashy productions lose their fashion, and all those deaf gen whatevers are too old to put any more crap out.

priceless!!!
: )

[Manfrensengensen]

Say 1984/85. CDs were new and not compressed to sh#% like all the latest volume war era crap. And was such an improvement from vinyl and cassette. I like to use some of my earlier CDs for ref for that reason.


Via Gearslutz iPhone app

[Bob Olhsson]

Originally Posted by audiogeek

1959. Tom Dowd starts using Atlantic's new 8 track with Ray Charles' "What'd I Say."

I seem to remember being told "What'd I Say" was recorded by Tom at a radio station near where Ray was performing that night. Back then only the biggest performers could afford to take a few days off from the road to record.

[themaidsroom]

Originally Posted by skybluerental

1971 - 1973.

i know thats 2 years, but i just cant decide, so.................

2" 16 track machines, discrete consoles, no automation except for what the people in the room could do with their hands.............. it wasnt just the gear itself that made the recordings better. it was the mentality and level of musicianship that went along with the limitations that the gear imposed.

best sounding recordings ever by elton, led zep, the stones, stevie, marvin gaye, pink floyd, neil young, jim croce, carly simon, nilsson, bowie, godfather soundtrack.........

timeless.

so many hits that still sound better than almost anything being done today.

i also agree.