Hello all
There may be a bit of audiophile creeping in here, but what is a reference album to me?
For an album to gain the old Frankie seal of approval and gain reference status
- I must enjoy the album, its no good an album sounding as if the musicians are in the room if I don’t like what they are playing. I must look forward to listening to this album. What I have found is I normally have a number of copies of this album, be it on CD, His res files or Vinyl.
- I need to know the album well, it has taken me 10, 15 or more years to get to know some albums, and there are some albums, I just grow to love over time, and there are some albums that hit me straight away.
The next one is where the audiophile in me creeps in.
- It must be in my eyes or ears it must be very well recorded, mixed and sound good. It’s the sort of album I would use to either show of my hi-fi system or I would take along to demo a system or a piece of Hi-fi.
There are loads of list out there, either called, The Best-Produced Albums, Ever or Audiophile Albums or The best hi-fi albums for audiophiles, now there nothing wrong with these lists, but for example, Gustav Holst – The Planets is not an album I am in a rush to listen to, so A Frankie View Gimmie 5 Reference albums, is my take on these lists, but, at the end of the day it’s my personal list and everyone has to form there own opinion on these things, as this is only a guide.
| The Specials – The Specials | |
 | Going to start where it started for me, I have been listening to this album for over 40 years, and it has never sounded better than this 40th Anniversary Edition, Mastered At Abbey Road Studios – Half-Speed Mastering on Vinyl. The original version sounded good, it also sounds good on CD, but the Abbey round version is so much more dynamic, with great tuneful bass. |
| Burning Spear – Garvey’s Ghost | |
 | It’s one of my favourite dub albums, although not heavy dub, more of a roots reggae instrumental album. This album sounds great on CD and Vinyl. It sounds great on headphones, with a 3d presentation. I have never owned the original version, but the 2011 Sunspot pressing sounds great, and if you go for the CD version it comes with the original album Marcus Garvey. |
| Eva Cassidy – Songbird | |
 | Simple production, real instruments and what a voice. This album brings emotions to me that no other album has, and it sounds great, normally with a bottle of red. Another I have on CD and Vinyl. The version I have is 2014 Remastered 180g Europe pressing. |
| Innocence – Belief | |
 | This album hit as I heard it and has stayed with me since 1990 when it first came out. It an album I can dance to or sit down and relax to, and it sounds equally as good on CD or Vinyl. |
| Stereo MC’s – Connected | |
 | Funky, soulful hip-hop with great grooves, that sounds great as well, full and punchy, clean bass and lower mids on both CD and Vinyl. |
I know there are going to be some that disagree with me, or there may be one or two who agree with the above. Hopefully I have pulled out an album that someone has not heard and they full in love with it, job done.
