How I classify my vinyl records

One thing I must make absolutely clear is that I am not inclined to listen to rubbish recordings even if the music itself is good!

To me the pleasure of listening to music starts with the album cover; the artwork and the sleeve and notes which I love to read especially information about the Producer; the Mastering Engineer and Recording Engineers and where the album itself was recorded. If I see mastering Engineers names like Bernie Grundman or Bob Ludwig to name just two then there is a 95% chance that the record will sound good! So what do I mean when I say good? Well one thing often lacking on vinyl records is good solid bass! Also I want to hear instruments separated. I want to be able to follow the individual instruments even in complex passages (not always easy mind). I want to hear a full room filling sound and plenty of separation and a wide stereo sound stage with plenty of dynamics! Too much to ask for? No - all the records reviewed on my blog pretty much fulfil most of that criteria and some have it all (like Mojo for instance). Why can't all records sound fantastic? Much of the modern music is poorly recorded in my view which is disappointing because I would love buy more modern albums if they could only sound somewhere near good! I can't see the point of investing heavily in hi-fi gear and then playing crap records? To me the whole package of a well recorded vinyl album played on a good system just enhances the experience and makes you want to play more!

This is roughly how I classify them!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Bass, sound stage, dynamics, clarity and realism and great music

⭐⭐⭐⭐       Great music, good sound but not quite as engaging as a 5 star

⭐⭐⭐            Good music, acceptable recording / pressing but nothing to write home about

⭐⭐                  Mediocre - might listen to occasionally while washing up!

⭐                       Rubbish!