[Unity Gain]

Not sure if it was mentioned but the group involved here was decidedly British based on the inclusion of all the Marillion - as well as the Prodigy and Alphavile.

Btw, if I was to include an 80's synth album it would definitely be the Human League's "Dare" and not Alphaville. Probably the best sounding synth album I've heard having tons of ambience and choice arrangements - along with being very warm and very analog!

 

[Unity Gain]

Notable miss… no Sgt Peppers?

As a milestone in terms of production and concept, I'd say yes (along with something like Good Vibrations). But it's missing that FM, hi-fi quality they're looking for here that won't solidify for a couple of more years with the advent of 8-tracks and solid state desks (which was maybe evidenced by the Beatles only showing up for mono mixing sessions until the White Album). So for the Beatles the first hi-fi album would be Abbey Road.

Also +1 on The The, but Dusk is a much bigger sounding record. Lung Shadows sounds massive.

Edit: missed that Kind of Blue was included here so will add the Beatles bounced a lot of their tracks losing sound quality along the way. KoB would be one take direct to tape allowing bigger sonics to be retained well before 8 track recorders.

 

[Unity Gain]

The Cars should have been on that list. Moving in Stereo was so cool.

LOVE Roy Thomas Baker's (the man who helmed Bohemian Rhapsody) production here - so dry yet with a lushness at the same time. He, along with Ken Scott (White Album, Ziggy, Devo), definitely had a certain touch.

 

[Unity Gain]

Well, that's 20 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Actually I'd say a good chunk of these are high quality albums even before the sonics.

 

[Unity Gain]

My point was that musical quality and artists' performance skills weren't named as criteria for the selections.

Hate to split hairs here, but doesn't "Beyond being critically acclaimed" sort of cover that these are good (except for maybe the Alphavile lol), plus they sound good?

 

[Unity Gain]

For me, it's Scritti Politti's Provision, mostly for the sonic gut-punch (in a good way ) that is Boom! There She Was:

Ha ha no judgement on taste, but this is the polar opposite of what I look for in synth stuff. For me it all went downhill with MIDI and the introduction of the DX7 until Boards of Canada brought some of that warm, gooey analog goodness back. But that's just me - look at how popular house and acid was...

 

[Unity Gain]

Sound quality? Production values?

Hemispheres?
2112?
A Farewell to Kings?

I get the sense if the group behind this were Canadian instead of British, Rush would supplant all the Marillion lol. And if they were American, Boston would have made the list.

 

[Unity Gain]

Last year I made an effort to listen to all my vinyl - Billy Joel's Glass Houses jumped out of the speakers. A f*a*n*t*a*s*t*i*c sounding record.

Nice - it was always a cool feeling like I struck gold when I'd play test a used record at the store and come across an album or pressing that did that