What spinning on your turntable today and how does it sound?

I'll start with 3 I've listened to recently....

Rolling Stones "Tattoo You". ( US pressing/1981, no bar code, has a Warner Brothers sticker in the top right corner on the back) Believe it or not, I've never heard the lp before. Just the hits. I was blown away at the transparency here. The soundstage in very clean and spacious. I believe Mick's voice was in top shape for this effort. At least a 9.

Mazzy Star "Seasons Of Your Day". (Fontana 2013). First time I've listened in over a year. I've made significant improvements to my system since then and this lp really shines now. Hope Sandoval's voice is all about atmospherics and I really get that sense in spades in my room. A stripped down recording that is enjoyable from start to finish. At least a 9.

David Byrne "REI MOMO". (Luaka Bop/1989). His latin flavored effort that works really well. I wanted to put on "Graceland" after I listened to it. The liner notes say a DMM recording. I was very impressed with the sonics. At least a 9.

two more...check out...

Haley Bonar "Big Star" (Afternoon Records/2008) I discovered this one around 6 years ago. I thought it was excellent then and still think highly of it. About a 9.5.

Laura Veirs "July Flame" (2009) Wow! I was blown away when I first heard this one years ago. Now she's well known, especially for her current collaboration with Neko Case & K.D. Lang, (two of the finest female voices ever!). Her husband, Tucker Martine, is also the producer and a musician, very well known now for several works.. most notable, The Decemberists.
A 9.5.

I'll let someone else have a chance now.

Family Band "Grace & Lies". (No Quarter) I ran across this lp this year, and boy am I glad I did! It has become one of my current favorites. In the same vein as Mazzy Star, this one is somewhat stripped down and the vocals... Kim Krans has the ability to be mezmerising and haunting at the same time. The vocals fill my room. I need to search out more of this band. I'd love for someone to give this lp the audiophile treatment. A solid 8.5.

fork,  While we're on a female singer-songwriter bend, I have Big Thief " Masterpiece" (Saddle Creek/2016). I find it to be very good. It will grow on you. Their freshman effort. About a 9.

Maria Taylor "Overlook" (Saddle Creek/2011). She is one half of Azure Ray. The other half is Orenda Fink. I own several of their solo efforts and find them to be among the top in this genre. "Overlook" is heavy on the lower frequencies but I'd still give it between an 8.5 - 9.

Check out Orenda Fink "Blue Dream" (Saddle Creek/2014). Highly recommended! An easy 9.

oops...

After you check out "July Flame", you must go for "Warp & Weft"! The growth of this artist is not to be denied!

............time to rock out...

Mount Moriah "S/T" , (Merge/2012). I never see this great band mentioned anywhere. Heather McEntire has an unusual/unique voice that sticks with you once you here it. This lp shows their ability to stretch out. I own all 3 lps.
This one rates a 9.5. ( you can just keep turning it up and it only sounds better). Their second lp suffers from a poorer quality recording, their third is better but not up to their first in sonics.

I've been adding to my mono collection lately. I've ordered several classic lps on mono and the Rolling Stones mono box. (Let's face it, originals are too expensive). When I receive that box, I'll re-install my mono cart. For right now, here's a few I've heard with my stereo cart: (FWIW: when listening to the Beatles mono box, comparing my stereo/mono carts, the mono was easily more enjoyable).

Otis Redding "Dock Of The Bay" (Sundazed) Sounds alive! I assume the lack of compression is the reason. A 9.5.

The Velvet Underground "Verve/MGM Albums" (Sundazed/Box) I'm glad I bought this. A classic time capsule. "White Light/White Heat" isn't the best on sonics. A lot of great music here. Rating 8 - 9.5.

LInk Ray and His Ray Men "The Swan Singles Collection - 63'-67'"(Sundazed) Again, the music sounds alive. You feel as if you're in a time warp as there is a certain sound associated with older recordings that is unmistakable. Kind of hard to rate this one right now as I'm just not as familiar with the songs here. I'd guess a 8.5 though.

inna, I was lucky enough several years ago to find one or two 1A/6 eye/ Miles lps at an estate sale.

Just listened to Miles Davis "Someday My Prince Will Come" (side one/1A -6 eye Columbia/stereo). It made me want to lower my previous ratings above. This lp sounds fantastic! Much more of a "you are there" quality that is lacking in most modern day recordings. No compression noted at all. It is good to step back sometimes and listen to an earlier recording for a "re-set".

I've bought quite a few Big Brother & Janis lps lately. For a comparison of just two:

Big Brother & The Holding Co. "S/T" (Sundazed/mono)
Big Brother & The Holding Co. "1968 Live at the Carousel Ballroom"  (Legacy/stereo)

Just to compare one song, "Call On Me", on the Sundazed mono, this track sounds strident, no lower frequency info, sort of irritating compared to the other, which sounds like a whole different presentation. The overall dynamics are night & day. It does have one caveat that the vocals come from the left channel. When you overcome this, this lp really does sound great. This is one lp that makes buying certain re-issues enjoyable. To rate the two.. the mono a 7, compared to the live, a solid 9 - 9.5  on my stereo cart.

For a reference, the other lps I own are:

"Cheap Thrills" MFSL/45rpm
"Cheap Thrills" original domestic
"Pearl" MFSL/45rpm
"Pearl" domestic re-issue
"I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama" (Speakers Corner)