These 10 Albums NEED an AUDIOPHILE UPGRADE in 2025!

United States of Analog | December 29, 2024

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🎙️ Early Video Analysis

What is this video about?

This video is Bob from United States of Analog’s wishlist for 10 albums that he wants to see get premium audiophile reissue treatments in 2025. He’s focusing on albums that deserve the “super duper ultra reissue treatment” with features like UHQRs, MoFi releases, half-speed mastering, deluxe packaging, liner notes, and Japanese pressings.

What gear, products, or brands are discussed?

• UHQR (Ultra High Quality Records) pressings
• MoFi (Mobile Fidelity) releases
• Master Recordings releases
• Analog Productions
• Half-speed mastered releases
• Japanese pressings and “super vinyl”
• Vinyl Me Please pressings (he mentions owning a VMP copy of Nebraska)

What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?

• [00:01:01] He often doesn’t agree with the album choices that get premium audiophile treatments each year
• [00:01:19] His taste runs heavily toward 60s and 70s classic rock – “That’s where I live. Those are the ABCs of me”
• [00:02:49] He doesn’t think “the world needs another copy of The Doors’ LA Woman”
• [00:03:24] The Rolling Stones are still great but have “diluted their legacy a little bit by going on so long”
• [00:04:06] Some Girls is “maybe the last great Rolling Stones record”
• [00:04:48] He’s mystified that Tracy Chapman’s debut hasn’t gotten audiophile treatment
• [00:05:47] He acknowledges Nebraska was recorded on cassette so “the quality coming out of the gate is not great, but it is what it is”

What are the host’s main strong recommendations?

• [00:04:52] Someone needs to get Analog Productions or MoFi working on Tracy Chapman’s debut album
• [00:05:34] He wants to see a deluxe box set treatment of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska
• [00:06:41] For John Lennon’s Rock and Roll, he wants both the original Phil Spector version and a “naked” version with the production stripped away

Any interesting vinyl records, albums, or music discussed?

• Rolling Stones “Some Girls” [00:03:07] – He owns an original “lawsuit copy” with the celebrity photos that had to be removed due to legal issues
• Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut [00:04:35] – Clean copies cost $100-200, bootlegs are common in record stores
• Bruce Springsteen “Nebraska” [00:05:18] – Interest expected to increase due to upcoming movie “Deliver Me from Nowhere”
• John Lennon “Rock and Roll” [00:06:29] – His covers album produced by Phil Spector

Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?

• [00:03:35] Reference to Neil Young: “it’s better to burn out than fade away”
• [00:04:52] “Somebody needs to get in a fast car and get on down” to the reissue companies (referencing Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”)
• [00:05:57] “I want to hear it now getting kind of bossy with it feeling kind of bossy”
• [00:06:45] After suggesting Paul McCartney “make this one naked” he said “that sounded really weird”

Summary:

Bob introduces his annual wishlist concept, explaining that he wants to highlight 10 albums deserving of premium audiophile reissue treatments in 2025. He acknowledges his preferences lean heavily toward 60s and 70s classic rock, which will be reflected in his selections. The host expresses frustration that many audiophile reissues each year aren’t albums he would personally choose, setting up his alternative vision for what should get the deluxe treatment.

He begins his countdown with four albums, starting with Rolling Stones’ “Some Girls,” which he considers possibly their last truly great album. He owns an original pressing with the controversial celebrity photos that were later removed due to legal issues. Bob then highlights Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut as particularly mystifying in its absence from both regular and audiophile reissue catalogs, noting that clean originals command $100-200 and bootlegs are common in record stores.

The host continues with Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska,” anticipating renewed interest due to an upcoming biographical film, and John Lennon’s “Rock and Roll” covers album. For the Lennon release, he proposes an innovative two-disc approach featuring both the original Phil Spector production and a stripped-down “naked” version. Throughout his commentary, Bob maintains an enthusiastic, slightly irreverent tone while demonstrating deep knowledge of pressing history and market demand for these titles.

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⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis

What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?

• [07:44] Considers Let It Be Naked “the definitive version of let it be” for some listeners
• [08:22] Calls Rick Nelson’s “Garden Party” “one of the greatest songs of all time”
• [08:48] Believes “rock and roll is at its best when it’s about rock and roll”
• [09:32] Describes Spirit’s “12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” as “one of my favorite records of all time” and “one of the greatest examples of a concept album”
• [12:29] States Bowie’s “Hunky Dory” is “one of the greatest albums of all time” and “Bowie’s best”
• [12:57] Calls the J. Geils Band not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame “the other great crime against humanity”

Any vinyl records, albums, or music discussed?

• [07:24] The Beatles – Let It Be Naked (describes as very hard to find on vinyl and expensive)
• [08:19] Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band – Garden Party
• [09:32] Spirit – 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (mentions songs “Nature’s Way” and “I Got a Line on You”)
• [12:01] David Bowie – Hunky Dory
• [13:38] J. Geils Band – Bloodshot

Any audiophile tips, advice, or how-to content?

• [08:05] Suggests half-speed mastering at Abbey Road for Let It Be Naked
• [10:05] Mentions wanting to see UHQ, Japanese Super Vinyl, or MoFi box set treatment for Spirit album

Any memorable quotes or strong takes?

• [07:07] “Maybe I’m just a genius could be”
• [12:32] “fight me in the comments if you must” (regarding Hunky Dory being Bowie’s best)
• [12:14] “Chad. Are you listening? Are you listening out there Krieg?” (addressing audiophile label executives)
• [19:17] “I can’t argue with them. You can but I can’t” (about his picks)

Summary:

This portion of the transcript focuses on the host’s passionate advocacy for several albums that deserve audiophile reissue treatment in 2025. He discusses The Beatles’ Let It Be Naked, expressing frustration that this stripped-down version is so difficult to find on vinyl despite being considered by many as the definitive version of the album. The host shares personal connections to several picks, including Rick Nelson’s Garden Party, which he praises as one of the greatest rock songs about rock and roll itself.

The most emotionally resonant segment involves Spirit’s “12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus,” where the host recounts a deeply personal experience meeting guitarist Randy California shortly before his death. He describes an intimate studio session where California performed acoustic versions of Spirit songs, calling it “the closest I’ve ever been to being in a band.” This personal connection clearly influences his strong advocacy for the album receiving premium audiophile treatment.

The host concludes this section with strong opinions about David Bowie’s “Hunky Dory,” which he boldly claims is Bowie’s best album and deserves the ultimate audiophile treatment. He also advocates for the J. Geils Band’s “Bloodshot,” connecting it to his broader frustration that the band hasn’t received Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition. Throughout, he demonstrates the passionate, personal approach that characterizes audiophile culture, where technical quality improvements are deeply intertwined with emotional connections to the music.

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🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict

What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?

• [00:17:18] MoFi (Mobile Fidelity) – specifically called out for Tom Petty’s Highway Companion reissue
• [00:17:56] Vinyl Me Please pressing of Thin Lizzy (with orange splatter vinyl)
• [00:18:32] UHQR (Ultra High Quality Record) vinyl format
• [00:18:32] JVC vinyl pressing technology
• [00:17:13] Warner Records – praised for their reissue work on Highway Companion

What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion?

• [00:18:44-00:18:57] The host acknowledges these are “big asks” and emphasizes they are his personal favorite records that he’d like to see get “super audiophile treatment,” encouraging viewers to make their own lists

Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider?

• [00:18:48-00:18:56] The host recommends viewers create their own list of 10 personal favorite records they’d like to see get audiophile treatment
• [00:19:00-00:19:08] Standard YouTube engagement recommendations: subscribe and hit the notification bell

Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers?

• [00:18:57-00:18:59] The host acknowledges viewers “may agree disagree” with his choices and directs them to use the comments section
• [00:18:48-00:18:56] Encourages viewers to think about their own personal preferences rather than just accepting his list

How did the video wrap up?

• [00:19:00-00:19:31] Standard YouTube outro: encourages subscribing, hitting notification bell, mentions YouTube’s algorithm will suggest another video, and closes with channel tagline “We’ll see you next time in the United States of analog”
• [00:19:40] Ends with the host saying “That is annoying” (likely referring to some technical issue)

Memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions

• [00:17:28-00:17:30] “I don’t even know how to pronounce his name and I’ve been to the statue in Dublin” (about Phil Lynott)
• [00:18:17] “I’ll write an essay on this one” (offering to contribute to a Thin Lizzy reissue)
• [00:19:14-00:19:16] “the geniuses at YouTube all the geniuses aren’t just at the record label. Some of them are at YouTube” (sarcastic comment about algorithms)

Summary

In this final portion, the host wraps up his wishlist by discussing two more albums he’d love to see get audiophile treatment. He shares a lengthy personal story about introducing Peter Wolf (of J. Geils Band) at South by Southwest, describing Wolf as the third greatest frontman he’s ever seen (after James Brown and Bruce Springsteen). The anecdote includes meeting Little Steven Van Zandt in the nearly empty venue after most of the audience left following Tony Bennett’s performance.

The host then discusses Tom Petty’s “Highway Companion,” praising its Robert Dabur cover art and comparing it favorably to “Wildflowers.” He calls for MoFi to give it the full audiophile treatment, noting that while Warner has done good reissue work on it, he wants more. He also mentions owning an original oil painting by the same artist who created the album cover.

Finally, he discusses Thin Lizzy’s work, showing off a Vinyl Me Please pressing with orange splatter vinyl and expressing his deep appreciation for the band, likely influenced by his travels to Dublin. He acknowledges including 11 albums instead of the promised 10, emphasizes these are personal choices, and encourages viewers to create their own wishlists. The video concludes with typical YouTube engagement requests and his signature “United States of Analog” sign-off, ending somewhat abruptly with him saying “That is annoying” about some unspecified issue.

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Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.