Music

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong / Verve

Cheek to Cheek: The Complete Duet Recordings — 7 LPs

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

The contrast between Fitzgerald’s precision and Armstrong’s grain makes familiar standards newly alive. This seven-LP collection gathers their collaborations with photographs and an essay by Armstrong scholar Ricky Riccardi.

Raphaël Pichon & Pygmalion / Harmonia Mundi

Bach: Mass in B Minor — 2 CDs

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Bach’s vast choral architecture in a two-disc recording by Pichon and Pygmalion. A substantial listening project whose changes of scale—from intimate solo lines to full chorus—reward repeated attention.

Wayne Shorter / Blue Note

Speak No Evil — Blue Note Essential Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Shorter’s compositions keep shifting beneath a superb quintet: mysterious harmonies, economical themes and the tenderness of Infant Eyes. The 140-gram pressing uses a high-resolution digital master.

Alina Ibragimova & Cédric Tiberghien / Hyperion

Mozart: The Complete Violin Sonatas — 10 CDs

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A complete cycle that follows Mozart from childhood pieces to the mature conversation between equal instruments. Ibragimova and Tiberghien offer the pleasure of living with a musical partnership across ten discs.

John Coltrane / Blue Note

Blue Train — Blue Note Essential Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

The muscular six-piece ensemble and Coltrane’s searching tenor make this an inviting route into his earlier work. This edition uses 140-gram blue vinyl and a high-resolution digital master.

John Coltrane / Impulse!

A Love Supreme — Acoustic Sounds Series LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Four movements turn a small musical cell into an extended statement of devotion. This physical edition gives the suite room to be heard as a whole, from Acknowledgement through Psalm.

Indila

Mini World, Limited 2LP Vinyl, includes Dernière Danse

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Indila’s dramatic French-language debut includes “Dernière Danse,” “Tourner dans le vide” and “Love Story.” Selected limited two-LP vinyl listing, sold and shipped by MovieMars through Walmart. An atmospheric contemporary French addition, with the original album performance of “Dernière Danse.”

André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra

André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra | Jewels of Romance, CD/DVD, featuring Emma Kok

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Romantic orchestral miniatures, cinema melodies and Emma Kok’s soaring performance of “Voilà.” Selected 2023 CD/DVD edition, Target UPC 7444754886863. The retailer lists “Voilà” among the included tracks; confirm DVD region compatibility before ordering. Barbara Pravi’s original recording is offered separately on this shelf.

Lucio Battisti

Anima Latina, 50th Anniversary CD + Yellow 7-Inch

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Battisti’s adventurous 1974 album opens Italian songwriting to layered percussion and richly textured studio sound. Sony’s 2024 50th-anniversary edition pairs the remastered album on CD with a yellow 7-inch single; UPC 0198028118026.

Céline Dion

D’eux, Pearly White Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Céline Dion’s French-language collaboration with Jean-Jacques Goldman, closing with the tender “Vole.” Originally released in 1995; selected Columbia Europe pearly-white vinyl reissue dated 11 September 2026, UPC 0199584715018.

Barbara Pravi

On n’enferme pas les oiseaux, Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Contemporary French chanson with a theatrical heart. Pravi’s 2021 debut includes her own recording of “Voilà,” alongside “Le jour se lève” and “L’homme et l’oiseau.” Selected Universal vinyl LP, UPC 0602438615131; this is Barbara Pravi’s performance, distinct from Emma Kok’s interpretation.

Patsy Cline

The Definitive Collection, Remastered CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

An exceptional country voice in a carefully chosen MCA Nashville anthology. Its 22 tracks span the original hit recording of “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy,” and the deeply affecting later ballads. Remastered CD, UPC 0602498614907.

Nobuo Uematsu / Arnie Roth

Nobuo Uematsu / Arnie Roth | Final Fantasy VII Remake: Orchestral Arrangement Album, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

An orchestral journey through Final Fantasy VII Remake, including “The Prelude – Reunion,” the crystalline theme heard anew. Arnie Roth leads this Square Enix arrangement album; imported CD, SQEX-10806, UPC 4988601468008. This is the orchestral arrangement album, rather than the original game soundtrack.

Françoise Hardy

Mon Amie la Rose, Omnivore Orange 2LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

The poised, bittersweet world of Hardy’s 1964 album: intimate French pop with a quietly devastating title song. Selected here in Omnivore’s 2025 colored-vinyl reissue (UPC 0810075115550).

Ennio Morricone

60 Years of Music, Colored Vinyl Edition

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A composer-led journey through Morricone’s cinematic imagination, from intimate lyricism to the drama of his Western scores. Selected in Universal’s 2022 colored-vinyl edition, UPC 0600753964583; an anthology rather than a single original film soundtrack.

Mina

Piccolino, Italian Import Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Mina’s magnificent later voice, framed by piano, strings, and finely judged Italian pop arrangements. A thoughtful counterpoint to the shelf’s vintage voices; 2024 vinyl reissue of the 2011 album, UPC 8052015130502.

André Previn & London Symphony Orchestra

André Previn & London Symphony Orchestra | Tchaikovsky: The Three Ballets, CD Box Set

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker in Previn’s warmly theatrical LSO performances. Warner Classics’ 2016 collector’s edition (UPC 0190295974893) brings the complete Romantic ballet trilogy together.

Kraftwerk

Trans-Europe Express, Remastered CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Elegant machine rhythms and a distinctly European sense of travel, modernity, and design. The 2009 remastered CD edition of Kraftwerk’s 1977 album, UPC 5099996602027.

Queen

A Night at the Opera, 50th Anniversary 180g Clear LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Theatrical British rock at full stretch: music hall, hard rock, intricate harmonies, and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The 2025 fiftieth-anniversary 180g clear-vinyl edition, UPC 0050087588267.

Charles Aznavour

Hier Encore: Studio & Live at L’Olympia, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Aznavour’s intimate storytelling and theatrical command, heard across studio and Olympia performances. This EMI anthology offers an inviting route into one of chanson’s indispensable voices. 1996 CD edition, UPC 0724383496624.

ABBA

The Visitors, Half-Speed Mastered 2LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

ABBA’s late masterpiece: emotionally adult songwriting, immaculate voices, and a darker atmosphere beyond the familiar singles. Capitol/Polydor’s 2023 half-speed-mastered double-LP edition, UPC 0602445271108.

Scott Walker & Jacques Brel

Scott Walker & Jacques Brel | Scott Walker Meets Jacques Brel, Ace CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Nine of Walker’s dramatic English-language interpretations meet Brel’s original French recordings, with Brel’s “Seul” completing the sequence. A thoughtful conversation between chanson and orchestral pop, issued by Ace Records in 2020. CDTOP 1565; UPC 0029667097420.

Melissa Errico

Legrand Affair: The Songs of Michel Legrand, Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Errico’s luminous voice meets Michel Legrand’s sophisticated songbook, with Legrand’s arrangements and Phil Ramone’s production. A graceful bridge between theatre, chanson, and cinema. Three Graces Music’s 2023 vinyl edition, UPC 0791558460063.

The Cure

Disintegration, Remastered 2LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

The Cure at their most expansive: oceanic guitars, slow-burning drama, and Robert Smith’s deeply felt songs. Elektra/Rhino’s 2010 remastered double-vinyl edition of the 1989 album, UPC 0081227981693.

Stephen Sondheim

The Essential Stephen Sondheim, B&N Exclusive 2LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A welcoming passage into Sondheim’s theatrical world, from the wit of Company to the emotional precision of Sunday in the Park with George. Masterworks’ 2022 Barnes & Noble exclusive vinyl anthology, UPC 0196587221911.

Willie Nelson

The Border, Orange Vinyl LP, B&N Exclusive

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A beautifully understated late-career Willie Nelson record, produced by Buddy Cannon, with Rodney Crowell’s title song and an unhurried sense of emotional truth. Legacy’s 2024 Barnes & Noble exclusive orange-vinyl LP, UPC 0196588897917.

Cocteau Twins

Heaven or Las Vegas, 4AD Remastered LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Elizabeth Fraser’s luminous voice and Robin Guthrie’s enveloping guitars make this 1990 album a dream-pop cornerstone. The 2014 4AD remastered vinyl edition, UPC 0652637342017.

John Nelson & The English Concert

John Nelson & The English Concert | Handel: Messiah, 2CD + DVD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Handel’s complete oratorio with Lucy Crowe, Alex Potter, Michael Spyres, and Matthew Brook, conducted by John Nelson with The English Concert and choir. Erato’s CD-and-DVD edition, UPC 5054197741609.

Simon Rattle & Berliner Philharmoniker

Simon Rattle & Berliner Philharmoniker | Brahms: The Symphonies, 3CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

All four Brahms symphonies in Rattle’s Berlin cycle: expansive architecture, rich orchestral color, and close attention to inner voices. Warner Classics’ 2009 three-CD edition, UPC 5099926725420.

Jacques Dutronc

En Vogue, Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Dutronc’s sharp, stylish French pop adds wit and a little garage-rock bite to the chanson conversation. Sony/BMG’s 2022 vinyl anthology, UPC 0194399984413.

Carole King

Tapestry, 2021 Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A record of extraordinary warmth and enduring songwriting: “So Far Away,” “It’s Too Late,” and “You’ve Got a Friend” within a beautifully cohesive album. Sony Music’s 2021 vinyl edition, UPC 0194398407012.

Fiona Apple

When the Pawn…, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A fiercely articulate 1999 album, with piano-driven songs, Jon Brion’s detailed production, and emotional force that rewards full-album listening. Sony/BMG CD edition, UPC 0886978870629.

Joan Baez

Diamonds & Rust, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A remarkable 1975 album of memory, interpretation, and Baez’s own songwriting, with the title song at its center. A&M CD edition, UPC 0075021323322.

Audio-Technica

AT-SB727 Sound Burger Portable Turntable, Yellow

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A portable record player in bright yellow. Pair with compatible Bluetooth headphones or speakers, or use its wired output with an amplifier or powered speakers. Speakers are sold separately.

Nanci Griffith

Other Voices, Other Rooms, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A generous conversation with the American folk tradition, sung with Griffith’s clarity and affection and a remarkable company of guests. Elektra’s 1993 CD, UPC 0075596146425.

Dolly Parton

Coat of Many Colors, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Dolly’s 1971 album is a masterclass in vivid country storytelling, tenderness, and sharply drawn lives. The Sony/BMG 2007 CD reissue, UPC 0886977089824.

Clannad

Legend: Music from Robin of Sherwood, Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

An atmospheric meeting of Irish voices, folk instrumentation, and television storytelling. Clannad’s Robin of Sherwood music in BMG’s 2026 vinyl edition, UPC 4099964213539.

Loreena McKennitt

The Book of Secrets, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

McKennitt’s Celtic imagination travels through richly arranged songs and instrumental journeys, including “The Mummers’ Dance” and “The Highwayman.” The Verve/Quinlan Road CD edition, UPC 0774213991072.

Portishead

Dummy, Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Beth Gibbons’ extraordinary voice against shadowy beats, sampled textures, and the atmosphere of a late-night film. The 1994 Bristol landmark on Go!/Universal vinyl, UPC 0042282852212.

Radiohead

In Rainbows, 180g LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A beautifully human Radiohead album: intricate rhythms, warm guitars, and Thom Yorke’s most intimate singing. XL’s 2016 180g vinyl edition of the 2007 studio album, UPC 0634904032418.

Depeche Mode

Violator, Sony Legacy Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Elegant, brooding electronic pop with extraordinary melodic precision: “Enjoy the Silence,” “Personal Jesus,” and the beautifully paced album around them. Sony Legacy’s 2025 vinyl release of the 1990 album, UPC 0198028410816.

Cecilia Bartoli

Queen of Baroque, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A virtuoso cabinet of Baroque discoveries, placing Handel and Vivaldi beside Steffani, Porpora, Graun, and other treasures. A deliberately chosen Decca vocal anthology, rather than a generic opera sampler; 2021 CD, UPC 0028948512751.

Sondra Radvanovsky, Jonas Kaufmann & Antonio Pappano

Sondra Radvanovsky, Jonas Kaufmann & Antonio Pappano | Puccini: Turandot, 2CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

A powerful contemporary studio Turandot, conducted by Antonio Pappano with Sondra Radvanovsky and Jonas Kaufmann. Includes Alfano’s complete final scene; Warner Classics’ 2023 two-CD recording, UPC 5054197406591.

Riccardo Muti & La Scala

Riccardo Muti & La Scala | Verdi: La traviata, Complete Opera, 2CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Verdi’s intimate tragedy, with Tiziana Fabbricini, Roberto Alagna, and Paolo Coni under Riccardo Muti with La Scala’s orchestra and chorus. Sony Masterworks’ two-disc complete recording, UPC 0886975814220.

Jonas Kaufmann & Helmut Deutsch

Jonas Kaufmann & Helmut Deutsch | Schubert: Winterreise, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Schubert’s twenty-four-song winter journey, sung with dark intensity by Jonas Kaufmann and sensitively partnered by pianist Helmut Deutsch. The complete cycle on Sony Classical’s 2014 CD, UPC 0888837956321.

John Wilson & Sinfonia of London

John Wilson & Sinfonia of London | Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, Complete Ballet, Hybrid SACD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Ravel’s complete ballet in John Wilson’s freshly prepared edition, with Sinfonia of London and its chorus. Luminous orchestral detail and a transporting dawn scene; Chandos CHSA 5327, hybrid SACD (2023).

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

Mozart: Piano Concertos, Vol. 12, CD

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

The final chapter of Bavouzet’s Mozart concerto cycle with Manchester Camerata and Gábor Takács-Nagy, joined by Andrea Nemecz and Rose McLachlan. A cultivated contemporary performance on Chandos, released in 2026 (UPC 0095115233924).

Raffaella Carrà

Ballo Ballo, Warner Italy Vinyl LP

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

Gloriously theatrical Italian pop, selected for Carrà’s exuberance and unmistakable presence. Warner Italy’s 2024 Italian-import vinyl edition (UPC 5021732270177): a little controlled audacity for the record shelf.

Sennheiser

HD 800 S Headphones

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

For a dedicated listening space. Open-back headphones allow sound to escape; plan a suitable headphone amplifier and check source compatibility.

Édith Piaf — The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Édith Piaf

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

French chanson, carried by a voice of extraordinary dramatic intensity. A generous introduction to Piaf’s repertoire.

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Tracy Chapman Lp

WHY IT MADE THE EDIT

URBAN OUTFITTERS | Tracy Chapman Lp