Best vinyl records to test your turntable 2023: The albums you need to own

Best vinyl records to test your turntable
(Image credit: Larina Marina - Getty)

Whether you’re upgrading your turntable or investing in your first-ever record player, you’re going to need some tasty vinyl to set your ears on fire. But aside from pilfering everything from your favourite artists, what else are you going to choose? With so much music out there, deciding on what else to buy can throw up some issues, so we’ve come up with a list of the best vinyl records for your turntable.

We’ve picked out a few classic records, some contemporary releases and a few that might even surprise you. But the one thing all our picks have in common is they sound great and are, in our humble opinion, must-haves for your record player.

Keep your eyes on this page as we'll be updating it as 2022 continues

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Vinyl list

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: The Beatles' Abbey Road cover

(Image credit: Apple Corps Ltd/Capitol/UMe)

1. The Beatles: Abbey Road

The 50th anniversary of a classic still sounds as fresh as it did in 1969

Specifications

Number of discs: One
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes - 180g
Reissue: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Mix sounds fantastic
+
One of The Beatles' best
+
Classic tracks

Reasons to avoid

-
Not everyone's a Beatles fan

Let’s face it, there are no bad albums by The Beatles, so picking just one was a bit of a quandary. However, after whittling down the list we arrived at Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road – and we’ve picked out Abbey Road as a great option to whack on your turntable, and in particular the 50th anniversary reissue.

The version of Abbey Road features the 2019 stereo album mix, which was sourced from the original eight-track session tapes, with Giles Martin working alongside Sam Okell on production duties. As you would imagine Abbey Road sounds terrific, with the mix balanced beautifully allowing John, Paul, George and Ringo’s talents to really shine. A real treat, and it’s even better when you take in the amount off wonderful songs here, including the brilliant Come Together, the quirky Octopus’s Garden and the timeless classic Here Comes The Sun. Wonderful!

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Metallica's Black Album cover

(Image credit: Universal Music)

2. Metallica: Black Album

Metallica's 30th anniversary reissue of the Black album is a must-have

Specifications

Number of discs: Two
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes - 180g
Reissue: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Reissue sound great
+
A stone cold classic

Reasons to avoid

-
More bass please

A throwback to 1991 in the shape of Metallica’s much-loved “Black Album” and more specifically, the re-issue that arrived in 2021. This was an album that launched as grunge was clearing the launchpad, but if anyone though the arrival by the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins could dent the popularity of metal’s finest, they were wrong. 

Gone were many of the thrash stylings that Metallica were known for, with the band delivering a slow-burning thumper of a record that is possibly their most famous alongside Master Of Puppets. Enter Sandman sounds fabulous on the reissue. It’s one of the most famous metal songs on the planet, with the vinyl almost melting under its ferocious glare. The Unforgiven is another majestic track which truly shines on the reissue, as do (let’s face it) all the songs. We’re giving a special mention to Nothing Else Matters, as it has plenty of room to blossom here, with Hetfield’s vocals rising above the crescendo.

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Guns N' Roses' Greatest Hits cover

(Image credit: Geffen)

3. Guns N' Roses: Greatest Hits

GNR finally released their greatest hits package on vinyl

Specifications

Number of discs: Two
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes - 180g
Reissue: Yes - originally on CD, now with extra track

Reasons to buy

+
Great to see it on vinyl
+
Packed with classics
+
A great place to start your GNR journey

Reasons to avoid

-
A few more tracks would be nice

OK, so we could have gone for Appetite For Destruction or Use Your Illusion I & II, but we’ve picked Guns N’ RosesGreatest Hits package instead. This was originally released on CD back in 2004, with this double vinyl edition arriving in September 2020. This new version of the record is pressed on 180g black vinyl and also features the 1986 recording of Shadow Of Your Love, which surfaced on the 2018 box set of Appetite For Destruction. It’s worth noting that Greatest Hits was also released on gold coloured vinyl with red and white splatter – although this is becoming increasing more difficult to get hold of.

A total of 15 songs are presented here including fan favourites such as Welcome To The Jungle, November Rain, You Could Be Mine and Patience. It sounds terrific too and is the perfect way to put your turntable through its paces. A final nice touch is that the band have done away with sides A, B, C and D - and instead we’re treated to sides G, N, F’N, R. Nice!

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Ghost's Impera cover

(Image credit: Spinefarm Records)

4. Ghost: Impera

Ghost's latest album is a triumph and it'll sound great on your turntable

Specifications

Number of discs: One
Heavyweight vinyl: N/A
Reissue: No - 2022 release

Reasons to buy

+
Ghost at their best
+
Catchy tracks
+
Great production

Reasons to avoid

-
Do you really want to go back to the 80s?

Let’s leave the reissues behind for a bit and concentrate on something a bit more contemporary: Ghost’s Impera. Leader Tobias Forge has always positioned his band somewhere between metal and classic rock, but their transformation into full-blown AOR-style stadium rockers – a move which began in earnest with 2018’s Prequelle – is now complete with their latest record.

It’s an album choc-full of satisfying riffs, big choruses and catchy moments which bring back memories of the mid-80s rock scene. Ghost have released Impera in a wide range of vinyl formats – from standard to exclusive coloured vinyl editions, so you’re sure to find something to suit your tastes. However, we’re concentrating on the standard black 1LP release.

The first track that grabbed me was Kaisarion, especially when Forge lets out an opening scream that reminded me of Stan Bush at his finest. It’s a massive sounding track crammed into five minutes and points out exactly where the record is heading. As if any reinforcement was needed, next song Spillways took me back to listening to Bon Jovi’s Runaway back in 1984.

Watcher In The Sky, with its slabs of heavy guitar sounds brilliant, as does the atmospheric first single Hunter’s Moon. With Forge’s eye for detail and Klas Åhlund’s sterling production, Impera proves that Ghost are still one of the most exciting bands around… even if they did have to go back to the 80s to claim the crown.

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Red Hot Chili Peppers' Mother's Milk cover

(Image credit: UMC)

5. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Mother’s Milk

The Chili Peppers paved the way to the big time with their fourth studio album

Specifications

Number of discs: One
Heavyweight vinyl: No
Reissue: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Still sounds fresh
+
Classic Chilis

Reasons to avoid

-
Not heavyweight vinyl

Before Red Hot Chili Peppers went on to global superstadom with Blood Sugar Sex Magic, they released several brilliant albums in the shape of Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, However, it was 1989's Mother's Milk which paved the way for the band’s and was the springboard for their future success. It was also the Red Hot Chili Peppers first record to feature their classic lineup of Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith and John Frusciante.

Flea's bass really pops on this record, while Frusciante fresh licks elevate tracks such as Nobody Weird Like Me, Taste Like Me, Stone Cold Bush and the scintillating cover of Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground. They might have recorded better albums over the years, but Mother’s Milk still sounds edgy and vibrant and the vinyl release should definitely be on your shopping list.

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Nirvana's MTV Unplugged In New York cover

(Image credit: UMC/Polydor)

6. Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York

A stripped-back Nirvana performance has turned into a timeless classic

Specifications

Number of discs: Two
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes - 180g
Reissue: Yes - for its 25th anniversary

Reasons to buy

+
One of the best MTV Unplugged sessions
+
Extra tracks

Reasons to avoid

-
The toned down vibe won't be for everyone

Released in 1993, just seven months after the death of vocalist and guitarist Kurt Cobain, Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York is perhaps the definitive MTV Unplugged recording. The series gave artists across a wide spectrum of genres the chance to strip back their usual electric performances and give a different kind of groove to their live sets.

Nirvana’s performance was filmed and recorded at Sony Music Studios in New York City in November 1993, with the setlist featuring Nirvana staples such as Come As You Are, About A Girl and Polly. However, it also has a number of excellent covers, including David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World and Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam by The Vaselines. 

The double vinyl released in 2019 to mark the album’s 25th anniversary sounds fantastic, with the music given plenty of room to breathe. About A Girl is terrific with Cobain’s vocals sounding gritty and fresh, while On A Plain’s mellow beat really shines. There's even the bonus of five extra rehearsal tracks. A real slice of musical history.

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Tesseract's Sonder cover

(Image credit: Kscope)

7. Tesseract: Sonder

The prog-metal outfit's 2018 album Sonder sounds magnificent

Specifications

Number of discs: One
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes - 180g
Reissue: No - 2018 release

Reasons to buy

+
Production is top-notch
+
Punchy songs

Reasons to avoid

-
Prog-metal might not be for you

Tesseract’s fourth studio album Sonder is next on our list, partly because the tracks from the UK prog-metal outfit are quality and the production work on it is top-drawer. The band’s guitarist Ace Kahney co-produced the 2018 record with Aiden O’Brien and the results are brilliant. Opener Luminary is sharp, with Jay Postones’ drums cutting through the mix beautifully, while the quieter moments simply shine.

Orbital is a gentle, multi-textured track which reminds me of US post rockers Hammock and it sound brilliant on vinyl, and it’s a great contrast to the punchy and choppy Juno which is up next. My favourite cut on the record, however, is the sprawling 11-minute Beneath My Skin/Mirror Image which ebbs and flows through menacing riffs and clean as a whistle drumming. It also shows off frontman Daniel Tompkins’ vocal range perfectly, with the singer happy to mix up styles in his delivery. 

While Sonder might not be an album you expected to see in this list, it’s guaranteed to put your record player through its paces. 

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: U2's Achtung Baby cover

(Image credit: Island Records)

8. U2: Achtung Baby

Grunge was just hitting its stride when U2 caused a stir with their seventh studio album

Specifications

Number of discs: Two
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes
Reissue: Yes - for 30th anniversary

Reasons to buy

+
Contains some of U2's best songs
+
Excellent production

Reasons to avoid

-
Bonus tracks would be welcome

U2’s release of Achtung Baby in 1991 coincided with the rise of grunge – but that didn’t stop the band’s seventh album from going stratospheric. You could argue U2 had already released enough great albums to be regarded as one of the biggest rock bands on the planet by the time the 90s rolled around, but Achtung Baby, with its mix of memorable tracks spanning a variety of genres such as alt-rock, seemed to put Bono on co. on another level. It was popular with pop fans, rockers, indie kids and even goths got a kick out of Achtung Baby thanks to tracks like One, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, The Fly and the magnificent Ultra Violet.

With Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois on production duties, there’s a definite darker edge to this collection of 12 tracks from some of U2’s previous records. Bono is in great form on the album, with The Edge’s signature guitar on fire throughout. I don’t think you have to be a fan of U2’s work before or after Achtung Baby to appreciate it either, it a superb record to test your turntable on. We recommend grabbing the 30th anniversary edition which was released on 2LP in 2021.

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: The Cure's Disintegration cover

(Image credit: Fiction)

9. The Cure: Disintegration

Robert Smith and co's masterpiece is a great place to start if you're new to the band

Specifications

Number of discs: Two
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes - 180g
Reissue: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
12 great tracks
+
A good intro to The Cure
+
A benchmark record

Reasons to avoid

-
The Cure's signature sound might not be for everyone

Everyone has their favourite era of The Cure, with some preferring the lighter side of the band rather than the darker material they’re perhaps better known for. I fall into the latter camp, and that means another spin of 1989’s Disintegration. It came just two years after Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, and had an altogether different vibe from that record which contained the upbeat singles Why Can’t I Be You? and Just Like Heaven.

This 2LP reissue of Disintegration is pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl with standout tracks including Pictures Of You, Lovesong, Lullaby, Closedown, the galloping title track along with sublime opener Plainsong. For this reason, it’s highly regarded among fans of The Cure, with many believing Robert Smith and co. have never quite bettered it. That’s a debate for another time, but as we patiently wait for the band’s two new studio albums, this is a fine slice of vinyl to test out your record player – and a great place to start if you’re new to The Cure.

Best vinyl records to test your turntable: Fields Of The Nephillim's Elizium cover

(Image credit: Arkive/Beggars Banquet)

10. Fields Of The Nephilim: Elizium

After waiting for 30 years, the Neff's finest has been given the vinyl treatment

Specifications

Number of discs: One - green vinyl only
Heavyweight vinyl: Yes - 180g
Reissue: Yes - 30th anniversary

Reasons to buy

+
Goth meets Pink Floyd
+
Epic in scope
+
Sounds great 30 years on

Reasons to avoid

-
FotN can be an acquired taste

Elizium is, in my opinion, a gothic masterpiece that was originally released way back in 1990. Sadly, it was to be the last featuring Fields Of The Nephilim's classic lineup of Carl McCoy, Tony Pettitt, Nod Wright, Peter Yates and Paul Wright, with McCoy departing the following year, shattering the band in the process. McCoy resurrected the name with new members for 2005’s Mourning Sun, but they’ve never managed to top Elizium.

This green vinyl pressing was released in December 2020 to mark Elizium’s 30th anniversary and it sounds even better than it did before thanks to Loud’s John Dent and his work transferring it to 96khz/24. Geoff Pesche at Abbey Road then got involved in mastering the vinyl making this the definitive edition of one of goth’s finest moments. 

It’s an album in the truest sense – it simply has to be listened to in one sitting to get the most from its dark, Pink Floydian atmosphere. Every track’s a winner, with special mention going to the audio delights of the superb 24-minute side two, which features Sumerland (What Dreams May Come), Wail Of Sumer and And There Will Your Heart Be Also. Vinyl perfection.

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.