Discover the Audiophile Excellence of Impex Records: A Showcase of Timeless Albums

Impex Records, founded in 1992, has quickly become one of the most exciting new audiophile labels in decades. With their pronounced fidelity and impeccable attention to detail, Impex Records takes its iconic place as the new “recording engineers’ record company.” The label’s extensive and varied catalog encompasses everything from jazz and classical to folk and vocal, with every album demonstrating the highest quality in sound.

At Elusive Disc, we curate a growing collection of Impex Records titles, allowing you to experience the best in audiophile sound. If you are a collector or a music lover, these records have what you want from the music you love.

The Impex Ethos for Audiophile Sound

A major reason why audiophiles cherish Impex Records is the engineering work and commitment to conserving ALL the musical information in the original master. The label's 15 releases are single albums containing 8-panel covers featuring the boldest part of the original albums' designs, and each reissue is made to be the original reissue (including quality and sound) produced through high-quality remastering technology.

It begins with finding the right analog masters from the best sources, while preserving the music's soul. Impex Records painstakingly creates each one of their extremely high-quality pressings, whether taken from the original master tape or transferred from the pre-fader mix. Their pressings are renowned for their excellent sound quality, thanks to the high-quality vinyl used and the meticulous attention to detail in the cutting and pressing process.

Impex’s care extends not only to the audio but also to longer-form packaging. With lovely, high-strike-through gloss jackets with tip-on sleeves and 110# inners, releases from Impex Records are as gorgeous to see as they are to hear.

Our Artists' Legacy of Pressing Excellence, Discovery Records, is being re-elected on multiple titles!

Impex Records regards all our reissues with the same reverence that the artist would receive in an expensive London, New York, or LA studio. Our growing library features recordings for all tastes and is being lauded by analog lovers for its tonality, warmth, and silence. Our Limited Edition releases, ranging from pop to jazz classics, feature small runs and high-quality pressings, ensuring that future generations can enjoy some of the best music of our era. Impex: Always on the cutting edge.

Central to Impex's mission is the belief that music is sacred and that great music deserves to be heard as the artist intended. We aim to manifest the same dedication to preserving and expanding upon every detail in these splendid recordings from the recording studio itself, to the front cover of the cassette case; from the music contained to what you see emblazoned on the cassette. What results is sound that defies the passage of time, allowing listeners to experience the music as the artists originally intended.

Our lineup of artists is a who's who of musical heroes, spanning eras and genres, all of whom have been blessed with the gift of music in their lives. From the anagogic spontaneity of a jazz "great" and the harmonic structure of a classical "master" to the sheer energy of a rock 'n' roll pioneering star, the Impex Records catalog reveals a diverse range of sounds, styles, and talents. Every album in our collection is an essential contribution to the story of classic opera and an incredibly valuable recorded testimony of history, a slice of cultural reality lovingly preserved and shared for generations to come.

Patricia Barber - Clique :

The Clique by Patricia Barber has long been a favorite among audiophiles for its seductive, sexy jazz repertoire and stunning vocal clarity. You can hear Barber's powerful voice and the accompanying instrumental clarity in this critically lauded recording, produced by Impex Records.

Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat:

Jennifer Warnes' tribute to Leonard Cohen receives a fresh breath of life from the experts at Impex Records. Famous Blue Raincoat is a lavishly produced LP with heartfelt performances that really shine on the label’s higher-end pressing and remastering. In keeping with the tone of the original 1986 release, we have remastered (again with Bernie Grundman using Jennifer’s tapes) the original tracks onto a single LP. The back jacket contains new art featuring archival photos. Once again(and to our great satisfaction) Jennifer Warnes personally oversaw all aspects of the production, giving you full confidence that this Impex Records 33 RPM Famous Blue Raincoat will be top-notch in every way. Anything less would be unacceptable for one of the world’s greatest audiophile pop records. Especially from Impex Records.

Dan Fogelberg - Souvenirs (50th Anniversary Edition):

Impex's 50th anniversary version of Dan Fogelberg's Souvenirs offers this folk-rock favorite in clean, clear glory. Warm acoustic sounds and emotional lyrics are brought to life with ornate detail through the label's commitment to audiophile quality.

Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucía - Friday Night in San Francisco (Limited Edition):

One of the most exciting reissues of the modern era, Friday Night in San Francisco is a recording of a guitar summit held in San Francisco in 1980. Friday Night In San Francisco is a 1981 live album by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia. It was described by jazz author and critic Walter Kolosky as “a musical event that could be compared to the Benny Goodman Band’s performance at Carnegie Hall in 1938…[it] may be considered the most influential of all live acoustic guitar albums. This debut recording on Columbia Records became a landmark recording that surpassed the two million mark in sales. The three virtuosos in the Trio toured together from 1980 through 1983.

Barbra Streisand - Live at the Bon Soir.

Barbra Streisand’s enthralling early performances are beautifully remastered in the Impex Records reissue of Live at the Bon Soir . This live album, ~originally from a 1962 recording, reveals Streisand in full throat and at ease in a small nightclub. And the remastering, which this reissue also boasts, adds a sonic depth and richness that reveal the lush atmosphere and subtlety of her epoch-making debut with radiant warmth.

Stan Getz and João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto feat. Antonio Carlos Jobim

A timeless bossa nova classic, Getz/Gilberto featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim, enjoys precision mastering by Impex that allows the smooth sax lines and soft Portuguese singing to bloom and breathe. The album utilized the 1STEP processing, which elevates it to another level. The label’s pressing revitalizes an already iconic recording with Billboard Top-10-charting singles like “The Girl from Ipanema. This Impex Records Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto Getz/Gilberto 1STEP Numbered Limited Edition 180g 45rpm 2LP was one of the most popular of their catalogo. It's almost soldout and close to being press again.

Miles Davis - E.S.P.

Impex Records’ reissue of Miles Davis’ E.S.P. offers an essential new perspective into Davis’ mid- to late-‘60s quintet breakthroughs. The pressing has the organic spontaneity of the sessions without losing any of the detail of the legendary musicianship.

Frank Sinatra - Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra, Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra Repertoire: 01 Baubles, Bangles And Beads 02 I Wish I Were In Love Again 03 I Believe 04 It's A Magnificent Feeling 05 They Can't Take That Away From Me 06 You Brou 1. This landmark swing recording is an all-time classic thanks to Sinatra’s phrasing, the Count Basie band’s energy, and the commanding title song. Impex Records' Sing and Dance with Frank 2LP 45 RPM reissue delivers the signature song with life. The reissue is half-speed mastered to preserve the warmth of the original recording while maintaining Sinatra's unique character in his voice. Vinyl press is a premium listening, soundtrack-perfect addition to any collection.

Donovan - The Hurdy Gurdy Man

The Hurdy Gurdy Man by Donovan is a classic psychedelic folk album of the 1960s. It includes the unforgettable title track and showcases Donovan’s one-of-a-kind mix of folk, rock, and psychedelia. The Impex The Hurdy Gurdy Man vinyl reissue captures all the acoustic detail and atmospheric production, offering a truly more musical listening experience of this classic title, while also revealing ravaging detail and adding to it. The remastering by Impex brings out the subtle naturalism of Donovan’s voice and the arrangements. As with all his best stuff, this album sounds even better when heard on vinyl, his beautifully hand-crafted songs layered with sound. The critics considered Impex's version of The Hurdy Gurdy Man to be best version out on the internet.

Billy Joel - 52nd Street

Billy Joel's 52nd Street is a classic record from one of the finest ballad and pop recording artists of all time, and he hails from Brooklyn. This is truly one of his best efforts. The album features classics such as “My Life” and “Zanzibar,” and Impex Records’ Billy Joel 52nd Street reissue captures every note with fidelity and precision. The remaster stresses the complex arrangements and the unique fire that Joel himself offered as a performer, highlighting his multifaceted nature as an artist. Reissued in vinyl format, this version of the album allows every song to stand out with clear, enhanced depth, a must-have addition to any Billy Joel or audiophile's collection.

The Impex Factor, or Why Audiophiles Love Impex Records

A true high-fidelity label, Impex Records has redefined quality vinyl reissues while never sacrificing sound quality. Here’s what makes Impex vinyl records the choice for audiophiles:

1. Top-notch mastering and Pressing Impex collaborate with the world's best mastering studios and most respected pressing plants, employing best practices from both to craft its highest-quality LPs. Pressed onto Heavyweight 180g Vinyl, their discs are quality tested to ensure the best sound and longevity. Many of their best releases feature original mastering on 1STEP, and it’s this breakthrough technology that SU2 and Expanded Music have agreed to use. This approach bypasses the multiple plating of ordinary disks and produces a more detailed, far superior sonic representation of the original master tape.
   
   
2. Superior Sound Quality. No one offers better performance-to-price value. From the soaring notes in Patricia Barber’s voice to the acrobatic guitar interplay between Di Meola and McLaughlin, these vinyl records deliver a weighty and dynamic listening experience. And Phase 4’s meticulous mastering delivers every nuance of the recording.
   
   
3. Collectors' Special Limited Editions. A large proportion of Impex titles are limited editions, so we must do them just right! Numbered copies, premium packaging, and the high-calibre pressing make these collectable pieces every way and then some.
   
   
4. Musical Variety: Upcoming Impex releases will feature a diverse range of genres, including folk, jazz, classical, and vocal music. Whether you’re into Barbra Streisand or Stan Getz or Jennifer Warnes, there’s something in the Impex catalog for every refined ear.

Final Thoughts: A Sound You Can Trust

It’s been great to see the catalog of great albums now available as high-resolution editions, celebrating each release from Impex Records. Whether you explore the deeper grooves of Even the most recent Frank Sinatra, Patricia Barber, Dan Fogelberg, Jennifer Warnes, or Getz/Gilberto you’ll be brought absolutely back into the era, and when you listen to Impex’s all-analog 180-gram vinyl reissues, be warned, you might not be able to leave. With decades of rich artist relationships, we have developed a comprehensive portfolio of vinyl and Hi-Fi turntables that will provide an incredibly immersive experience and offer the best value available.

Check out Elusive Disc for Impex Records and be sure to add these audiophile albums to complete your library with sound that is simply the best!