I also have numerous Nonesuch albums. They were great. I haven't done much research about finding things digitally but they need to be cheeep.
My current stable of turntables consists of a Technics SL-10 which I love and was pleased to discover (Here!) that the EPC 310 MC cartridge has one of the lowest effective tip masses. I was working on building a straight line arm when it became available. It is Still my daily driver.
I also have a Pioneer PLC 590 with a Stax arm. I have had several SME arms mostly earlier vintages. I think I still have a pair of straight ones left over from the linear tracking days.
I had a Big Rek O Kut with an SME and a V15 which escaped.
I have had several Thorens one was the small one with a Thorens arm and also the puck drive one with an SME but I don't remember the model number I think the first with the arm was a TD160 and the big one was like a TD123. It had a big iron platter and a drop mechnism to put it "in gear" for "tag cueing".
I also had several AR XA turntables (at least three or four) and my very first turntable purchase was a Garrard 50 series. I had a Lab 80 briefly too.
It was nice but it was a "changer" and we just can't have those can we.
I love AR turntables. Great great value for the student buck.
I also still have an Aiwa linear tracking table from a stack that is surprisingly good though it is in the basement. It fell into my lap.
I had a Rabco straight line arm which was kind of junky and also a Harmon Kardon Rabco table that belonged to a friend who didn't like it and hoped I could make it behave better. It made noises. I couldn't do anything with it. an also ran.
I did have several inexpensive japanese turntables like Pioneer PL 50s and equivalents from Pacific Stereo where my stereo buddy always was wheeling and dealing with managers. They usually came to me for set up and check out and then moved on.
I also had an Empire either a 598 or 698(I think the only difference was gold or silver anodizing) I can't remember which. I think it was a 698 because it was gold colored. They made cartridges too (supposedly) and were a known brand. Their turntable was "fancy". When I got it I was horrified with the build quality. It was a piece of shit. I flipped it FAST. Big massive thing. Crappy aluminum castings gold anodized. High mass tonearm.
I think that is most of them. I was a busy boy in the seventies.
It looks like several other tts are trying to fall into my lap. Maybe a Bang and Olufsen and a Phase Linear straight line.
It never ends.
You mention "back then" in the later eighties especially I would not have been on the market for any turntable. I would have been looking for reasonably priced CD players. I got the Garrard and ARs in the late sixties. The Pioneer in 1978 and the SL10 in the early eighties. I did not intend to criticize the Kenwood. I just mostly thought of them for electronics. They had a brand of Ham equipment and electronic test gear (Trio Kenwood).
You think anyone would want to give me $4,000 for any of my turn tables. Have em contact me.
PS that nonesuch animals album is hilarious. You can listen to long samples. I have some goofy records like that too.