Top five "RECORDINGS TO DIE FOR"
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five (Remastered CD or LP)
Holly Cole - Temptation
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (Remastered CD or LP)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
The Dave Mathews Band - Under the Table and Dreaming
Honorable mention:
Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else (Remastered CD or LP)
Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington - The Complete Sessions
Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue
Charlie Byrd and Stan Getz  Jazz Samba (CD reissue or Original Verve LP)
Tracy Chapman
Eric Clapton - 361 Ocean Boulevard (Remastered CD or LP)
Bruce Cockburn  Speechless
Larry Coryell, Badi Assad, and John Abercrombie - Three Guitars
Miles Davis - A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Remastered CD or LP)
Duke Ellington - Blues in Orbit
Bill Evans Trio - Portrait in Jazz (Remastered CD or LP)
Bela Fleck - Tails from the Acoustic Planet
Floratone
Bill Frisell - The best of Bill Frisell, Vol. 1 - Folk Songs
Peter Gabriel - Us
Joe Henderson - Lush Life
Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
Janine Jensen - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons Violin Concerto
Nora Jones - Come Away With Me
Rickie Lee Jones (LP)
Rickie Lee Jones - Pop Pop
K.D. Lang - Ingenue
Led Zepplin - III (Remastered CD or original LP)
Led Zepplin - Houses of the Holy (Remastered CD or original LP)
Los Lobos - Kiko
Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, Stephen Foster - Appalachian Journey
Charles Mingus - Ah Um (Remastered CD or LP)
Joni Mitchell - Hejira
Willie Nelson - Teatro
Nirvana - Nevermind
Madeleine Peyroux  Careless Love
Pearl Jam - Vs
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (thick vinyl)
Rage Against the Machine
Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand (CD version)
Markus Roberts - Deep in the Shed
Steely Dan - Gaucho (Remastered CD or 180g vinyl)
Steely Dan - Aja (Remastered CD or 180g vinyl)
Sublime
The David Grisman Quintet (Original 1976 LP)
The Be Good Tanyas - Blue Horse
Weather Report - Sweetnighter
Cassandra Wilson - New Moon Daughter |
1) Kruder Dorfmeister "The K&D Sessions"
2) Coldplay "Parachute"
3) Amon Tobin "Bricolage"
4) Bach Cello suites (played by Pierre Founier)
5) William Orbit (Pieces in a modern style)
6) Ninja Toon compilation "Xen"
7) Radiohead "OK Computer"
8) Pink Floyd "Wish you were here"
9) Rolling Stones "Let it bleed"
10) Duke Ellington "Greatest hits" with Black & Tan Fantasy |
Miles Davis - Someday My Price Will Come LP
Pretenders - The Isle of View CD
Eric Dolphy With Booker Little At The Five Spot Vol. 1 CD Gelder Remaster
Chicago Symphony/Reiner - Pines of Rome LP/XRCD pretty good
Getz Au Go Go Stan Getz Quartet Live at Cafe Au Go Go with Astrud Gilberto |
Willie Nelson "Stardust"
Hendrix "Electric Ladyland"
Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here"
Steely Dan "The Royal Scam"
Miles Davis "Bitches Brew" |
Ravi Shankar-Three Ragas on World Pacific Records WP-1438
One of his best. |
Handful of all-time favorites from my jazz/jazz fusion collection:
Antonio Forcione - Tears of Joy
Chick Corea - Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
Antonio Forcione/Charlie Haden -Heartplay
Bob James - Grand Piano Canyon
Bruce Hornsby - Camp Meeting (w/ Christian McBride & Jack DeJohnette)
Skywalk - The Bohemians (GREAT underrated band fronted by Graeme Coleman) |
Myfavorite of all time is Respighi's Pines of Rome by Reiner. What a piece, both for music and sound. |
"Bridge of Sighs" - Robin Trower
"Machine Head" - Deep Purple
"Surfing with the Alien" - Joe Satriani
"Crystal Planet" - Joe Satriani
"Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
"Heaven and Hell" - Black Sabbath
"Hell Bent for Leather" - Judas Priest
"Van Halen" - Van Halen
"Led Zeppelin IV" - Led Zeppelin
"Music of Barrios" - David Russell
"Villa-Lobos" - Manuel Barrueco
"Music of Joaquin Rodrigo" - Pepe Romero
"All the World's a Stage" - Rush
"Permanent Waves" - Rush |
You guys got great taste, there's a number of titles I've got give a listen. Thanks.
1. Miles Davis: "Kind of Blue"
2. Dinah Washington: "The Dinah Washington Story"
3. Billie Holliday: "Her finest Studio Recordings"
4. Joni Mitchell: "Hejira"
5. Diana Krall: "When I look in your eyes" |
Holly Cole - It happened one night
Cassandra Wilson- Blue Light Til Dawn
Mile Davis- Kind of Blue |
Cantando - Bobo Stenson (ECM) CD.
Natural Elements - Shakti Columbia (now sony?) LP
Traditional music of India - Ali Alkbar Khan (Fantasy) CD.
Ragas - Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan (Fantasy) LP. |
In no particular order:
1. Respighi, Pines of Rome & Fountains of Rome, Chicago SO/Reiner, RCA.
2. Hindemith: Mathis der Maler symphony/Concert Music, Boston SO/Steinberg, DGG
3. Debussy Preludes, Paul Jacobs, Nonesuch
4. Schubert, Piano Sonata in B-Flat, Richard Goode, Nonesuch
5. "English Renaissance," The King's Singers, RCA
There are lots of others too, of course... |
Carla Lother | 100 Lovers
Audiophile 96khz/24bit |
Let me get my 5 in as it sadly appears that the thread is on the wane. I have enjoyed reading through this thread and think it has broadened my musical horizons. Thanks to all who have contributed.
1. Phantasm sound track lp Varese
2. Mussourgsky Night on Bare Mtn lp Leibowitz/RCA
3. Tchaikovsky Sym no.4 lp Karajan/Columbia
4. Stravinsky Firebird Ballet lp Dorati/Mercury
5. Schubert Sonatinas lp Martzy/Antoinietti Columbia |
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Great topic!
Keith Jarret/Charlie Haden: Jasmine
Explosions in the Sky - Every CD they have
Ennio Morricone - The Best of 50 Years (Society of Sound)
Tom Kerstens and the G Plus Ensemble - Utopia (Society of Sound)
Syriana - Ten Days in Bilad Al Sham (Society of Sound)
Tunng - And then we saw Land (Society of Sound)
Peter Gregson - Terminal (Society of Sound)
If you aren't already a subscriber of B&W's Society of Sound...do it today and get all the back albums. Amazing music with incredible recordings. |
Somewhere in this thread I saw Patricia Barber's name listed. I just recently bought Cafe Blue. Wow! How come I have never heard of her before! This album blew me away. Track 9, Too Rich for My Blood, gives me chills every time I listen to it. Her voice is so powerful and haunting. I am an instant fan. I am ordering more of her CDs this week. |
I have quite a few Patricia Barber albums including several on gold SACD. I'm pretty sure I first heard of her on this thread (possibly another thread but definitely on AGon) many years ago. I really love her music, especially the high def. I do wish she would record some without the heavy reverb though. I think it takes away from her voice sometimes. Anyway,
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain
Patricia Barber - Verse |
I love music but I'm not willing to die for it.
:p |
1) Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
2) Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart
3) Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
4) Holst - The Planets (Dutoit)
5) Witches Brew - Various |
These are in CD format..
1/ Charles Mingus Ah Um SACD is spectacular
2/ Miles Davis KInd Of Blue
3/ Rolling Stones Let It Bleed SACD
4/ Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore
5/ Tom Petty Mojo Blueray Audio |
My own personal go-to's, LPs only!:
1. Julie Andrews: Julie is Her Name, original mono or Box Star 45RPM mono remaster
2. Ornette Coleman: Ornette! original Atlanta stereo release
3. The Doors: Strange Days, original stereo or DCC remaster
4. Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic, original ABC yellow-label
5. Heart: Dreamboat Annie, original KENDUN master on Mushroom or Nautilus half-speed master |
Diana Krall- Love scenes
Jennifer Warnes- Famous Blue Raincoat
Linda Ronstadt- For sentimental reasons, with Nelson Riddle
YES- Keystudio
Stevie Ray Vaughn- Couldnt stand the Weather, track #6
These are great albums with outstanding sonics. Very well recorded. great sound stage and imaging. See if your rig brings out the best. |
1/ Charles Mingus ..Mingus Ah Um (SACD)
2/ Bela Fleck and The Flecktones.. Little Worlds
3/ Rolling Stones.. Let It Bleed (SACD)
4/ Daniel Lanois.. Acadie
5/ Rickie Lee Jones..It's Like This (SACD)
Glen |
1 The Cranes - Particles and waves
2 Getz / Gilberto - Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto
3 Willie Nelson - Teatro
4 Radiohead - In Rainbows
5 Robert Plant - Raising Sand |
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Belefonte Sings the Blues- Impex gold cd |
Holly Cole's "One Trick Pony" on "Romantically Helpless Album" Grooveland LP, 45RPM.
This particular LP (45RPM version) just keeps my ears happy and smiling over and over. It's kind of pricey for a 2 LP BUT....it did not disappoint for me....worth every penny! It's like having her live performance in your room..dynamics, presence and soundstage are just to die for IMHO. |
A friend just turned me onto John Hammond's 2001 Virgin Records recording "Wicked Grin", which has appeared on this list before. Fantastic blues collaboration with Tom Waits. Great production and as my friend who is a musician points out - not a misplaced note or phrase anywhere. Outstanding. My favorite discovery of the last year for both musical content and recording. |
Chris Rea, Auberge
Patti Austin, The Real Me
Vehkavaara & Piltch, Mediterranean Nights
Connie Evingson, Gypsy in My Soul
Tamara Lewis, Living Down River |
1. Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here"
2. Joni Mitchell "Court And Spark"
3. Talking Heads "Remain In Light"
4. Beatles "Abbey Road"
5. Weather Report "Black Market"
Honorable Mention:
Tangerine Dream "Stratosfear"
Herbie Hancock "River: The Joni Letters"
Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue"
Santana "Borboletta"
Los Lobos "Kiko"
Dire Straits "Brothers In Arms"
Laurie Anderson "Big Science"
Paul Simon "Graceland"
The Clash "Sandinista" |
For great recordings, why not follow the top mix engineers? Famous Blue Raincoat, that's George Massenburg and Frank Wolf. George also does all LInda Ronstadt/Nelson Riddle stuff. He did Joshua Judges Ruth (Lyle Lovett) and this new gal I just love, Dawn Langstroth. Check out her site, you can see him recording it IN the room with her live. Frank Wolf is still working all the time, look him up on Allmusic. Jim Anderson who is at NYU now did a lot of the Patricia Barber stuff. Diana Krall, that's Al Schmitt. He is one of the very best. Elliot Schiener, he did Fagen's Night Fly and a whole bunch of top level stuff. The Cowboy Junkie Record was done with a SoundField mic, same mic David Cheske uses on a lot of his recordings. Its a single mic with even lower phase error than a stereo pair. AMAZING imaging on so many of those Cheske records. Chuck AInlay, he does Mark Knopfler, some of the best guitar tone on record. Bill Schnee, another amazing talent. Doug Sax, he mastered Dark Side. He is the guy with Bill behind the Sheffield Labs stuff. I think you guys would have your best luck by following your favorite engineers.
I'm new to Audiogon for I am in the high end pro business. All those engineers are the folks I know, work for, talk to or sell gear to. The good ones are always doing good work. They seldom get stuck with over compressed mastering. |
Hey Rogar:
Get ready for the new "WIsh you where Here" immersion discs due soon.
Brad |
Hi Transaudio,
When I look for great recordings, I see who mastered the recording. If it says Doug Sax, Barry Diament, Steve Hoffman, Kevin Gray or Ricker,to name a few, you usually get a quality playback.Others mastering engineers can be hit and miss. Some can make a great recording unlistenable by adding eq to the bottom or top end and also by adding volume to the recording altering and compressing the possible dynamic range that the recording once had.
It's in the mastering IMO
Regards, |
Montejay, how right you are. Most great mastering engineers know what mixes NOT to take and most great mixers encourage their clients to hire the best mastering engineers.
It all supports the point: look for the people BEHIND the music and follow them for great sound. They may not always be your favorite artists, but great engineers in mastering and mixing rarely turn out bad sounding records.
Brad |
Hi Brad,
I am amazed how often I can hear a cd I'm very familiar with, sounding so much better then the one I already own. Closer inspection usually reveals a familiar name mastered it.
Behind almost any of the 'Records to Die for' list is at least one of these talented individuals.
Regards, |
If any of you are coming to RMAF in a few weeks, you'll get to experience A Recording to Die For, at least from the professional music side. The show will be the premier demo of Wish You Were Here in 5.1, from the new Immersion Disc set. ATC is bringing a massive system too, like the one that James Guthrie used to mix all the new Pink Floyd Immersion discs as well as Dark SIde in 5.1 a few years ago. The room will also be treated, so it sounds like a recording studio. So it will truly be a once in a lifetime experience of a great recording. |
Try Hope Waits Cd, big sound, slick muscians, unqualified recommendation on all counts. |
Chet Atkins, Mark Knhoppler, Neck @ Neck Lp
Cowboy Jumkies,"Whites off EarthNow","MFSL" "Demons",Diverse.
CAT POWER "JUKE BOX"
Haley Bonar "Big Star"
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blood on the tracks sacd version/the band,a history-5dics&the last waltz dvd-audio version/the gratefull dead,americanbeauty&workingmans dead both dvd-audio versions/jennifer warens famous blue raincoat 25th anniv/any first 4 tom waits albums/ANTHING by leonard cohen/ANYTHING by sinatra esp september of my years-1965-especially "once upon a time"/eric clapton 401 ocean blvd-sacd version bobbmd no one has submitted anything in 6 months |
How could I resist and I'm wondering if anyone else agrees with any one of these here listed. These are not in order of 1 through 6. All are still in print and on CD.
Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert: Sonatas / Haskil
Release Date: 02/27/2007
Label: Orfeo Catalog #: 706061 Spars Code: ADD
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert
Performer: Clara Haskil
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded in: Mono
Length: 1 Hours 8 Mins.
Brahms: Violin Sonatas / Korol, Grigorieva
Release Date: 04/08/2008
Label: Challenge Catalog #: 72194 Spars Code: na
Composer: Johannes Brahms
Performer: Natalia Grigorieva, Ilja Karol
Orchestra/Ensemble: Moderntimes_1800
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Haydn: Symphonies 91 & 92, Etc / Jacobs, Fink, Et Al
Release Date: 05/12/2009
Label: Harmonia Mundi Catalog #: 2961849 Spars Code: n/a
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer: Bernarda Fink
Conductor: René Jacobs
Orchestra/Ensemble: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 1 Hours 9 Mins.
Songs Of Debussy And Mozart - Juliane Banse, András Schiff

Release Date: 04/29/2003
Label: Ecm Catalog #: 461899 Spars Code: DDD
Composer: Claude Debussy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Juliane Banse, András Schiff
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 1 Hours 0 Mins.
Schumann: Sonatas For Violin & Piano 1-3 / Faust, Avenhaus
Release Date: 08/15/2000
Label: Cpo Catalog #: 999597 Spars Code: DDD
Composer: Robert Schumann
Performer: Isabelle Faust, Silke Avenhaus
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 1 Hours 7 Mins.
Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin, 3 Lieder / Wunderlich, Giesen
Release Date: 09/17/1996
Label: Dg The Originals Catalog #: 447452 Spars Code: ADD
Composer: Franz Schubert
Performer: Fritz Wunderlich, Hubert Giesen
Number of Discs: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 1 Hours 12 Mins. |
dr. john the night tripper w/gris gris gumbo yaya LP
# 1) the famous sounds of three blind mice v.1 from japan -extremely well rcorded & played by phenomenal japanese artists
janis joplin's kozmic blues album
deborah henson conant's round the corner w/somewhere over the rainbow
chick correa's leprecaun w/gayle moran LP
" " armando's rumba LP
enya's watermark
chuck mangione land of make bellieve LP
herbie mann live at the village gate LP summertime,ain't necessarily so, im comin' home
otis redding's cigarrettes & coffee
jerry lee lewis sound track album w/d, quaid, moms m, etc |
correct name for armando's rumba is "My Spanish Heart" by c.correa
enya's watermark was my first cd & the reason i brokedown & bought a cd player (cal audio tercet III) - it wasn't available on vinyl! |
Tony Williams Lifetime CD is probably the best I have heard on my system. George Benson's White Rabbit disc is also beautiful sounding, full of nuance. |
Roxy, I am familiar with "The New Tony Williams Lifetime" titled "Believe It".
GB's White Rabbit is also excellent! |
x2 for the Toy Matinee suggestion. I've had this little gem since it came out in 1990 or so. Just wanted to thank Dollar2 for putting it out there. Really enjoyed it this last weekend.
This has been long out of print but is really worth the look for. Kevin Gilbert was a super songwriter, player, and was great solo as well. You may also know him as part of the Tuesday Night Music Club who played in C. Crows band. Don't care for Ms. Crow but anything by Kevin Gilbert is a real find.
Dollar2, thanks so much for mentioning this one. Sure made a great end to my Saturday afternoon. |
And now a few of my own picks:
The Big Dish - Satellites
Cibella - The shine of dried electric leaves
Colonies of Collections of Bees - Customer
Robbie Fulks - Let's Kill Saturday Night |
I hope someone mentioned Steve Hackett's last work: Beyond the Shrouded Horizon...his best to date, and one of the best LP's this year by a long shot!! |
Beck, Sea Change, Mutations, The Information |
