Audiogon "RECORDINGS TO DIE FOR" list

1. Ike Quebec - Blue & Sentimental  An. Prod  LP
2. Louis Armstrong - Satchmo Plays King Oliver  Analogue Prod. LP
3. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand The Weather  Sundazed Label 
4. Doors - LA Women   Analogue Prod  45 speed LP
5. Tower of Power - Friday Night Label  LP

Roy Budd soundtrack to The Black Windmill (if you an find a copy) on cinephile cin cd 004

Telemann Tafelmusik complete box set on brilliant classics 921778

rameau Naisle with Nicholas McGegan on harmonia Mundi hmu907121

Sound Liaison's latest release; Little Blue does not disappoint. The production is superb and, as someone here mentioned, the guitar playing is out of this world.
Best version of Little Girl Blue since Janis Joplin.

The stuff I return to , over and over, on vinyl, and occasionally digital if I'm tired or lazy:

Patricia Barber: Modern Cool , Cafe Bleu, Companion ( vinyl or digital)

Steely Dan : Gaucho, Aja. (vinyl)

Air: Moon Safari (vinyl)

Groove Armada : Vertigo (vinyl)

Benny Carter : Live in Japan ( Pablo Live, vinyl)

NIN Year Zero remixed ( vinyl)

Cyndi Lauper : She's So Unusual (vinyl)

B52's : The B52's (vinyl)

Neil Young : Live at Massey Hall ( vinyl)

...and pretty much the entire Morcheeba catalogue in vinyl....

All Mosaic Records Jass series, especially the love reocrdings. The 45rpm of Louis doing St John's Infirmiry. Not expensive but one of the best sounding records I've ever heard. I heard that at a shop in Santa Monica on two ARC monoblocks, a Ref-1 phonostage and some nice B&W speakers and I wanted to cry. Seriously. Oh the TT was an oracle with a graham 2.2 arm and some stellar cart. Oh, it was the Beeeeeest music I had ever heard. Soooo sweet.

Beck "Sea Change"
Dead Can Dance "Spiritchaser"
Dead Can Dance "Spleen and Ideal"
Chris Joss "Momomaniacs Volume 1"
The Grassy Knoll "Electric Verdeland Vol 1" (MP3 only)

Just about anything done by chesky!

My contribution to the list:

Nine horses-Snow borne sorrow
Nine horses-Money for all
HTRK-Psychic 9-5 club
Michael Brook-Albino alligator
Michael Brook-Cobalt blue
Peace orchestra-S/T
Brendan Perry-Ark
Steve Jansen-Slope
The Embassadors-Coptic dub
Root 70-Heaps dub
V.A.-Nonplace: 10th anniversary edition
Paddy Free-Karekare: Te reo o te whenua
Einsturzende neubauten-Silence is sexy
Fabrizio De Andre'-Creuza de mä
Fabrizio De Andre'-Anime salve
Mike Figgis-Figgis on Figgis (and almost all of his albums)

I haven't mentioned Patricia Barber albums because I guess she's on the list but I have a question for those who like her music: how do you tame the basses on her recordings??
If this is not the place to discuss about this I ask the moderator to delete this question and I will start a new thread with this topic. Thanks.

the Norwegian label 2L's latest recording; ''Immortal Nystedt'' is truly remarkable.Impeccable recording quality,music is maybe a bit ''difficult'' but just like a Stravinsky composition the music gains by repeated listening, and I find it good to challenge my own perception of what music is now and then. Highly recommended. Available as a studio master download at HDtracks.

I have about 2000 LPs. Five of my favorites are:

Steely Dan---AJA MSFL
James Taylor--JT
Beatles--Rubber Soul MSFL
Radney Foster-Labor of Love
Jazz at the Pawn Shop

The poster above is promoting OCCD cds (see all posts), so be critical about his comments. I did purchase the Dvorak 9 and found while a good performance, the sound was not the equal of the best modern recordings and it also had some electronic hash in the recording.

1. Dvorak Symphony no 9. It is like discovering it for the first time, not just my choice: American Record Guide said:
“The great historical recording of this work [Dvořák] is Talich’s from the early 50s. This is as good a performance, and the sound [ ] is far superior to the Talich. It has a lightness and clarity that is amazing for its age [This disc] is worth buying for both the Dvořák and the Novák.”
—Carl Bauman, American Record Guide , July/August 2010 OCCDs CD1/2008
2. Campoli/Katin The greatest English violinist of all time and an underrated pianist. My choice and that of 'Fanfare', as quoted here:
“ I’ve never heard [Campoli’s] fabled tone (nor perhaps anyone else’s) in such vivid fidelity; a similar lushness characterizes the piano’s tone as well even if the performance didn’t flow so smoothly as it does, the recorded sound would magnify all the reading’s virtues in ratio in which many recordings diminish them.”
“At moments, Campoli’s sound could freeze a windsock in a hurricane these live performances sound communicative as well as brilliant This issue deserves to be a part of most collections Very strongly recommended.”
—Robert Maxham, Fanfare 33:4, March/April 2010 OCCDs CD3/2009
3. Brahms Symphony no 1 coupled with the Kodaly Dances of Galanta, the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Janos Ferencsik, OCCDs CD5/2009 my thoughts were echoed by Audiophile Audition
“ a thoroughly sympathetic reading from Ferencsik The huge orchestral tuttis impress us with their singing intensity Tumultuous applause [from] a slightly hysterical mob of Londoners who thought this concert a smashing success.” [Rating ★★★★]
—Gary Lemco, Audiophile Audition, 4th November 2009
4. This Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony was awarded the prestigious 'Best Historic Recording' by the German Record Critics Association when the jury stated that 'the sound technique is sensational'. The Warsaw Philharmonic conducted by the brilliant Witold Rowicki. From OCCDs, CD12/2011.
5. Shostakovich 10th The dynamics and orchestral balance are the finest that exist. Sends a cold chill up my spine. The Prague Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vaclav Smetacek. Can your system cope, is it good enough?? OCCDs CD14/2011
You will notice that all the CDs of my choice are from the same source, Orchestral Concert Cds, in fact no matter what other recordings I hear I always return to the 'Virtual Concert Hall Series' and each time I hear the music once more it is fresh and I marvel at the natural sound with its wide dynamics and perfect balance.
Geoffrey

The records that really amazed me beyond all the others I have are:
Water Falls by Sara K.
Folk Singer by Muddy Waters on MSN
All Or Nothing At All and Songs For Distingue' Lovers by Billie Holiday 45 RPM pressed by Analogue Productions
Close To The Edge by Yes MFSL
The Doors by The Doors MFSL

I have some others that are also very good, but these are the ones that I use to show off my system first to show non-audiophiles what stereo is supposed to sound like.

I got the new album from the Sound Liaison label,
After Silence,with the trumpet master Andre Heuvelman
and it has immediately made it to my top 5 of show of my system music.It is just like the above mentioned albums a Studio Master Wav download but for some reason now in 24/88.2 instead of 24/96, I wonder why they have gone down in resolution but it is nevertheless
everything a true audiophile recording should be. It has loads of space,depth, natural decay, black background and a wide almost visual Sound Stage.
AND GOOD MUSIC! not to forget.

Mr Heuvelmans liner notes shows that he is an artist with a concept of the music he chooses to record:

"Sometimes you find what you are not looking for and that is especially true for the music on this album. The music on After Silence crossed my path, by meeting people or visiting places, events taking place or just materializing in my mind, but the one unifying factor for all 11 compositions is that they appeared after a moment of silence.
Silence is the most important part of my music making.
Silence is there, foregoing every first note I play.
Silence being the place for inspiration.
Silence which lets me start each piece of music as a child hearing it for the first time.
Silence keeping me from automatically following the beaten path."...... Andre Heuvelman

http://soundliaison.com/products-from-our-studio-masters/71-andre-heuvelman
Higly recommended

Here are some of my favorites:

Ella and Louis, Analogue Production's 45rpm LP. Great recording and music.

Blood, Sweat & Tears, their 2nd album on ORG label, 45rpm LP. In a word, dynamic. Great music as well.

Mary Black, No Frontiers, Pure Pleasure Records, LP

Eric Clapton, Unplugged, LP version.

Phish--Junta
Jane's Addiction--Ritual de lo Habitual
Pink Floyd--Dark Side of the Moon
Stereolab--Cobra and Phases
Stone Temple Pilots--Core

''Torn'' by Carmen Gomes Inc,the Sound Liaison Studio Master Wav download.
I find it the best available sound quality.

Some great female vocal jazz and acoustic.....
The Laurie Lewis Quintet with Heather Stewart..." A Sense Of Wonder "...these are all original from Melbourne Australia I think I bought it from CD Baby? Email is loral@hotkey.net.au
mostly written and arranged by Laurie's wife,Alwyn recorded in 2004.
Do not confuse this with Laurie Lewis The country singer with the same name.
Also try Sarah Elizabeth Campbell...female vocal acoustic...
" A little Tenderness " really a great and different voice recorded on Deja disc in 1995...10 tracks and I really like the Geraldine & Ruthie Mae Track...I think that I got this from CD Baby also
Both of these are not Audiophile recordings but they sound very natural.
I hope you enjoy.....

The SACD/dsd format will blow you away.....I can't say enough, a sound and message from the days of our youth brought back to us in fantastic reality !! All you guys NEED A COPY of this pure sonic joy !

No Order:

Fiona Apple's "When the Pawn"
Beck's "Sea Change"
Lucinda William's "West"
Radiohead "Kid A"
Cat Power "The Greatest"

to name a few

Jeff Buckley, GRACE
John Grant, QUEEN OF DENMARK
Jimmy Spheeris, ISLE OF VIEW
Joy Division, CLOSER
Genesis, THE LAMB LIES DOWN

Afranta,
I strongly agree with you. Sea Change and Mutations not only sound great, they are great music. Surely in the "must have" category.

I dont know if i think its the best or to die for #1 spot but i keep coming back to Oh Mercy. The production and overall soundscape ala D Lanois is superb conbined with Dylans lyrics and a voice that just seems so perfect here. Love the vibe of the whole record. 4men with beards reissue sounds really good. The othe four choices havent bubbled up just yet.

the Amsterdam based Sound Liaison labelhttp://www.soundliaison.com
has a produced a small but fantastic sounding series of studio master 24/96 recordings.
See Rad Bennet's SoundStage! review here.
http://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/music-movies-a-shows-menu/by-category/download-music/444-carmen-gomes-inc-thousand-shades-of-blue

Sound Liaison;Carmen Gomes Inc. & Paul Berner
So far i have mostly been using old jazz recordings(vinyl)
George Shearing with Nancy Wilson;''All Night Long'' is an all time favorite.....great placement and balance.
Miles Davis kind of Blue,....space and depth.
Lately since using my PC as a high end audiophile jukebox I started searching for good downloads.
SoundLiaison has made three I.M.O absolutely astonishing albums presented as 96/24 waw downloads.
Carmen Gomes Inc;''Thousand Shades of Blue'' is a fantastic live in the studio album.4 instruments;voice,guitar,upright bass,and drums(cajon replacing the drums on the lovely title track).Everything is there great separation,stereo imaging,depth and balance.
The version of Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire is a musical and audiophile masterpiece,check out how the snare drum and the haunting guitar voicing complement but never cover up each other.
On the 2nd album,Poul Berner Band's lovely Elvis Presley tribute: Road to Memphis,
you've got tr.6 ''the Colonel''Michael Moore's sax enters oo.45 with just the sound of air,as if he is right there up close in front of you,so intimate.
Again only 4 instruments; guitar at 8 o'clock,sax at 11,bass at 1 o'clock and 2nd guitar at 4 o'clock.the sound stage is almost 3 dimensional.
On the 3rd album Torn,best described as a blues ballad album,you got everything an audiophile album should have (i.m.o.)placement, depth,separation,naturalness,the feeling of being there with the band visible in front you.And musically I find it a great album as well,a beautiful mix of covers and very well composed originals.http://www.soundliaison.com

as i listen mostly to classic music i would like to add a few "non classic classics"

alexander glazunov's concerto for saxophone and orchestra (mikhailov/korneyev: melodiya)

missa criolla (ramirez: philips)

erik satie's early piano works: gymnopedies (de leeuw: harlekyn-philips)

Baka, "Meddle" by Pink Floyd: totally agree, my reference/test album !

Selections from swinging into the 21st century by winton marsalis.

This will knock your socks off!

Jeff beck's rock and roll party for les paul.

Handel organ concertos by richard egarr on harmonia mundi label

Tommy by The Who

Keys To Ascension by Yes.

Stereophile just released their latest R2D4 list as well.

Happy Listening!

Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow

the newest Richard Thompson cd is my vote to kick-off 2013!

Happy listening!

Van morrison astral weeks live

Soundtrack from house of flying daggers.

I'm taking a Poll on two very influential jazz recording engineers. Please visit my website and vote for your favorite jazz engineer: Rudy Van Gelder or Roy DuNann.

Michael Miguest
www.audiocognoscenti.com

Happy New Year!
here's to more excellent music in 2013.

Cd remaster of carl perkins original blue suede shoes is monophonic perfection!

Also the rolling stones cover of can't be satisfied is a pure delight in every way.

Hi fi a la espanola and popovers by frederick fennell and eastman rochester pops on mercury living presence. Perfect recording maybe. These guys were bleeding edge of recorded sound 50+ years ago when hifi was a field for pioneers and still hard to beat!

Laurie Anderson--Mister Heartbreak Bob Ludwig mastered Ltd. Ed. Quiex II Warner Bros. 1984 Astounding! Also features Peter Gabriel, Bill Laswell, Phoebe Snow, Nile Rogers and others.

1959 was a banner year for Jazz;
Kind of Blue
Time Out
Ah Um

As above,

I.too,love those Japan K2 CD versions.

If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them - sal hurok

This thread is deteriorating in sync with our teachers' unions. Please make it stop!!!

10-26-12: Rja
'I'm going to with "Kind of Blue" again but the Japanese K2 HD version. I've owned just about every audiophile copy of this CD but this version is fantastic!'

Good Call

I own several KOB's as well, including some well regarded versions such as the early sony sacd and the gold Mastersound, but this K2HD really is the best I heard.
The first time I listened to Cobbs hi-hat on 'So What' I was amazed at the detail of his stick work which just sounded so musical. It was like hearing it for the first time as the other digital sources usually conveyed various degrees of blended shimmer slurring in comparison.

I'm going to with "Kind of Blue" again but the Japanese K2 HD version. I've owned just about every audiophile copy of this CD but this version is fantastic!