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Best song for immediate impact when presenting or testing?

I, as most of you, have my regular tunes that I play or listen to when trying out a new system or playing music for friends. My current starter is 'Feels like Rain' by Aaron Neville. It engages me immediately because I love it so, but it is also very well recorded and has a bass voice doing backup which in the right system has a real visceral impact.

I was at an Audio shop recently, listening to my standards, and wanted to show the sales consultant a piece that he might not have heard. I played 'Golden Rust' off the Miles Gurtu album. After about 30 seconds, he pulled out his device and added the song to his favorites. I asked why did he add so quickly, and he said that the opening electronica had a three dimensional stereophonic quality that made a remarkable impression right off the bat. I paraphrase lightly; that was his comment.

What pieces do you play of any genre that have an immediate impact, especially for people listening to a good system for the first time?
cmjones

Showing 1 response by hickory_r

hickory_r
24 posts
 
My two cents..

1.  Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” for all the reasons previously cited.  This one’s a jazz classic.

2.  Jazz at the Pawnshop, vol 1, especially “Limehouse Blues” & “High Life”.  Not only terrific jazz but masterfully engineered. The detail, the dynamic range & the imaging will really shine on a good system. I especially like the interplay between the alto sax and the marimbas.  My face always hurts after a good listen (too much smiling)

3.  A recent find & current fav is Cyndi Lauper’s “At Last”, title track & “Until You Come Back to Me” in particular. Vocals can really show the strengths of a nice system, as well as expose weaknesses.  Cyndi’s voice will test your system and please your ears.  A two-fer.
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