Best tracks to "show off" your system

Pragmatist; Great post. I have most of what I like and enough of what others like so that I can please those who would like to appreciate my system.

Before playing, I really do like to 'listen'. Then I(and my system) get the best compliments.

Any of the Bruce Cockburn re-issues on Rounder. They are fantastic.

1.Widespread Panic's album Everyday. Huge dynamics with David Schools playing bass, JB's soulful voice and Michael Houser picking the quitar.

2.Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit recorded live at the Georgia Theatre. Absolutley amazing sound! The louder the better. Jimmy Herron, Otil, Col. Bruce, Matt Mundy, Jeff Sipe. If you can find it buy it.

3. The Grateful Dead- One from the Vault. The help on the way/Franklins tower tracks. Phils bass in unstoppable and of course Jerry.

To Wstritt: Yes, Sheffield Labs did issue a CD of Thelma Houston's "I've Got The Music In Me". It's not as good as the D-to-D version (obviously), but it's better than I expected. Sheffield also did an LP-reissue of this same recording, using the 1st generation backup analog master tape.

I'll second Celtic66's recommendation of "Wood".

Brian Bromberg "Wood". Absolutely dynamic.

Rob Wasserman CD titled "duets"..the track with Stefan Grapelli doing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is wonderful and has great dynamics with Rob's bass and Stefan's violin.

Live Grateful Dead soundboard DAT tapes do a damn good job of displaying dynamics and bass capability as well as soundstaging. Songs are good, too.

I don't get much of chance to "show off" to others, but when trying to impress myself, I go with Ten Years After: A Space in Time played really, really loud.

Another would be The Who: Who's Next.

Sdcampbell (or anyone else)- Any clue as to whether there was ever a CD version of Thelma Houston's "I've got the music in me"? You are right about the Thelmas's vocals. I recall hearing the LP 20 years ago at a friends house and have looked for it since then but with no luck.

Bobby Miles/Troiki Gurtu

Amazing synth (Miles), percussion (Gurtu), various acoustic instruments all meshed together in a terrific progressive/jazz/world album

This CD has amazing sound and when you consider Gurtu plays percussion it is high-lighted in a terrific way. Extremely detailed and huge soundstage.

Kray, good choice - Getz/Gilberto

anything by steely dan.

Something I know my listening friends would like to listen to.

When I'm listening critically for system strengths,being an imaging person,I choose something polyphonic or unaccompanied human voices.

For pure demo / "show off" vocals, the following are hard to beat. (Not all not contain great, timeless material, but they DO sound good.)

1. Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker; LP: "I've Got The Music in Me" -- Sheffield Labs

2. Amanda McBroom; LP's: "Growing Up In Hollywood Town", or "Dreaming" (released on both Sheffield Labs and Gecko labels)

3. Opera; CD: "Arias for Farinelli", by Vivica Genaux. One of the most phenomenal female voice recordings I've ever heard, with superb instrumental backing by a period instrument baroque orchestra. Chosen as one of Gramophone Magazine's "Top 10 Recordings of the Year" for 2004.

4. Joan Baez: LP's: "Diamonds & Rust", or her early Vanguard recordings that have been re-mastered and re-released in audiophile editions.

5. Willie Nelson: Half-speed mastered LP copy of "Stardust" -- no, I have not lost my mind. Everyone knows the sound of Willie's voice, so this recording makes an excellent "litmus test". It is VERY well recorded and also has some great music.

6. Mark Murphy: in my personal opinion, one of the all-time great male jazz singers. The late Joe Williams was also one of my favorites, but Murphy is superbly hip and almost always has great jazz musicians providing backing on his recordings. Murphy has a number of good recordings, but my personal favorite is "Bop For Kerouac".

Recent discovery: Ramsey Lewis & Nancy Wilson on Meant to Be, from the Narada label. Nancy sings on half the cuts, as Ramsey fronts a piano trio with bass and drums. They do sentimental jazz covers. The sound is really clear -- they come into your listening room. My personal faves are First Time Love and Moondance. These get a "Wow, that's really real" reaction.