Lesse. 'The Wand of Youth', EMI, the track: 'the Wild Bears' for depth and soundstage.
For impact and ability to demonstrate energy without being overbearing: "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath, on white label Vertigo vinyl
for dynamic range vs detail: Verdi's Requiem, RCA Soria series, track 2 'Dies Irae' (LP only)
For outright beauty to make you cry: 'Heil dir, Sonne!' Seigfried, from the Decca/Solti Ring Cycle (LP), also 'The Lark Ascending' Vaughn Williams, EMI cond. by Boult (LP)
for a recording that sounds better and better, the better you stereo is, and sounds awful the worse it is: 'Village Music of Bulgaria' Nonesuch (LP)
Planty and Kraussy off the album 'Raising sand', track title 'Sister Rosetta goes before us', mesmerizing lilting track, lovely vocals by Kraussy, and all the instruments are nice with a special mention of the violin/fiddle in the background.
I like acoustic and organic based music. Chris Isaak's Baja Sessions, Jack Johnson's first album (mentioned above), Willie Nelson's Teatro, Paul Kelly's May 1992.
For full band, vintage albums include the Band's Music from Big Pink and Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.
Yeah, "2 Against Nature" is pretty hard to beat. I also love the original soundtrack recording of "Princess Mononoke" on the Milan label (Red Book CD).
From a wide variety of genres: 1. Dire Straits - On Every Street - Fade to black (alternate: Love Over Gold - Telegraph road) 2. Steely Dan - Gaucho - Hey nineteen (alternate: Aja - I got the news) 3. Alan Parsons - Gaudi - La sagrada familia 4. Nnenna Freelon - Shaking Free - Nature boy 5. Jesse Cook - Vertigo - Byzantium underground 6. Dave Brubeck - Double Live - Take five (best recording out there on disc, IMO) 7. Various artists - Jazz A Saint Germain - Summertime (Anjelique Kidjo) (thanks, Pascal) 8. John Scofield - A go go - A go go 9. Fiona Apple - Tidal - Slow like honey 10. Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session - Pride & Joy 11. Herbie Hancock - Headhunters - Watermelon man 12. Jamiroquai - Synkronized - Canned heat 13. Pink Floyd - DSOTM - Money 14. Al Di Meola - Infinte Desire - Shaking the spirits 15. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Blues at sunrise - Tin pan alley (live) 16. Bill Charlap - Written in the stars - In the still of the night 17. Tori Amos - Boys for pele - Caught a lite sneeze 18. David Sanborn - Timeagain - Cristo redentor Enjoy and happy listening
Wstritt, I believe Sheffield is relocating and perhaps that why their page is down. http://www.regnar.com/Sheffield%20Recordings.htm (last CD on the list) indicates that one should still be able to order it. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Since I am here...another favorite demo CD is Lorena McKennit (sp) Book of Secrets. I use the third song, but they are all exceptional.
"Waves:The Bossa Nova Sessions". I started my vinyl collection in 1958 and this double album (one disc is 45RPM) may be the best sounding non-classical record in my stable.
You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones. Everyone is very familiar with this song and the many poor recordings of it. When someone actually hears the SACD remaster (Hot Rocks, Disk 2, Trk 7), I always get the same reaction...Wow!
Not that everyone likes what ABKCO did with the mixing, but I'm not complaining. There is still analog hiss, so it is not a perfect recording by any stretch, but just so much better than most people are used too.
Sidenote: Where the heck can I find Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker: I've Got the Music in Me. The Sheffield Lab site indicates that it is back in print, but I can't find it! Little help please?
I read about this artist here on audiogon so I bought it. It might be the best sounding cd I own now . It is now at the top of my list of cd's to "show off" my system . You can check it out and order it here .. http://www.jennamammina.com/
I also bought "Meant to be" . Also a great recording . Track 3 "Dirty work" is another "show off" song .
Does anyone know of a cd that sounds as good as this one (same type of music ) ? If so , Let me know , I will buy it .
It's not "showing off;" it's "demonstrating capabilities!" :-)
There are so many favorites. Here are ten good ones:
1. Jennifer Warnes "The Panther" from "The Well" 2. Dave's True Story "Fever" from debut disc 3. Buddy Holly "True Love Ways" from "Original Master Tapes" 4. Eagles "Hotel California" from "Hell Freezes Over" 5. Diana Krall "Case of You" from "Live In Paris" 6. Miles Davis "My Funny Valentine" from "Cookin'" 7. Keith Jarrett "Koln 1" from "The Koln Concerts" 8. Paul Simon "Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes" from "Graceland" 9. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, "A Foggy Day" from "Ella and Louis" 10. Cowboy Junkies "Sweet Jane" from "Trinity Sessions"
Add a little more jazz (some horns, a well recorded piano trio) and some classical (Kronos Quartet recordings are generally well made; some large scale symphonic recordings) and maybe a soundtrack or two (Gladiator, Jurassic Park) and you've put a system through its paces.
Obviously, everyone's list will differ to reflect their own tastes. Enjoy!
Mel Torme, "Too Close for Comfort" from MT Swings Shubert Alley. Great recording from 1960. Mel's voice, the band's horns.
Carmen McRae, "Poor Butterfly" from Sarah: Dedicated to You. Starts a capella, textured and mesmerizing, then the band quietly fills in.
Helen Merrill, "Don't Explain" from Helen Merrill. 1956, and I know can't believe that the first time I heard her, I didn't fall in love.
Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah," from Grace. Mixed feelings about JB, but this sounds great. Vocals and guitar. "Last Goodbye," a rocker, also sounds great.
Steely Dan, "Gaslighting Abbey," from Two Against Nature. This may be cheating, since this sounds great on even so-so systems, but it sounds really great on a good one.
Alison Krauss, Live. I don't know which track -- how about "Lucky One." THis is the CD that convinced my wife that all this money had been worthwhile. You are at the concert, and what can you say about AK's voice?
Lucinda Williams, "Something about what happens when we talk" from Sweet Old World. Now, if you don't know LW, you must approach her first, I think, through her lyrics. But then once you know her, her voice is special and poignant. Kinda like Jimmy Scott, in a way (another recommendation I'll sneak in here - All the Way.)
Blind Boys of Alabama, "Run on for a Long Time," from Spirit of the Century. But don't miss their version of Amazing Grace.
Lyle Lovett, "Penguins" from I Love Everybody. You really could just play this track and leave it there, so far as showing off is concerned. Damn! WHile you're at it, play "I think you know what I mean" -- the opening drums.
Rachmaninov, Sonata no. 1, opus 28, allegro moderato, performed by Yakov Kasman. Do you realize what a textured instrument a piano should be? How dynamic?
Gerry Mulligan, "Just in Time," from What is There to Say? Something about GM's raspy baritone sax and Art Farmer's spitty trumpet. And just terrific jazz too.
Todd Rundgren, "Johnee Jingo" and "Honest Work" from A Cappella. Big, wide open vocals.
Finally (this could go on and on): Bach, just start at the beginning, Sonatas and Partitas for Violin played on B-string Guitar, by Paul Galbraith. This guitar is, as I understand it, his invention, and goes deep more effortlessly than a standard classical guitar. You hear his breathing, which can distract but also makes the recording more intimate. And Back is THE peak, in my opinion.
Willie Nelson, accompanied (amazingly) by the Beach Boys on "The Warmth of the Sun" from Beach Boys & Various Artists, Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (River North Nashville 1996) is a high-quality and emotive rendition...especially if you grew up listening to both artists. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is so-so.
1.Track 8 from Jennifer Warnes - "The Hunter" 2.Title track fom The Well - Jennifer Warnes 3.Spanish Harlem from Rebecca Pidgeon's The Raven (spot on Jjwa and Boa2) 4.KD Laing's Hymns from the 49th Parallel 5.Patrica Barber - Summertime,Ode to Billy Joe (forget the albums). 6.Greg Brown - title track from The Poet Game.
There's nothin' like a serious horn section in a monster big band that kicks out the sound to show off your system. Check out "Swingin' for the Fences" by Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. Turn it up LOUD, stand back and watch out!
For redbook cd: Mishima--Phillip Glass Dream Sequence--Tangerine Dream (disc 2) The "Leslie test"--Stereophile test record (female vocals) The Legend--Elvis (German import)
For DVD-v: (multichannel) Fresh Air 8--Manheim Steamroller dts Video Hits--Queen dts Story tellers--Billy Idol dts Hell Freezes Over--Eagles dts On Air--Alan parsons dts The Dance--Fleetwood Mac DD
For Dvd-A: 1011 Woodland--The Fixx From the Front Row: Kansas Tommy--The Who
Dead Can Dance "Into The Labyrinth" Track 1 "Yulunga" (CD) Vangelis "Blade Runner Soundtrack" (CD) Bach "Cello Suites" Janos Starker; LP, Speaker's Corner reissue of the Mercury) Stravinsky "Firebird" Dorati/LSO; LP, Classic Records reissue Jerry Douglas "Look Out For Hope" (Sugar Hill Records CD) Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat" LP, Cyprus original pressing
Many others to choose from, but the above represent a wide variety of musical styles.
The Chris Isaak cd is a very good one, makes you wonder why all music is not recorded with great care like that. I forgot to mention; Cowboy Junkies; The Trinity Sessions, track 2 "Blue Moon Revisited". This was recorded on a portable DAT, 1 mic, in a church in Toronto. Terrific coice, great recording. On some parts of the album you can hear the low frequency rumbling (faint) of the HVAC system. Adds to the ambiance.
1) Chris Isaak, The Baja Sessions, track 3 "Only The Lonely" and track 4 "South Of The Border"; GRRRREEEEAATTTT recording, beatiful balance with all frequency ranges, great voice too.
2) Elton John, "Daniel" off any RECORD (LP) not CD. Intricate melody, beautiful song.
3) Aaron Neville, Warm Your Heart cd, any track.
Some other good ones too, but these are my preferred ones.
I agree with Sdcampbell's recomendation of "I've got the music in me" I hear it on the D to D LP at a friends place, I wanted it also but could not get hold of it.
Some from the top of my head....
"Too Rich for my blood" and Nardis from Patricia Barber's album Cafe Blue
"The girl from Ipanema" Getz/Gilbarto
"Summertime" from Porgy and Bess by Ella and Louis
Track 1 and 2 from Stunz and Farah's album Primal Magic
"The Look of Love" by Dusty Springfield from the Casino Royale's soundtrack album
Track 1 from Cassandra Wilson's album New Moon Daughter
"Cheek to Cheek" By Ella Fitzgerald from Verve's Grammy Winners
"Making Music" from the album of the same name featuring John Maclaughlin, Jan Garberak, Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Churasia.
Mountain'o things by Tracy Chapman on her debut album
S'Wonderful by Diana Krall from her album "The look of love"
Track 9 and 10 from the album Harpes du nouvel age by alan Stivell
"Gailtacht" from “Renaissance of the Celtic Harp” by Alan Stivell
Pablo de Sarasate-Zigeunerweisen op 20 (from Carmen Fantasy) Anne Sophie Mutter with Weiner Philharmoniker (DG)
Track 2 from album by John Williams-Rodrigo: Concierto De Aranjuaz
If I remember more I will come back to this thread.
I get out the Oingo Boingo records. 80s vinyl is so much fun because all that stuff they did in the studio was still largely analog, and the recording engineering had reached its peak. But I also like to get out Sgt. Pepper; I tell my friends: "This will be the BEST you've ever heard this!" I always get comments like, "Wow, I never heard that flute part there before," and "Paul MaCartney's bass sounds like THAT?!," and etc.
I'm with you Bigjoe, I'm a major Dan fan myself. Hey Nineteen and Glamour Profession from GAUCHO freaks everyone who hears it on my rig for the first time. How do you like their two newest? That was some hiatius aye? Saw them in Denver for the first time in 20 years last fall. Hope their back for a while!!
For best imaging, Mandolin wind, Rod Stewart, That would be something, Paul McCarthney, and Last Child by Aerosmith. Of course the format would be unique, 4-track open reel tape.
My system sounds so good that John Denver can bring tears to the eyes of the most ardent metal head, or the Carpenters will send chills down the spine of marilyn manson.
1. Holst's "The Planets"(eg Mars,Jupiter,Uranus) Philharmonia Orchestra John Eliot Gardiner DG 445-860-2 (1995)
2. Almost anything sung by Jessye Norman See eg "Brava Jessye! The very best of Jessye Norman" Philips 454-693-2 (1971-1993)
3. For pure fun: 1958 Mercury Living Presence Version of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" (remastered for CD 1995)
conducted by Antal Dorati, played by:
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra University of Minnesota Brass Band Bronze Cannon(French,1775)of US Military Acadamy Westpoint Bells (over 100tons!) of the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon at Riverside Church
Stumpie, you should hear Jack Johnson's Brushfire Fairytales on vinyl... Sounds even better...
For me, a couple of choices are: Louis Armstrong- St. James Infirmary on vinyl and Gary Karr-Adagio di Albinoni on Cisco 24k CD. This last one is duet of double bass virtuoso accompanied by pipe organ. Amazing sound! Cheers, Spencer
Different systems excel in different kinds of music, so there is no "right answer" to this question.
My system, with three elaborate subwoofer systems reproduces loud organ and chorus music in a way that no little box can approach, but yet that little box might excel for a solo violin (I have one that does).
Some multichannel recordings are spectacular, if you have a multichannel system, but might not be so special in plain stereo.
And for systems with horn midrange/tweeter, dixieland jazz is great.
I love it when someone starts a thread like this. It's a GREAT way to discover new music that is " recorded well ". Thanks Kray.
Here are a few songs that I have used for a long time to show off my system. 1. James McMurtry , Candyland . Track 10 ,, " Dusty Pages " . Big ,wide, deep soundstage on my system. I have almost everything James has recorded. John Mellencamp Produced this cd. 2. Fourplay , There first cd . Track 8 ,, " Midnight Stroll " , Track 9 ,, "October morning" , Track 10 ,, "Wish you were here" . Great recordings ! They should show off your system , Big time ! 3. Lyle Lovett , and his large band . Track 4 ,, "Good intentions" ,, Track 5 ,, " I know you know" . If your system is working Lyle Lovett and his band should be in your Listening room .
Here is a recent discovery I just bought because of a thread like this one. Jack Johnson , On and on . Just about any song blows me away !
Now ,, I'm headed out to buy a few cd's that people have been kind enough to post here. Thank you .
BTW , I second Bigjoe ,,, I have Steely Dan , Two against nature , Any song on this cd is "WOW" on my system.
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