Establishing a common analog listening bias

I think this could be related to the thread "Are our test records adequate?" Are our test records adequate
The great records should sound wonderful on ALL systems and I'd suggest:-
The Royal Ballet-Ansermat-RCA Victor-Record 1 side 1
La Folia-Paniagua-Harmonia Mundi
Adagio d'Albinoni-Gary Karr-Firebird The Super Analogue Disc
The Three Cornered hat-Ansermat-Decca
The Koln Concert-Keith Jarrett-ECM
Dire Straights-Dire Straights (analogue recording better than the digital Brother in Arms unless you have tube electronics?)
The Well-Jennifer Warnes-Cisco
Paris Texas-Ry Cooder

But the real weaknesses and strengths in a system will be revealed I believe, in the 'difficult' recordings mentioned in the attached Forum?

Hi Axel,
Whilst the full set of The Royal Ballet is good, for some reason side 1 of record 1 is better than the others and as you so rightly claim, it is perhaps the most realistic, sublime and convincing recording of the full symphonic orchestra able to be reproduced in one's listening room?

Dear Daniel, all my suggestions are readily available for under $50 (allowing for double LPs). I specifically do not go for the 200gm 45RPM re-issues.

I've never been convinced by the much admired Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall and his Return album, nor the Weavers Reunion at Carnegie Hall (all of which I have).
Whilst not being my taste in musical genre, I find the voices and instruments (though undemanding), to be well recorded. However for me, the true worth of a 'live' recording is hearing a realistic recreation of the 'space' and the audience.
On these albums I hear little of the actual 'space' of Carnegie Hall and the audience is simply an ill defined sometimes distorted screech of nebulous applause.
Compare these to the Simon and Garfunkel Concert in Central Park where you can 'hear' into the night........where the location of a surrounding audience is palpable and individual members of that audience are able to be located.
For that matter, listen to the 'space' and the audience of the Greek Theatre on Neil Diamond's Hot August Night?
Far more difficult instruments to combine and record well than those at the Carnegie Hall concerts.
Even Eric Clapton Unplugged manages a realistic capturing of space and audience.

Hi Daniel Axel and Stiltskin,

side one on the Royal Ballet set is dead on perfect phase - the other 3 sides are not. A common problem with many major classical recordings in the period from 1958 to 1963

That's incredible information Daniel. How do you know this? It sure explains things. If I reverse the phase on the other sides (via my preamp), will they then sound like side 1?
Interesting comment about the correct VTA for Weavers and Belafonte and your description of the 'waterfall'....which is just what I hear?

Sorry to offend Stiltskin, but that was precisely why I mentioned those much acclaimed albums. They have never sounded to me like 'magic' and in describing what I hear and receiving your responses (especially Daniel's).....I believe we are achieving what Daniel wanted to when he started this discourse?.........to be able to discuss exactly WHAT we are all hearing on the same source material?
Incredibly valuable stuff if you ask me?
Regards
Henry

Dear Stiltskin,
Maybe Axel and I both have poor modern re-issues of the Belafonte, but we are both hearing the same things in the 'applause' department and I think a lot of it is due to the fact that this recording is a compilation of at least 2 (and probably more) concerts over several evenings.
As a result, there is much 'cut and paste' of individual tracks and thus the applause is faded out before the 'paste' of a 'new' track. This lack of continuity is disturbing to say the least and to me, destroys the 'live event' experience.
In fact, on careful listening, I believe the voice and instruments could be identically recorded in the studio?.....please don't crucify me for this sacrilege?

Axel, couldn't agree more on Dave Brubeck's Time Out. I have both the mono and stereo versions and prefer the stereo.

Want some rock??.....Roxy Music 'Avalon' and Brian Ferry 'Boys and Girls'. Great soundstage, balance, frequency extensions AND music!
Try Massive Attack's 'Protection' if you want to test the accuracy of your systems bass (and subwoofers). It is easy to have them, turned up too much and overpower the balance of the vocals.

Once again Axel, I agree with Paul Simon's 'Graceland' but for even better sound integrity, listen to his 'Hearts and Bones' and 'One Trick Pony' and 'Still Crazy after All these Years' and 'There Goes Rhymin Simon'.
This man knows his recording engineers!

Also Moby '18', Nelly Furtado 'Loose', 'Diary of Alecia Keys' and then the Joan Armatrading's 'Me Myself I', 'To the Limit', 'Show Some Emotion'.

And the Beatles 'Abbey Road'....easily the best recorded of their seminal albums.

But I eagerly await Daniel's list?

Regards
Henry

So let's not discuss it at all?