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Great Recordings, Sonically Speaking - and Why.

I think many of us would accept that artists such as Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and Dire Straits have consistently put out music that was at least originally recorded to a high technical standard. [I'm not too sure what the loudness wars may have done to subsequent reissues, but even so, the tone and timbre thankfully tends to remain intact.]

However there must be plenty of lesser known recordings out there that could be said to be of a high sonic standard.

One such recording that I like to put on in the background whilst I'm doing other things is a piano recording that features wonderfully lush timbre and some delightful tunes.

This one is The Disney Piano Collection by Hirohashi Makiko and to me it makes a lot of other piano recordings sound a little washed out.
cd318
hartf36's avatar
hartf36
206 posts
 
For live music, Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus has always ranked high, along with the epic Jazz at the Pawnshop.

I’ve always considered the 2002 Verve SACD release of Getz/Gilberto to be a good recording.

Norah Jones' Come Away With Me is a very well-recorded piece.

And speaking of Crosby, there’s a version of Lee Shore on the 4-CD CSNY box set that is just..............quintessential Crosby. Certainly a beautiful song to begin with, but this version is stellar. I would dare say the best ever recorded.
vinylvalet
902 posts
 
+1 David Crosby; that LP is on the TAS Super Disc list which fueled the vinyl resurgence and early heavy vinyl reissues. One of my favorite albums but mostly for content; the great sound quality is icing on the cake.

In Jim Smith's Get Better Sound book. he lists his favorite well recorded CDs (around 180) including the one he uses the most (he also likes LPs but not for system set up which this book is about). Very few are "audiophile" releases.
fredisdead
7 posts
 
Calexico - The Black Light
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall
Arne Domnérus - Jazz at the Pawnshop
Neko Case - Blacklisted
Frank Sinatra and Count Basie - It Might as Well Be Swing
David Chesky Quintet - Jazz in the New Harmonic
vinylvalet
902 posts
 
Absolutely agree with Lee Shore; great call. Just thinking of that performance, gives me goosebumps.

That entire 4 CD set, for the most part, is breathtaking.

Yes, Crosby may be the biggest asshole in rock but what a talent! He follows in the footsteps of other great musician assholes; Stan Getz, Buddy Rich and Delius come immediately to mind.

Hmm, that would be a fun musical thread; The Great Assholes of Music.
jimf421
46 posts
 
I have found this page very useful...  https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/the-best-version-of/

They analyze most (all) versions of recordings to determine which sounds best. I have bought several and have not been disappointed.
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