I'm with the others here who use common commercial records that people are generally familiar with, rather than 'audiophile' records. I used to use a Crystal Gale "Eyes" track from a budget label compilation (Liberty?). For true audiophile verisimilitude, the 45rpm Analogue Productions remaster of "Way out West" is pretty spectacular, but as others have mentioned, so is the Classic Records 45 of Satchmo doing the "St. James Infirmary" and the Analogue Productions 45 remaster of "88 Basie St."
Another 'standard issue' is the Guy Van Duser track "I'm Coming Virginia" from "Get a New Broom...and Sweep Your Blues Away." (Rounder). (Easily and cheaply found used if it is not still in print). I could think of ten more, but I'm already over the line. You wanted one.
All vinyl. |
Donjr I agree thats one of her best songs. I also like Wichita lineman and If its magic. She is a gem in the world of artist. As far as tracks and there is many . One I like lately is Sonny Rollins god bless the child. Sounds great on my system.
Best |
Depeche Mode, it's no good. |
I'll throw this out there. I think Love is Blindness is the best song Cassandra has ever covered. That's a huge statement so join in with your observations. This song is so moving it has to be recognized for being amazing. |
And no, Sarah Vaughn never sang anything better. |
Love is Blindness sung by Cassandra Wilson. It's the most beautifully sung song I've ever heard. |
Hum... Lot's of amplified rock music listed... Not your typical "audiophile genre." The times are a changing!! |
Simao, I have Zero 7's "When It Falls" CD and couldnt agree with you more. |
Stravinsky...Firebird suite-infernal dance... |
Ray LaMontagne - God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise - This Love is Over
Black Dub - Canaan
Cat Stevens - Catch Bull at Four - Angelsea |
Seal's "Violet" - layers upon layers and a huge, wide open soundstage production. |
@Dreadhead - Huh, I never considered that disc to be audiophile worthy, but then again, I've never listened to it except on tape. Still a great album! |
Sylvain Luc and Bireli Lagrene's version of Time After Time off the Duet LP. |
Lots of tracks by Los Lobos, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band or late Beatles would suffice. |
I have many favorites, currently I am revisiting Steely Dan "Gaucho" and "Aja". Impeccable writing, producing and musicianship by all parties involved. |
Almost anything from Zero 7's first cd. Pristine production and delivery. My non-audiophile friends always comment on it and many have gone out to get the album after listening. By many I mean about two. Still... |
I'm all vinyl these days; but when I had an SACD player, there was an acoustic guitar (no piano!) version of "Candle in the Wind" on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road hybrid that was added as a bonus track, and never failed to impress. |
The first two tracks on The Tom Tom Clubs first album, Wordy Rappinghood into Genius of Love on vinyl. |
" it could have been that cool bossa nova/samba rhythm that drew him in.'
Probably.
10 minutes later "Whodunnit" by Genesis of Abacab was playing and same thing happened. That's got a cool rhythm of a different type. |
to impress non-audiophiles, start with what they're familiar with.
3 things in particular:
Rolling Stones: Cant You Hear Me Knocking off their reissue CD. incredible sonics, same reason as below.
Guns & Roses: Patience (was miked as a live session w/ band in one room, and it morphs from a familiar tune on the radio into a mind blowing performance of a great band)
(though i like "You're Crazy" off G&R Lies MUCH better. absolutely amazing, and their peak as a band. and damn near the best R&R i've heard since ...?)
U2: In a Little While off "all you cant leave behind". their best sonics on a track, with a band everyone knows.
shout out to Low "Silver Rider" off Great Destroyer...check it out if you want to hear what it sounds like when God starts talking to you...
needless to say, play it as loud as possible. good systems should do that without distortion, which is what makes them good systems. |
"I was playing Stan Getz "The Girl From Ipanema" and my 14 year old son got off his Xbox and walked in the room to see what was playing. That doesn't happen very often! It did sound VERY good!"
Then again Mapman it could have been that cool bossa nova/samba rhythm that drew him in. I believe I was about 14 or 15 when I first heard that song and it blew me away, maybe Astrud Gilberto's voice or a longing for far away exotic places, who knows? It is however a great recording. |
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Good one Mapman. When I sold some speakers a while back that's the song the buyer asked to play to make sure he wanted them. |
I was playing Stan Getz "The Girl From Ipanema" and my 14 year old son got off his Xbox and walked in the room to see what was playing. That doesn't happen very often! It did sound VERY good! |
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The Theme From Shaft.
Not audiophile and panpotted to within an inch of its life, but a pretty "showy" recording that usually gets the desired response. 05-27-10: Martykl
Glad to see you mention the theme to the "Shaft" movie soundtrack. It is arguably some of the best music ever recorded for a soundtrack. (timeless) I recommend it highly to those of you who are not familar with it. |
Along Map's line:
The Theme From Shaft.
Not audiophile and panpotted to within an inch of its life, but a pretty "showy" recording that usually gets the desired response.
At the other end of the scale, the earlier recommendation of St. James Infirmary is great, as are the Duke Ellington Small Band recordings on Pablo. Choose any cut from Intimacy of The Blues or The Queen's Suite.
Marty |
Last time I suggested this (and it WILL be the last time), I got "Let's hear the Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto." That REALLY slowed things down :-) |
Kurt_tank wrote: To be honest, I always prefer that my friends who come over and want to listen to my system, pick their own music. I have found that people tend to be more excited listening to music they know and love, rather than somebody else's favorites.
Yes Kurt of course you are right and this is my policy. People are generally more interested in the music rather than how it sounds, really audiophiles are 5%ers. I also agree that the 45rpm of St. James Infirmiry is a stunning recording and will suggest it to anyone that shows an interest in jazz in general and Louis in particular. |
Hmmm to me, I'm more impressed from what I don't know yet. |
Jean-Luc Ponty "Forever Together" |
Kurt_tank wrote: To be honest, I always prefer that my friends who come over and want to listen to my system, pick their own music. I have found that people tend to be more excited listening to music they know and love, rather than somebody else's favorites. Indeed! Of course, they have to choose from what I have! Kal |
Take something that was typically heard as low fidelity AM radio fare back in its heyday.
"Aquarius" by The Fifth Dimension is one example that comes to mind.
OR even things like "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by The Monkees or "Winchester Cathedral" by those New Vaudeville dudes or "Oh Babe What Would You Say" by Hurricane Smith. |
Something from my first pressing copy of the Doobie Bros "Minute By Minute" has slacked a jaw or three.
I find that older uber familiar tracks that the subject has heard countless times via radio waves (but probably has never owned in ANY format) heard on vinyl can be impressive. Heck, it still does it for me! |
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Bill Frisell on his "East/West" Great cut. If you've not purchased the CD, buy it. There is much to enjoy. |
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any track from Ralph Towner Solo Concert on ECM LP |
I agree with Amused to Death (Roger Waters). It is fabulous, even if the Q-sound is a bit gimicky...not to mention the bizarre and depressing lyrics. To me, it is the best recorded rock CD of all time (sonics alone). The last 4 track are the best IMHO.
Also try Ricki Lee Jones 1st album...many good tracks such as "Last Chance Texaco" - "Company" and a couple others that are outstanding in both sonics and music. Sarah MaClachlan "Surfacing" is very good (try "I Love You" track or track 5 -- cannot remember the name). Also, Allison Krauss "Forget About It" or "New Favorite" CD's -- stunningly beautiful and recorded impeccably.
Neil Young's "Live at Massey Hall" is fabulous. Eric Clapton "Unplugged" is great.
Dire Straits "Love Over Gold" CD -- Private Investigations and/or title track are excellent.
Last but not least -- Eagles -- Hell Freezes Over "Hotel California" is great. Turn it up..especially the beginning. |
Rebekah Del Rio-Llorando. This is an accapella version of Roy Orbison's Crying sung in Spanish. I don't know anything by this singer except this one song from the Mulholland Drive soundtrack. Probably the most beautiful reverb I have ever heard. This silenced the room at an audio gathering I attended a few years ago. |
New York Serenade, The Boss from Wild, Innocent & the E Street Shuffle....Money.... |
How about Valerie Joyce covering "Little Wing" on her album "New York Blue"? Chesky sure makes a good recording (I have the redbook CD). If you want a demo track to replace the omnipresent Diana Krall cover of "A Case of You," this could be it. John |
I use "High Falls" from the Allman Brothers disc "Win, Loose, or Draw." It features Butch Trucks and J Jaimo Johnson at their dual drumming rhythmic best, as well as Chuck Level on piano and a scorching guitar solo by Dickie Betts. This is a relatively obscure 10 minute instrumental track. The other song that somunds great on my system is "Guns and Roses" by Lucky Dube off of his "Taxman" cd. Lucky has the voice of an angel on this song and if you like reggae, it does not get any better than this. |
Interesting responses.
To be honest, I always prefer that my friends who come over and want to listen to my system, pick their own music. I have found that people tend to be more excited listening to music they know and love, rather than somebody else's favorites.
However, when a friend says "Impress me", I will typically throw on a 45 RPM single of Satchmo's "St. James Infirmary". Most people already know and like Satchmo, and this piece only reinforces their fondness for his music. It is very well recorded, and sounds fantastic.
My two cents worth. |
Maybe Tchaikovsky "Serenade for Strings" or most any other cut as well off the old Dorati Nutcracker recording on Mercury Living Presence. |
Poncho Sanchez on "do it!" "Together" is a fun one. Nothing like the blat of a dozen horns with a couple of drummers and some bongos to show off a dynamics. |
Patrica Barber "Mourning Grace" off of Cafe Blue. The instrumentals are so concise and well placed, plus the drums really come through as present. |
"I've Never Seen Blue Like That Before" by Shawn Colvin off of the Dawson's Creek Soundtrack. This will bring tears to your eyes. It's just beautiful... |
Man in the long black coat.Bob Dylan |
"Jersey Girl" from Holly Cole's "Temptation" CD and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Bill Frisell on his "East/West" album. They never fail. |
Fish For Fish ALL TRACKS are IMPRESSIVE!
Flora Purim 500 Miles High.
Females impressed listening to Chris Botti 'Longing' from First Wish(probably his first album) turn it before getting laid indeed! |
