Average White Band - "Schoolboy Crush," for the bass and percussion <sleigh bells!>.
The Bongos - "Skydiving," for the bongos.
Emmerson, Lake & Palmer - "Take a Pebble," for the 3 virtuosos showing off (in a good way) on piano, bass & drums. An early example of prog-rock, before it got too bombastic.
ZZ Top - "Blue Jean Blues," Dusty & Billy's bass and guitar tones are really special on this one.
Rare Earth - "(I Know) I'm Losing You"
Temptations - "Pappa Was a Rolling Stone"
The Chambers Brothers - "Time Has Come Today"
Seek out the long versions of theses three songs. The first two feature stellar musicianship and production, while the latter has a "tinny, 60's garage rock" feel to the production; so, that one provides a different sort of audiophile challenge.
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I like the gentlemen who said the 60s albums...Chambers Bros.Time has come to day...Great.....keeping in 60s The Doors First Album.....The Rolling Stones Let it Bleed....and the Beatles White Album....these albums will Rock your System and there are alot of hidden sounds a Good system will bring out . |
Why? It should sound great with lots of things...otherwise, there is a problemo... |
YES audioguy85!! I just added a new component a few weeks ago and it seemed that everything just fell into place and it ALL sounded good/right. Why? Not sure that I can put it to words. Sure, I can use the descriptors we all use, but I think there is a right brain non-word process at play here.
And of course, I am curious and wonder, even now, if trying "x" component would make it better.......
I mean, that is what we do, us "audiophiles", hang out in places like A-gon and the forums to decide where we will next spend too much money.... |
Great post!
Here are three of my suggestions (of the ones not listed by others already):
-‘Love is Blindness’ by Cassandra Wilson on ‘New Moon Daughter’
-‘The Astounding Eyes of Rita’ by Anouar Brahem on the album with the same title
-‘I wanna be where you are’ by Bob Baldwin on ‘Brazil Chill’ (for some bass).
Hope you’ll enjoy these as much as I do all of yours! |
good post and topic... it would be interesting to see what people here have as systems, and note their three top eval tracks... be pretty revealing as to what the person values |
Here's two on LP that I've used for years: The Unknown Soldier by Weather Report on I Sing The Body Electric (Columbia). Next: Music For Strings, Percussion and Celesta (Bela Bartok) - Ozawa and the Boston Symphony (DG). |
My third choice: the last movement of the Camille St. Saen Symphony 3 - Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony (DG LP). |
My three…
Virna Sanzone - “Surely”
Dido - “Give You Up”
London Grammer - “Hey Now”
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No particular order just the first few on my 300+ demo list
Cafe L'Amour Fourplay
African Night Al Di Meola
Alone in the City Chris Botti
Slow Burn Brian Bromberg
Mr. Skinny Randy Brecker
How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore? Joshua Redman
Trigger Happy Dave Weckl |
No one here familiar with
Terry Evans - Blues for Thought ?
Rickie Lee Jones - S/T Still a fantastic recording very hard to get right.
Michael Bublé - Meets Madison Square Garden. If you can crank this to 12 and it still sounds real, full and balanced - you´re there!
Sinatra - Las Vegas live recordings. Same as Bublé. |
Capricio Italian, The London Symphony, w/Kenneth Alwyn
1812 Overture, same as above, flip side
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms, any one |
And when you're there...Exile on Main Street is a great great record.
Especially the deluxe remasters with alternative takes |
- Gordon Lightfoot: "Me And Bobby McGee". This recording stopped Bill Johnson in his tracks when Walter Davies (Last Record Preservative products) played it for him and I. Bottleneck guitar by Ry Cooder.
- David Lindley: "Mercury Blues".
- Stevie Wonder: "Superstition".
- T Bone Burnett: "Driving Wheel".
- Holst "The Planets"; Sir Adrian Boult conducting The New Philharmonia Orchestra (EMI ASD2301). |
1) The old original vinyl LP recording of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, "Whipped Cream". All cuts are great, especially the first "A Taste of Honey". Simply and well recorded - every horn and instrument on a stage, in its own place, with life like timber and presence.
2) The CD of Jack Johnson "Brushfire Fairytales" especially track 3. A very crisp and detailed infusion of percussion, symbols, chimes and bells as well as Jack's very clear and present vocals.
3) MFSL's Original Master Recording LP of Neil Diamond "Hot August Night". The whole album (double album) is incredible, particularly cut 3 on Side 3 "Morningside". All instruments and vocals are crystal clear, clean and emotionally involving.
If I could pick one more, it would be Van Morrison's "Avalon Sunset" final track "These Are The Days". The arrangement, vocals and instruments (particularly the strings) will pull you in......
Jim |
Thanks for the guy suggesting Too Much Rope by Roger Waters, particularly for the sleigh direction.. I just found out I've probably been wearing my headphones the other way around for a couple of years. LOL. |
I listened to all submissions to the midpoint and quickly realized:
-Some people submitted one amazing tune and two dogs
-This was the quickest way I have ever refreshed my playlists.
Brilliant work!
Keep the good ones coming!
Okay shall I save you the time and tell you the 'don't miss'
songs? Nah, I could not deprive anyone of such fun.
But wait! I will give you my 3 Best of Best but
you all need to do the same.
This way I learn who likes music that I like. |
A Moon Shaped Pool "Radiohead"
Delta Blues "Hans Theessink & Terry Evans"
Jeff Buckley "Grace"
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Jammed “return of the outlaw” tonight!
Riot !!
such a great song for woofers, midrange, and vocals!
Riot has been a fav band since late ‘79, such a shame Mark had to go to Valhalla.
STAY CALM,….AND PLAY RIOT! |
+1 blue-magoo
Missed Hans Theessink? I had - before I joined here. Still time to make up for that :-) Find the tracks where he uses tuba for the bass.
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I see a couple of Fleetwood Mac suggestions...
One observation I have on Dreams. It is very important to be able to hear Stevie's hum just after the drum/bassline intro.
It goes unnoticed in most systems.
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One not mentioned is Classical Gas by Mason Williams.
+1 for the Beatles. So many of their recordings are excellent quality
Heart... Crazy on you... First part of song
Dire Straits/Knopler.....many
Joe Cocker...Unchain My heart... First part
Diana Krall.... Vocals..... Pick one.
Jack Johnson..... Broken.. Excellent recording
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Only full orchestral music can test the dynamics of your system. Your sound pressure level meter tells the tale. Full orchestral music goes from a whisper to a roar in a second in a way that no other music does. Plus the need to accurately reproduce all the instruments in a full orchestra will test the tonality of your system. That said you really only need Decca's recording of Holst's Planets with Mehta conducting the LA Phil. On the first track Mars you should feel you're about to be invaded. Yes it's bombastic. That's the point.
And now for something completely different.
Who knew there were so many Shelby Lynne fans on Audiogon? I stalked her from Boston to Knoxville. Her sound completely changed once she crossed the Mason Dixon line becoming even more heartfelt and moving once she was home showing that music is a product of the noivous system. She is great on Daryl's House on YouTube.
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I been listening to some 80s, 90s hits on repeat, and they sound good
1. Linda Ronstadt - Bay Bayou
2. Toto - Africa
3 Joan Baez 75th birthday anniversary - House of the Rising Sun
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A few more:
John Cale - The Philosopher (The Academy in Peril)
> Crystalline clarity and image placement.
Van Morrison - Cleaning Windows (Beautiful Vision)
This Mortal Coil - Fond Affections (It Will End In Tears)
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So many good choices here, but I haven't seen these so I'll add my $.02:
Sevdaliza - Hubris (almost anything from Ison)
Cat Stevens - Where Do the Children Play?
The Band - The Weight
Genesis - Cinema Show / Aisle of Plenty
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“Cyril Davis” - Ginger Baker
”Down To The Well” - Kevin Gordon w/Lucinda Williams
”Pretty Little Ditty” - Red Hot Chili Peppers
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1) 1 khz test tone
2) 500 hz test tone
3) 50 hz test tone
... oh wait, i thought i was on the other site... 😂🤣😁😉😆
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A lot of interesting choices. When I check out a system, I generally try to play songs in a few categories:
1. Lots of chiming or shimmering guitars and I'm looking for whether that grates on me or sounds beautiful.
2. Songs with significant bass and I'm looking for fast, tight bass that doesn't distort or dominate the other sounds.
3. Songs with a lot going on to see if small details are heard clearly and whether the system mushes stuff together.
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