What 3 Albums of 2/3 Genres (PopRock, Jazz, Classical) Would You Recommend?


For all the questions I ask about systems and gear, I really need to ask more about music because that's why we do this, right? 

If we (meaning, any of us really) met today, what 3 albums would you loan out to listen to from:
(1) Pop/Rock;
(2) Jazz; and/or
(3) Classical. 

Pick any 2 or all 3 categories. 

I think the following parameters might be helpful: 

--Avoid Canon Choices:  It might help to try to dig a bit deeper than albums that are in the cannon of genres 1 and 2--e.g., Beatles Abbey Road or Miles Davis Kind of Blue--only because they have so much appeal and crossover ability that they are relatively obvious choices.  

--Lump in sub/other Genres:  Of course be mindful that you can and should lump in other genres as sub-genres--e.g. Folk, Blues, Electronic. Shoehorn them in where you think appropriate. 

--Musical Content/Sonics:  Both should matter to some degree.  The albums can be well known or just one of your pets that you'd like to share. 

Thanks in advance! My music collection will thank you!!!


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In regard to jazz, I suggest you peruse the posts on "Jazz for Aficionados" and find what appeals to you. There are so many "click on's" that you can also hear the music on "you tube."
Thanks for the reference.  I am also just hoping for folks to recommend some favorite albums that they would "loan" out.  I know it's broad, but it's not really tailored to the taste of the receiver.  It's the recommending party saying, these are 3 special albums that I think you should hear.  
Jazz:

Grant Green - Idle Moments, Grantstand, Greenstreet
Hank Mobley - Soul Station
Art Blakey - Moanin
Ike Quebec - Heavy Soul
Stanley Turrentine - Sugar
Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack


Irish-tim, I also consider those albums among the top in my collection, and they get repeat play.


Enjoy the music.
Rock:

Depeche Mode -- Ultra (electronic rock)
David Bowie -- Earthling (elctronic rock)
White Stripes -- Elephant Memories
Nina Hagen -- Unbehagen (post-punk)
Can -- Rite Time (kraut rock)
Nirvana -- Nevermind 
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic (funk-metal)
David Sylvian -- Dead Bees On The Cake (ambient, jazz, wave)
Talking Heads -- Remain In Light (post-punk)
Talking Heads -- Stop Making Sense (BEST VERSION OF PSYCHO KILLER!)
The rest of this list is too BIG...

Jazz:

Fish For Fish -- self-titled and super rare
Jon Hassell -- City: Works Of Fiction (acid, electronic, weird, cool)
Pat Metheny --  As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
Spyro Gyra -- Moondance
Mark Nauseef -- Wun Wun (minimal)
Lounge Lizards -- No Pain For Cakes and all other of their stuff (neo-swing)
Phillip Johnston's Microscopic Septet -- "Take a Z train" (neo-swing, avangard)
Phillip Johnston's Big Trouble -- Flood At The Farm
Miles Davis -- Music from original motion picture soundtrack SIESTA 

Classical:

Robert Shaw/Stravinsky -- Firebird Suite (Teldec UK or Germany)
Kronos Quartet -- White Man sleeps (neo-classical)
Ansermet/ L'Orchestre De La Suisse Romande / -- Prokofiev/Romeo and Juliette 
Astor Piazzolla -- Original Tangos From Argentina
Hmmm....

ROCK

Be-Bop Deluxe - Live In The Air Age.
Chris Whitley - An Anthology 1991 - 2001
Son Volt - American Central Dust

JAZZ

Steven Scott Trio - Renaissance
The Lounge Lizards - Live In Tokyo
Omar Avital - Abutbul Music

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Jose Gonzalez - How Low
Ani DiFranco - Dilate
Jeffrey Foucault - Shoot The Moon Right Between The Eyes

My classical music vocabulary is too limited to bear inclusion here largely because I learned all of my classical appreciation from Bugs Bunny,  old Disney cartoons,  and compilation albums that my mother purchased for my father at the A&P when we were kids.  That's not to say that I don't like or appreciate classical music - I do.  I've just never delved as deep into it as I have the aforementioned and other genres.


Rock

Raising Sand - Plant/Krauss
Blue & Lonesome - Stones
The Record Company
Where the Spirit Meets the Bone - Lucinda Williams

Pop

Little Willies - Norah Jones & Band
Leave Your Sleep - Natalie Merchant
Cheek to Cheek - Gaga & Bennett

You want great recordings  ? Here are some faves.Richard Thompson My Old Kit bag. Everlast Eat At Whiteys.Joni Mitchelle Court and spark.Cat Stevens Tea for The Tilleman.Talking Heads,B 52S 1st 2 albums.Enjoy.

Rock/Prog

Lucifer's Friend - Lucifer's Friend
Los Lobos - Colossal Head
Adrian Belew - Side One
Tull - Songs From the Wood

Jazz
Miles davis - The Complete on The Corner Sessions Box Set




Lucifer's Friend s/t is a great call-- the original German Philips is worth the price compared to any reissue I've heard.

I'd throw in Spirit's Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus-- a relatively well known album in its day that is all but forgotten now.

I'd also recommend Cressida's second album on Vertigo, Asylum, but that one is gonna cost. 

Jazz- Ken Golden turned me on to "Marchin' On" by the Heath Bros on Strata East. In the vein of spiritual jazz, but eclectic- the Smilin' Billy Suite features a bass viol- has overtones of classical.

Classical- I'll get back to you. One of my stand by records for many years was the Martinon Paris Conservatory Orchestra- Decca SXL 2252, but reissued many times. Lot's of drama and a little offbeat.