What are your go to LP's for evaluating new gear or new tubes?

Johnny Hartman. "Easy Living", on Bethlehem stereo.

"Laughing" from "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by David Crosby.

David Lindley's 1981 album El Rayo-X. "Mercury Blues" is a killer track.

Shostakovich Tenth Symphony Karajan/Berlin or the previously mentioned Reiner/CSO Scherazade.

  I listen primarily to digital and the OP is analog but the above are 2 LPs that sound great and the works test every bit of the orchestra.  For organ I would find a good copy of E Power Biggs Bach at the Thomaskirche.

  I can’t resist telling the OP that yes, streaming and all forms of digital media can sound ‘as good’ as vinyl, and IMO usually better 

@billpete

Thanks for the advice for "Tea for the Tillerman". I am actually in the market for a better copy of the album. I had been considering Analog Productions 200g remaster. But they were a limited edition. And are now quite expensive. I currently have an A&M 1973 reissue that has seen its better days. I have read many good things about the Island pressings. Based on your experience, I will abandon the AP 200g idea, and search for a pristine Island pressing instead. You just saved me from an expensive disappointment. Thank you.

I find many remasters to be a disappointment when compared to the original pressings. I have a 1981 Mobile Fidelity half speed remaster of the Stones' Sticky Fingers. It is an abomination when compared to my 1971 original pressing or my 1974 reissue pressing. MoFi managed to remaster the life out of the album. And that is pretty difficult to do to an album such as Sticky Fingers. I am not saying that all of the 1980s MoFi half speed remasters are bad. But they are certainly hit and miss at best. And they didn't even come close to the target with Sticky Fingers.

Just a side note to your album art remark. I have heard Joni Mitchell say in an interview, that she did not consider music to be her native tongue. That she considers painting as her native tongue. She is an avid painter. And all of her albums have her original artwork on the covers. She also did the album artwork for CSNY "So Far". I have never heard of her selling any of her paintings. But she has done quite a number of them. I believe that you are correct about Cat Stevens doing his own album artwork as well. At least I am quite sure that Tea for the Tillerman was painted by him.