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

Doors Strange.Days lp , 45 rpm.

@richardbrand 

I did some research on these pianos. There are some youtube videos. Bosendorfer also makes a couple of models with extra keys. One has 97 and the other maybe 93? Can't remember. The lowest notes sound strange but it is just YT video. Going to start another thread about the notes below 20hz.

I forgot about this one:

Jan Hammer - “First Seven Days”. Especially the first track “ Darkness, Earth in Search of the Sun”.  Lots of low notes and great dynamic range.

When I make changes to the system I just play all the music I love to listen to, and much of it isn't boutique audiophile reissues or anything like that. A lot of it is jazz and classical and early music records from the 70s I have listened to for decades. Some of it is more recent reissues (Tone Poets, AP reissues, etc) that I also pull out. 

@flash56 

I finally got to hear the pink label Island copy of TFTT. I think it's safe to say that it is the best version that I have and I now have about 7 copies in 6 versions. Still waiting for a German pressed Island copy. Maybe that will be enough. :) At any rate, the details are more clear on this pink label copy than they are on my others. It is very easy to hear the pick and the plucking of guitar strings. The dynamics are also stronger, drums more real, making the listening experience a more "live" feel. His voice seemed to be quite well done in every version and is on this as well. I'll have to direct compare with some other copies over time but I am very pleased with this copy. Was also very clean, only one pop on side one, hopefully a speck that I can clean away, otherwise it is easily a NM copy. If you ever find a pink label copy, I'd encourage you to pick it up if you can. The clarity and the dynamics do stand out more so than the rest of them, making it a nice addition to the collection. 

I also picked up the Matthew and Son double album. Have not heard it yet.