What are your "go to" recording(s)

[edorr]

Two channel:

Eva Cassidy - Live at the Blues Alley
Rachell Ferrell - First Instrument
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Together again for the first time
Ray Lamontagne - Until the Sun turns black
Eric Clapton - 24 nights
Richard Galliano & Michel Portal - Blow Up
Anuoar Brahem - Barzakh

Multi Channel:

Crosby & Nash - Another Stoney Evening
Chick Corea - Rendez Vouz in New York
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds - Live at Radio City Hall

 

[Asamel]

David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name 180 gm vinyl

 

[puroagave]

LP:
Herold lanchberry: La fille mal gardee – ORG Decca reissue 45 rpm
Argenta LSO: Espana – Speakers Corner Decca reissue
Donald Johanos DSO: Rachmaninoff Sym dances – APO turnabout reissue 45 rpm
Alexander Gibson: Bizet Gounod faust ballet – Clarity 200g 45 rpm
Iyuko Kamiya: Beethoven Appassionata – RCA Japan 45 rpm direct-to-disc
Tsuyoshi yamamoto: red gardenia – Philips Japan direct-to-disc
Bill Berry: For Duke – M&K direct-to-disc
Eagles: Hotel California – DCC steve Hoffman
Dick Hyman: From the age of swing – RR 45 rpm
The kings singers: Lollipops – EMI uk emc-3093
Chico freeman: spirit sensitive – India navigation (original press)
Sonny Boy Williamson: keepin’ it to ourselves – APO reissue

CD/Digital:
Jean Guillou: Mussorgsky pictures at an exhibition – Dorian recordings
Oue/MNO: Exotic dances from opera – RR HRX DVD-R
Jen chapin: revisions – chesky 24/192 1:1 copy
Jimmy cob quartet: jazz in the key of blue – chesky 24/192 1:1 copy
Roger waters: amused to death – mastersound SBM gold disc
Bozzio, Levin, stevens: black light syndrome – magna carta

 

[puroagave]

The CBS Half-speed mastersound is the vinyl copy you want, imo. I enjoy it the best of all copies I have heard.

agreed. i also prefer the Mastersound SBM gold disc to chad's SACD.

 

[Bill Hart]

I don't know that I have any 'go to' records these days. Over the years, I have had my 'favs' but I like to listen over a wide range of stuff. Sometimes, those 'killer' recordings are just too overdone to really hear what the system is doing: for example, while I like Janis Ian's 'Breaking Silence,' i think it is too pumped up. I think 'Between the Lines' is actually a more natural sounding record (and the standard issue stuff on Columbia). Same thing with Shelby Lynne's "Just a Little Lovin'- it is a cool recording, but it sounds jacked up. Among recent records that I have used as a reference, I'd include the London Mazel of Sibelius' 2d Symphony, the Johanos, of Rach's Symphonic Dances, the above mentioned Janis Ian record, sometimes, the Classic Records Neil Young Greatest Hits (side with Heart of Gold) and the 45 of This One's for Blanton (although the bass is a little too closely miked here, I'm listening to the piano). The Satchmo St. James Infirmary is another one.
One's I used to use also included the 'hand clapping' sequence on JT and Rickie Lee Jone's first album (side two).
I've given up on Flamenco Direct to Disc records as a reference.

 

[puroagave]

I've given up on Flamenco Direct to Disc records as a reference.

hah! im still waitin' for christian's vid of his wilson's woofers pumping.

 

[DaveyF]

I don't know that I have any 'go to' records these days. Over the years, I have had my 'favs' but I like to listen over a wide range of stuff. Sometimes, those 'killer' recordings are just too overdone to really hear what the system is doing: for example, while I like Janis Ian's 'Breaking Silence,' i think it is too pumped up. I think 'Between the Lines' is actually a more natural sounding record (and the standard issue stuff on Columbia). Same thing with Shelby Lynne's "Just a Little Lovin'- it is a cool recording, but it sounds jacked up. Among recent records that I have used as a reference, I'd include the London Mazel of Sibelius' 2d Symphony, the Johanos, of Rach's Symphonic Dances, the above mentioned Janis Ian record, sometimes, the Classic Records Neil Young Greatest Hits (side with Heart of Gold) and the 45 of This One's for Blanton (although the bass is a little too closely miked here, I'm listening to the piano). The Satchmo St. James Infirmary is another one.
One's I used to use also included the 'hand clapping' sequence on JT and Rickie Lee Jone's first album (side two).
I've given up on Flamenco Direct to Disc records as a reference.

I'm seeing some very interesting choices. This is what I had in mind for this thread. I wonder if we should put together a "Super Disc List" for the WBF?

 

[rockitman]

hah! im still waitin' for christian's vid of his wilson's woofers pumping.

Yeah that high fidelity foot stomping isn't my cup of tea after all. Love flamenco style guitar though.

 

[Bill Hart]

I'm seeing some very interesting choices. This is what I had in mind for this thread. I wonder if we should put together a "Super Disc List" for the WBF?

Some of HP's list is really good, some - maybe it's just me, but it's more about the sonics than the music. I think if you are confining it to sonic marvels, that's probably safer, otherwise, you are going to get into a lot of subjective issues over whether the music has merit. A couple of examples, which I've probably mentioned in other threads: the Decca Head 6 of The Plague is a brilliant recording, but not something you'd want to listen to frequently given its subject matter. The original Mercury (and the Classic reissue) of the Ansermat Ballet music is also a brilliant recording, but frankly, it's snoozeville for me, musically. Both are highly ranked on HP's list. Tea- which pressing? I haven't heard the latest Chad reissue- my best sounding copies are early Island pink label and pink rim. I haven't heard any CBS 1/2 speeds I've liked sonically (and have quite a few) , but don't have the WYWH, so I can't comment on that one (and I trust Christian's and your ears).

 

[Bill Hart]

Yeah that high fidelity foot stomping isn't my cup of tea after all. Love flamenco style guitar though.

Now, aren't you glad I talked you out of wasting 400 dollars?

 

[DaveyF]

Some of HP's list is really good, some - maybe it's just me, but it's more about the sonics than the music. I think if you are confining it to sonic marvels, that's probably safer, otherwise, you are going to get into a lot of subjective issues over whether the music has merit..

Agree, I was thinking of just the sonic marvels-- some of which have been suggested already. The label and pressing probably should be a factor.BTW, in regards to the Tea LP, I think that your original Pink label is FAR superior to Chad's reissue. ( which IMHO is pretty much a joke!)

 

[NorthStar]

I like a few "go to" recordings for their ability to test the system.

They include: MFSL 200 gram Getz Gilberto, MFSl 200 gram Muddy Waters-Folk singer, AP 180 gram Waltz for Debby, M&K For Duke, Opus 3 Depth of Image and Timbre, Dire Straits- Love over Gold on US pressing, Sheffield Lab My name is Makowicz and Still Harry after all these years, Sheffield Labs Track and Sheffield Labs Drum LP's.

On CD: Kirkelig Kulturverksted 30 years fidelity, MFSL Soultrane, Jimmie Lee Robinson Remember Me, Rickie Lee Jones-Pop Pop, Reference recordings- HDCD Sampler, Fi/Analogue Productions Sampler and Burmester CD-03. There are others, but these are the main one's that come to mind.

What are your " go to" recordings to test your system?

------ Right now (I just discovered this thread), just too many to list (on CDs, SACDs, and DVD-Audios, and on Blu-rays too). ...Sorry, no analog LPs, no R2R tapes, no cassette tapes, no 8-track tapes.

And my guess is that half of my selections would be unknown by most members here.

* I would have to put some serious time to make a dignified list of some of my favorites
(100 or so). ...Less than that and it wouldn't be fair to leave some out.
So, I simply cannot name just a few. ...And if ever I'm up to it, I'll be back. :b

______________

Oh heck, that sounds so out-of-me; here's a super-quick one out of my head:
Virginia Rodrigues | * Sol Negro * ...It is right there in front of me, on my coffee table.

______________

-- Here's the front picture cover:

--

 

[rockitman]

Now, aren't you glad I talked you out of wasting 400 dollars?

yup...I still have that record on eBay save search to watch the outrageous auctions.

 

[jadis]

1. Mysterious World of Bernard Herrmann - PFS catalogue prefix.
2. Saul Goodman - Mallets Melody and Mayhem - Columbia 6 eye stereo.
3. Pigs Eye Jass - Insight Records
4. Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries- Windham Hill Records
5. Carol Kidd - All My Tomorrows - Aloi Records UK
6. Prof. Johnson Sound Show - RR7 (The Kronos cuts on side 2 is stunning as ever)
7. Mountain Dance - Dave Grusin - Nimbus Supercut UK
8. Don Shirley Trio - Water Boy - Cadence Stereo
9. James Newton Howard & Friends - Sheffield Lab
10. For Duke - M&K Realtime

 

[DaveyF]

Phil, I had forgotten about the Carol Kidd LP's on Aloi and Linn...they are superb.

 

[jadis]

Phil, I had forgotten about the Carol Kidd LP's on Aloi and Linn...they are superb.

Yes Davey, I've been playing then since the 80s. The imaging is quite eerie too. Plus Kidd's voice is full of emotion when she sings.

 

[Gregadd]

IMO your favorite records should sound good on your system.
If you want to evaluate your system, get a test record. lol.

 

[Gregadd]

http://www.tnt-audio.com/topics/testrecords.html

 

[Shaffer]

IMO your favorite records should sound good on your system.
If you want to evaluate your system, get a test record. lol.

My thought, exactly.

 

[DaveyF]

So, are your "go to" records only test records...if so, which ones?
IMO, you don't need test records to evaluate your system, many of the already suggested pieces will do the same.