Recommend me something to show off my system!

[nathanroberts1]

With my new SB3, amp and speakers, I'm now in a position to tell good recordings from bad and want to explore how amazing my system can sound. So I would be so grateful to receive suggestions of recordings that really sparkle.

I'm looking for key examples of vocals that sound uncannily 'in the room', or those that showcase a big soundstage. I'm putting my actual taste to one side for this: I feel my usual diet of often lo-fi folky, alternative stuff won't bring out the very best in potential sound quality.

I'd just like to hear something that can stand as a benchmark for my system.

Nathan

[mwphoto]

Ok,

My all time best audition piece for my system is Mary Black - Columbus from the rather excellent 'No Frontiers' album (it's also around on some compilations as well. She can often be found in lots of libraries CD sections if you're UK based.

Somewhat easier to find Private Investigations by Dire Straits - I don't listen to it much, but it does show off my system

Malcolm

[Kyle]

I use "Brothers In Arms" by Dire Straits as an audition CD. Great trumpet and sizzling hihat on "Your Latest Trick" and room-shaking lows on "The Man's Too Strong," not to mention the drum solo on "I Want My MTV." It's been digitally remastered, which is strange because IIRC, it was one of the first CD's I bought that was digitally recorded and mastered. I haven't heard the remastered version. If you're looking for a live recording, try Eva Cassidy's "Live at Blues Alley." If you've got surround speakers, you'll feel like you're in the club. A great small-venue live recording.

[Skunk]

Since you mentioned folky, I'll recommend Jerry Garcia and David Grisman self titled. It's absolutely timeless and near perfectly recorded.

Others I like to impress people with are:
Mickey Hart- 'Supralingua' (low end extension)
Tom Waits- 'Swordfishtrombones' (male voice)
Wilco- 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' (excellent uncompressed rock, or 'A Ghost is Born' if you like more low end)
Patricia Barbera- 'Modern Cool' (female voice)
Beck- 'Mutations/Sea Change' (fun effects+acoustic guitar)
Buena Vista Social Club-'' (acoustic instruments)
Brian Eno/David Byrne- 'My life in the Bush of Ghosts' (remastered version coming soon, but sounds fabulous in standard form)
Nine Inch Nails- 'The Fragile' (great sounding Industrial Rock)
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention- 'We're Only In It For The Money'- MFSL release (complete lack of low end- but amazing studio sound effects)
Erykah Badu- 'Worldwide Underground' (best hip hop (SQ wise)I've heard)

On my 'wish list':
Jazz at the Pawnshop

[kanoot]

Strangely I am not a huge fan of this album but it is most assuredly a "reference" recording: Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me"

It is absolutely stunning in quality.

[gbreit]

I have always loved the way these albums recorded or produced by Daniel Lanois *sound*:

Emmylou Harris -- Wrecking Ball
Bob Dylan -- Time Out of Mind
Daniel Lanois -- For The Beauty of Wynona

The Emmylou album is truly a masterpiece. The vocals put chills up my spine every time I hear it and benefit greatly from a superior audio setup.

Lanois is more well known for his production work with U2 and Peter Gabriel. However, those albums don't quite match the ethereal sonic quality of the three mentioned above.

gb

[deepblu]

Strangely I am not a huge fan of this album but it is most assuredly a "reference" recording: Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me"

It is absolutely stunning in quality.

Speaking of Nora ( I 2nd your recommendation btw ) here's a tidbit that might cause a few flashbacks around here - Nora Jones is the daughter of Ravi Shankar.

[hughesie89]

I use "Brothers In Arms" by Dire Straits as an audition CD. Great trumpet and sizzling hihat on "Your Latest Trick" and room-shaking lows on "The Man's Too Strong," not to mention the drum solo on "I Want My MTV."

im sorry i had to step in and correct you being a dire straits fanatic

the song is not called i want my mtv it is called money for nothing i know this doesn't have anything to do with the forum but i thought it needed to be corrected

[chadh]

Good Thread. Let me add:

Dire Straits - Love Over Gold ("Telegraph Road" and "Private investigations")

Queen - The Miracle (On the remastered CDs there is a Remix of "Invsible Man" Has some strange/cool bass.

Peter's Drury Trio - When Old Met New ("Is you is or is you ain't...")

Leonard Cohen - Ten New Songs

Brian Wilson - Smile ("Good Vibrations")

The Who - Quadrophenaia ("The Rock" "Love Reign O're Me")

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (Personal Favorite)

[Philip Meyer]

I always audition HiFi components with Led Zeppelin - "Since I've Been Loving You" from Box Set 1 disk 2. This remastered version makes John Bonham's squeeky bass pedal clearly audible.

Phil