[Herbie]

The following CDs are all excellent recordings for both the emotional involvement of listening and for the excellent audio dynamics that are helpful for critical auditioning:

Contemporary:

The Beatles: Abbey Road - (Parlophone; CDP 7 46446 2)
Eric Clapton: Unplugged - (Reprise; 9 45024-2)
Natalie Cole: Unforgettable - (Elektra; 9 6I049-2)
Donovan: Catch The Wind - (Garland; GRZ-016)
Iris DeMent: Infamous Angel - (Warner Bros.; 9 45238-2)
The Eagles: Hotel California - (DCC; GZS1024)
Dan Fogelberg: High Country Snows - (Full Moon/Epic; EK39616)
GRP 10th Anniversary Collection - (GRP; GRD-3-5008)
It's A Beautiful Day - (San Francisco Sound; SFS 11790DA)
Nora Jones: Come Away With Me - (Blue Note; 7243 5 32088 2 0)
k.d. lang: Ingenue - (Sire; 9 26840-2)
Lyle Lovett: Joshua Judges Ruth - (MCA/Curb; MCAD 10575)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Uprising - (Tuff Gong; 422-846 211-2)
Willie Nelson: Moonlight Becomes You - (Justice; JR 1601-2)
Bonnie Raitt: The Bonnie Raitt Collection - (Warner Brothers; 9 26242-2)
Sade: Diamond Life - (Portrait; RK 39581)
Paul Simon: Graceland - (reissue - Warner; R2 78904)
James Taylor: James Taylor (Live) - (Columbia; K2K 47056)
Andreas Vollenweider: Down to the Moon - (CBS; MK 42255)
Jennifer Warnes: Famous Blue Raincoat - (Attic; ACD-1227)
Rob Wasserman: Duets - (MCA; MCAD 42131)
The Who: Live at Leeds (MCA; MCAD-37000)
Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (Tamla; 326)
Neil Young: Harvest Moon - (Reprise; 9 45057-2)

Jazz:

The Ray Brown Trio: BAM BAM BAM - (Concord Jazz CCD-4375)
Stan Getz & Goão Gilberto: Getz/Gilberto - (MFSL; UDCD 607)
Jazz at the Pawnshop - (Proprius; PRCD 7778)
Art Pepper: Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section - (Contemporary; CCD-7532-2)
 
Samba:

Stan Getz & Antonio Carlos Jobim: Getz/Jobim - (SHM/SACD)

Classical:

Brahms/Schumann Soiree: Shifrin/Rosenberger - (Delos DE 3025)
Brahms Sonatas For Cello & Piano: Ma/Ax - (Sony SK 48 191)
Mozart: Concertos for Flute & Harp, Bassoon, Oboe: Koopman - (Erato 4509 91724-2)

Please feel free to post some of your favorites.
 
Best regards,

Steve Herbelin

[awe-d-o-file]

I will add  a few. My tastes are way off the mainstream but you really should try these. When  I attend audio club meetings/shows/demos I always get a crowd asking about them.

1) Mino Cinelu  "S/T" -Blue Thumb out of print but shows up often on ebay or half.com

2) Zap Mama "A Ma Zone" -Luaka Bop

3) Ray Spiegal "Sum and Kali" - Simla House (hard to find but CD baby has it)

4) Nguyen Le' "Bakida" - Act Jazz
 
A short list but these will amaze you - really. I've been doing sound demos for over 30 years. The genres should especially appeal to those that like jazz, world and eclectic music.

         
                                                                 ET

[R_burke]

Emmylou Harris - Wrecking  Ball
Blue Rider Trio - Harp, steel and guts

[navi]

Dr. Dre - Chronic 2001. Most systems can play this but only the best do it well. The original chronic was recorded pretty bad and cheap.

Cassandra wilson- Belly of theSun

Holly Cole- The best of

Soloman Burke- Nashville. That voice. 'nuff said.

Dixie Chicks- Fly. Love the dixie chicks. they never record anything badly

Ivan

[SteveFord]

I only need one for listening to new gear:
Frank Zappa - Apostrophe
It has everything on it and is really well recorded (and performed, or course).

[Ronm1]

A few that come to mind....

The Hunter - Jennifer Warnes
Paganini for two - Shaham/Sollscher
Works for Violin and Guitar

Sonate per Archi #1-6 Rossini - NBK/Erxleben

Midnight Sugar -   Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio TBM
200 More Miles - Cowboy Junkies
Offbeat - Claire Martin Linn
Out of this mood, Saffronia - Lyambiko
New York Blue - Valerie Joyce Chesky
Bronx in Blue - Dion
added
Getz|Gilberto Fim K2HD
Jazz at the Pawnshop Fim K2HD
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section VIAJ-6001 Contemprary DVDA 192/24
Saxophone Colossus - Sonny Rollins VIAJ 6007 Prestige DVDA 192/24
Way Out West Sonny Rollins VIAJ 6002 Contemprary DVDA 192/24

[jimbop]

Joe Zawinul - Faces & Places