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