[Spirit]

Let's have some fun!
I want to expand my CD collection, and I refuse to buy anything anymore that
does not have a "Great Sound" recommendation.
Any genre of music is acceptable. 
Great performance is also mandatory.
OK - Who wants to start? LoneWolf?

[zapper7]

SPIES                                               SPIES
Watermark                                        Enya
A Night In Paris                                 Phil Collins Big Band
Hurricane 2000                                  Scorpions w/ Berlin Philharmonic
Motley Crue                                       Dr Feelgood    (who'da thought)     

[mcullinan]

Dave Matthews--Live from Luther college
Wes Montgomery--The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
Grateful Dead-- Live only
John Coltrane-- Blue Train
Tchaikovsky-- 1812 Overture

[Spirit]

If you want to list more than 5, please go ahead!

[honesthoff]

Alison Krause and Union Station-Live
Heartworn Highways Soundtrack
Merle Haggard-Sing Me Back Home (Koch Release only)
The Be Good Tanyas-Chinatown
Patty Griffin-1000 Kisses

[rajacat]

 Perhaps it would be helpful if posters would state which version/label of an album is your favorite. For instance, there are many different versions  of the 1812 Overture with different orchestras, conductors, label and sound quality. 

Raj

[richidoo]

Julia Fischer Bach Violin Sonatas
Beethoven Symphony 9
Pat Metheny 'One Quiet Night'
Respighi (Reference Recordings RR-95)
Kenny Barron 'Live at Bradley's'
Great sound and performances!

PS: My favorite 1812 is on this great Tchaikovsky set.
Have fun! 
Rich

[nathanm]

Can't say for certain about "best" without looking at the collection, but here's some that I happened to think of just now:

Cathedral - "Endtyme" ('Melancholy Emperor' may possibly be THE most grimace-inducing song ever recorded)
The Police - "Ghost In The Machine"
Judas Priest - "British Steel"
Overkill - "The Years Of Decay"
Primus - "Brown Album"
Heathen - "Victims Of Deception"
Sunn - "White 1"
Fantomas - "Delirium Cordia"
Pink Floyd - "The Final Cut"
Electric Wizard - "Come My Fanatics"

[Zero]

While I enjoy throwing just about everything at the rig....   here are a few special recordings I use when it comes to evaluating a piece of electronics...  It's all about rendering a great holographic space and tone...

Janaki String Trio -  "Debut" http://cdbaby.com/cd/janakistringtrio
Getz / Gilberto  http://www.amazon.com/Getz-Gilberto-Stan/dp/customer-reviews/B0000047CX
Dead Can Dance - "Spiritchaser" http://www.amazon.com/Spiritchaser-Dead-Can-Dance/dp/B000002N74/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0263026-9190320?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1179346003&sr=1-1
Alex De Grassi "Now and then" http://www.amazon.com/Now-Then-Folk-Songs-Century/dp/B00009ATK8/ref=sr_1_1/104-0263026-9190320?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1179346054&sr=1-1
Alex De Grassi "Bolivian Blues" http://www.amazon.com/Bolivian-Blues-Bar-Alex-Grassi/dp/B00001ZSU4/ref=sr_1_1/104-0263026-9190320?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1179346099&sr=1-1

[MaxCast]

Can't say for certain about "best" without looking at the collection, but here's some that I happened to think of just now:

Cathedral - "Endtyme" ('Melancholy Emperor' may possibly be THE most grimace-inducing song ever recorded)
The Police - "Ghost In The Machine"
Judas Priest - "British Steel"
Overkill - "The Years Of Decay"
Primus - "Brown Album"
Heathen - "Victims Of Deception"
Sunn - "White 1"
Fantomas - "Delirium Cordia"
Pink Floyd - "The Final Cut"
Electric Wizard - "Come My Fanatics"

which recordings of "Ghost In The Machine" and "The Final Cut"
Thanks,

[nathanm]

I'm not certain what you mean.  Are there different versions\remasters or something?  Those two I have on vinyl and are some of the best-sounding vinyl I own.  (I have a relatively small vinyl collection, though)  *hasty wikipedia search*  Oh, I see - looks like there was a 2004 re-release of the Final Cut.  Well no, not that one as I've not heard it.  My copy is from 1983.  Same thing with The Police, it's a record from 1981 if I am not mistaken.

[JoshK]

Monty Alexander - Live at the Montreaux Festival
Morphin - Cure for Pain
Beck - Sea Changes
Tool - 10,000 days & Lateralus
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans

[JoshK]

Nils Lofgren _ acoustic live

Just some of the ones at the top of my head.   

FWIW, I like the Getz/Gilberto, but I definitely don't think its one of the better sounding recordings. 

[Imperial]

"brevet" Silje Nergaard
"Halleluja" de nye gitarkameratene
"US" Peter Gabriel
"So" Peter Gabriel"
"Kind of blue" (Special edition, alternative recording on flameco scetches".

Yup!

Imperial

[S Clark]

Patty Larkin- Running Angels
Lyle Lovette- Joshua Judges Ruth
Jennifer Warnes- The Hunter
Sting- Brand New Day
David Fung- The Piano: Evening Conversations
Cantate Domino on Proprius xrcd

[jkelly]

Rameau - Les Arts Florrisants - Grands Motets
Oscar Peterson Trio - Night Train
Wynton Marsalis - Magic Hour
James Taylor - Hourglass
MercyMe - Undone

[Mag]

Billy Idol's Greatest Hits- remastered
Supertramp, Crime of the Century- remastered
Best Of BTO- Remastered
John Mellancamps Greates Hits- remastered
Deep Purple, Made in Japan 25th anniversary edition- remastered
Jeff Wayne's, War of the Worlds- remastered
Peter Frampton, Comes Alive- remastered
Rush, Farewell to Kings- remastered
Colin James- Then Again
Gorden Lightfoot, Complete Greatest Hits
Mishi Donavan, Journey Home
Chili Peppers, Best of
Jean Michel Jarre, Metamorphesus 2000

[bushbison]

Just cd's, no sacd??

CD's:
Tomasz Stanko Quartet "Suspended Night"
Cheap Trick "Cheap Trick (1997 Red Ant release)"
Elvis Costello "My Flame Burns Blue"
Emmylou Harris "Wrecking Ball"
Daniel Lanois "The Beauty of Winona"

[Jon L]

Let's see

Rachel  Podger "Vivaldi: La Stravaganza"

Ray LaMontagne "Trouble"
 
Lisa Ekdahl "Sings Salvadore Poe"

Hank Mobley "Soul Station" RVG remaster

Dexter Gordon "Go" RVG remaster

Carla Bruni  both of her albums

Buddy Guy "Blues Singer"

Lara St. John "Bach: Violin sonatas and partitas"

Canonball Adderly "Something Else" RVG

Johnny Cash "American V"

Leonard Cohen "Dear Heather"

[Imperial]

Lisa Ekdahl "Sings Salvadore Poe"

Ah yes! this is also a beauty!
What a frail and beautiful voice!!!

Imperial