Best mastered Cd's

Affordable$$Audio · « **on:** 10 Sep 2007, 08:38 pm »

As audio fanatics we can appreciate a well recorded and mastered cd, free of perceptable distortions. Please list your favorites, eher are a few off the top of my head:

Steely Dan: Aja, Gaucho, Two Against Nature
Donald Fagan: The Nightfly, Morph the Cat
James Taylor: October Road, Hourglass
Dan Fogelberg: No Resemblance Whatsoever, The Wild Places
Joe Jackson: Body and Soul
Supertramp: Even in the Quietest Places
The Who: Quadrophenia
Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms

clarke68 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Sep 2007, 09:19 pm »

Bob Katz maintains "The Honor Roll" on his site...a list of some of the best mastered pop albums every made. Makes a great shopping list!

http://www.digido.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=36

Jim N. · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Sep 2007, 10:29 pm »

The "Citizen Steely Dan" box (listed by Katz) is excellent. All their studio tracks through "Gaucho" on 4 disks.

The DMP catalog is excellent (Flim & BB's) as is GRP and ECM.

Much of Chick Corea's 70's solo material (Leprechaun, Mad Hatter, Secret Agent)

Leo Kottke "A Shout Toward Noon"

Tool "Lateralus" and (as mention by Katz) "Aenima"

"Montrose" on DCC

Billy Cobham "Spectrum"

IkoX2 · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Sep 2007, 11:33 pm »

Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room Dwight Yoakam
Out Of The Blue(Remaster) Electric Light Orchestra

timind · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Sep 2007, 02:14 am »

Very interesting. I was preparing to buy new versions on Steely Dan. I have the Citizen Dan box set but thought newer remasters might be better. Guess I'll hold off.

My contribution would be Jane Siberry -- When I Was a Boy.

kenreau · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Sep 2007, 03:48 pm »

If I can splinter this a little...

I find there is great variation from track to track on most albums, due to many factors you can imagine. Another consideration is really great sounding mediocre music (content).

A few tracks I really like, both for the sound mastering and content.

Joni Mitchell - "Woodstock" off from her Hits compilation/remaster. I think it is HDCD encoded. Great sound stage, distinctive placement of singers and the organ/keyboard is realistic.

Casandra Wilson - "Strange Fruit" off from New Moon Daughter. Great group of musicians, huge soundstage with large room ambiance. You can here the players moving around on stage. Chris Whitley on guitar really sets it off.

Stevie Ray Vaughn - "Tin Pan Alley" off from the SACD reissue.

Ciao,
Kenreau

ted_b · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Sep 2007, 04:13 pm »

Quote from: kenreau on 28 Sep 2007, 03:48 pm

If I can splinter this a little...

I find there is great variation from track to track on most albums, due to many factors you can imagine. Another consideration is really great sounding mediocre music (content).

A few tracks I really like, both for the sound mastering and content.

Joni Mitchell - "Woodstock" off from her Hits compilation/remaster. I think it is HDCD encoded. Great sound stage, distinctive placement of singers and the organ/keyboard is realistic.

Casandra Wilson - "Strange Fruit" off from New Moon Daughter. Great group of musicians, huge soundstage with large room ambiance. You can here the players moving around on stage. Chris Whitley on guitar really sets it off.

Stevie Ray Vaughn - "Tin Pan Alley" off from the SACD reissue.

Ciao,
Kenreau

Cassandra's "Strange Fruit" is one of my demo tracks as well. I include it when eval'ing stuff, and have it for shows, etc. The folks at the Michigan AudioKharma show loved it. I love the air around the horn, mid left soundstage. The whole New Moon Daughter album is a fave, and was once slated for SACD.

mcullinan · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Sep 2007, 05:17 pm »

Quote from: Jim N. on 10 Sep 2007, 10:29 pm

The "Citizen Steely Dan" box (listed by Katz) is excellent. All their studio tracks through "Gaucho" on 4 disks.

The DMP catalog is excellent (Flim & BB's) as is GRP and ECM.

Much of Chick Corea's 70's solo material (Leprechaun, Mad Hatter, Secret Agent)

Leo Kottke "A Shout Toward Noon"

Tool "Lateralus" and (as mention by Katz) "Aenima"

"Montrose" on DCC

Billy Cobham "Spectrum"

I agree, those Tool albums are mastered really well...
I think the Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College is also good.
Mike

TONEPUB · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Sep 2007, 05:46 pm »

some of the japanese CD's are quite good too.

ted_b · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 Sep 2007, 06:12 pm »

The XRCD compilations of Three Blind Mice (Famous Sound of) are quite good, as is 6Moons cd called Music In A Bottle (a compilation of MA recordings). Both are demo material and some very kewl tracks on them (not Amanda McBroom or drum demo recordings).

Rocket · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 Sep 2007, 11:49 pm »

Hi Guys,

I've recently purchased the rhino remastered version of Robert Plant's Manic Nervana and its a real treat. Some of his other music that is remastered by rhino isn't in the same league.

Regards

Rod

Telstar · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Feb 2008, 12:55 am »

Loreena McKennitt: everything.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Feb 2008, 01:53 am »

I second -

Quote

I think the Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College is also good.

I also second the Music in a Bottle cd.

I also second the Loreena comment - I sold my Totem Rokk to a local guy who was involved in her production, he knew his stuff that is for sure.

I will put forward one of my favs ever - Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven. It is how I discovered high end audio...

sorenj07 · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 02:54 am »

Most things that MFSL re-works.

mcullinan · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Mar 2008, 03:46 am »

Quote from: mcgsxr on 7 Feb 2008, 01:53 am

I second -
Quote
I think the Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College is also good.

I also second the Music in a Bottle cd.

I also second the Loreena comment - I sold my Totem Rokk to a local guy who was involved in her production, he knew his stuff that is for sure.

I will put forward one of my favs ever - Rebecca Pidgeon - The Raven. It is how I discovered high end audio...

I third the Dave Matthews album. Its an amazing recording, besides the music. I have a David Grisman show from 1995 which I downloaded from Live Archives...(I think) and it is one of the best recordings Ive ever heard. Its their, just search around. An amazing musician.
Mike

TONEPUB · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 Jun 2008, 12:44 am »

Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle

Really well recorded with a HUGE soundstage.
You won't hear this one at John Atkinson's house!!!

Affordable$$Audio · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Jun 2008, 08:35 pm »

Not at mine either!!!

You're much braver than me Jeff.

Wayner · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Jun 2008, 08:53 pm »

here is a short list from me:

Camel, A Nod and a Wink.
Andreas Vollenwieder, White Winds and Dancing with the Lion.
Queen, Innuendo.
Thomas Dolby, Astronauts and Heiritics.
Yes, Talk and aslo Big Generator.
Pink Floyd, Momentary Lapse of reason.
Aaron Copland, Billy the Kid (on Telarc).

Wayner

Toka · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jun 2008, 03:52 am »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 10 Jun 2008, 12:44 am

Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle

Really well recorded with a HUGE soundstage.
You won't hear this one at John Atkinson's house!!!

Ha, I'm glad somebody said it. Always really liked that album.

timind · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Jun 2008, 02:11 am »

Let's through this one in.