[jimdgoulding]

Maybe a topic like this has been done before.  If not, I know it would be useful to me and, I suspect, some of you.  We love fine recordings.  So, what’s fine (est) in your collection (whatever the medium)?   I know some members own Russell’s International Guitar Night II CD but I’m going to suggest to you that this recording cannot be fully appreciated unless it’s heard at low levels.  How low?  Lower than any level I normally listen.  That’s where it all comes together.  That means you’re going to have to listen at a quiet time.  It’s doubtful to me (tho I haven’t asked) that Russell intended this specifically, but that's how it lays best in front of me.  I very much doubt that this is system dependant, not at our level.  You just listen the way I have and apply your critical faculties, for as long as you can.
 
I hope you, and I don’t mean that euphemistically, will add some recordings you think are special and would recommend and tell a bit about why.  Thank you in advance.

[Imperial]

Kirkelig Kulturverksted / KKV.
They record the likes of Kari Bremnes and Garbarek and Ivor Kleive and Knut Reiersrud and Ole Paus.
Generally I like these records for their splendid quality.
It's hard to define, but they are finely crafted, recorded mixed and ... everything!

Yup!

Other than that I think Universal and Caprice records does have some nice artists that make good recordings from time to time.
Mari Boine Person definetly is one of my favvs these days!
As long as the record isn't compressed to death, you can find gems on just about any label I think.

Imp.

[jimdgoulding]

From your part of the world, Imp, I have a few Bis, Opus 3, and Proprius recordings that I treasure and would include amongst my finest.  Respectively, Double Concerto for Flute, Guitar & Strings- Ketil Saeverud; Black is the Color- Cyndee Peters; and KOR.  The latter has some 20th century composers and sound that just floor me.  Thanks for saying.  Power to the filament . . that's good!

[Browntrout]

I have a few that are really enjoyable because they have captured the energy of the music and performance. Chris Jarret 'Koln Concert' I like the way you can here him humming along with his music and the crowd really enjoyed the performance too even though it's on a bit of a duff piano.
  'Trumpet and Organ Music Of The Baroque' this is a Conrad-Johnson record thingy and they used Tim D'parravincini and his equipment to record it. It only cost me £5 and completely captures the size of the venue and the amazing sound of the organ and trumpet, no problems with any technical part of the recording and such lovely free sound that can only come through valve gear, really fresh real sounding special actually.
  I've got a record from Japan a Deutche Grammophon jobby of Yehudi Menuhin playing with some chap on the piano of Beethoven and this really does show of the freedom of expresion that his method of playing/teaching allows, sounds like two young boys playing together for the fun of it, magnificant.
  A couple of Tacet records with wonderfull reality due again to vintage tube gear used for the recording and one Schubert Die Schone Mullerin I bought for 50p from a charity shop in mono which beats them all, it is real rather than sounding real a close your eyes record, beautifull.  There's more but I've writen enough.
 Actually I haven't as I don't want you people thinking I'm some square classical music head, I have a record of Yazoo 'upstairs in Erics Attic' or something like that and really is very good too, get to realise the space of the studio and her nice voice together with nice crisp synthy sounds.

[jimdgoulding]

I lifted this by Browntrout from another topic cause I think it may belong on this topic, too . .

"This is the most meaningfull and comunicative music to me I know and I do know it as I have listened to it since I was a child. Often I could not sleep during my parents divorce and my Mother would play this to me as I drifted off. I only recently looked up the meaning of the words as really I prefer not knowing.

Two pieces, if you care to listen the first is here.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5W67uBRZCo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fuk%2Esearch%2Eyahoo%2Ecom%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF%2D8%26y%3Dy%26fr%3Dybr%5Fbt%26p%3Dthomas%2Btallis%2Bmiserere%26SpellState%3Dn%2D3531031&feature=player_embedded
 
The words are very simple being:  "Miserere nostri Domine, miserere nostri"
Which translates as "Have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us."  Repeated over and over.

This is the most beautifull music I have ever heard so I thought I'd share it with you, if you were not already aware of it.

The second is here....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cn7ZW8ts3Y&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fuk%2Esearch%2Eyahoo%2Ecom%2Fsearch%3Ffr%3Dybr%5Fbt%26y%3Dy%26p%3Dthomas%2520tallis%2520spem%2520in%2520alium&feature=player_embedded

The words are:            Spem in alium nunquam habui præter in te, Deus Israel:
                                qui irasceris et propitius eris,
                                et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis.
                                Domine Deus, Creator cæli et terræ,
                                respice humilitatem nostram.

Which translates as:     I have never put my hope in any other but in you, God of Israel,
                                who will be angry and yet become again gracious,
                                and who forgives all the sins of suffering man.
                                Lord God, creator of heaven and earth,
                                look upon our lowliness.

also..                         
                                Sing and glorify heaven’s high Majesty,
                                Author of this blessed harmony;

                                Sound divine praises

                                With melodious graces;

                                This is the day, holy day, happy day,

                                For ever give it greeting,

                                Love and joy, heart and voice meeting:

                                Live Henry princely and mighty,
                                Harry live in thy creation happy.

We can see that the composer has stated that the true author of the piece is heavens high Majesty.  I like the line "Love and joy, heart and voice meeting".

[thebearded1]

Count Basie: Basie's Jam 45rpm vinyl
red wine trio (mapleshade cd)
norah jones: come away with me sacd
wilco: yankee hotel foxtrot
gil evans: new bottle of old wine
Neil Young: Live at Massey

[S Clark]

Well, I almost hate to bring it up because it is now such an obscure medium, but my absolutely finest recordings are my DBX encoded vinyl.  Absolutely top of the list is "Thelma Houston and the Pressure Cooker" (Sheffield Labs)followed by Donald Johannes and the Dallas Symphony playing Rachmaninov's "Vocalise" (Vox-yep, I said Vox  ).  These are 3 steps up from my best CD's and 2 steps up from any other vinyl in my collection.  You can find the DBX decoders on ebay cheap and fairly regularly still, but the vinyl is finally climbing in price.  The decoders require tape monitor jacks on your pre amp.

[ted_b]

Well, I almost hate to bring it up because it is now such an obscure medium, but my absolutely finest recordings are my DBX encoded vinyl.  Absolutely top of the list is "Thelma Houston and the Pressure Cooker" (Sheffield Labs)followed by Donald Johannes and the Dallas Symphony playing Rachmaninov's "Vocalise" (Vox-yep, I said Vox  ).  These are 3 steps up from my best CD's and 2 steps up from any other vinyl in my collection.  You can find the DBX decoders on ebay cheap and fairly regularly still, but the vinyl is finally climbing in price.  The decoders require tape monitor jacks on your pre amp.

Good catch!  I used to love my DBX discs, especially The Crusaders Live in Japan.  Very dynamic.  I haven't dusted off my DBX decoder in awhile, but maybe now will. 

[adydula]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=63936.0

Startred this awhile back and its grown alot, your welcome to post!

Its in the Salk SOund circle but your more than welcome to check out the great material that many people have posted!

All the best
alex