Topic: What are your favorite "reference" recordings??

[RebelRebel]

teddy, i just ordered one of the Goode Bethoven Sonatas.  I'm really curious to give this a listen both in my car and at home.  Now I'm of this new dilemna.  I'm getting ready to trade my car this winter and i will have an SUV (probably the Toyota or Ford hybrid) in the future (I do a lot of camping and traveling).  So here's the question- what do I pursue for a sound system?  Right now I'm on a bose car system and it's just ok. I can take this to another thread

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/audi/   

I am getting a new car too, when I go stateside. Probably going to get a B+O system. Honestly the best ive ever heard. Most car stereo systems just dont do classical music justice(too much bass, not enough highs or mids), but those sound phenomenal.

Jonny, check out the classical recordings I listed. I got most of those suggestions from the guy that I have been learning from..he has real "golden ears"

[Gutbucket]

Take a look at Stan Linkwitz's list of well engineerd recordings, recommended for testing playback systems.  Includes many classical suggestions.  http://www.linkwitzlab.com/music.htm


Here's a quick personal list (a few are also on the list above).  All are redbook CD versions.  These are all excellently engineered, but also great music IMO:

Mintzer, Hidalgo, Gonzalez, Chesky, Brecker - The Body Acoustic (Chesky) - Outstanding depth and ambience.  Ambient depth layers miles deep with excellent resolution to the decay of each note.  Musically similar to Miles's 'Bitch's Brew' but all acoustic - Sax, Bass clarinet, trumpet, Congas, Piano, Bass, Drums. 

The Coryells (Lary Coryell & his two sons) - The Coryells (Chesky) - Acoustic guitar trio + bass (& drums?), Jazz & blues.  Great male vocal sound & acoustic space resolution. Music notes:  Skip the three song opening piece.. Interesting interplay of father & sons all on acoustic guitars, Murali's vocals are highly soulful. One of my favoite covers of 'Goodby Porkpie Hat' ever (with vocals).

Candido & Graciela - Inolvidable (Chesky) - Cuban percussion with lower range female vocals.

Medeski, Martin & Wood - Tonic (Blue Note) - the acoustic one, not the electric one, which is no where near as transparent or ambient.

Wynton Marsalis - Mr. Jelly Lord, Standard Time Series (Sony Label I believe) Also a few others from Wynton's Standard Time series such as the Thelonious Monk tribute, but not all.  Excellent dynamics and imaging of a larger acoustic jazz ensable recording.

Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Mike Marshall, Uncommon Ritual (?) Bass, banjo, mandolin acoustic string trio.

Phillips, Grier & Flinner - Looking Back (Compass) - Bass, guitar, mandolin acoustic string trio.

The ARC choir (Mapleshade) - A capella gospel from the Addicts Rehabilitation Center Choir in Harlem.

Redwine Trio - Baby Won't You Please Come Home (Mapleshade) - Clarinet, guitar, bass, Django style swing


On my to check out list:

Mickey Hart - Planet Drum (Rykodisk?) - Way low bass drums.

Brian Bromberg, Wood (?) - acoustic bass detail and texture.

Some of Teddy's classical suggestions..

[Gutbucket]

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/audi/   

I am getting a new car too, when I go stateside. Probably going to get a B+O system. Honestly the best ive ever heard. Most car stereo systems just dont do classical music justice(too much bass, not enough highs or mids), but those sound phenomenal...

Interesting, looks like they use the ultra-wide dispersion acoustic lens developed by Dave Moulton and Manny LaCarrubba http://www.sawonline.com/overview.shtml

I'd like to hear that.

[jhirte]

One of my favs - Jesus Lizard GOAT.. that bass guitar/drum intro on Then Comes Dudley is tight! TIGHT!!!

[Shawn]

teddy... I am making a feeble attempt to dig into classical music. So I started looking at some of the stuff you posted here just to see if anything caught my eye. I stumbled across this review of Arvo Part- Te Deum (ECM) and it made me laugh.

f you've not previously listened to Part's music, this is a reasonable place to start. I prefer Tabula Rasa, however, and suggest that as a better alternative.

Unfortunately, the recording quality of the title work is atrocious. At several points, the vocals swell to aching levels...and just then, the sound is reduced to ear tearing distortion. No, folks, that isn't the power of an omnipotent, imaginary friend reaching through your stereo; that's really bad level setting.

Here's hoping ECM sees fit to make a proper recording of this one.

It just seemed ironic that I was checking the record out because soomeone recommended it based on recording quality and I find a review where soemone is trashing the recording quality. I guess one man's reference recording is another man's "atrocious" recording.

[RebelRebel]

  That guy is a moron. Check it out for yourself and see. (If he heard a "squashed" recording, with no dynamics, hed probably be pleased). He is probably listening on his panasonic walmart special.

Teddy

teddy... I am making a feeble attempt to dig into classical music. So I started looking at some of the stuff you posted here just to see if anything caught my eye. I stumbled across this review of Arvo Part- Te Deum (ECM) and it made me laugh.

f you've not previously listened to Part's music, this is a reasonable place to start. I prefer Tabula Rasa, however, and suggest that as a better alternative.

Unfortunately, the recording quality of the title work is atrocious. At several points, the vocals swell to aching levels...and just then, the sound is reduced to ear tearing distortion. No, folks, that isn't the power of an omnipotent, imaginary friend reaching through your stereo; that's really bad level setting.

Here's hoping ECM sees fit to make a proper recording of this one.

It just seemed ironic that I was checking the record out because soomeone recommended it based on recording quality and I find a review where soemone is trashing the recording quality. I guess one man's reference recording is another man's "atrocious" recording.

[dancesonrocks]

Not looking for sentimental value or artistic integrity..just stuff  that really sounds great, from a production standpoint(any genre). now that I am about to get a decent playback system, want to keep my eyes open. Been listening on my B+Ws where I do my audio work..but the office chair sucks. 

Teddy,
a question and some perhaps unusual recommendation.

what loudspeakers are you planning to audition, and what are they replacing?

first off, if you've already bought your new speakers, just sit back and enjoy the music. the time for listening
to particular aspects of the music has come and gone, unless you're trying out for consideration as an
audiophile.  and if so, skip the rest of this.


secondly, think about the different types of music you listen to and consider why you listen to them, and
esp. consider how the (different styles of) music make you feel - hint, they will likely be different.

for example, some music will make you want to get up and dance, some will be melancholy, some will
be happy, a lot may be just achingly beautiful, some will make you 'feel like making love', etc...

okay, now take your favorite recordings of these different styles/feelings with you when you go to
audition, and listen with your heart, listen for those qualities that makes a piece of music or an artist your favorite.

knowing your price range, I could offer some speakers to check out.

I know this sounds weird, but just try it.  you listen to a lot of different musical styles, and you
might really appreciate speakers that convey the life within the music, not just the frequencies of the notes.

good luck,
clay

ps, if you have the opportunity to listen to Devore Fidelity speakers, check them out. John is a drummer
who builds speakers in Brooklyn.

[F.O.Bean]

my personal favorties are:

Bob Dylanl , time out of mind
Steve Winwood, About time.

plus a ton of great live stuff.
Always been very happy w/this as a reference disc:  http://www.archive.org/details/cht2005-05-26

streaming that cht now, sounds great nick

hmmm, those pelusos are sweet mics, maybe thats the other pair of mics i'll buy decisions, decisions

[shaggy]

Genesis - Wind and Wuthering

Brubeck - Buried Treasures

Roxy Music - Avalon

Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichta Falls

[Tim]

Picked up Richard Goode doing Beethoven's Op 31 Piano Sonatas last night on recommendation from this thread. Very nice
I printed a list of albums from this thread and threw it in my briefcase so I'll have it handy when I stop off at the record store.

[RebelRebel]

Picked up Richard Goode doing Beethoven's Op 31 Piano Sonatas last night on recommendation from this thread. Very nice
I printed a list of albums from this thread and threw it in my briefcase so I'll have it handy when I stop off at the record store.

glad you enjoy it, Tim. Im sure youll love the others too!

[dancesonrocks]

Not looking for sentimental value or artistic integrity..just stuff  that really sounds great, from a production standpoint(any genre).

in no particular order

River Road - Eric Bibb (Opus 3)
Misterio - Strunz & Farah
Meeting by the River - Bhatt / Ry Cooder
Talking Timbuktu - Ali Farka Toure / Ry Cooder
Kongo Magni - Boubacar Traore
Mali Blue - Lobi Traore
Fairytales - Radka Toneff
Fair Play - Puck Fair
Dafos - Mickey Hart, et al
Enchanted Iskes - Carol Thompson (harp)
Clarinet Quintets - Mozart - either Amon Ra or Harmonia Mundi recordings
Symphonic Dances - Rachmaninoff - Analogue Productions
Music for 2 Pianos - Mozart - Philips
Nocturnes - Chopin - Rubinsten or Claudio Arrau recordings  (ESSENTIAL - must have)
Tiger Lily - Natalie Merchant
Harvest - Neil Young
The Trinity Sessions - Cowboy Junkies
Amplified Heart - Everything But the Girl
Moon Safari - Air
Blue Lines - Massive Attack
Who can you Trust? - Morcheeba
Urban Hymns - the Verve
Hoodoo Man Blues - Junior Wells  (ESSENTIAL, a must have)
Soular Energy - Ray Brown Trio (ESSENTIAL, a must have)
Summer Wind:  live at the LOA - Ray Brown Trio
Maxinquaye - Tricky
Murmur - R.E.M. - MFSL master recording
Roots Tonic Meets Bill Laswell
Dimanche A Bamako - Amadou & Mariam
Kongotronics No. 1 - Kongotronics
Selwa - Choying Drolma/Steve Tibetts
Folk Singer - Muddy Waters (MFSL)


cheers,
Clay


ps, of course, more than a few of Kavi's recordings could be
added to this list.

[Tim]

The Trinity Sessions - Cowboy Junkies

recorded with a Soundfield ST 250 straight to DAT

[pfife]

One of my favs - Jesus Lizard GOAT.. that bass guitar/drum intro on Then Comes Dudley is tight! TIGHT!!!

love it

[Tim]

William Primrose and Rudolph Firkusny playing Brahms Sonatas for viola and piano

picked up Op.120 Nos1&2 this evening. thanks for the recommendation