Best Sounding CDs
Posted by: StefanNYC on 04 December 2006
Please provide some cd titles that you believe are perfect or near-perfect sound recordings.
I recently purchased a cd5x and installed it over this past weekend. As I listened to cds from my collection, I was struck by how few cds I have that are truly great sound recourdings, when played through the all-revealing cd5x. The three best were: Tom Waits' "Blue Valentine", the Beuno Vista Social Club (self-titled), and Lou Reed's "New York".
I think these three recordings are great soundwise because when they are played at concert level volumes, they are almost perfectly clean and it sounds like I'm sitting at a table in a club listening to the live performance. In contrast, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" is only a good recording, in my opinion. With my new cd5x, I wonder whether I will start favoring great recordings of good or mediocre music over the greatest music on only good or mediocre recordings.
I would greatly appreciate recommendations in the area of blue, jazz, rock and classical (particularly chamber music).
Regards,
Stefan
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by Steve S1
Welcome Stefan,
If you do a search along those lines using the "find" tool, you will get plenty of threads with test disc recommendations.
Personally, I have to really like what's on the disc, regardless of recording quality. I guess I'd rather watch a good film in monochrome than an average film in colour.
However, when some of your favourite music is also well recorded it's great, some superbly recorded CDs that I can recommend are:
Jackson Browne - "Running on Empty"
Julia Fordham - "That's Live"
Nils Lofgren's - "Live Acoustic"
Keb' Mo' - "Suitcase"
Eric Bibb - "Natural Light"
Shawn Colvin - "Live 88"
James Taylor - "Live"
Get US copies if possible, a recommendation from John (JN) that I thoroughly endorse. I recently replaced some Euro copies of favourite CDs and the difference in some cases is huge.
Regards,
Steve.
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by StefanNYC
There's a post entitled "Best Live CD" from a couple weeks ago. Which of these live recordings is ALSO a perfect or near-perfect sound recording? For example, which is a better sound recording: Bruce Springsteen's "Live 75-85" or "Live in New York City"? What about BB King's "Live at Cook County Jail"? Is that a superb sound recording?
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by Chris Kelly
B.B. King's "Live at the Regal" is great sounding recording.
How do you define "best sounding"?
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by {OdS}
- Erik Truffaz "Bending New Corners" (Blue Note)
- Bruno Cocset, les Basses Réunies "Suonata à violoncello solo del signor Vivaldi" (Catalogue Alpha 2003)
- "Tango" soundtrack
- Jean-Michel Jarre "Aéro" (Warner Music France)
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by J.N.
Hi Stefan;
Steve has listed some goodies. A recent absolute corker (discovered at the London Heathrow Hi-Fi Show) is
Chris Jones - 'Roadhouses and Automobiles'.
You'll probably get it quicker from
Stockfisch Records in Germany (where I got mine) for 20 Euro inc.
Stockfisch specialise in audiophile recordings, but I love the Chris Jones album musically too. The web-site opens up with an example of Chris Jones' guitar playing.
John.
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by StefanNYC
I define "best sounding" as closest to the original sound as possible. Does B.B. King's "Live at the Regal" bring B.B. and Lucille into your living room (or you from your living room to the front row of the Regal)? Elmore James' songs are incredible, but I don't have a sound recording of Elmore James' music that strikes my ears as though Elmore were playing in my living room. This is because of the white noise in the recording and the flatness of the recording of Elmore's voice and guitar. In contrast, Lou Reed's "Dirty Boulevard" has a sound recording quality that turns my living room into the studio where the band is recording that song. Similarly, the recording of "The River" from "Bruce Springsteen: Live in New York City" is very close to being there at the concert.
Stefan
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by Guido Fawkes
I have difficulty with the concept of best sounding but you could try
Karine Polwart - Faultlines
Kate Rusby - Underneath the Stars
Scott Walker - The Drift
Altan - Harvest Storm
Shirley & Dolly Collins - Anthems In Eden
The Beatles - Let It Be (Naked)
I think the above albums are terrific, but of course, if I was severely limited for choice I'd still take Cammell Laird Social Club as my favourite sounding CD.
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by StefanNYC
I appreciate all the recommendations.
One more pass at defining "best sounding." I don't mean "best music." Rather, the sonic quality of the recording. I also don't mean over-produced. Some recordings are so poor or so overproduced that the album will never sound live (even on the best stereo). Other recordings are so good that the music (on a decent stereo) sounds live, dynamic, present in the room.
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by Oldnslow
Here's just a few, that also contain great music:
Bill Evans "Waltz for Debbie"--- Analogue Productions CD from the c. 1960 Village Vanguard Sessions (expensive but worth it)
Eddie Higgins "My Funny Valentine" with Scott Hamilton, tenor on Venus (actually any Venus CD)
Beethoven Archduke Trio-Florestan Trio-Hyperion --Vol. 2 of Beethoven Piano Trios
Mozart Grand Partita K361 and K.378 Wind Serenades- Berlin Philarmonic Winds-EMI
Schubert Arpeggione Sonata,etc by Annie Gastineau--Naive
Beethoven Symphony No.3 (Eroica) with Piano Concerto Op.61(piano arrangement of Violin Concerto). Thomas Dausgaard conductor, on Simax
Beautiful music, fabulous sound...
Posted on: 04 December 2006 by northpole
Isn't it an indictment of the music industry's poor standards that such a question should need to be asked?
I think it really would be a shame to buy cd's or lp's for the purpose of demonstrating how good your system can sound rather than for a love of the great music contained on an album. Still, after some crappy quality purchases recently, I can see why the question came about!
Peter
Posted on: 05 December 2006 by Haim Ronen
A very rare combination of great piano compositions (Beethoven's sonatas), playing (Ivan Moravec) and a terrific sound (VAI Audio).
Haim
Posted on: 05 December 2006 by Steve2701
If you can find it :- Peter Schneider & The Stimulators, - Voodoo Swing,
Terry Evans With Ry Cooder - Blues For Thought.
John Campbell - Howlin Mercy & One Believer
Been in a blues mood tonight.
You could also take a peek at Jan Ackerman ex Focus.
The 'Dali' speaker sampler cost me a small fortune!
Posted on: 06 December 2006 by Chris Kelly
Steve
I love those John Campbell albums. He was unique talent. Such a shame he didn't live long enough to make more great music.
Posted on: 06 December 2006 by Steve2701
Chris,
Agree entireley, he had a fairly 'unique' voice, but if you like him - then I suggest that you at least listen to the Terry Evans & Peter Schneider albums.
Posted on: 06 December 2006 by vampyriaerotica
The Very Best Of
FLEETWOOD MAC
Posted on: 07 December 2006 by John P
Although not my favourite- The Bee gees 'One night only' live set (it's an HDCD too).
John
Posted on: 07 December 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
Jeff Buckley GRACE / there is nothing like this mans voice on earth. R.I.P Jeff thanks for one of the best albums ever made.munch
I bought this record recently prompted by all the good notices it had in the forum. It is really a very fine album.
Posted on: 07 December 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
ROTF If you like Grace get the dvd Jeff Buckley Live in Chicago.It was £7 on hmv see the man at work .it is a brilliant dvd.regards munch
Thanks for the tip - I'll check it out.
Best regards, Rotf
Posted on: 09 December 2006 by mike_f65
I would like to recommend any of Ani Difranco's albums which I find are very good recordings.
Music style, alternative rock, lots of acoustic guitar.
An album to start with could be...
Not a pretty girlor
Little plastic castle/m
Posted on: 11 December 2006 by Gautam Raja
I've found the Rudy Van Gelder reissues of Blue Note albums really good. But I've noticed that some people have complained that they are too in-yer-face - I'm not sure if it's a case of their systems being better, or their ears being better.
I certainly feel as I'm in Birdland when I listen to the Art Blakey albums.
Posted on: 12 December 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
Chris Rea - The Road to Hell and Back
Posted on: 12 December 2006 by yaman
quote:
Originally posted by StefanNYC:
The three best were: Tom Waits' "Blue Valentine", the Beuno Vista Social Club (self-titled), and Lou Reed's "New York".
If you like Lou Reed, "Blue Mask" is a must. Very live sounding great music.
Yaman
