Audiogon "RECORDINGS TO DIE FOR" list


I've been listening to some of my favorite recordings this weekend and was wondering what others on Audiogon felt were there favorites. We have all seen the Stereophile "Records to Die For", The Absolute Sounds recommended list, Music Directs' list, The Golden Ear, etc. now I'm hoping to assemble the Audiogon "Recordings To Die For". Please list your five favorite recordings, the ones you listen to over and over or play for friends. I would assume the sonic quality is excellent in that this is an audiophile site. The performance and enjoy ability should also be excellent. Please leave your top five, even if they are already chosen so we can discover the very top for the Audiogon listeners. ALSO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CRITICIZING OTHERS OPINIONS AND JUST LEAVE YOUR FAVORITES!

August 2002: I have compiled a summary and a full printer-friendly list of all of the recommendations below.
click here to view summary
128x128jadem6
Other recordings to die for are just about any Steve Kimock Band shows made by several people using Schoeps and vintage Neumann/Schoeps/AKG/Telefunken tube microphones with full permission of the band. The sound has to be believed; non compressed sound with first class A/D and tube mic preamps...

There are hundreds of internet friendly bands among them moe, Leftover Salmon, John Scofield, and more (a few dead shows here and there...); check it out.

All available via the internet on download at such places as GDLIVE.ORG, philzone.net.

for a primer and links to the various software and database/show sites go to etree.org. It walks you through the process and all the software to download, convert to WAV files, and burn the CDR, is shareware and easily available. Only caveat is you must have a reliable wideband connection; no dialups need apply. It is completely FREE other than your time and the requisisite PC hardware.

This is as close as you are going to to get to live sound unless you get a recording taped under similar circumstances that has not been "processed" subsequent to the initial recording.

regards,

carl
Another one is Patricia Barber *Nightclub*. It is atleast
an Audiophile recording. It is slightly more transparent than *Modern Cool*, being recorded in a nightclub, where it is dead quiet, and the noise floor is the reason, I think, that it sounds even better. There wasn't a crowd of people there, in fact, it was completely quiet. I get to see what my system will do with these 2 cds, plus a small handful of others.
All of the Tindersticks albums are or were available on vinyl and contain wonderful music, but the pressing quality has been variable at best. The one to die (and look out) for is the fourth LP, "Simple Pleasure" (1999), the vinyl version of which was pressed by Simply Vinyl, who got it right. Sadly, they're weren't many pressed and they're highly sought after (one just sold on eBay for around $40). If you see one, don't hesitate!
In a glass house - Gentle Giant
Aja - Steely Dan
Chicago Transit Athority
Faces - Earth, Wind, & Fire
Dark side of the moon - Pink Floyd
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Abbey Road - Beatles