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Best song for immediate impact when presenting or testing?

I, as most of you, have my regular tunes that I play or listen to when trying out a new system or playing music for friends. My current starter is 'Feels like Rain' by Aaron Neville. It engages me immediately because I love it so, but it is also very well recorded and has a bass voice doing backup which in the right system has a real visceral impact.

I was at an Audio shop recently, listening to my standards, and wanted to show the sales consultant a piece that he might not have heard. I played 'Golden Rust' off the Miles Gurtu album. After about 30 seconds, he pulled out his device and added the song to his favorites. I asked why did he add so quickly, and he said that the opening electronica had a three dimensional stereophonic quality that made a remarkable impression right off the bat. I paraphrase lightly; that was his comment.

What pieces do you play of any genre that have an immediate impact, especially for people listening to a good system for the first time?
128x128cmjones
reubent
7,004 posts
 
@cmjones - I prefer John Hiatt's original version of "Feels Like Rain", by a wide margin, over the Aaron Neville version. Neville is a undoubtedly a great vocalist. However, John Hiatt's interpretation of his own song is more raw and emotional.

Have you heard the original version, on Hiatt's "Slow Turning" album? I've used it as a reference many times over the years.....
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astewart8944
499 posts
 
@reubent Just listened to Hiatt's "Feels Like Rain"--very well done. Thanks for the recommendation.
reubent
7,004 posts
 
@astewart8944 - Thanks for your response. I appreciate the feedback. And yep, it's a good one.....
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,816 posts
 
I saw Hiatt on his Slow Turning tour, and he and his band were fantastic. He had Sonny Landreth, a superb slide guitarist, in his band then. Sonny's solo albums are mighty fine too.
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joysjane
165 posts
 
John Lee Hooker "Boom Boom"
On Classic Records 24/96 DAD.
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