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?
On Agon i came across a song "Breaking Silence" by Janis Ian, that apparently was all the rage for demos when it came out in ’93. The song is a bit on the cheesy side IMO but the recording is fantastic. iIs punchy and dynamic, it has a lot of stereo field gimmicks on it and its short so it does a terrific job for demos.
Its not the kind of track i would listen to for enjoyment per se but if you want an idea of what a rig is capable of this one covers several bases. My gf and I joke about the song all the time but when we were at the Hifi show in Manhattan a couple months ago it was our go to suggestion and it really worked well to identify the strengths and weaknesses of several rigs alien to our ears.
I think the more traditional country artists have some of the cleanest recordings around. For clarity I don't think you can beat the recordings of Randy Travis. The quality of his voice is fantastic. For classical the Chesky recording of Itzhak Perlman playing Tchaikovsky violin Concerto in D is my personal favorite. His violin just hangs out in the air in front of you. For rock my money is on Dire Straits "Your Latest Trick". I love the way the sax starts out low in the background then moves right in front of you. And finally for bass I have to go with Josh Groban's "Try to Remember".
I agree that you can easily select music for impact that doesn't do much other than show off one or two characteristics of a given piece of equipment. Like a lot of others here, I have a ton of music that I listen to that gives the whole picture of a system. Recently I upgraded my entire system and spent two hours listening to hi-res files, SACD, CD and vinyl to be sure that the combination of gear I was considering delivered me to that place where its just the music. I'm a rock & roll guy so 90% of my collection is just that. Here's a partial list of the music I used to evaluate my new system:
"Hotel California" from the Eagles - Hell Freezes Over (digital) "Lines on My Face" from a 40 year old original vinyl pressing of Frampton Comes Alive "The Chain" from Fleetwood Mac - The Dance (vinyl & digital) "Squonk" from Genesis - A Trick of the Tail (digital) "No Quarter" from Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day (digital) "Gaucho" from Steely Dan - Gaucho (digital) "On an Island" from David Gilmour - Live in Gdansk (digital) "Brothers in Arms" from Dire Straits - On the Night (digital) "Captain Fanstastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy" from Elton John - Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy (digital & vinyl)
There is so much more, but you get the drift.
As you can tell, I'm all about live and classic rock. Can't help that I am a child of the 60's, 70's and 80's.
Whatever you do, remember, its about the music not the gear. The gear is simply a vehicle.
In the 1970’s JBL put out an LP intended to be used to evaluate the sound of their new L100 loudspeaker. The LP contains tracks from commercially released albums, one of which is "Donovan’s Colors" from Van Dyke Parks’ Song Cycle album. The recording contains many different instruments (including harpsichord), as well as some non-instrument sound effects. The song (and the entire album) is as musically interesting as it is sonically stunning. Song Cycle was Van Dyke’s first project after he finished his work with Brian Wilson on the ill-fated Smile album. Song Cycle is very unique, and many will find it not only odd and strange, but also a little spooky. Parks’ is a very, very smart guy, perhaps a genius.
Speaking of odd, strange, and spooky, for a look at what Smile was going to be (a musical representation and celebration of Manifest Destiny), and why it would have been such a milestone album (beating Sgt. Pepper to the marketplace as was intended), listen to "Fall Breaks And Back To Winter (Woody Woodpecker Symphony)" on the Beach Boys’ Smiley Smile album. Now THAT is what I consider Progressive music. The Beach Boys Progressive?! No, Brian Wilson. Don’t believe it? Go ahead, listen to "FBABTW". It makes Progressive bands sound downright traditional!
Best to have a minimum of 3 ref tracks for your listening tests. I use 12. You are not looking for a target song, but a fence collection. You want to hear the edges.
if I really want to test the quality of a sound system in respect of spatiality and impact to new listeners my choices are:
Roger Waters - The ballad of Bill Hubbard (Amused to death) => the more on the left side the radio speaker is, the better the sound system Malia - Don´t explain (Black orchid) => the vibraphon is behind (!!!) the listener Eurythmics - I love you like a ball and chain (Be yourself tonight) => close to the end of the song the voices are marching around you Fever Ray - Keep the streets empty for me (Fever ray) => the intro sound dots are moving from down left to higher right Yello - Takla makan (Touch Yello) => the soundscape of a virtual movie plot can make people stunned
Sleep walk ,is a classic , for hard rock peace in Mississippi -Jimi H Led Zep - communication Breakdown , or Jeff Becks Classic - because we ended as lovers
F.K.A Twigs, self-titled EP, side 2 Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer, side 1 LP 1 Marion Hill, Act One (expanded 2 LP set), side C Goldfrapp, Silver Eye, the whole damn thing Noisia, Split The Atom, title track G.O.L. The Sensation Of Tone, Angelica In Delerium Bassnectar, Reflective Part 1 and 2, side 1 The Dazz Band, Let It Whip Commodores, self-titled, Brick House
I’m curious. What does it say about the ears, listening skills and sought for sound quality on this entire forum when so few classical cuts or movements are mentioned. A system either can or cannot re create the experience of a full symphony orchestra in full stride on a great recording. Voice of known artists also, solo instruments also. Everything else is color and whatever sounds good to you. Nothing wrong with that but not the same thing. Among many others I could mention I suggest Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring Leonard Bernstein New York Philharmonic.
For the record I listen to rock and jazz as much as classical.
Thanks to all who joined this conversation in the spirit intended. I'll listen to all.
As mentioned, I usually start with Aaron Neville's Feels Like Rain. Next is Time After Time, Eva Cassidy. Taj Mahal: Queen Bee. Angelique Kidjo, Summertime. Girl From Ipanema, Getz Gilberto (this song played on a good system in 1995, brought me into hi quality systems). Then I take requests, and finish up with The End by the Beatles. If they're in the mood for something downbeat, You Want it Darker, by Leonard Cohen.
Return To Forever Returns, live show from 2009, cut 5, Song to the Pharaoh Kings. This will test the limits of your speakers. See if your passives, if you have them will survive. Also a great test of your active woofers. Cheers.
Well, I fall back on a couple of old demo faves -- Stimela by Hugh Masekela and Spanish Harlem by Rebecca Pidgeon. My go-to standards for male vocal and female vocal.
Andreas Vollenweider, La Strega & The Grand Ball of the Duljas opening tracks from the Book of Roses LP. If you have a good system, this will blow you away. Be sure to crank it up! (it isn't that great on YT, stream it)
So many so cool in different ways but my latest is Harmonix by Surfer Blood. The guitar lead is clean yet piercing and grabs your attention right on through from the start .
Don't need immediate impact, just want something detailed, clear that allows me to really experience the sonic properties of what I'm testing. My favs include:
Almost anything by SADE New York Serenade by Bruce Springsteen Summer Madness by Kool and the Gang Symphony No. 2 Op. 27 III. Adagio: Adagio - Rachmaninov (quiet but engrossing) Samba Da Bencao by Bebel Gilberto
I had a lot of fun listening to the first half of this list last night! In particular the 17-minute Dave Holland track melted my face into a puddle on the couch. Weather Report surprised me by holding my attention for 7+ minutes of fairly "out" sounds. And I'd never even heard of Malcolm Arnold (classical isn't my wheelhouse) but the Keith Johnson recording was typically sublime.
When I'm demonstrating the system to someone uninitiated, I explain that we'll progess like a wine or beer tasting -- simpler fare to start, palate-wreckers at the end. So I'll lead off with Getz/Gilberto "Girl from Ipanema." They all know the song; it soothes the ears and the mind. A couple of minutes into the track, when Stan starts to blow, they're usually hooked.
After that I might toss out mid-tawdry chestnuts like Paul Simon -- Rhythm of the Saints -- "Can't Run But" Muddy Waters -- Folk Singer -- "Country Boy" Sonny Rollins -- Way out West -- "I'm an Old Cowhand" Steely Dan -- Gaucho -- "Babylon Sisters"
Once I've connected on any of these, I'll just hand them the iPad and let them drive to their heart's content. They'll eventually play their favorite Black Keys track, then look at me with sad eyes to ask why it sounds so bad. We'll talk for a minute about dynamic range compression.
We might eventually bring the house down with something like Sara Bareilles -- Brave Enough -- "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" Yes -- Fragile -- "Heart of the Sunrise" or The Bad Plus -- Give -- "1979 Semi-Finalist."
Dave Brubeck’s “Take 5” is an extraordinary recording when played on a decent Hi-Fi, and it was recorded 60 years ago! The song is effectively a drum solo and that drum solo on the left speaker and the sax straight down the middle at the start and end of the song will give you so much info on the capabilities of the system.
Elvis’ “Fever” from the Living Stereo RCA master is an amazing vocal recording. It should be warm and present in the room.
John Martyn’s “Easy Blues” from the Solid Air album has a brilliant into piece of acoustic guitar - all dynamics and heavy plucking.
I sold a ton of Magnepan and Audio Research products back in the day with both "Money" (Pink Floyd) and "Midnight at the Oasis" (Maria Muldaur).
Linda Ronstadt was also a hit--as she should be, of course, as was the Lincoln Mayorga series of direct-to-disc recordings. I would actually suggest them (Mayorga) for ANYONE listening critically to a system before purchase. GIGO and buyer beware!
All interesting replies. My ultimate “sit up and take notice” song is the following... Especially great on vintage stereo or tube setups with warm sounds. Enjoy!
@tostadosunidos, Damn great list! Robert Gordon’s first album knocked me out when it was released in ’77; great songs, great band, great sound. It was produced by Richard Gottehrer, who also did Blondie’s first couple. "The Way I Walk" is a song written and first recorded by Jack Scott, one of the best of the 50’s Rockabillies. Also on the album is one by a favorite of mine, "Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track)" by The Rock and Roll Trio (Johnny Burnette).
Robert isn’t as good a singer as the 50’s guys, but that’s all right. I like the albums he did with English guitarist Chris Spedding taking Link Wray’s place even more. On his third album (the first with Spedding) he does another Johnny Burnette song, the fantastic "Rockabilly Boogie", as well as a cool version of "Black Slacks" (Joe Bennett and The Sparkletones). Great guitar playing by Spedding.
Just for fun, I use "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder. Great clavichord and drum sound, the drums actually played by Stevie himself. Good album (Talking Book).
In ’73 was in the second high end store to open in the South Bay (San Jose, Cupertino, Palo Alto, etc.) on the day Bill Johnson just happened to be delivering and setting up a complete ARC system. His new dealer (Walter Davies, now of Last record products renown) put on "Me and Bobby McGee" by Gordon Lightfoot (on his If You Could Read My Mind album). Bill remarked on how good the song sounded, and Walter gave him the LP to take home. Lots of low-level information to be revealed by a high-resolution system. Great acoustic guitar and vocal recording. The same is true of many albums on Rounder Records, including those of Tony Rice.
David Lindley’s first two albums, when cranked up to live SPL, sound great (if you get the chance, see him live). But even they pale in comparison with any of the great direct-to-disk LPs from the 1970’s, which are absolutely startling "alive". Insane immediacy, presence, transparency, and dynamics. The closest to live I’ve ever heard music reproduced. Most contain little of musical interest; I think of them as test records.
Veela - several different ones but Rameses works well Clark Richard - Red Robin Talking Heads- Burning Down the House Gotye- Eyes Wide Open Copeland- Appalachian Spring
I always ask visitors what they would like to hear first. If they don’t have a preference - Styles by Ben Liebrand. The whole album is first class in all aspects.There are plenty of suggestions provided by you all for me to chase down and listen to now too.Great idea for a post! Thanks!
Thanks cmjones (OP), this is an interesting discussion that has given me a lot of good ideas for demonstrating my system (some would say playing with). Especially now I have a Tidal subscription. Having fun with HiFi all over again.
"Almost Like the Blues" Leonard Cohen "Forget Her" Jeff Buckley "Milestones" Bill Evans Trio "Alabama" John Coltrane "Those Shoes" Eagles "Cousin John" Marcus Miller "Edith and the Kingpin" live Joni Mitchell
Allman Brothers Band, You Don,t Love Me, from Live at the Filmore. Duane’s solo about 6 minutes in is so expressive and I also listen to the dual drummers.
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