Ear Candy: Most startling recordings.

Here's a few on CD
Music from the Hearts of the Masters-Jack Dejohnette and Foday Musa Suso
Reinhard Flatishler and Mega Drums-Layers of Time
Master of Chinese Percussion-Yim Hok-man (K2HD)
Startling dynamic ear candy

HDCD's if you haven't heard them

Persuasive Percussion - the original Enoch Light Varese Vintage CD. Terry Snyder and the All Stars. It's full of surprises and variety of instruments on nearly all 18 tracks.

Beatle's DVD-A "LOVE" is so clean it's startling.

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

Keith Jarrett - Spheres (solo improvisations on a pipe organ)

Les Paul & Mary Ford - I just have their greatest hits and Lovers' Luau on vinyl. Total ear candy and WAY ahead of its time.

Talking Heads - Remain In Light - A mind-bending recording you can dance to.

Classic dub (Lee "Scratch" Perry, King Tubby, etc...) also gets me every time. Those guys made the most amazing sounds with some really basic equipment.

Paradise Cafe, Barry Manilow...ok, I'll wait while the laughing subsides.
On first listening, it's a group of well done songs, and if you like Barry, great singing.
Then, after listening, I started to notice that the cuts sounded as if they were done in a venue such as a 'real' paradise cafe. A brick wall behind the performers, the kind of room that so many Jazz clubs seem to have.
Then, (no acohol was involved) I listened more intently, and with variations on that theme I know I heard the venue.
So if you like, Sassy Sarah, Mel Torme, Jerry Mulligan, Mundel Lowe, and too many other greats to mention, grab a copy--hours of listening fun--almost a musical 'time machine'. The genius of this album was probably never appreciated because it was Barry.
You won't regret the purchase.

Good Listening,
Larry

"If only" from the Dominic Miller album "5th house" has good soundstage! :)