Your Go to CD to Impress

"If they answer: "Oh, just about anything," I just quietly turn the system off and say ... hey, why don’t we go to Baskin Robbins for an ice cream cone?"

Perfect, oregonpapa. Another tell is if, within 30 seconds or less after the music starts, they begin visually searching for something to look at (a CD case/LP cover, or the completely unforgivable, their phone) instead of listening.

I had a bunch of 20 - 25 years old over. They like modern country music so we played some top 25.

They liked it a lot so I said how about this - folk not country but close enough.  

Alison Krauss - A Hundred Miles or More of a Collection from 2007.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WNpwyP0_IA

Many of the above are favorites.  Another to check out is on the NAIM label - Antonio Forcione - Ghetto Paradise.  Amazing guitarist.

James Taylor Gaya
Holly Cole Tennessee Waltz
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms
Blood Sweat and Tears Lonesome Suzy
Mighty Sam McClain Too Proud
Charles Lloyd The Water is Wide
Charlie Haden and Pat Metheney Behond the Missouri Sky
Dave Grusin Two for the Road

Dire straights or just about any mark knopler tune