"Must-have" SACDs Out There

The SACDs that I like best include:

Norah Jones, Come Away with Me
Diana Krall, The Look of Love
Peter Gabriel, Shaking the Tree (excellent 2 channel)
Steely Dan, Gaucho
Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon (great multi-channel)
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
Willie Nelson, Stardust (sounds great, but I'm not a big WN fan)

I look forward to getting more SACDs of these same artists. I also have some of the Telarc Jazz and Classical samplers which are pretty good. There does seem to be a wide spectrum along the lines of mix quality and the ability to get the most out of the format. Acoustic Sounds seems to be a good source for SACDs. Interested to see other choices as well.

I would add to that list, Peter Gabriel "UP" Roxy Music "Avalon" , Patricia Barber "Blue Cafe" and "Companion", also the new Mike Oldfield "tubular bells" is a great multi mix.

I'll add Alison Krauss and Jacintha. Also Beck (sea change).

Dave

If you like classical music and Mahler, the San Francisco Symphony Mahler cycle (Symphonies 1, 3,4 and 6 so far) is superb, has plenty of dynamics, bass and emotion. The more recent Telarcs, from the Vaughn-Williams Sea Symphony on (particularly the Jarvi/Cincinnati SO recordings) are all very good recordings and performances. And Allison Krauss/Union Station Live and New Favorite are terrific! Plenty more coming out daily, it seems--just got five new ones in to listen to the next few days. There are clunkers out there, but plenty of good ones, and the new DSD recordings are excellent at showing the potential of the format.

be careful comparing the cd layer of an SACD hybrid disc to the SACD layer. i have found that a 'pure' redbook CD often outplays 'redbook' playback on hybrid SACD's? if this is done with marketing purposes in mind, or just 'sloppy' mastering as seeing the SACD layer to be the method of choice on these discs, i cannot answer, but i've found it interesting comparing redbook CD's to the redbook layer on SACD of the same title. as for must own SACD titles, i would add:

michel camilo's live at the blue note