Most achingly-beautiful music

I'm no DeadHead, but Garcia and Grisman's version of Friend of the Devil can soak most people up- probably the most musical thing Jerry has done.

for achingly-beautiful you might try rachmaninoffs vocalise featuring sylvia mcnair & the baltimore symphony orchestra- almost 7 minutes of total bliss. i actually tried to sit down and answer this question, but picking three is impossible...but here goes (in no particular order)..dvorak symphony 9, bach violin concertos, beethoven symphonies..arrrrrgh what about brahms, mozart, mahler, sibelius,, this is futile.. hayden, tchaikovsky, rimsky-korsakov..aaaarrrrghhh

Samba Pa Ti from Abraxas, Santana

Stevie Ray Vaughan's rendition of Hendrix's "Little Wing" (Jimi's wasn't too bad either), Bruce Springsteen "My City of Ruin" from "America: Tribute to Heroes" (could include several cuts from that set). On the other end of the emotional spectrum, "Key to the Highway" from Derek and the Dominoes "Layla and other assorted love songs". Something magical was going on between Clapton and Duane Allman in the studio during those sessions, and it may have been captured best on this track.

FWIW,
Mike

Panufnik Sinfonia Sacra
U2 - Elvis Presley and America (Unforgettable Fire)
Nascimento - Sao Vicente