Building a collection


Having re-entered (the low end) of quality listening, I will slowly begin building a collection.  To that end, I have made a list of artists/groups and would ask you to indicate the ONE album you would recommend from as many artists as you wish, with an ear (no pun intended) to quality of performance and recording.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.

Beatles
Beach Boys
Dylan
Rolling Stones
Hendrix
Fleetwood Mac
The Who
Eagles
Pink Floyd
Paul Simon/Simon and Garfunkel
Prince
Aretha Franklin
Elton John
James Taylor
Mamas and Papas
The Byrds
Santana
Bonnie Rait
Joan Baez
Judy Collins
Mozart
Beethoven
Tchaikovsky
Handel
Bach
Gershwin
Chopin

kythyn
I like many of tprreaves' suggestions, here are some more:

Beatles--Abbey Road has good sound, but my favorite might be A Hard   Day's Night (I like the stereo version, yeah, so shoot me)

Beach Boys--Pet Sounds, 90's (1996?) stereo remix
Dylan--Greatest Hits, Vol. II is a nice way to start.  Or Biograph, even
better

Rolling Stones--Beggar's Banquet
Hendrix--Are You Experienced
Fleetwood Mac--any of the early releases (Peter Green version)
The Who--Live at Leeds
Pink Floyd--Meddle or Ummagumma
Paul Simon/Simon and Garfunkel--Bookends
James Taylor--Sweet Baby James
Mamas and Papas--Farewell to the First Golden Era
The Byrds--Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Santana--Santana
Joan Baez--Diamonds and Rust
Judy Collins--Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Mozart--Sinfonia Conertante/Oistrakhs (father and son)
Beethoven--piano sonatas, Alfred Brendel
Tchaikovsky--violin concerto, many great versions to choose from (Milstein, Sophie-Mutter, Heifetz, Stern, Rabin)

Bach--Goldberg Variations, either version ('55 mono, '81 stereo)
Gershwin--Gershwin plays Rhapsody in Blue

Welcome! back- kythyn

Let's see...
The Beatles- Sgt Pepper (any format)
The Rolling Stones- Hot Rocks (CD or SACD)
The Who- Live at Leeds
Jimi Hendrix- Are you Experienced? (CD)
The Doors- 1st album (any format) - I had to add this one to your list!
Chicago Transit Authority s/t- (any format) - again, a must-own!
Beach Boys- Pet Sounds (CD/SACD)
Dylan- Biograph (boxed set)
Fleetwood Mac- Rumors (CD)
The Eagles- Hotel California- (any format)
(The) Pink Floyd-  Dark side of the Moon- (SACD)
Simon/Garfunkel- Bridge over troubled Water- (any format)
Paul Simon- Negotiations and Love Songs (CD)
Prince- 1999 (any format)
Aretha Franklin- Aretha's Gold (CD)
Elton John- Goodbye yellow brick Road- (any format)
James Taylor- JT- (gold CD)
Mama/Papa- greatest hits (CD)
The Bryds- Sweetheart of the Rodeo- (CD)
Santana- s/t (CD/SACD)
Bonnie Raiit- Nick of Time- (CD)
Joan Baez- Diamonds & Rust- (any format)
Judy Collins- Who knows where the time Goes- (any format)
Mozart- Sinfonia- (any format)
Beethoven- Piano Sonatas- (any format)
Tchaikovsky- Violin Concerto- (any format)
Handel- The Messiah -(any format)
Bach- Goldberg Variations- (any format)
Gershwin- Rhapsody in Blue- (any format)
Chopin- (any)



Pink Floyd- PULSE
Elton John- Live in Australia
Mozart- Complete Piano Concertos by Mitsuko Uchida (Decca)
Beethoven- Symphony Cycle--John Elliot Gardiner (Archiv)
Tchaikovsky- Piano Concerto #1- Lang Lang (sacrilege I know) (DG)
Gershwin- Piano Concerto-Helene Grimaud (Erato)
Bach- Sonatas and Partitas- Rachel Barton Pine, Goldberg-Gould 55’
Chopin- Ballades, Barcarolle, and F-Minor Fantasy--Krystian Zimerman, Preludes- Rafal Blechacz