What is your goto reference recording

I also use a number of recordings. Two of the most used are Beethoven Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastorale" conducted by Bruno Walter w/the CSO on SACD for strings/woodwinds and Holly Cole "Don’t Smoke in Bed" for female vocals.

The Who - Quadrophenia Side One
BST - Child is Father to the Man, vintage '68 stereo release Side 2
Richard and Linda Thompson - Shoot Out the Lights Side 2
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue Side One
Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers - Caravan Side One

I always used to use "Ah Um" by Mingus to test systems. It's well recorded and has diversity of instruments, enough to test almost anything except pipe organ or full blown symphony orchestra. 

I'm not sure a system should be evaluated solely on those last two.

I use the Bill Evans album "Waltz for Debby" to determine whether the system or device being tested properly shows off the magic of this recording.  If the cymbals don't shimmer, or the brushes aren't palpable, and the soundstage isn't a glow, I know there's a problem somewhere in the chain. 

Dire Straits Love Over Gold